BLACKOUT was conceived as ONYX’s traditional leather anniversary run weekend starting back in Chicago in 1995. It is a time when all ONYX members come together to fellowship, share education and enjoy each other’s company. Our goal for BLACKOUT is to have an inclusive, and sex-positive space for all people. It is a place where racism, transphobia, misogyny, and other forms of discrimination do not exist.

An important part of the weekend is exploring how the intersectionality of race, class, gender, and ability affect experiences of leather, kink, and sexualities. We are making a commitment to enriching these intersectionalities not only during BLACKOUT but throughout the year.

Some traditional events during each BLACKOUT include ONYX University, Brotherhood Awards/Recognition brunch, Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Full Brothers, and our infamous Bar Crawl.

In Late 2020, ONYX celebrated 25 years by having a virtual celebration! You can view our 25th Anniversary celebration by going to our ONYXMEN YouTube page!

ONYX will be celebrating 30 years with BLACKOUT 30 “Homecoming” in Chicago, IL, October 16th -20th, 2025 hosted by our ONYX Midwest chapter. Click here to learn more about BLACKOUT 30 and click here to purchase the “Early Bird” registration!