Mates Leather Weekend raises record sum
By Richard Conley
375 Leatherfolk were on hand for the 24th Mates Leather Weekend in Provincetown, MA the weekend of September 30 - October 4 and by all accounts had a great time. The event raised a record $6,440 for the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, bringing the total to date over - Continues
$78,000. In addition, 26 men took part in ASGCC’s Free Health Screening throughout the weekend.
The 2021 First Mate Contest was held on Saturday, October 2 with First Mate 2001 David Oravez as emcee. David did an awesome job hosting the contest which had 10 entrants. After careful consideration by judges Mr. New England Leather 2020-2021 Roberto Cuero and Mr. FLAG 2021 Dan Ortega, Jim Rios of Boston, MA was chosen First Mate 2021. First Runner-up was Stephen Cyr of Boston, MA and Second Runner-up was Danny Sparkes of Provincetown, MA.
Photos were used from Mates Leather Weekend's Facebook Media page with the majority taken by Nelson F. Martinez. See our Gallery of over 30 photos from Mates Leather Weekend at https://theleatherjournal.com/news/mates-leather-weekend-raises-record-sum
The recipients of this year’s Mates Leather Weekend Brotherhood Awards are Russell Sweeney, Mark Stickney and Jean Ledoux. The Brotherhood Award is given to those who have shown extraordinary and continuous support of Mates Leather Weekend and demonstrate the true meaning of community and brotherhood.
This year’s MLW was dedicated to Russell Sweeney and Matt Harker.
Snowbound Leather Weekend XIV - Get Outta The Cold And Into The HEAT will be February 25-27, 2022 and is produced by Mates Leather Weekend.
http://www.MatesLeatherWeekend.com
http://www.aidssupportgroupofcapecod.org
SF Eagle granted Landmark Historical status
By Joe Kukura for broke-ass-stuart
With the Stud closing in 2020 (though currently “alive” in a sort suspended animation) South of Market’s the Eagle becomes the oldest currently operating leather bar in San Francisco. But the Eagle has taken a beating over the last ten years too; the bar announced it would close in 2011, but managed to reopen the next year with some help from then-supervisors Jane Kim and Scott Wiener. Then the landlord put the building up for sale last September, so even when the bar reopened for Pride Weekend, the Eagle’s future was still up in the air.
It’s less up in the air now. Tuesday night, October 5, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors granted the Eagle Landmark Historical Designation status. There's a lot more to this story. For the rest, go to
https://brokeassstuart.com/2021/10/06/the-eagle-has-been-granted-landmark-historical-status/
CLAW XXI Room Upgrade Raffle and lots of vendors
Book a room at the Westin Bonaventure by October 23 for a chance to win over 25 valuable prizes including a suite upgrade, $250 gift cards to Mr. S Leather, Off Ramp Leather, Mister Bear, and Timoteo, connecting room or meet and greet with a porn star, and great other prizes donated by CLAW 21 vendors and sponsors.
Rooms at the Westin Bonaventure in Down Town Los Angeles start at $139 for CLAW LA, November 25-29. With five sleek, 35-story glass towers, the Bonaventure is architectural landmark said to be one of the most photographed buildings in the world.
As we get closer to CLAW and Thanksgiving interest is growing. The vendor market is going to be huge with merchants traveling from other regions of the country hoping for brisk sales. Black Friday is in that time frame, so that may help draw a huge attendance. We do know there are going to many exceptional workshops, demos and classes.
CLAW XXII will return to Cleveland on its normal weekend, April 28 - May 1.
http://www.clawinfo.org/c21-hotel-raffle
Under the collar
By Race Bannon for the Bay Area Reporter on Tuesday Apri1 4, 2015. Photo by Rich Stadtmiller
Everyone one in a while some one writes something so brilliant and meaningful for the ages. In the Leather world, many of these writings have been by Race Bannon. This one is in regard to collars....
These days you can't go to any of our leather or kink events, bars or venues and not see many people wearing collars. Even a walk down a San Francisco street will reveal the prevalence of collars. The use of collars within our scene is at an all-time high, yet perhaps their meanings are more muddled than ever.
The meanings and purposes behind collars seem to be changing with the times. I am specifically referring here to the types of collars worn continually or regularly by someone, not the kinds that might be used primarily during a BDSM or kink play scene.
If you wear a collar or someone in your life does, what does it mean to you? What is its purpose? How do you navigate their use? What social graces...
Read the rest of this at
https://www.ebar.com/arts_&_culture///225052fbclid=IwAR22a37m5DBwPiwfcHWXGrQ0XIli5Yq9Fgu8YpVqbCfwV3etOM_F4bo4qUI
Avatar Butt Painting, Kinky Swap Meet and CLAW play party
By James McCurdy
Avatar Club Los Angeles will be at Eagle LA on Friday evening, October 22 for its annual Halloween Butt Painting contest. The following week is Avatar's Kinky Swap Meet on their regular evening, Wednesday, October 27 at MCC in the Valley at 7:30 PM.
Avatar will be participating in CLAW on Thanksgiving weekend, November 26-28 by sponsoring the Hercules Dungeon Party at the Westin Bonaventure downtown.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/944319108932491
Fireside Chats aplenty
Doug O'Keeffe has been at it again, releasing several Fireside Chats in August and September are: Mr. Bear Luxembourg 2020-21 Paul Feitler, kinky Taiwanese Rubberman Bryan, Mr. International Rubber First Runner-up and the first placing Rubber titleholder in the Southern Hemisphere Liam Clark, South Africa's only titleholding Bootblack Fiona Horsely, second European Bootblack, from Wales, Alistair Leather Hireath, first European Bootblack, from Germany, Karlheintz Edel, organizer of Icelandic BDSM community events Magnus Hakonarson, and President of Leathermen Scotland Fraser Leith.
All videos are available on Youtube. Zoom has revolutionized the Chats making it more convenient for O'Keeffee to interview Leatherfolk around the world. As many as 10-12 more are planned by the end of this year
https://www.youtube.com/c/FiresideChatswithDouglasOKeeffe/videos
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Roster of Monthly Contributors to The Leather Journal
See who has made monthly pledges to support us
Maybe you will become part of it
https://theleatherjournal.com/news/patrons-of-the-leather-journal
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Mr. Eagle NYC 2022 Pup Kenzo
Mr. Eagle NYC 2022 Pup Kenzo will represent New York City at the International Mr. Leather competition in Chicago in May. This is after he won the Mr. Eagle NYC title at the Eagle NYC October 1-3. Pup Kenzo is a member of the Northeast Pups and Handlers. Events featured a a meet and greet, contest on Saturday and a victory party on the Eagle NYC's roof deck on Sunday.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1193894444411171/
Hooker and Boys presenting 12 Days of Christmas
Hooker and Boys Ministries will be presenting the 23rd Annual 12 Days of Christmas Show - A Live Virtual Show on Saturday, December 11. Hooker and Boys will be broadcasting live via Hoppin from The Maritime Auditorium.
"We hope and look forward to gathering with you and returning to in-person event in December of 2022" said Rik Newton Treadway.
The beneficiaries are AIDS Action Baltimore - Scott Stamsford Memorial Fund, BHT Foundation Hooker and Boys Ministries Out Reach Fund, GLITS, and Phoenix Two Spirit Native/First Nations Scholarship.
This is a burlesque, cabaret, adult variety type event, with live performance, drag, and skits, with a silent auction, raffles, bootblacks, pictures with Santa and Ms Claus, Cupcakes from Belton. Viewers must be at least 18 years of age to view.
https://www.facebook.com/events/405710217240948
Palm Springs Leather Pride judges named
The judges for XXVI Unlocked: Full Release, Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert's Palm Springs Leather Pride were recently announced by club President Clifton Tatum. They are Gabriel Green, Will Angell, Dr. Alex Del Rosario, Bob Miller and Dennis Wood.
PSLOD will have two contestants at IML 2022. They are Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2020 Charlie Harding and this year's winner. Mr. Leather Colorado 2010 Brent Heinze will be the emcee.
All your favorite events will be back, including the Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2021 Contest at the Palm Springs Cultural Center's Historic Camelot Theatre, Mess Hall - the Formal Leather Dinner, the world-famous Clothing-Optional Pool Parties at Canyon Club, a hosted Cigar Social at the Barracks, as well as The Yard - an evening Cruise Party and Vendor Mart at the Tool Shed. The vendors will be there on Saturday, but that is not an official event.
The Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs and the Canyon Club Hotel are the host venues. A new addition by Hocker Productions, is a hot dance event featuring performances, sexy gogo boys and world renowned DJs.
http://www.palmspringsleatherpride.org
Palm Springs Puppy Pool Party
By Wilson Raiser
For all you pups and handlers we're coming to Palm Springs Leather Pride weekend, there is a pup party that is free. It's a BYOE, Bring Your Own Equipment, toys, and other accoutrements. You must RSVP with how many you are bringing. The address will be given by return E-mail. Be prepared to have a nasty puppy time.
E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
OC Leather Hangouts
By Jeff Galley-Reay
Join OC Leather at the Frat House Bar in Garden Grove for our monthly in person get together. These OC Leather Hangouts are designed to get people out in the community, make our presence known, do some educating and raise funds to establish OC Leather as an independent organization and as a non-profit (501.c.).
Typically we include one or more entry level kink demos, discussions, and even several hands-on opportunities to learn new skills and try new kinks with friends, new and old. OC Leather also likes to throw in a few simple games of chance and skill to make the fundraising more FUN-raising.
The next OC Leather Hangouts are on Friday, November 12 and December 10 beginning at 8:30 PM.
Los Angeles Pup Pride Festival
The Los Angeles Pup Pride Festival has been around since 2014 and is here the weekend of 22-24.
This year our judges are Mr. San Diego Leather "Pup Starke" Jay Heimbach, LA Pup 2019 Pup Tony Bark, LA Pup 2020-2021 Pup Star Orion LA, IPTC 2016 Pup Tork, Eagle 562 Pup Pup Kumo, Pup Handler Row Ruckus and LA Alpha Beta Pup 2018 Pup Apollo.
The contestants are Alpha Pup Templar, Pup Ruby Cooper, Pup Simba and Pup Kieran. The host is Pup Applesauce.
The official events are: Friday, October 22, Glow Me: Ghost Dog at the Bullet Bar at 8 PM, $5 cover, 21-plus; Saturday at 2 PM, Howl O' Ween at MCC in the Valley on the patio, 18-plus; LA Pup Contest at MCC in the Valley at 7 PM,18-plus; Sunday, Bone at Eagle LA at 4 PM, the closing party for LA Pup Pride.
https://www.facebook.com/LAPupPride
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Mr. International Rubber XXV announces classes
Mr. International Rubber announced their three educational offerings for this year. All classes are open to the public, free of charge, welcoming and applicable to all gender expressions.
The MIR XXV class line up is: Friday, November 5, Rubber Gear 101 presented by Brad Bartley; Saturday, November 6, Thing Go Wrong: Being Safe and Ready During Scenes by boy Patrick, Goddess Erica and Joey Metler; and Sunday, November 7, Intro to Foot Fetish by Iron Wolf. All classes will be made available via Zoom and select classes will be made available following MIR 25 for viewing.
Mr. International Rubber is fully-operated by volunteers. Some work year round, and others just a few hours during MIR weekend. MIR would love to have you join its friendly family of volunteers.
For more details on the classes and/or volunteering visit
Regiment of the Black and Tans - Firehouse Chili Cook Off
The Regiment of the Black and Tans will hold their 15th Annual Firehouse Chili Cook Off at Eagle LA on Sunday, November 7 at 3 PM, and their Holiday Toy Drive at the Eagle LA the week of December 4 in Los Angeles, CA.
Firehouse Chili Cook Off asks for a $7 donation for Chili Sampling - Trust us - it's worth it. One also gets to vote for best chili. Door prizes and prizes awarded to the best chili in several categories.
Bring an unwrapped child's toy (no stuffed animals please) to Eagle LA. The Black and Tans hold their annual Toast To The Season that night. The toys collected will be on display on the Eagle LA stage and it has been an awe-striking sight every year.
The Regiment of the Black and Tans is a Los Angeles-based social and fraternal organization for men with an interest in uniforms.
https://www.facebook.com/events/202724344770017/
Austin Puppy Culture
Le radeau des Puppies - Taken on September 10 by Gran Canaria by Henry Falco for Strong Construction Men’s Cruising Bar Yumbo supplied by Austin Puppy Culture.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustinPupCulture
Leonard and Larry gay comic strip book
Those of you who are old enough (like me) to remember the Leonard and Larry gay comic strip, which ran in Frontiers magazine/newspaper for years, are in for a real treat. Also, those who have no clue, will be equally pleased to see this iconic gay sitcom when you hear that its author, our friend Tim Barela, has compiled a complete collection, of the entire run of the strip, in a new book. To launch the book, Tim will be doing a book signing.
Attached is a promotional poster for the event to be held at the Barrack’s Bar in Cathedral City on October 23rd starting at 3 PM. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to meet the author of the first and, likely, only gay comic strip centering on two partners living on the ‘edge’ of the Leather and uniform culture. Order your book in advance, to have Tim personalize to you, or a few copies will also be available at the event.
https://www.cbr.com/leonard-and-larry-domestic-comedy-tim-barela/
Gary Chichester tosses first pitch at White Sox game
What a Great Experience! Who would have thought that this queer man of a certain age would have the opportunity to throw out a first pitch at the White Sox 2021 Pride night.
"In addition to having some great friends there cheering me on, I had the pleasure of meeting Drag Race star, Shea Coulee, actor and vocalist supreme, Sawyer Smith, and, of course, Southpaw. I wish to thank the thank the special events team of BMO Harris for the great production job and the invitation of a lifetime. And, of course, the hospitality (and win) of the Chicago White Sox."
ONYX Southwest - Trick or Treat
By Chad ONYX
Join the Men of ONYX Southwest on October 29 from 9 PM – 2 AM for Trick or Treat, a pre-Halloween event at Eagle LA. Come out and trick or treat. There will be demos, go-go dancers, Jello shots, raffles, and music by DJ Candy.
A $5 donation for charity gets one a chance to win an awesome door prize. To enter, all guests must present a valid photo ID along with proof of vaccination in the form of a physical or digital Covid-19 vaccination card or a negative test result within 72 hours.
ONYX is an organization which supports diversity in the gay/bi Leather community. For almost 25 years, the organization has been the bridge between Leather men of color and the broader Leather community.
https://www.facebook.com/events/415403670151702
ACLC celebrates 28th Anniversary
By Marc Owens
ACLC celebrated their 28th Anniversary at the World Famous Turf Club in Hayward, CA. The club was able to donate $1,000 to Project Open Hand and $1,000 to the Dorthy Day House. Oh, and there is a new club baby now. Get that rattle ready.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/47216094228
Leather Walk was a huge success
Leather LGBTQ Cultural District's Leather Walk, during Megahood Weekend in San Francisco, was a huge success, attracting over 250 Leatherfolk and groups, and was attended by Supervisor Matt Haney, Honey Mahogany, BLUF SF, and a host of others.
The group proudly wound through the streets of SOMA visiting favorite community spots. Participants enjoyed Leather Week festivities and had a booth at Megahood - Folsom Street Fair during the last weekend of September. Photo by Norm Lynde.
https://www.facebook.com/sflcd.org
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Dave Rhodes Hump Day Mailing List
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Join our Facebook Group today and Have my biweekly news blog sent to your Facebook Notifications every time we post as well as interviews and main features from The Leather Journal.
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Harold E. Cox passes
From Empire City MC newsletter and other sources
It is with great sadness that we report the recent passing of Harold E Cox. Dr. Harold E. Cox, 90, of Exeter, passed away on Wednesday, September8, 2021, while in the care of Residential Hospice of NEPA, Geisinger South, Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Harold was a founder of and spirit behind Delta Brotherhood International’s formation. He motivated all the hard work that made the Delta Brotherhood International evolve from a wild idea to a premier BDSM run with more than 300 attendees and over 400 members worldwide.
The LURE bar (NYC) was the largest Leather bar in the world and Harold was its majority shareholder. In addition to that, he was editor and later the owner
of Dungeonmaster Magazine and was an honorary member of The 15 Association.
Born in Lynchburg, Va., he was the son of the late Alfred J. and Margaret Trent Cox. He was a US Army veteran serving in active duty from 1954-1956, and then served in the US Army reserves for an additional 30, years achieving the rank of Command Sargent Major.
Harold went on to attend William and Mary University of Virginia and received his doctorate. He became a University professor of history for 52 years, working for Wilkes University.
Cornhaulers Leather and Levi Club disbands
On Saturday, October 9, the membership of the Cornhaulers Leather and Levi Club voted to disband. The Cornhaulers were from Des Moines, IA and were in existence 45 years.
Its members were key in founding Capital City Pride, Iowa Leather Weekend and the All-Iowa AIDS Benefit. The Cornhaulers were part of the MACC (Mid America Council of Clubs.
The club plans to donate key pieces of the history to the Leather Archives and Museum and will present its colors at the Community AIDS Assistance Program on November 20 in Cedar Falls.
People who partake in BDSM have higher pain thresholds, according to new research
By Beth Ellwood for PsyPost
People who practice BDSM have higher thresholds for pain, according to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study also found evidence that engaging in a BDSM experience can further boost pain threshold among submissives.
BDSM is a term that describes sexual roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism, and masochism. All practices are consensual and usually involve two partners who adopt the roles of dominant and submissive. Play often involves the infliction of pain from the dominant partner toward the submissive.
A team of researchers led by Elise Wuyts was interested in studying the role of pain within BDSM interactions. Specifically, the researchers launched... Read the rest at
https://www.psypost.org/2021/09/people-who-partake-in-bdsm-have-higher-pain-thresholds-according-to-new-research-61856
Join the NCSF today and join the fight
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom needs activists now, as much as ever. The NCSF has three levels of membership: 1. Coalition Partners - organizations or businesses who support NCSF with an annual membership of $100/year, plus hold an annual fundraiser to benefit NCSF, and vote on the Board Members; 2. Supporting Members - individuals or organizations who support NCSF with an annual membership of $100/year; 3. Individual Members - individuals who support NCSF and contribute $25/year in membership dues.
NCSF members may apply for liability, property and D&O insurance through the NCSF Members Insurance Program, run by Gleason & Associates LLC. NCSF does not provide the insurance and all disputes are between the insured and the insurance company. NCSF does not receive an endorsement fee with this service.
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A Blast From The Past - AIDS Memorial Quilt
The full display of the AIDS Memorial on the National Lawn in 1996 was impressive, leaving anyone who saw it emotionally impacted. Seeing this and having so many friends' panels included left me fahrklempt.
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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
