According to DeBlase's article A Leather Pride Flag, "Some, particularly on the east coast, reacted positively to the concept, but were quite concerned, some even offended, that I had not involved the community in helping to create the design.

[1] He also began a Leather History Timeline, which was set up in the LA&M on the south wall of the main exhibit gallery.

[4] In 2017 he was honored along with other notables, named on bronze bootprints, as part of San Francisco South of Market Leather History Alley.

[18][19] In 2021, the Leather Archives & Museum gave out the Chuck Renslow & Tony DeBlase Founders’ Award.

[20] He was also knighted as a Chevalier at the Leather Coronation in San Francisco, and received the Caligula Award from the Chicago Hellfire Club, which he was a member of.