Looking back at 2006 I noticed one trend that really began growing in 2005, but has snowballed in recent months. The newer generation seems to have a strong interest in Traditional Leather. From titleholders at the International Leather Sir and Leatherboy Contest to Leatherboy clubs to rank and file Leatherfolk going to the bars and other events this is becoming more evident. And it is not only in one or two regions of the country. I saw this when I was in St. Petersburg for the Florida Fetish Weekend. I heard talk of it in two or three separate circles at the LA Boys of Leather Anniversary lunch in Los Angeles. Periodically it comes up for discussion on the Leather Titleholders Yahoo group. While the younger ones are getting it, it is not limited to them, but to many of us who have been around the block a few times too.

While many Leather traditionalists have pulled out of the public eye, there have been concerted efforts by some to teach Traditional Leather to those who are interested. I've mentioned Mike Zuhl and Leather Sir many times. Not to be ignored are the classes and weekends held by the late Dean Walradt in Texas. Steve Sampson with his Butchmanns aligned with APEX (Arizona Power EXchange) in Phoenix and Tucson, AZ have made an impact with their work that went into the last decade. Of course Master Taino, someone I admire greatly even though he is a San Francisco Giants fan and I love the Los Angeles Dodgers, with his Master training Academy and Master/slave Conferences in Washington, DC has helped on the east coast. The International Master and slave Contest, founded by Luke Owens primarily reaches the Master/slave crowd, but Traditional Leather is evident there. Of course there are more, but to me these are the biggest examples that I've seen.

Incidentally it would be nice to see the current Master/slave Contest people recognize those who founded and funded the first few contests, but that's another story. Have they ever thought of inviting Luke Owens to be a judge. It sure would be a great gesture for those who talk about respecting the past to respect the contest's past, but I digress. It is no secret that many traditionalists have pulled back and the public perception is that they have done so out of disgust for the mainstream Leather community, but I have another theory for many of these. It is entirely probable that most of the Traditional Leatherfolk have not pulled back as a form of any sort of protest. They have found compatible partners and have creating interlocking Traditional Leather families, socializing amongst those closest to their part of the Leather experience. Who hasn't heard of people getting married and settling down? How often have we seen people in the mainstream gay and lesbian community retreat because they have settled down to be with each other.

True, some have pulled back out of disgust, but I find that to be true of Leatherfolk who are not Traditional Leather too. And there are some who are just not going to be satisfied with anything, so retreating using the Old Guard as protest du jour is not surprising. We know who these few are and we've heard it from many of them before. Getting off the negative, the praise has to be there for those who have stayed around to educate. Many of these same educators are part of the Traditional Leather families network, but they chose to reach out. The dividends are beginning to show and I believe that this is a great thing and it bodes well for the future of Leather. Some will never be part of the family part of it because they are lifetime solos, but their Traditional Leather heart is still there. Several organized efforts are seeing dividend snow, but there are individual couples I see out and about who impress. One that comes to mind is Master Ian and slave mikey in Los Angeles. There are many others. I've been around these two and I see a lot of love there. They maintain their Traditional Leather lifestyle and they always exude fun. The common concept is one of drudgery and rules, but I am seeing something different, especially from these two.

While some have pronounced Old Guard, or more correctly as Kent Arnwolt described it as Traditional Leather, to be dead, I believe that it has a place in human nature, something that replenishes itself no matter how times change, and will therefore manifest itself again and again even thought it may have some down times. You've read my word on this before, 'names and faces, times and places -- these all change. Human nature does not.' There are some people I want to thank for their support in 2006.

There is Stephen Bloom of Phoenix, AZ. When I lost my camera at LA's gay and lesbian pride, the was there immediately to donate a brand new camera. Steve is not rich, but he stepped up immediately and gave from his heart. I've always respected Steve as a good man and a great Leatherman at that. I've seen what he has done in Phoenix for may years and that community will suffer greatly if and when he is gone.

Dr. Larry Burden. He has been there as a friend and mentor for almost two years now. I mention him second only because he has been there for me in the recent past. I believe in God and that God does reward the good. At Mid Atlantic Leather last year I tugged, pulled and schnorred a resisting Dr. Larry to the Master/slave reception at Titan Bar. He acquiesced when he found out that there was a restaurant downstairs and he was hungry. It led to him meeting Matt from Shippenburg, PA. The two have visited each other, flying to each other's coast several times since. Matt is his reward for the good he has done. The best rewards are often those that are not planned by humankind, but which are bestowed by the universe. Larry and I have done so much together in the last year and I truly love him.

I have to thank Steve Ganzell and Raymond Rector for seeing to it that I was honored by Christopher Street West last summer. These two are making a huge impact on LA's Leather community in a time when it is really needed. There reaching out has helped bridge the mainstream gay and lesbian community and the Leather community here.

Next is Matt Foreman who was behind my receiving the Creating Change Award at the Creating Change Conference in Kansas City in November. I'm sure others were behind it too and I probably will never know who they are. I want to thank all of them. There are many more who have been there although maybe not on as grand a scale such as Jay Hemphill, Master Kalan, John Prather, Karen "Ultra" Wilber, Lady Caro, George Wong and on.

We had setbacks and we had gains. Most of us were encouraged with the results of the November elections. We lost a lot of people and some disappointed. I saw more good than bad and I believe the immediate future will be good and strong.

The 20th Anniversary Issue of The Leather Journal will come out in May with all of the pre-IML coverage and is traditionally our biggest of the year. There will be something extra-special in that Issue. If you've never advertised, May 2007 will be the time to do it.

Enjoy reading The Leather Journal,

Dave Rhodes