Aiken, Bedford Elias Skip III

Skip was a member of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus from April, 1979 until July, 1979 for a total of 2 concert seasons. He last sang as a member of the Bass section. The Chorus refers to these members who are no longer able to sing with the group as members of the "Fifth Section." They are listed Chorus programs and on the group's website: https://www.sfgmc.org/about_fifth.shtml

I met B.A., as he was known then, in 1975. We met at a transactional analysis meeting and discussed the book I'm O.K., You're O.K.. I told him I was interested in being in the group because I was a self professed leather man and felt proud of that. B.A. became very interested and said he wanted to learn more. Fast forward a couple of months and he became my sub. I renamed him Skip after the best friend of my father... because he was now my best boy. He loved the name. Over the period of our relationship he proved to be an anxious pupil and I taught him everything I knew. We broke up about 6 months later simply because it was time for him to become the top man he was destined to be. We both felt it was time for him to have a sub and he took on the role with zeal and authenticity. He wore his gear with a passion and he looked amazing in it. We remained very close friends and I enjoyed visiting his house on Sacramento Street and later down on Guererro Street. I came to know the love he had for his son Scott and became friends with his sister Morgan. We often went to the clubs together... the Bolt, Febe's, Gold Coast and 527. He was part of a documentary about the gay leather scene in 1980. He became weekend bouncer at the original Chaps on 11th Street and he then began teaching me some things about leather and SM. He was a loyal and caring friend. I last saw Skip in early 1991 just before I moved to New Mexico. I returned 2 years later and saw his partner at the Eagle and asked him where Skip was.... and he then told me about Skip's demise. I was shattered because Skip was among my closest friends. I dearly miss him to this day.