ONYX is a leather community for male-identifying gay and bisexual people of color. To become affiliated with ONYX Midwest, as either a Full Brother or an Associate, you must complete an application and be interviewed. For Full Brother membership, you must live within the Midwest US (IA, IL, MI, MO, OH, WI) and not be a full member of a like organization.
To become a Full Brother, you must be a man of color and complete a pledge process that lasts 3 to 6 months, depending on how long it takes the pledge class to gel, learn the required information and complete the required activities. Full Brothers have voting rights and other privileges within the chapter. Associates may be men or women of any color or orientation and are required to participate in the pledge process as well. The pledge process is also an affiliation period during which applicants must participate in ONYX activities, attend events or otherwise contribute to the Chapter.
The membership will conduct an interest gathering that could take place at a scheduled bar night or other meeting. At this gathering, you will be provided the opportunity to meet all of the current membership and ask any questions you may have about the organization in general or chapter in particular. Prior to this interest meeting, you would be encouraged to attend our events, allowing you to get to know us and vice versa.
There will also be a vetting process established by the Membership Chair that will allow all members to participate in the interviewing process. Those brothers participating will be responsible to reporting all findings to the Membership Chair to determine recommendation to the coming pledge class. Upon acceptance into the pledge class, you will be provided with your requirements, including attending meetings, completing assignments and active participation in ONYX events during the pledge period.
ONYX Midwest is currently restructuring onboarding for new members. We are not taking on new members at this time however we still welcome applications and will add your contact info to our mailing list. You’ll then receive notification of ONYX sponsored events and contact all interested parties when membership is reopened. If you are interested, please reach out to us at onyxchicago@gmail.com or fill out the application for membership which can be found below.