Flash Back Gallery - Tom of Finland Events
This week, we focus on events held in Los Angeles at the Tom of Finland House and Tom-related activities in Los Angeles, CA. These 67 photos should captivate your mind and stir your sexual energy - Tom would have it no other way.
Scroll down to Flash Back Gallery to see photo from each year and a link to the Tom of Finland Foundation.
Leather Archives & Museum - 30th Year
There has been much to celebrate over the Leather Archives & Museum's 30 year history, but getting its own building is surely one of the tops.
In August 1999 LA&M closed on the purchase of its new home, and began preparing to move from a storefront of 2,400 square feet into a 10,000 square foot former synagogue. This was important for so many reasons. Owning its own space gave us a greater sense of permanence and created room for the growing collections to expand and be accessible to more people.
The fact that a subversive, kinky, marginalized nonprofit could make this dream a reality is nothing short of miraculous....and that miracle was due to the collective passion and hard work of a community that believed that its history is important. Even more miraculously, over the next five years the community rallied together to raise the money to pay off the mortgage. That commitment is the reason the LA&M exists today, and is the reason the history of the Leather community, organizations, and friends continues to be preserved.
Photo above is of the mortgage burning ceremony during Pantheon of Leather 2005 in the Etienne Auditorium of the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago, IL.
The Leather Archives is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2021 and is excited to share moments from its history, and look forward to many more years to come!
The Leather Journal to resume printing soon
The Leather Journal plans to resume printing its newspaper edition in July. If current trends with COVID-19 vaccinations and businesses continue to reopen there is a strong likelihood the paper will have a July - August 2021 Issue. How many businesses make a come back is vital as is how many have closed permanently.
The most recent publication was the March - April 2020 Issue. Since then we have built up the web site and the biweekly news blog, Dave Rhodes' Hump Day, has taken root in the community.
It is going to take a lot of money to make the return. Funding will need to come from advertising and community support. The Leather Journal will open a GoFundMe drive at the beginning of May. The success of the GoFundMe drive will be a huge factor in determining how soon we can return. The goal will be announced when we post the drive.
With growth in the web site will will be close to realizing one of our goals set in 2012, half of our viewership in print and the other half online. The newspaper will be similar, but the huge Leather Community Calendar will be reduced in size and will include only single events such as CLAW, IML, Folsom Street Fair, Seattle Leather Daddy, Springtime in Yosemite, IMsLBB, Mates Leather Weekend, ILSLb ICBB, Pantheon of Leather, Badger Flat run, among a multitude of others. Gone will be listing club business meetings and monthly events such as club bar nights.
If you know of a bar or Leather shop reopening, please E-mail their link and basic information to tljandcuir@aolcom This will help us re-establish our distribution list as well as give us current contact information.
International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack Virtual Edition
International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack Virtual Edition will be held April 16-18 online. There will not be a contest, so IMsLBB has dubbed the weekend as, This is YOUR title year.
The past year has been difficult, to say the least. Come take a load off and join in as IMsLBB celebrates YOU and all of the Leather Family across the planet who are persisting and finding new and unique ways to do that thing we call Leather.
The past year has been difficult, to say the least. Come take a load off and join IMsLBB as they celebrate YOU and all of the Leather Family across the planet who are persisting and finding new and unique ways to do that thing we call Leather.
IMsLBB will feature 50-plus panels, workshops, art shows, sexy scenes, group activities, hospitality suites and dungeon parties.
Windy City boys Troop vote in new officers
The Windy City boys Troop voted in a new slate of club officers on Monday, April 12 in Chicago, IL. The new president is Boi Debney who said, "I’d like to thank the members for their utmost support. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of such a great group of boys. Here’s to 2021." The remaining officers are Sargent at Arms - Damon, Secretary - Boy Jason, Archivist - Sarah Beth, and Treasurer - Gary Lee.
The Windy City boys Troop works with the Leather community to promote understanding and to educate one another and the greater Chicagoland community, both LGBT and Straight, to better understand the kink and fetish lifestyle.
https://www.facebook.com/windycityboystroop/
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Tom of Finland - 101st Birthday
In celebration of the 101st birthday, Fotografiska in collaboration with Tom of Finland Foundation produced The Darkroom, an exciting study in artist Tom of Finland’s life and work process. The exhibition, curated by Berndt Arell, travels from Stockholm to New York in time for Tom of Finland’s 101st birthday, May 8. The Darkroom exhibits April 30 - August 29. The exhibition consists of photographic portraits which served as reference images for his famed homoerotic drawings. These photographs were confined to Tom of Finland’s home studio and darkroom, displaying them elsewhere would have risked a prison sentence, as homosexuality was criminalized and classified as a mental disorder in his native Finland at the time of this work. Even after a century of Tom of Finland’s birth, there are forces today trying to relegate homosexual desire into dark closets.
As part of the Tom of Finland 101 celebration is a new special edition of Tom's fully-illustrated biography, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero, by F. Valentine Hooven, III. Take a course in how Tuoko Laaksonen became Tom of Finland, the iconic and groundbreaking, internationally renowned artist and experience his positive portrayal of confident gay men with a section devoted to The Darkroom.
https://www.tomoffinland.org/events/tom-of-finland-the-darkroom-2/
Seldom Creek Leathermen’s Campout
Seldom Creek Leathermen’s Campout will be held August 27-29, at a location with 15 secluded tree-lined acres, east of Oregon City, Oregon, east of Interstate 205, about 25 minutes south of Portland International Airport. It will be BDSM focused, with 15 massage tables, crosses, and more dungeon equipment. Clothing optional and sex positive, with outdoor and indoor showers, and an outdoor hot tub. Other amenities include a pavilion with outdoor kitchen with gas barbecue grill and picnic tables, all under cover, and a fire-pit conversation area.
The site features indoor accommodations, tent campsites, and RV spaces with connections. There will be indoor and outdoor dungeon play spaces, and a media room/porn theater. The schedule starts with a Friday evening potluck icebreaker, and there will be demonstrations on flogging, single-tailing, rope bondage, fisting, and sounds.
Bring your own food, linens, camping gear, condoms, coolers, toys, flashlight, and first aid kit. Potable water is available on site.
We are waiting for a link for registration. For more information, E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Get Ron's permission first.
ONYX SoCal-Southwest - COVID PTSD Panel Discussion
Join the Men of ONYX SoCal-Southwest on Saturday, April 17, from 5-7 PM PDT for a COVID PTSD panel discussion hosted by Migs ONYX. The panelists will include Jamila M. Dawson - sex therapist, speaker, author, and Ralph Bruneau - Ph.D., MFT. ONYX SoCal-Southwest will be discussing how COVID has affected the BDSM community mentally, emotionally, socially, and has limited its intimate interactions and play sessions. ONYX Southwest will also explore various ways to overcome the effects of COVID and examine how to safely come back together. There's a $5 suggested donation.
ONYX is an organization that supports diversity in the gay/bi Leather community. For over 25 years, the organization has been the bridge between Leathermen of color and the broader Leather community.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81703136093
https://www.facebook.com/events/483531519358612/
Desert Fetish Authority - Virtual Power Dynamics Group Meeting
A virtual version of the Power Dynamics Group monthly discussion meeting will take place on Sunday, April 18 at 3 PM via Zoom. Attend with or without video. Available via laptop (windows or mac), tablets, android and apple cellphones, and ordinary telephones. To get the connection instructions, you must join the Power Dynamics Group's mailing list at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
The Power Dynamics Group is a group of men who are engaged in or have an interest in any connection between men that involves the exchange of obedience for responsibility, as in a Master/slave, Daddy/boy, etc.
https://desertfetishauthority.com/
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Golden Gate Guards - 49th Golden Dildeaux Awards
The Golden Gate Guards, based in San Francisco, CA, will present their 49th Golden Dildeaux Awards on Saturday April, 24 from 7-9 PM PST online live on Zoom. Yes, the Woodies are back. These humorous awards are intended to poke fun at various sexual activities while at the same time provide fundraising for the PRC (Positive Resources Center.
The GDAs are held in three phases: Nomination, Voting and Awards Ceremony. Nominations for the Golden Dildeaux Awards opened on February 15. Nominations closed on March 19 and voting ends on April 22.
The emcees are Ms San Francisco Leather 2016 Star D. Love and Mr. San Francisco Leather 2016 Cody Elkin. Zoom link to the event will be posted soon.
SF Leathermen's Discussion Group - Curated Kink: 30 Years of Preserving Our Perverted Past
Join the San Francisco Leathermen's Discussion Group on Wednesday April 28 at 7:30 PM to see Leather Archives & Museum Executive Director Gary Wasdin take a long, hard look at the art and artists who helped create many of our ideals of leather and kink, and learn more about their work and their place in our history. From custom on-demand sketches, to bar and bath house advertisements, our fantasies and fetishes come to life. Please note, this program is largely visual with a significant amount of erotic imagery. If you aren’t in the mood to see dick, this may not be the event for you.
Gary is a Bi Dom Leather Poly Daddy Bear who flags red, yellow, tan and hunter green on the left. In his free time Gary enjoys travel, food, and awkward silence. Gary is a passionate advocate for body positivity and sexiness in all shapes and sizes. You can find him in various places online as chicagocigardad.Curated Kink: 30 Years of Preserving Our Perverted Past Daddy Bear who flags red, yellow, tan and hunter green on the left. In his free time Gary enjoys travel, food, and awkward silence. Gary is a passionate advocate for body positivity and sexiness in all shapes and sizes. You can find him in various places online as chicagocigardad.
Eagle Wilton Manors - Mama's Reunion
The Eagle Wilton Manors will host a Mama's Reunion on Saturday, May 15 at 2 PM. Mama will be there and there will be an afternoon barbecue burgers and hot dogs on the outside patio and Bear Den. Please bring a dish. In Leather we are Family. No one can do everything. Still, everyone can do something. Together, we can do anything. RSVP at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Goddess, May I see what's in your bag? - An OCIC Leather Hangout
The OCIC Leather (Orange County Imperial Court) will present an online class, Play Toys on a Budget on Zoom with Goddess Moon, on Friday, May 14 at 8:30 PM. Sir Rudy, Goddess V., Daddy Russ, Wolfpup Jeff, and Reverend Rickilt will host.
https://www.facebook.com/events/440547550343737
Vancouver Puppy Social
The Vancouver Puppy Social will b held online via Zoom, from Vancouver, BC from 7-9 PM. Come on out for a social evening online with everyone from our puppy and pet community. Wear your Leather, rubber, fuzzy, or whatever other gear you want. Of course, gear is admired but never required. Having fun is the only requirement.
Van-Pah's current officers are: President - Pup Figaro, Vice-President - Pup Roxy, Secretary - Daddy Rodney, Treasurer - Pup CoxSux’R, Membership - Pup Teekay, Events - Pup Helm, and Bylaws and Communications - Pup Frio.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83616510297?pwd=WU1LdWd4eEZYdFR3L0ltOHFLSmVNZz09
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Flash Back Gallery - Tom of Finland Events
This week, we focus on events held in Los Angeles at the Tom of Finland House and Tom-related activities in Los Angeles, CA. These 67 photos should captivate your mind and stir your sexual energy - Tom would have it no other way.
The Tom of Finland House, located in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles, has hosted Tom of Finland Art Fairs, California B&B Corps holiday dinners and cocktail receptions during LA Leather Pride Week, Tom's own holiday party. Aroind town, years ago, Art Fairs were held in West Hollywood, and more recently, Tom's Bar at the Faultine and events at Rough Trade.
Los Angeles is proud of its Leather community's legacy and the Tom of Finland has been one of the things that makes LA great. Find out more about the Tom of Finland Foundation at the link below. Thank you to Robert Green and Motorboot Photography for the use of many of the photos in this Flash Back Gallery.
The next Hump Day will feature CLAW. We would all be getting ready for CLAW to be held in Cleveland at the end of April. The Leather Journal missed the first CLAW, but we have been at all of the others and we have an awesome treasure chest of photos for you.
https://www.facebook.com/ToFFHouse
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A Blast From The Past - CLAW
From the day Bob Miller and Dennis McMahon met and decided to do something different by producing an event that was "0-percent contest and 100-percent fun," CLAW, Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend was destined to become a hit in the American Rust Belt. Now it is a well-oiled event that draws a few thousand Leatherfolk at the end of April every year. They have over 600 volunteers which is more than the total attendance at other major events. The Leather Journal was at all but the first CLAW and we've loved it every year. Wait until you see the Flash Back Gallery on CLAW in the next Dave Rhodes' Hump Day.
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Links to all Dave Rhodes' Hump Days going back to August 9, 2017
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2132-links-to-all-dave-rhodes-hump-day-posts
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The Leather Journal was founded in May, 1987. The Leather community was hungry for news magazine that covered clubs, organizations and events. TLJ has successfully met that need for 34 years. We have adapted to change more than once and when the Internet came about we were there by adding www.TheLeatherJournal.com
