Brian Ridley and Lyle Heeter (1979) -Robert Mapplethorpe

The LGBTQ community wasn’t as welcomed back in the day as nowadays. But Robert Mapplethorpe chronicled the underground gay situation, particularly those who were into S&M. One of his shots showed Lyle Heeter (standing) and Brian Reedley, who donned chains and leathers as they posed in a living room.

Mapplethorpe became an inspiration to other lensmen in terms of exploring sensitive matter. Almost ten years after, his exhibition made it to the Cincinnati museum, which got its director in trouble. Unfortunately, the New York native, also famous for his black-and-white portraits, passed away in 1989 due to AIDS.