1992

1992

The Leather Journal

One man who came out of nowhere and made it to the top in only a couple of years was Chuck Higgins. The male cochair of the NLA was the coverman for Issue #30 photographed by Shields-Marley. Chuck was interviewed by Luke Owens.

Feature articles: The Golden Gate Guards, San Francisco, Camp Run-A-Muck was fun according to the photographs. The letters to the editor were extra-spicey this time around. Terry LeGrand shot back at those who decried his Mr. Southern California Drummer Contest and Stuart Norman went after the nitpicking he claims ruled the day at the planning meeting for the 1993 March On Washington. Luke Owens excoriated those who come to meetings with the attitude, "My agenda is bigger than your agenda..." Leather/SM activists lobbied the National Endowment for the Arts regarding the recent wave of censorship by the religious right. jay wagner reported that $200,000 was raised for the AIDS Committee of Toronto during the second annual From All Walks of Life march in Toronto.

Floyd Ballou took the Issue #31 cover photo of Southern California Master and Slave Race Bannon and Mike Pierce.

Feature articles: Luke Owens interviewed Race and Mike just before the first International Masters and Slaves Contest was to take place. NLA: Metro New York's Homecoming was a celebration for NLA titleholders and chapter members Bill Miranda Salzman and Laura Goodwin. Daniel Legg won the Mr. Charlie's Leather Contest in Phoenix, AZ. Imagine using a 9600 baud modem today - at the urging of users, Leather On Line columnist Bob Reite bought one. A Valentine's Special Feature was Wayne's Boy, a true story of how Wayne Griffin (Wayne's Leatherack) met his boy Sammy. After a short hiatus Rope Rap returned.

The incredible illustration on the cover of Issue #32 was created by Russ from Toronto. It was also the logo for the Mr. Leatherman Toronto Contest.

Feature articles: Andy Mangels talked with Ms. NLA 1991 Ruth Marks about consensuality, bottoming, men and more. Marcus Hernandez covered the Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest in Washington, DC which was won by Damien Sanzone. The Tom of Finland Foundation's Tom's Bar held in Los Angeles has become one of Southern California's hottest annual Leather events. The first Tom's Bar was a memorial celebration for the late artist. NLA: Houston held their first anniversary. CCMC (California Cyclemen MC of San Diego held a fabulous installation of officers at Balboa Park's Cafe del Rey. $1,200 was raised at The Black and Silver Ball hosted by Mr. San Diego Drummer Jason Traver.

The cover of Issue #33 featured International Mr. Leather 1991 and D Cannon and two hot men, Duane and Dieter. Photo by The Hun.

Feature articles: This April Fools edition included the first Titleholder Times section that parodied the Leather title system. This four page section was very controversial. The intent was to allow Leatherfolk an opportunity to laugh at themselves. Master body piercer Jim Ward was interviewed by Luke Owens. April had full coverage of the 1992 Pantheon of Leather Awards that saw Pat Califia being named Woman of the Year and Jim Richards named Man of the Year.

Artwork by Tom of Finland was on the cover of Issue #34.

Feature articles: A story about the life of erotic artist Tom of Finland was the main story in May. Durk Dehner of the Tom of Finland Foundation supplied the artwork and much of the insight into Tom of Finland with Luke Owens and Dave Rhodes telling about their meetings with Leather's premier artist. This edition celebrated The Leather Journal's first five years. Dave Rhodes recounted how The Leather Journal was founded in a two-page article.  Bob Reite's Leather On Line column revealed that Mark Forstan of Fresno, CA was arrested on felony charges of distribution of harmful material to minors. He pleaded innocent. A San Francisco police officer logged on as a 15 year old in an effort to entrap Forstan.

Mr. NLA 1992 Bill Miranda Salzman from Brooklyn, NY was on the cover of Issue #35 and was interviewed by Luke Owens.

Feature articles: Many of the pride month photos came from Portland, OR. jay wagner had several hot shots from Toronto's Leather Pride. Otter covered Tsarus' Aida/15th anniversary run near Jack's Creek, TN.

The hooded boy. We knew who was on the cover of Issue #36, but did you? Dave Rhodes took the photo, but the boy's heart belonged to Daddy! Taken at IML.

Feature articles: Lenny Broberg won the International Mr. Leather Contest. Like last year, Mama Ucci was there. Some of the clubs in the prank club listings: Firestarters of Indiana, Pot Ash and People Exchanging Poo. The first Just In Case You Missed It page ran which allowed previously run news releases for up coming events to run without making the rest of the publication appear redundant. This year Back To Rio was the theme of Avatar Club of Los Angeles' getaway at Silverwood Lake. Otter covered Summit '92 sponsored by the Memphis Leather/Levi Alliance and Dogwood '92. NLA: Austin's Texas Leather Pride traditionally has comedienne Shann Carr in town for the weekend. Daddy Bob stretches Master Manners to the limit and beyond in The Wearin' O' The Hides.

One of the most popular clubs in Los Angeles Leather community is Clippers. Barber Phil uses plenty of lather in the head shaving scene on the cover of Issue #37.

The Leather Journal was the first North American publication to cover the Spanner Case.

Feature articles: Kevin Shancady wrote the Leather And Politics column. "The Assault" told about the arrests that became publicized as the Spanner Case. Shancady gives a basic chronology of the events that started in 1987. 17 cities sent news about their gay and lesbian pride celebrations over the summer. George Whiting sent photos and an article promoting VASM's 10th anniversary to be held in October in Vancouver, British Columbia. This was the first time that the Club Directory was split between two issues. The Wearin' O' The Hides theme was, "Just The FAX, Man...." The 15 Association's Boot Camp IV coverage included a man bound with a jock strap tied over his face. jay wagner attended BFLO's Fantasy Night in Buffalo, NY.

The HUN tricked Dave Rhodes and Bill Costomiris when he asked them to supply photos for him to illustrate the cover of Issue #38 for June. It was released at IML.

Feature articles: Andy Mangels interviewed Bill "The HUN" Schmeling and several of his pieces of erotic art are featured. It was announced that The Leather Journal would begin publishing CUIR Magazine which would focus on male erotica in fiction, photography and illustrations. Andy Mangels wrote an article detailing the proposed Oregon State Proposition 9 that would basically require discrimination against gays and lesbians. The Midwest Leather Conference II was featured. The Just In Case You Missed It section first appeared in this issue; this section was primarily to repeat the announcement of events that had been announced in previous editions. Otter covered Blue Max CC's Cruise With the Blues run in St. Louis, MO. Cappy Benson was September's Hunk of the Month. Dave Rhodes named the 13 members of the selection panel for Pantheon of Leather which would be held in Orlando, FL in March, 1993. They were: Joseph Bean, M.P. Breslin, Pat Califia, Thom Dombkowski, Todd Fulton, Greg Lowe, Dan Noel, Peri Jude Radecic, Vance Reger, Jim Richards, David Weinbaum and George Whiting.

An article on dungeon courtesy, taken from the Chicago Hellfire Club's newsletter The C.H.C. Brand, appeared.

The Issue #39 cover for October was taken at IML in Chicago by Luke Owens.

Feature articles: San Francisco Leather Pride drew the main coverage. George Cameron creates a human buffet of fruits, crackers and cheese at the Fetish and Fantasy Ball in San Francisco, CA. The 15's whipping booth raised money, as did those of many other clubs, for the AIDS Emergency Fund during the Folsom Street Fair. Luke Owens interviewed the NLA's Living In Leather coordinator for the past four years Sally "Mallard" Huber from Portland, OR. Dave Rhodes went on a comic tirade at one reader who suggested that the International Mr. Drummer Contest was fixed since not enough bearded men had won the title. The Leather Journal became the first major Leather publication to endorse a candidate for president of the United States. GIF files were getting better resolution according to Bob Reite in Leather On Line. Several photos of NLA: Austin's First Anniversary were hot. Several hundred people attended Portland Leather Pride Week. The Bluegrass Colts' Thoroughbred I was covered by Otter. Hunk of the Month was Marcus Wonacott. The first announcement that Chuck Renslow was starting the Leather Archives and Museum appeared.

Very few men have been loved as much as coverman Armand Primeaux from Houston, TX. He was the first model to be featured in The Leather Journal's new sibling publication, CUIR.

Feature articles: Major coverage went to Living In Leather VII which was held in Chicago, IL in October. Jan Lyon caught hell for presenting a plan for major structural changes in the organization. Andy Anderson and K.T. Chase won the Mr. and Ms NLA sashes. The Eulenspiegel Society founder Pat Bond was the Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Several NLA members and friends protested the Spanner Case at the British Consulate. Luke Owens interviewed Mr. Drummer 1992 Woody Bebout and Drummer Boy Kevin Steadman. The largest all women's SM gathering, Inferno-style, was Powersurge held in Seattle over Labor Day weekend with over 300 attending. Otter attended Texas MC's 10th anniversary in Dallas, TX during Labor Day Weekend. jay wagner usually covered events in Canada, but he went to Minneapolis to attend the Minnesota Leather Encounter. The Hunk of the Month was Rychard Bannerman from Toronto, Ontario.

Andy Mangels is the Issue #41 coverman in his Gotham City PD dress uniform. That photo and those of him in a special feature were taken by Murray McMillan.

Feature articles: Andy covered the American Uniform Association's In Review which was also the organization's 15th anniversary. San Francisco was filled with uniformed men with AUA members and sailors on leave during Fleet Week. San Francisco's Warren Cave travelled to Washington, DC to view the Names Project's AIDS Quilt in October. He brought back numerous memorable photos, some of which appear in this edition. Luke Owens interviewed the new Mr. and Ms NLA titleholders Andy Anderson and K.T. Chase. The NLA Lifetime Achievement kudos went to Dorothy Hajdys.

The Leather and Politics feature was supposed to allow controversial issues to be aired. Guy Baldwin's Political Scat: Or Is There Really Anything But The Smell? In the early 90s the question was often raised by several people, "is there really a Leather community; and, if so, what does it consist of?" In paragraph two Baldwin stated, "To begin with, I have problems with the whole notion of a 'Leather community.' I'm not at all sure that one exists in any meaningful or useful sense of the word. I intend for this article to cause us to reconsider the idea altogether." He then makes a multitude of interesting points. While a lot of people might have been miffed at many of his suggestions, many of his statements were closer to reality than some people's dreams.

Miriam Pauline presented a photo spread of a fantasy series she titled "My Own Personal Jesus: Her Personal Martyrdom." Otter attended the Beer Town Badgers' Beer Stein VIII run in Milwaukee. Luke Owens reviewed Sex by Madonna, the Forge Studios' 1993 Calendar and the book Tom of Finland. Cliff Brown of the Southern California Wrestling Club was Hunk of the Month.

Clubs

Omikron hosted a dinner in Indianapolis that raised over $500 for the Damien Center's PWA Food Pantry.

The Rocky Mountaineers MC had to cancel their Golden Fleece Run as did the Colorado Outdoor Leather Dykes (COLD). RMMC had purchased land up in the mountains for community use, but a band of Christian fundamentalists had other ideas.

The Conductors LLC of Nashville, TN held their historic Track X run with over 200 attending.

Outer Limits of Seattle announced the first Powersurge SM weekend for women to be held in  September.

ORGASM was evicted from their dungeon space in Portland, OR in April after their landlord was pressured by ministers from the Oregon Citizens Alliance.

Gary Sherwood won a logo design contest sponsored by SM Gays (London, UK).

ORGASM was back in business in Portland, OR with a new play space.

SigMa held their Annual General Meeting in late June and the search for a play space was at the top of the list of topics discussed.

Nine Eulenspiegel Society members raised $2,500 for AIDS Walk New York. 80 people attended Tarheel Leather Club's Stars and Stripes II in Greensboro, NC.

The Los Angeles Leather Association of the Deaf held their first event at Griffs.

The 15 Association released a video, The New Dungeon, which documented several play parties in their new dungeon.

Los Angeles Leather Association of the Deaf raised more than $2,000 with a beer bust and slave auction at Gauntlet II.

IML's "D" Cannon and Lenny Broberg, IMsL Blair and International Mr. Deaf Leather Philip Rubin raised $2,000 to help the March On Washington. $1,300 in currency was clothes pinned to a human money tree in a fundraiser for HARC Mart by NLA: Kansas City.

The Northern Chaps of Edmonton, Alberta received an award from the Edmonton Imperial Court's Empress XVI Mandy Kamp.

The largest all women's SM gathering, Inferno-style, was Powersurge held in Seattle over Labor Day weekend with over 300 attending.

Leather United - Chicago withstood a summer shake-up and appointed Wes Aldridge as president.

Leather Titles

 The new Ms San Francisco Leather was Blair who would later become IMsL 1992; Mr. Floyd's Leather was Jack Slonaker; Carolina won the Ms Sacramento Leather Contest; Michael Readman won the Mr. Leather Manhole title in Toronto.

Luke Owens' first International Masters and Slaves Contest was held during Pantheon of Leather in Los Angeles. K.T. Chase and Susie Shepherd entered the history books as the first IMSC titleholders.

San Francisco resident Blair won the International Ms Leather Contest in San Francisco in front of 400 plus cheering Leatherfolk at Club Townsend. Amy Marie Meek became Ms Leather Nebraska and Emerson Briney was named Mr. Leather Nebraska at the Diamond Bar in Omaha Ed Tobin of Indianapolis won the first Mr. Indiana Leather Contest.

Al Agricoltoso won the first Mr. Rochester Leather Contest, Kevin Shancady was chosen Mr. Leather Colorado and Kelly Farris was the new Mr. Portland Leather. Greg Foster won the Mr. Southwest Drummer title and Derek Yeager was the new Southwest Drummer Boy in Phoenix. Yeager later became an assistant for Drummer Magazine in San Francisco.

John Caldera won the International Mr. Bear title in San Francisco.

Donna Febbo was named Ms Toronto Leather and Les Beu became Mr. Leatherman Toronto.  Lenny Broberg's title career began when he won the Mr. San Francisco Eagle Leather Contest followed by Mr. San Francisco Leather in April. The new Mr. Long Beach Leather was Sam Catalano; Mike Reed was Mr. Leather Tennessee. Mr. and Ms Texas Leather Pride were Ben Wyoming Rossett and Grace Carr.

Lenny Broberg won the International Mr. Leather Contest. This was the last year for IML at the Executive House. A sign in the lobby read, :"Bistro Too, Cubs One." A record 56 contestants vied for the world's most coveted Leather title. From that number, 20 finalists were picked. These as tradition has it were announced by Bay Area Reporter columnist Marcus Hernandez. This was the year that Larry Adams (Nashville, TN) pierced Dave Rhodes' right nipple.

Rick Eger became Mr. Florida Leather; Cecilio Silva was Mr. Philadelphia Leather. Dan Millard won the Mr. BC Drummer Contest; Mr. Northeast Drummer was Dan Dobbs.

Mr. New Mexico Drummer Chuck Floyd raised $16,500 for the New Mexico Association of People Living With AIDS building fund for a new center by hosting a two-day auction and flea market in June. The Mr. Leatherman Toronto Leather Competition organizers presented a $4,500 check to the Hospital for Sick Children's AIDS Clinic. This was when Lenny Broberg was accused of giving each of the IML judges $1,000 checks - the accuser claimed to have copies of the cancelled checks - it was all a bunch of BS.

Mr. and Ms Mid-America were Shawn McKay and Janet Ryan; both were from Kansas City, MO. In Vienna, the first Mr. Europe Leather title went to A.J. Steigenberger of Germany. Jim Chandler was chosen Mr. Rocky Mountain Drummer and Bart Plumbley Rocky Mountain Drummer Boy in Denver. The first Mr. and Ms Northern California Leather titleholders were Donna Shrout from San Francisco and Wes Patterson from Sacramento.

Jose Ucles won the Mid-Atlantic Mr. Drummer title; Phil Craine was named Mr. North Florida Drummer and Nathan Hudgins became North Florida Drummer Boy. Rychard Bannerman became Mr. Central Canada Drummer and Andy Anderson was chosen to be Central Canada Drummer Boy.

Emerson Briney won the Mr. Drummer Contest and John Hare was the new Drummer Boy. The Mr. Drummer Contest was held under a big tent this time around. Martijn Bakker was announced as the new publisher of Drummer Magazine and new owner of Desmodus, Inc. The  Drummer statuette given to winners was created by Wayne Hampton of Wayne's Art - many people still wonder why these hot trophies were discontinued?!

Bob Donaldson won the International Mr. Deaf Leather Contest held in Baltimore, MD. Gary France won the Northern California Drummer Contest. Mr. and Ms Leather Madison was John Wood and Karen Kormelink. Kevin Drewery from Atlanta and Casey Lively from Crystal River, FL won the Southeast Leather titles in Greensboro, NC.

Andy Anderson and K.T. Chase won the Mr. and Ms NLA sashes. Lem Suiter won the Mr. Connecticut Leather Contest. Glen Hogan was named Mr. Upstate New York Leather.

News and Politics

Queer Nation led the charge in the boycott of the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain because of its antigay discrimination policies. Dustin Logan announced that Fantasy '92 would be held in Dallas, not Omaha.

The 1992 Pantheon of Leather Awards saw Pat Califia named Woman of the Year and Jim Richards announced as Man of the Year. Tom of Finland was presented the first Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.

Drummer Magazine held its first Tough Customers party at the San Francisco Eagle. The TC parties became one of the most popular promotions Drummer has ever held. It started out as a Tough Customers section in Drummer and grew into a popular magazine of  its own. Bar parties were held with photographers on hand to photograph and place free ads for Leathermen who wanted to participate.

Stating that "artistic expression is at the core of a democratic society," Los Angeles District Judge A. Wallace Tashima found that the decency standard imposed on the National Endowment for the Arts to be unconstitutional.

Gauntlet II bar owner Dale Haberstad received an award of commendation for Los Angles Mayor Tom Bradley at that establishment's eighth anniversary; $2,325 was raised for Aid For AIDS.

Winners of the Leather/Levi Lexicon Awards in San Francisco were: Outstanding Leather Business, The Watering Hole; Outstanding Leather Woman was Lupe Rosenbaum and Outstanding Leather Man was Jerry Roberts.

Fantasy '92 was held in Dallas and the numbers were disappointing to the weekend producers.

NLA: Houston led the Leather contingent in Houston's Lesbian/Gay Pride Week.

The British Court of Appeal upheld an earlier judgement that it was unnecessary to prove that the alleged victim of the Spanner Six trial did not give his consent to acts performed on him and dismissed the appeals of the defense to reverse their conviction. A fund was started by SM Gays of London, the NLA and London Blues.

 A committee to represent Los Angeles at the 1993 March On Washington was held in West Hollywood, CA.

Canada Customs went on a schtunk by seizing several publications including Issue #35 of The Leather Journal.

The Leather Journal became the first major Leather publication to endorse a candidate for president of the United States, Democrat Bill Clinton.

The Ontario (Canada) Human Rights Code was changed to recognize same-sex spouses. Northbound Leather was presented the Pink Trillium Award in Toronto.  Some schmuck used the names of several titleholders to steal money from community do-gooders. Mr. Portland Leather Kelly Ferris raise $1,000 for the Gorilla Theatre, a non-gay youth AIDS education group.

Race Bannon began organizing the project that would get definitions changed in the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Bannon and Guy Baldwin were also working together in an attempt to get Amnesty International to redefine their position on torture to exclude safe, sane and consensual SM practices.

One of the world's renowned whip makers, Jay Marston, announced her retirement from the industry due to carpal tunnel syndrome.

A Christmas Sash Bash hosted by Mr. Connecticut Leather Lem Suiter netted $622 for the Bread & Rose organization. Club Calgary raised $580 at Black Christmas III for the Greenbough Fund of AIDS Calgary.

Spearhead's Toys For Tots drive collected 500 toys and $700 for the Red Door Family Shelter in Toronto.

New on the Scene

Moonlight Leather Association of the Deaf, San Diego, CA; NLA: Kansas City; Diaper Pail Fraternity, Sausalito, CA; Ohio Broncos, Cleveland, OH; Teddy Bear Leather Club, Richmond, VA; Los Angeles Deaf Leather Association, Los Angeles, CA; Cable Car Chapter (San Francisco) of the Knights of Malta, San Francisco, CA; The Regiment, Chicago, IL; NLA: St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; COLD (Colorado Outdoor Leather Dykes), Denver, CO; Trident: Toledo, Toledo, OH; Safer S/M Group, Toronto, Ontario; Sensuality And Mutuality Everywhere, Toronto, Canada; Rubbout I, by Bill "Northwind" Houghton, Vancouver, BC; the boys Club, Los Angeles, CA; C-Space, Seattle, WA; Sisters of the Rose, Kirkland, WA; Lone Star Stallion LL/MC, Dallas, TX; NLA: New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Foot Friends, New York, NY; International Masters and Slaves Association, Los Angeles, CA; Minnesota Leather Den, Brooklyn Center, MN; 501 Levi's Club, Los Angeles, CA; Aries/University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Defenders: Denver, Denver, CO; Mooncussers, Provincetown, MA; Minnesota Leather Encounter, Minneapolis, MN; NLA: Carolinas, Wilmington, NC; NLA: Columbus, Columbus, OH; Neue Regal, Jacksonville, FL; Tampa Bay Bondage Club; Empire LLC, San Bernardino, CA; Three Rivers MC, Pittsburgh, PA; Knights of Malta: Motherlode Chapter, Modesto, CA; Omaha Players Club, Omaha, NE; NLA: Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN; Powewrsurge women's kink weekend, Seattle, WA; Ursus, Dayton, OH; L&L Society: Eastern Ohio Chapter, Akron, OH; Southern California Wrestling Club, Los Angeles, CA; Sabers of Artemis, St. Louis, MO

Books and Publications

The Black Book, a phone book of sorts for the Leather community founded by Bill Brent of San Francisco released its first issue.

Drummer Magazine was sold to Martijn Bakker Daico Corporation of Holland. The selling publisher, Tony DeBlase, was named editor emeritus.

The Leather Journal would begin publishing CUIR Magazine which would focus on male erotica in fiction, photography and illustrations.

SM Gays released the SM Gays Resource Book which included such topics as SM and the Law, Piercing, Mummification, Travelling in the USA and SM Guide to Safe Sex.

The Leather Journal's new sibling male-erotic fiction publication, CUIR, hit the streets in the fall.

T.A. Feldwebel, past editor of DungeonMaster, started his own publication, Checkmate Magazine.

Pop music star Madonna released a book titled Sex.

The Internet

The Leather First BBS announced that its computer bulletin board system reached coast to coast.

Milestones

25 Years: American Uniform Association

20 Years: Knights of Malta: Jet Chapter, Seattle, WA; Atons, Minneapolis, MN; Rainbow MC, San Francisco, CA; Stallions, Cleveland, OH

15 Years: Phoenix Uniform Club, San Francisco, CA; Tsarus, Memphis, TN; 15th Annual  Sex Maniacs Ball, London, UK

10 Years: Saber MC, Hollywood, FL; Crucible MC, Pittsburgh, PA; Arizona Rangers MC, Phoenix, AZ; Gopher X run, Atons, Minneapolis, MN; 10th annual Memorial Day Interfaith Service and Candlelight Vigil, Chicago, IL; VASM (Vancouver Activists in SM) Vancouver, British Columbia; Texas MC, Dallas, TX; 10th Annual Alan Selby's Fetish and Fantasy Ball, San Francisco, CA; Harbor Masters, Portland, ME

Five Years: Womanlink, Berkeley, CA; Griffins MC, Newark, DE; Wet and Wild campout, Lion Regiment, Boise, ID; Acorn V run, Oberons, Milwaukee, WI; Hot Ash, the international cigar fetish club, New York, NY; Firedancers LLC of Dallas, TX; VASM (Vancouver Activists in SM), Vancouver, British Columbia; Somandros, Los Angeles, CA

Gone, But Not Forgotten

Don Lofgran, owner of Don L Leather was found dead in the street about a block from his store in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles, CA.

Leather activist Ron Arrowsmith, Toronto, Ontario died.

Mike Hodge, owner of the Parliament House and Leather community activist, Orlando, FL died.

Leather video star and entertainer Andrew Robert Okun, better known as Al Parker, San Francisco, CA passed on.

International Mr. Leather 1983 Coulter Thomas, San Francisco, CA died.

Dennis Ucci, the name sake of the Mama Ucci column and office manager for The Leather Journal passed away due to AIDS related complications.