Leather at Pride in New York. Photo by Jane Testa

Welcome to Dave Rhodes' Hump Day - Wednesday, August 30, 2017. This column will appear here every Wednesday on TheLeatherJournal.com

I will be at Pantheon of Leather and ILSLb ICBB this weekend and will have plenty to report afterward, such as September 6.

Satyrs Motorcycle Club's Badger Flat Run
All the best to the nearly 150 Leather/Bikerfolk who will make the trek up into the Central California mountains northeast of Fresno for the Satyrs Motorcycle Club's Badger Flat Run over Labor Day weekend. This is is their 56th year of doing this. Let us know how it turns out if you are going. http://satyrsmc.org/

West Coast Olympus Leather 2017
Mr. West Coast Olympus Leather 2017 is Bill Willis and Ms West Coast Olympus Leather 2017 is Kitty Sjofn who won their titles at Eagle 562 in Long Beach, CA on Saturday night, August 26. Esteban Nunez was presented the Leather Flame Award. Goddess Moon served as emcee. Willis and Kitty, both from San Diego, will compete at International Mr. Ms and Mx Olympus Leather in San Diego next May https://www.facebook.com/ttps://www.facebook.com/ See photo below.

Tarheel Leather Club
The Tarheel Leather Club is honored to be the Color Guard again this year for Pride Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday, October 14. Tarheel Leather Club would like to invite other clubs to march with them this year as they lead the parade. The parade will begin at 11 AM. Line up will be at 4th Street and Poplar at 10 AM. https://www.facebook.com/events/1300217166737419/

Leather Masters and House of Markus
Leather Masters and House of Markus will be taking collections this weekend to add to the relief of those along the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Harvey. Anything from school supplies, clothes, blankets, canned food, baby formula, etc... will be more then welcome. And don't forget the pets too, dog and cat food is need by animal rescue groups. Working with ILSb/ICBB they will have boxes at their booth in the vending area for you to drop off any items. Leather Masters will also have drop off points at Leather Masters, 3000 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226 which will be able to collect any as well.

LA Band of Brothers Title Holder Boot Camp
The LA Band of Brothers will host their Title Holder Boot Camp on Sunday, September 10 at 12 PM at The Factory in Los Angeles, CA. Free interactive workshop featuring past and present LAL Contestants and Judges. Learn how a Leather contests works, participate in contest style Q&A, learn stage presence and much more. https://www.facebook.com/events/266092633888966/?active_tab=about

Mister International Rubber XXI
MIR (Mister International Rubber) will be held the weekend of November 3-7 at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL. https://mirubber.com/

LGBTQ Disaster Relief Fund
The catastrophic and historic impact of Hurricane Harvey will be felt by the LGBTQ community of Houston, TX for days, months, and potentially years to come. Help Us Help LGBTQ sisters and others community members displaced by the storm. The LGBTQ Disaster Relief Fund will be used to help individuals and families begin to rebuild their lives through counseling, case management, direct assistance with shelf stable food, furniture, housing and more. The Bullet Bar has chosen to work thru The Montrose Center in Houston. Hosted by Mr. Bullet Leather 2017 Andrew James Chier and Ms Bullet Leather 2016 Tuesday Niles. Friday, September 1 at 9 PM and Saturday, September 2 at 9 PM. Bullet Bar 10522 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601. https://www.facebook.com/thebulletbar/

Desert Fetish Authority
The Desert Fetish Authority's Discussion Group meets once a month on the second Friday. At the end of each discussion, DFA selects a topic for the following month to serve as a jumping off point. On September 8 they will discuss National and Regional Community Gatherings (IML, CLAW, MAL, Delta, Folsom). Which ones do you attend? Why do you participate? Which ones would you like to learn more about. DFA meets at 7:30 PM, LGBT Center's New Headquarters, 1301 North Palm Canyon Drive, third floor, next to Denny's in Palm Springs http://desertfetishauthority.com

Exiles All-Genders 20th Anniversary

Exiles All-Genders 20th Anniversary Celebration will be at the Center for Positive Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street in San Francisco on Friday, September 22 at 7:30 PM. Sponsored in part by the Society of Janus and the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance, the Exiles' biggest event of the year is going to be even bigger than ever before, this all-genders party that kicks off Folsom Street Fair weekend and it just so happens to coincide with the Exiles’ 20th Anniversary. https://fetlife.com/events/533331

DomCon: New Orleans 2017
DomCon, now celebrating its 14th Year, is The World's Largest Professional and Lifestyle Domination Convention, and the weekend of October 4-7 they're returning to The French Quarter in New Orleans, LA. X. The convention is the result of Mistress Cyan's commitment over the years to bring a better understanding of BDSM in The Adult Alternative Lifestyle, and to bring together those in the BDSM, Leather, Fetish and Professional Communities to share our common interests, celebrate our diversity, and promote awareness through education with demonstrations, seminars, and panel discussions. Whether you’re new to BDSM or a seasoned player, DomCon has a place for everyone. DomCon: New Orleans 2017 will be held October 5-9 at the Crowne Plaza Astor-New Orleans French Quarter, Kenner, LA 70062. http://www.dom-con.com

Mr. Sister Leather 2018
The Mr. Sister Leather 2018 Contest will be held, Saturday, September 16 beginning at 8 PM at Eagle LA in Los Angeles, CA. Join the Los Angeles Sisters as they pay homage to the Stonewall riots, the famous 1969 uprising in what is widely considered to be the most important event leading to gay liberation. Proceeds to benefit the One Archives Foundation. https://www.facebook.com/LASisters/

Palm Springs Leather Pride 2017
Palm Springs Leather Pride 2017 will be held October 26-29 in Palm Springs, CA. The big news is the Friday night Parking Lot Party will return to lot behind the Tool Shed on Friday night. A pool party on Saturday afternoon is a newbie. https://www.palmspringsleatherpride.org/

LA Pup Contest and LA Puppy Pride
The LA Pup Contest and LA Puppy Pride will be held November 9 12 with the contest being on Saturday night at a venue to-be-announced and Friday night Dog Pound at the Bullet Bar. LA Puppy Pride 2016 received the Southland Honors Award for Best Event. https://www.facebook.com/events/1651085808469344/

Meet and Greet for Jeffrey Payne, candidate for Texas Governor
Meet the Man who will Rise4Texas, Jeffrey Payne, Democratic candidate for Texas Governor. Learn more about him and his vision for Texas. Meet and Greet at 5 PM on /September 14 at Martinez Restaurant, 901 Gross Road, Mesquite, TX 75149. http://www.Jeffrey4Texas.com Hosted by Sergio Garcia. A successful business man in Dallas since 2005, Jeffrey Payne's success in Texas business is exactly what he intends to bring to the political office. He wants to see the needs of all Texans being met and not just a select few.

How you can help make Dave Rhodes' Hump Day better - no, the best. If you come up with a date and basic information on a new event, please send us the date and a short detail or two. This is designed for the web site and less so for print, so there is no 45 days-in-advance deadline. If your event is happening on August 27, make sure I have it by Monday afternoon, September 3. Make sure to add your events to the Leather Community Calendar by clicking on Calendar above - follow the directions.

You had a contest over the weekend - send us the names of the winners and a photo and a brief bit about it. We have it by mid-Monday and it will appear on Wednesday. Your events hotel room block opens - that is news. Send the link and a brief. Someone passes, let us know - photo please if available, but do not let lack of an immediate photo stop you from sending. This is news shorts.

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West Coast Olympus Leather. Photo by Dave Rhodes

Durk Dehner and Sharp of the Tom of Finland Foundation visiting Stockholm, Sweden.

Revised ad for Jeffrey Payne's Texas gubernatorial campaign