Flash Back Gallery
Southwest Leather Conference
The Southwest Leather Conference was held in late January in Phoenix, AZ. It was known as the "Woo Conference" due to its emphasis on spirituality in particular. This photo is of a drumming corps which played at the main events on Friday and Saturday nights in 2011. Southwest Leather Conference included workshops, classes, spiritual meetings and services for a variety of faiths, Southwest Master slave contest, group dinners, cocktail parties, an awesome hospitality suite, a limited vendor mart and huge play parties on Friday and Saturday nights. Scroll down to see all 45 photos.
Gayle Rubin's acceptance of the National LGBTQ Task Force Leather Award
Anthropologist, theorist, and writer Gayle Rubin was honored with The Leather Leadership Award for her work and studies within the Leather community at the 33rd Annual Creating Change Conference. Held virtually from January 28-31, the Conference was run by the National LGBTQ Task Force. Below is her speech which was given live and recorded.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10596kp1pmauOTsdLPLOwzLsoJt08dwNe/view?ts=6021575e
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 are free so submit as many ballots as you wish. The nominations will close at 11:59 PM on March 19 giving plenty of time to ensure your "friends" get enough votes to appear on the final ballot. Voting runs March 22 - April 22.
The emcees are Ms San Francisco Leather 2016 Star D. Love and Mr. San Francisco Leather 2016 Coldy Elkin. Zoom link to the event will be posted soon.
Folsom Street Fair.org launches community center, reclaiming anti-gentrification roots
The fair may go on, but new Folsom Street Community Center for Alternative Sexualities will be year-round resource
By Marke B. for 48hills
“I can’t tell you how excited we are—and of course a little exhausted and nervous,” Folsom Street Events Interim Director Angel Adeyoha told me with a laugh over the phone, after three days of unpacking boxes in the organization’s new space on Ninth Street between Howard and Folsom. “But I always say, If I’m not scared, I’m not doing it right."
Many of us are holding our ball-gagged breaths to see if major events like the organization’s massive, 37-year-old fetish-fest Folsom Street Fair and its “dirty little sibling” Up Your Alley can happen in person this year, in the wake...
https://48hills.org/2021/02/folsom-street-fair-org-launches-community-center-reclaiming-anti-gentrification-roots/
ONYX Southwest - 50 Shades of Kink
Join the Men of ONYX Southwest for a virtual beer-bust, 50 Shades of Kink, live via Zoom. They may not be able to meet in person, but that is all the more reason to come together and have a blast. Wear your sexiest Leather gear and party with ONYX Southwest. Enjoy raffles, demos and more.
$5 suggested donation. Payment through either VENMO at ONYX-Southwest or via PayPal at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. All proceeds from 50 Shades of Kink will go to ONYX' amazing home bar, Eagle LA to help keep their doors open. ONYX Southwest will match every donated dollar, up to $250.
https://www.facebook.com/events/143550507605305/
_______________________________________________________________
Dave Rhodes Hump Day Mailing List
Three months ago we had 173 members - Now there are 894
Join our Facebook Group today and Have my biweekly news blog sent to your Facebook Notifications
If already a member, please invite your friends.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107211362781405/
_______________________________________________________________
ONYX Pearls NY-NE - Confessions of Lust and Love
Join ONYX Pearls NY-NE for a sultry evening meant to turn up the HEAT of your February evening at Confessions of Lust and Love - Spoken Word and Cigar Social. Featuring kinky erotica readings mixed with the exploration of lust and love every attendee will be left fanning their flames. Bring your cigar, drink, and sexy thoughts. This two-hour Zoom event is on Saturday, February 27, from 5-7 PM PST. Current authors on the list to read are Poetic ONYX, DominaKat, Da Kollector, Gaia Amor, and.... Each reader will get about 10 minutes. Anyone interested in signing up to read, please reach out via DM. Slots are limited.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/confessions-of-lust-love-spoken-word-cigar-social-tickets-137888069929
http://onyxpearlsnynortheast.us/
Bullet Cigar Bar
Bullet Cigar Bar virtual is back on the fourth Saturday of every month and is hosted by Master Kevin Cowger. The Bullet Bar invites you to this Cigar Bar scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Cigar Bar is on February 27, starting at 9 PM Pacific Time. Cigarmen, friends and admirers - relax, smoke a stogie and have a cocktail - at home. Back Room - Must be 21-plus. Video and audio must be on. The Bullet Bar invites you to this Cigar Bar scheduled Zoom meeting. Cigar Bar is on January 23 at 9 PM Pacific Time. Join Zoom meeting at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89293218109
Leather Archives and Museum - FEK Draw
The next FEK Draw is coming up Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:30 PM Central. These figure drawing classes feature a different model each session and focus on kink and fetish poses. All skill levels are welcome from novice to expert, and you may attend online or in person. The cost is $10 to cover the model fees and may be paid through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or online below. E-mail the Leather Archives at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details or to register for next week's event.
The Leather Lap/Top Variety Show. Every Third Thirsty Thursday we gather online for some fun, conversation, hot looks, and a very special guest star. Event starts at 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM Central via Zoom.
https://www.facebook.com/leatherarchives
In The Spotlight presents Race Bannon
In The Spotlight will host special guest Race Bannon via Zoom on Monday, March 8, at 8 PM Pacific Time. Mistress Cyan will talk with Race, who has been at various times an organizer, writer, educator, commentator, leader, speaker and activist in the LGBT Leather and kink, polyamory and HIV/STI prevention realms since 1973. His list of accomplishments and accolades is so long it would fill a Russian novel.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84851090188?pwd=aUI0L3B0Qzk0VWZTL3U4RFhFZDFmdz09
Meeting ID 848 5109 0188 - Passcode 011527
FLAME Conference
FLAME Conference is a three-day, entirely online educational event. The event will be held February 19-21, 2021 in your home. The FLAME Conference keynote speaker will be Jessica Bootblack (Jessie). A few of the 25-plus classes are On the Edge of Consent by Sir Luke and His victor, Ownership as a Spiritual Faith by The Rooks, Say Yes to Saying No by Underground Sea, and Ageplay Elementary by Coco. There will be an opening ceremony, Cigar social and other group socials and vendors.
FLAME is the collaborative effort of several community members whom have come together to provide space for all members of the Kink, BDSM, and Leather communities to fellowship and learn.
https://www.flame-conference.com/
_______________________________________________________________
Please Support The Leather Journal
Send us some love
https://www.patreon.com/theleatherjournal
_______________________________________________________________
Mr. International Rubber
MIR 25 - The Silver Anniversary of Mr. International Rubber, will be held November 5-7 in Chicago. While its producers are not quite sure what form it will take, rest assured they'' do it all again in 2021.
Mr. International Rubber's first quarterly Zoom summit will be held on Saturday, February 20 from 12-2 PM EST. The plan is to convene quarterly meetings and rotate co-hosts during February, May, August, and November meetings. If you are a club organizer, member, or just interested in learning more about improving rubber club operations, we hope you will join us via Zoom. February's summit will be co-hosted by MIR's Market Coordinator, Tim Gustafson, and MIR 20, Preston "wexx" So.
https://zoom.us/j/92896015799?pwd=MGs0b1N4SVpVRytmRHMwd3NZTDdSZz09
Meeting ID: 928 9601 5799 - Passcode: 924192.
ONYX Northwest new officers
ONYX Northwest released the names of their club officers for 2021. They are: President Trey, Vice President Graylin, Secretary Mac, Treasurer Jordan, Sergeant at Arms Corso, Road Captain Lobato, Pledge Master Okodee, Historian, Lindo and Development Lux.
ONYX is an organization formed and operated by Men of Color who enjoy the leather lifestyle. This chapter covers California (the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento and Monterey Areas), Washington, Oregon and Alaska and Northern Nevada (i.e. Reno).
Richie F. Chameroy-Ogorek
Richie F. Chameroy-Ogorek passed directly during a collapsed lung operation on January 12, 2021. Doctors found a bubble in his lung on January 11 and the surgery was the next day. He did not make it out of the operating room alive. Pneumothorax was the cause. He was born on October 7, 1963 and was a member of the Desert Overture Wind Symphony, lived in Cathedral City, CA. He held the International Mr. Bootblack 2003 title. Richie posted about himself, "'The Pixie,' I am a flutist, a barber/hairdresser, and an educator."
https://www.facebook.com/richard.chameroy/about_overview
Bootblack Round-Up 2021
Bootblack Round-Up will be held October 15-17 right in the comfort of your living room. That a little one-day bar event has turned into a weekend-long bucket-list event for Bootblacks around the world. Follow Bootblack Round-Up on Facebook or check the Bootblack Round-Up website for updates on presenter applications and the virtual shine-off.
http://www.bootblackroundup.com
Unbound - Looking for male-identified singers
Any voice-inclined kinksters in the Denver vicinity? Looking for male-identified singers (tenor, bari, bass-bari, and bass) to audition for my first opera...not your traditional plot or music! Deadline February 28. Details below.
Unbound is a new kink opera about searching for a sexual fantasy - the one you think you want, and the one that may change you. Set in a darkened gay fetish club, our main character meets men along the way who offer him scenarios of desire, but no emotional connection. Then a stranger offers something new and different- a bondage experience. Over the evening they build a relationship that builds to a sensual climax. The opera ultimately is about loving oneself and trusting someone else, exploring feelings that are all too often relegated to the shadows. Unbound is a full-length chamber opera in one act for four male-identified voices and electronics (no live instruments). Written by composer Nathan Hall, libretto by Alan Olejniczak.
This is the world premiere of an experimental chamber opera for four male-identified voices and electronics (no live instruments), with BDSM themes of submission, consent, and bondage. The work details a gay man’s exploration of sexual desire, discovering the emotional and sensual possibilities of bondage. This piece is meant to be adult and highly erotic, but not explicit. Unbound is being independently produced by the composer, Nathan Hall, and creative producer Leah Podzimek of Luster Productions.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RMLAlliance/
_______________________________________________________________
Flash Back Gallery
Southwest Leather Conference
The Southwest Leather Conference was held in late January in Phoenix, AZ. It was known as the "Woo Conference" due to its emphasis on spirituality in particular which made it stand out on its own. Southwest Leather Conference, held at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Phoenix, AZ with an average of 575 in attendance for the the three-day conference that was highlighted by a Dance of Souls heavy piercing and suspension ritual, included worsksops, classes, spiritual meetings and services for a variety of faiths, Southwest Master slave contest, group dinners, cocktail parties, an awesome hospitality suite, a limited vendor mart and huge play parties on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Conference featured a Sunday brunch with community service awards and keynote speakers with high-end orators such as Race Bannon, Vi Johnson, Patrick Mulcahey and Mark Frazier. The main demographic was the American Southwest with several coming down from Canada.
_______________________________________________________________
Writer Guidelines
Report your club's news, new titles, major events to us
How you can include your information on Dave Rhodes' Hump Day
Things to send:
1. Short article of about 75-125 words. So what if you are a few over. Please be concise.
2. Photo or two. Landscape preferred. Must be a jpg. Taken with cellphone is fine. Please supply photo credit.
3. Link to a working site. Web site is preferential, Facebook still works.
4. Five "W's" - Who, what, when, why and where. All are important.
5. Please be concise. In news, verbosity is not a virtue; it is an editor's nightmare.
6. Please write in third person.
7. Send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please share us on social media
_______________________________________________________________
A Blast From The Past
Pantheon of Leather 2006
This photo is of Mama's Family before the Pantheon of Leather Awards at the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago, IL in February 2006. Next week's edition of Dave Rhodes' Hump Day will include Pantheon of Leather in the Flash Back Gallery.
_______________________________________________________________
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
_______________________________________________________________
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
