Flash Back Gallery - 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.
Scroll down to Flash Back Gallery to see photos, from each year and a link to CLAW where you can find out more about CLAW LA which will be held in Los Angeles in November.
Conversations with Leather - Bob Miller
What would be a better time to interview Bob Miller of CLAW fame than over the weekend when CLAW XX was to be held. We have a great conversation with Bob. He answers a lot of questions about CLAW XX which will be next April in Cleveland and CLAW LA which will be Thanksgiving weekend in Los Angeles, the last week of November. Read to find out things about Bob Miller heretofore, not known by the general public.
Palm Springs Leather Pride XXVI
As the Governor of California continues to loosen Covid 19 restrictions with the hope of a fully open economy in June, the membership of Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert is confident that we will be able to safely meet this Fall and have one hell of a reunion at Palm Springs Leather Pride the weekend of October 28-31. All your favorite events will be back including the Formal Leather Dinner at the Palm Springs Air Museum, several clothing optional pool parties at the resorts, a Cigar Social, evening parking lot cruise parties at the Leather bars, the Mr. Palm Springs Leather Contest, plus all the private events that make the weekend hot.
PSLOD anticipates registration will go on-line in early July 2021. As in past years, there will be two categories consisting of a VIP package which will include all official events and the Formal Dinner, plus the event T-shirt; and another package for all official events except the Formal Dinner, and T-Shirt.
The White Party has announced they will hold their event the same weekend as PSLP. Hotel rooms will be at a premium so reserve now. PSLP does not have a host hotel which allows attendees to choose based upon the wide range of styles, amenities, location, or price.
http://www.palmspringsleatherpride.org
Leather projects in San Francisco South of Market district advance
By Matthew S. Bajko for the Bay Area Reporter
Several projects celebrating the leather and kink history of San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood are inching along, from the completion of a public parklet named after an iconic bar to the installation of sidewalk markers recognizing current and former LGBTQ businesses in the area.
A new crosswalk sporting the blue, white, and black colors of the leather flag now marks the start of the Eagle Plaza public parklet on 12th Street at Bernice. The $1.85 million project, begun in 2019, is turning a portion of the roadway into a community gathering space. Nearly complete, it is named after the gay-owned Eagle bar that sits on the corner of 12th and Harrison streets at the other terminus of the parklet. To read the entire story check out
https://www.ebar.com/index.php?id=304118
The Leather Lap/Top Variety Show - Joey McDonald
Join the Leather Archives & Museum for the May 20th edition of The Leather Lap/Top Variety Show. Our co-Tops Choc Trei and Heather Raquel will welcome special guest Joey McDonald for an evening of sexy fun and reflection on Leather, kink and whatever else comes up! As always, there will be entertainment, games, chances to win cool swag, and plenty of eye candy. The fun kicks off at 8pm eastern/7pm central.
Joey McDonald identifies as a Recovering, Black, Gay Leatherman. He likes pushing boundaries when playing, especially along the edge of pain & pleasure. He enjoys activism and advocacy work within the Leather, recovering, LGBTQIA+, HIV/AIDS and African-American communities, has been sober since 1991 and a part of the BDSM, fetish and leather communities since 1977. He currently serves as president of The Renslow Charitable Foundation.
This is an online event. A zoom link will be shared on LAM’s website and social media the day of the event. If you’d like to be added to our email list to receive the link directly for this and other events, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Golden Gate Guards - Golden Dildeaux Awards
By Marc "Pony" Owens
Saturday, April, 24, The Golden Gate Guards presented the 49th Golden Dildeaux Awards online live on Zoom. These humorous awards are intended to poke fun at various sexual activities while at the same time provide fundraising for the Positive Resources Center, formerly known as AIDS Emergency Fund. Masters of Ceremonies Mr. San Francisco Leather 2016 Cody Elkin and Ms San Francisco Leather 2016 Star D. Love did a fantastic job as emcees.
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of all those who donated, the Golden Gate Guards presented a record-breaking check for $9,452 to the PRC for their Emergency Financial Assistance program. The Golden Gate Guards sends the biggest Thank You of all who donated and participated to make the Golden Dildeaux Awards successful.
Oedipus MC rides again
Members and friends of the Oedipus Motorcylce Club went on a ride from Starbucks in Calabasas, CA to Neptune's Net in Malibu. The group rode through Malibu Creek Park, to the coast, then into the hills after passing Solstice Canyon and into Malibu Springs before hitting Pacific Coast Highway at Leo Carillo State Park and Neptune's Net. Oedipus MC has several day rides throughout the year. Find out what they are doing next at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/oedipusmcla/
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Eagle NYC re-opens - Spread Your Wings
By Steven Cunningham
Can’t believe I’m posting this, but I will be DJing at The Eagle NY next Friday, April 30, from 5 PM - 11 PM with no cover. The Eagle NY will be open beginning Wednesday, April 28 and remain open Wednesday through Sunday, 5 - 11 PM to start. The first floor and roof top will be open. New York City guidelines will be in place which includes mandated mask wearing and social distancing. The bar can admit up to 50-percent capacity. Clothes check will be open. A vaccination card is not required for entrance. Welcome back, Eagle NYC. Eagle NYC, 554 West 28th Street, New York, NY 10001.
ONYX Leather-Kink Brunch-Munch at ABQ Eagle Bar
By Bear Mike
Leather extroverts are ready to get back to safe in-person socializing with vaccinations on the rise! ONYX is hosting a first-Saturdays munch for the entire Leather/kink community in Albuquerque and all visitors at
the ABQ Eagle Bar located inside of Sidewinders S4200 Bar and Grill. First event is May 1, 11 AM to 2 PM. Representatives from multiple ONYX chapters, New Mexico Leather League, Albuquerque Leather Daddys,
Alternative Erotic Lifestyles and others will enjoy great food, drink and conversation. It will be a safe space to explore, learn, ask questions, and share your experiences. Hosts will be Bear Marvin, Bear Mike, Magnum Masters, Pup Spike and many of their friends.
https://www.facebook.com/events/472418287288115/
Inside Leather History - A Fireside Chat announces new Chats
Inside Leather History - A Fireside Chat will present on Zoom as XXX visits with Cherri Jubal-Lee of Chicago, Hardy Haberman of Dallas, Sheldon Harrison of Male Hide Leathers Chicago, Greta von Breitenbach of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Switzerland, Melbourne Australia Rubberman 2016 Liam Clark, Mangus Hakonarson from the Iceland kink community, and UK bootblack Alistair Leatherhiraeth. In person Chats are expected to resume next year.
The Fireside Chat Series is co-produced by Douglas O’Keeffe and Mistress Joanne C. Gaddy. The Chats seek to capture the memories, reflections, and experiences of leaders primarily in the leather, kink, and LGBTQ worldwide communities. Commonly presented in a talk show format at various private or public venues, the Chats may be live on stage or as a video chat. In a live setting, the audience has an opportunity to ask questions of the subject following the formal interview. The footage of each Chat is preserved and may be in The Leather Archives and Museum. Some Chats are available on The Fireside Chat Series YouTube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjxC8KIsoDGfm21oGG8CeQ
Houston Misfits elect officers and return to Ripcord
By Cam Scott
The Houston Misfits held officer elections for 2021-2022 at its April business meeting. Officers include President - “Cam O” Scott Neumann, Vice President - Bob Daumer - Secretary - Noah Huizar, Treasurer - Chris Brooks, and Historian - Keith Evans
In recognition of the increased numbers of Covid vaccinations, the Misfits plan a Sunday funday return to our home bar, The Ripcord, on Sunday, May 2. The event, called Emergence, is a celebration of the beginning of normalcy following a difficult year of isolation and quarantine. The impromptu event will begin at 3 PM on the back patio and masks and social distancing are encouraged, along with Leather and gear.
Bears SD Dinner Night - Live and in Person
As a part of an ongoing effort to get back to something resembling normalcy, Bears SD is pleased to announce their first in person Dinner Night in over a year. Seems only fitting to do this at a place that makes bear-sized portions, so Bears SD is gonna head out to El Cajon to their pals at the Black Bear Diner on Thursday, May 27 at 7 PM. While at present having everyone sit together isn't possible, we are gonna try to cluster a few tables of 4-6 bears and see how this works.
Bears San Diego is a club for bears and bear fanciers. We are based in San Diego, California but we have members throughout the United States and even a few from overseas. Bears San Diego was established in San Diego in October 1994 when a need was recognized for a group who did not fit in with the mainstream gays, Within the first year, the club grew to 100 members.
https://www.facebook.com/events/494088705106677/
ShipMates Club of Baltimore - Annapolis Pride
By Rodney Burger and TLJ Staff
The Second Annual Annapolis Pride will be on October 30 in Annapolis, Maryland. "Can’t have Annapolis without ShipMates." The club will undoubtedly be a big part of this. The March meeting of the ShipMates Club will be held via Zoom on Sunday, March 14 at 5 PM. Everyone is welcome. The Zoom link will be posted here when we get closer to the meeting date. Winter is almost over! Spring is coming. Please stay safe.
http://www.baltimoreshipmates.com/
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MIR Rubber Club Summit
Our next Rubber Club Summit will be held on Saturday, May 8 from 10 AM-12 PM, EST. If you are a club organizer, member, or just interested in learning more about improving rubber club operations, join the Summit via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96854162619?pwd=RjEvdkUrM0J0d3g4L0YrZFdqcWlpZz09
This quarter's host is Jason Pearce of Melbourne Rubber. The discussion agenda for this quarter is two fold: Shared Virtual Meeting / Streaming Video Platforms, and Bridging Generational Divides - By Keeping Kink Positive. Each will be about 45-50 minutes with a 10-minute break in the middle.
The Rubber Club Summit will convene quarterly meetings and rotate co-hosts during the months of February, May, August, and November. If you cannot join us in May, stay tuned as we'll be reaching out to solicit co-hosts for our August meeting. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.
Payasos LA - Tutus and Heels
Tutus and Heels is a walk for the LGBTQ Youth of Camp Brave Trails produced by Payasos LA and the current Eagle LA Mr. Leather. This is a fun short mile walk in High Heel’s and Tutu’s in Silver Lake. The route includes Akbar on Sunset Blvd., Eagle LA on Santa Monica Blvd, and a big Payasos-style bash at Rough Trade Gear store on Sunset Blvd.
Why Walk and Why High Heels? Payasos LA is bringing the community together one step at a time, as they raise awareness and funds for important causes and charities, such as Camp Brave Trails. A short walk while flying the biggest freak flag one can muster is a great way to get others to support you in raising funds.
You will need to be registered to participate in the event and join Payasos LA at the After Party beer bust at Rough Trade. Register at
https://tutusandheels.eventbrite.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/489720002217771
Leatherfolk Book Club
The Leatherfolk Book Club meets once a month on Zoom. The Leatherfolk Book Club reads a mix of fiction, biography, histories or historically important writings, and contemporary theoretical writings on Leather, kink, public sex, queer communities, and gay life. 2021 Summer Term: May 19, June 16, July 21. Please notes that book Club Meetings will be on Wednesday evenings this summer. The Leatherfolk Book Club will return to Saturday mornings in September. Sign up for the Leatherfolk Book Club at
http://www.leatherfolkbookclub.com
For question, E-mail Kevin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Empire City MC - 10th Annual Motorcycle Weekend
Save the date and come celebrate Empire City MC's 10th Annual Motorcycle Weekend at The Ranch in Hemlock, NY the weekend of May 28-31. The Ranch will no longer be available, but the men of Empire MC are working plans for a new venue for this popular east coast motorcycle club run. Albert and Dan, owners of "The Ranch" have been more than generous with their home since they bought it many years before Empire City MC started hosting Motorcycle Weekend there. See the Empire MC web site below to find details on the run and registration.
Saturday, May 7 Ride: 'Rusty Rider' Ride. Meet up at the northbound Mobil petrol station on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, just north of the George Washington Bridge at 12:30. KSU at 13:00 with full fuel tank and empty bladders. Empire City MC will ride up the Palisades Interstate Parkway for a bit, then tool around in the vicinity -- cross over the Bear Mountain Bridge and ride the "Goat Trail" to the roundabout, which will bring us to the Parkway to come home to Manhattan... Folks from New Jersey can split off to take the Tappan Zee Bridge (Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge) to avoid the G.W. traffic. If the weather is unusually cold or wet, the rain date is May 8.
NCSF Guest Blog: Slut Shame and Kink Shame
The Experience of Trying to Live Authentically in World of Sexual Bullies
By Dr. K – The Submissive Next Door
Sex is part of who we are as humans…let’s start with that. Every human is here as a result of a sexual act happening in some way. Our society is the result of successful procreation for centuries and yet American culture is simultaneously obsessed with purity, while in the shower or behind closed doors they are engaging in self-pleasure, imagining the next-door neighbor bent over the sofa or getting flogged at a dungeon (for some of us anyway).
Yet, it is this very obsession with purity and continuation of a “should” mentality as a society (i.e. how we think a lady “should” behave, or how we “should” act in polite society, for example. This is also where we get gender and identity stereotypes) that is perpetuating a “shame first, ask questions later” mentality.
As we have spent more time at home, we have seen the world of sex and kink... Continue reading at
https://ncsfreedom.org/2021/03/11/guest-blog-slut-shame-sex-shame-and-kink-shame-the-experience-of-trying-to-live-authentically-in-world-of-sexual-bullies/
Angel City Emergency Fund
The Angel City Emergency Fund was started by The FoundNation after postponing the 2020 Los Angeles Ms/Mx/Bootblack contests. ACE offers micro-grants to those affected by economic hardship due to the COVID-19 containment measures. Anyone in the Leather/Kink/Fetish community in LA and the surrounding counties can apply for expenses related to immediate need. ACE is actively seeking to partner with other community entities to signal boost, identify those in need and maximize the effectiveness of this effort. “Time to set aside differences and come together and do what we do best in times of crisis.” said Scarlett Sin, Chair of The FoundNation. For more information on the fund and how to donate or apply, visit
https://foundnation.info/angel-city-emergency-fund/
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Flash Back Gallery - 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.
To reserve your room for CLAW-LA at the 33 story architectural wonder Westin Bonaventure in November go to https://clawinfo.org/planning/claw-la-registration/hotels-reservations
https://clawinfo.org/virtual-claw/virtualclaw
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A Blast From The Past - XXX
XXX.
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Links to all Dave Rhodes' Hump Days going back to August 9, 2017
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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
