Our 2026 Keynote Speaker
Akasha Eden is a Leatherwoman, griot, attorney, scholar, and Leather community servant whose work blends spirituality, mental health advocacy, and academic rigor.
She is International Ms. Leather 2026, 2026 Scholar-in-Residence for the Carter/Johnson Library and Collection and Women of Drummer, Vice President of ONYX Pearls NY/NE, Northeast slave 2024, 2023 MAsT International Presenter of the Year, and author of Diary of a Leather Rope Bunny and Dance of the Shadows.
Akasha works tirelessly to arm our community with the power of knowledge.
Her scholarship this year focuses primarily on Afrofuturism and Indigenous futurism as sociopolitical frameworks, and their intersection with—and active practice within—the Leather and WIITWD communities.
Rooted in Black femme resilience, Akasha teaches and presents in hopes of helping her community discover joy, embodiment, and systems navigation in Leather, BDSM, and WIITWD.
We are honored to welcome her to Philadelphia as our keynote speaker for this year’s event
