GLLA 2017 Great Lakes Sir and boy contestants with auction baskets . Photo by Indy

Welcome to Dave Rhodes' Hump Day - Wednesday, October 25, 2017. This column will appear here every Wednesday on TheLeatherJournal.com

IMsBB 2008 Q was Bootblack judge. Photo by Indy

Great Lakes Leather Alliance 2017 held in Indianapolis
By Christina Court
With a Mardi Gras theme Great Lakes Leather Alliance 2017 in Indianapolis, IN (September 28-October 1) was a weekend filled with parties, events and play that left all in attendance earning and tossing beads at one another and shouting, “Laissez les bon temps rouler!: Spirits flowed in the hospitality suite, the Littles held a talent show; Pups held a meet and greet, a mosh pit, and hosted the cookout during the GLLA auction; and Bootblack Alley had a host of guest Bootblacks. Read the whole story here https://www.theleatherjournal.com/news/regional-news/item/1963-great-lakes-leather-alliance-2017

Can A Jew Get Body Piercings?
From My Jewish Learning
While most contemporary Jewish authorities believe ear piercing is fine, the matter grows somewhat more complex when it comes to extensive piercings or piercing other body parts. Is piercing discussed in the Bible? Is body piercing permitted by Jewish law? Does body piercing preclude burial in a Jewish cemetery? These are not the Four Questions some of us are used to in the Passover Haggadah, but they are interesting to our community. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/can-a-jew-get-body-piercings/

Jeffrey Payne, Former IML, Runs for Governor of Texas
Most candidates would shy away from having a portrait taken on a motorcycle wearing full formal biker Leather.

They would be afraid their constituents might take offense and be shocked by such a powerful and frankly sexual image. Not so for the late Governor Ann Richards who donned a kinky white fringed Leather outfit and posed astride a Harley Davidson for a Texas Monthly cover. It was quite a sensation and regarded as a great PR move on her part. That was in 1992 and people thought it was pretty cool back then. Read the rest at https://www.theleatherjournal.com/news/national-news/item/1965-jeffrey-payne-former-iml-runs-for-governor-of-texas and more about his campaign at http://jeffrey4texas.com

SECC Leather Weekend
Mark your calendars for February 15-19, 2018 on Presidents Day Weekend for the 2018 SECC Leather Weekend and Contest. The clubs voted at the last meeting and the Southeast Conference of Clubs event will be held at Parliament Resort August Georgia in 2018. http://mailchi.mp/ccace955d30e/0xikifm3nz-1711757

Bearquake 2017 Hairy Shaft - the movie
Bears San Diego created the You-Tube video Bearquake 2017 Hairy Shaft for presentation during ther mid-October Bearquake weekend. With the help of the San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the bears pulled off this take on Shaft. Bearquake had all of the frolic one would expect at a bear event. Take a look. We loved it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm0lz1qU2E4&feature=youtu.be

Leather Archives & Museum voted into Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame
While LA&M co-founder Chuck Renslow was part of the first inductee class in 1991, we are honored to announce that Leather Archives & Museum was selected as one of 14 of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame 2017 inductees. The Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of LGBT Chicagoans, their contributions to the development of the city, and the help they have received from others for the city’s LGBT residents and their allies. The Hall of Fame’s Annual Induction Ceremony will take place Wednesday, November 8 at the Chicago History Museum, and it is free to the public. For more information, please visit http://www.chicagolgbthalloffame.org

The NCSF table at Fire, presented by our Coalition Partner, The Woodshed.

Narrative Project: Tell your NCSF Story
NCSF has heard a lot of stories over the past 20 years. Now we want to let others hear what you have to say.

Have you been discriminated against because you are kinky or non-monogamous? We want to hear from you. We also want to hear your story if you've been outed or if you've outed yourself as a fetishist, cross-dresser, Leatherman/woman, or because you're in a polyamorous or Lifestyle relationship. We also want to hear if you've been involved in a consent incident in a BDSM or non-monogamous encounter. Please fill out a short survey for each story you'd like to tell us about at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCSFNarrativeProject Tell us your story and we will share it anonymously on http://www.ncsfreedom.org

FLAG Glove'N'Boot
Fits Like A Glove (FLAG) will host Glove'N'Boot night at the Providence Eagle in Providence, RI on Saturday, November 4 at 9 PM. FLAG is 26 years old running strong. This will be their last event of 2017. Providence Eagle resident bootblack Jay Falcon will be on hand. http://fitslikeaglove.org/01_Site/welcome_1.shtml

Beyond Leather
By sirtopsslave
Beyond Leather is gearing up for the best year ever and we have a huge surprise in store for you on Tuesday Halloween, October 31. Save the date April 26-29 and get ready to register as you will NOT want to miss out on this first ever, one day only, special. Beyond Leather will include 55-plus educational workshop choices on power exchange relationships, newcomer 101 education series, edge play, blood sports, skills, rope track, sex and more, by esteemed well known International presenters, four delicious meals, four outstanding theaters putting you on the edge of your seat either laughing or cringing, two contests, three nights on site dungeon play with 9,000 square feet that powers your darkest desire, three nights hospitality delicacies to tempt your palate. http://beyondleather.net/bl

Black and Tans LA Firehouse Chili Cook-off
LA Firehouse Chili Cook-off will be hosted by the Regiment of the Black and Tans and Eagle LA on Sunday, November 5 at 3 PM. Contestants make their own and a door cover of $6 gets one vote for a favorite. Prizes will be awarded in several categories in the early evening. Not to be missed. Eagle LA, 4219 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. For more go to http://blackandtans.org or see their page on Facebook.

Mr. Leather Ottawa XXV
The Ottawa Knights will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Mr. Leather Ottawa the weekend of November 17-19 at Montgomery Centretown Legion, 330 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2A6. The contest will be on Saturday, November 18. Activities include a Friday night welcome dinner, meet the meat, seminars and workshops, public shines, puppy mosh pit, used clothing gear swap, formal Leather dinner, daddy next door party, VIP lounge, and cocktail parties. https://www.facebook.com/groups/13074392396/

Leather History Preservation Weekend

The highly-successful Leather History Preservation Weekend was held at the at Radisson in Highpoint, NC. The keynote Historian was Lady Catherine Gross. Historians included Sir Tom Matt, OB Hamm, Angel Propps and JP Garner III. https://www.facebook.com/events/1104457776269702/

South Africa Safari, Garden Route and Cape Town
South Africa Safari, Garden Route and Cape Town, hosted by Master Travel Gay Tours, will run from December 7-17. This scenic 10-day trip through South Africa's spectacular Eastern and Western Cape Provinces including a four-star Game Reserve. The diverse countryside that makes up the Western Cape includes the lush Garden Route region, the Elephant Sanctuary, the arid Little Karoo region with the Cango Caves and Ostrich farm, the Winelands and South Africa's indigenous wildlife and culture. The natural beauty in and around Cape Town is breathtaking, and after exploring that, including a visit to the Cape of Good Hope, the trip wraps up with a rather spectacular celebration of gay life in South Africa with the Mother City Queer Project. https://www.mastertnt.com/south-africa-tour-2017

LA Boys of Leather present SoCal Leatherfest
By Steven Carlisle
SoCal Leatherfest, hosted by the LA Boys of Leather the weekend of July 6-8 in Los Angeles, is the Anniversary for the LA Boys of Leather. They will have an amazing line-up of events including educational sessions, a barbecue, a pool party, and more. It will also be the home for the SoCal Leatherboy contest. https://www.facebook.com/labolclub/photos/gm.1579133405478681/1960061327583260/?type=3&theater

CineKink Kinky Film Festival Tour Returns to Chicago
Films that celebrate and explore a wide diversity of sexuality will screen November 10-11, as CineKink, "the kinky film festival," returns to Chicago for a sizzling weekend rendezvous, taking place at Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 North Greenview Avenue, Chicago, IL. Among the films being shown are Spank You Very Much by Thomas Florek, Folsom Street by Aron Kantor, You've Got Tail by Danny Tayara, Please May I Come Mistress? by Pandora Blake, Tabook by Dario van Vree, Sapiosexual by Kristin Heckler, Since You Asked So Nicely by Ms Naughty' among many others. Admission for CineKink: Chicago is $10 door/$8 advance per screening. Friday double-feature tickets are $15/advance; a limited number of weekend passes, good for all three screenings, are available for $20 advance; $15/LA&M or CineKink members. 18 and over only. For more information and advance tickets, visit http://cinekink.com/programs-and-events/tour/tour-2017/chicago/

Closer to a Functional Cure
By Desiree Guerrero of hivplusmag.com
There have been some amazing scientific breakthroughs in the area of HIV treatment in recent years, and now a world-leader in biomedical research has made one that may lead to a “functional cure” for the virus. In a recent study conducted at The Scripps Research Institute’s Jupiter, FL., campus, researchers discovered a new compound that may be able to stop the production and re-activation of HIV in the body. Whole story at https://www.hivplusmag.com/cure/2017/10/24/closer-functional-cure

Mister International Rubber XXI judges
MIR (Mister International Rubber) will be held the weekend of November 3-7 at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL. The judging panel will be Amp Somers, Bob Firth-Tessier, Preston "wex" So. Israel Wright, Richard "Trooper" Long, Rubber Chris and Tyger Yoshi. https://mirubber.com/

Polish and Shine - a Celebration of Bootblacks
Mr. LA Leather Bear 2016 Frank will present Polish and Shine - a Celebration of Bootblacks on Friday, November 17 at the Eagle 562, East 2020 Artesia Blvd. in Long Beach, CA 90805, starting at 8 PM. Several bootblacks from= all over Southern California will be participating. https://www.facebook.com/photo.phpfbid=1644114975628235&set=gm.395705977515185&type=3&theater

BDSM Is Not Abuse Resources, Now Available in Spanish. Coalition Corner Spotlight
By Julian Wolf
NCSF would like to congratulate CPI and The Mark, a NCSF Coalition Partner in Tennessee, for creating groundbreaking content in both English and Spanish! "BDSM NO ES ABUSO" is easily located on their website, which also features information about the organization, local and national resources, and everything you need to know about participating in their organization.

Leather Leadership Conference XX
Leather Leadership Conference XX will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Atlanta, GA, March 9-11. Keynote by Hardy Haberman and endnote by Laura Antoniou. "Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." --Jack Welch. Among the long list of presenters are Mistress Cyan, Cowboi Jen, Bo Blaze, CC, Feyrie, Jo Arnone, Foxglove Lady and Nightshade, Dan and Dawn, Tony The Grey and Triskelan. And more are being added. http://leatherleadership.org/index.html

Ninth Annual 12 Days of Christmas - NAUGHTY, NICE & NASTY
The Ninth Annual 12 Days of Christmas"NAUGHTY, NICE & NASTY, produced by Hooker & Boys, will be held on Saturday, December 9 from 12-6 PM at the Maritime Conference Center in Baltimore, MD. Emcees Shawnna Alexander, David Allen and Sarha Shaubach will work the stage with ASL emcees Debbie Jones and Susan Weinstein. The beneficiaries include Leather Heart Foundation, Project Real AIDS Action Baltimore and Hagerstown Hopes. https://www.facebook.com/events/1182207978552829/?active_tab=about

IMsL and IMsBB XX
The International Ms Bootblack contest will celebrate a major milestone with its 20th Anniversary the weekend of April 19-22 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in San Jose, CA. For the largest gathering of Leatherwomen and the people who love them. International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack contests, classes, Seduction, pool party, hospitality suite parties and Sunday keynote brunch create memories and friendships to last a lifetime, check out https://imslbb.org for more. And, oh yes, In received the Pantheon of Leather Large Event of the Year in 2017.

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Flipbook of Drummer Magazine
By Jack Fritscher
The colorful new Flipbook, Covers, Mastheads, Contents, and Staff of Drummer Magazine unzips an archive of Twentieth-Century history for Old/New Guard players. Offered free as a Leather community service, this is the third book of Leather history by Drummer editor Jack Fritscher and archivist Mark Hemry. The Leather Journal reported on volume one, Gay San Francisco: Eyewitness Drummer: “There is no written account of Old Guard Leather. Fritscher’s detailing of the Drummer Boom is unparalleled. http://online.flipbuilder.com/qquj/oyii/mobile/index.html

SF BASiL Mocktail Party Fundraiser
SF BASiL (San Francisco Bay Area Sober in Leather ) Mocktail Party Fundraiser on Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 PM at 1060 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA. Hosts are Ms San Francisco Leather 2017 Azalea Rose, Mr. San Francisco Leather 2017 Geoff Millard, Mr. Sober Leather 2017 Al Rahm, Ms Sober Leather 2016/17 Rio Spooner and Sober Kinkster 2016/17 Sailor. With performances by Kochina Rude, Sue Veneer, Sheba Queen of the Night, international burlesque star Kitten De Ville with DJ beats by La Mano. Plus a special surprise performance. $10 - $25 sliding scale. Silent auction craft mocktails. https://www.facebook.com/events/155574088362733/?active_tab=aboutactive_tab=about

Mid Atlantic Leather Woman benefit in Baltimore
The Mid Atlantic Leather Woman benefit for the Leather Heart Foundation will be on November 10 at the Baltimore Eagle, 2022 North Charles Street in Baltimore, MD. It will be a night of Leather, cigars and a raffle. http://www.thebaltimoreeagle.com

Sin in the City 2018
Sin in the City 2018 - Lead us into Temptation will be held at the Alexis Park Resort in Las Vegas, NV the weekend of February 2-4 and features the International Person of Leather contest, at least 70 workshops and classes, vendors and socials. The Sunday brunch keynote speaker will be International Ms Leather 2014 Patty. Among the hospitality suite party hosts will be Las Vegas Bootblacks, Red Dragons High Desert, Leather Uniform Club of Las Vegas and Recovery in the Lifestyle. http://www.sin-in-the-city.com

Mr. NJ Leather 2018 is Rai Guerra
Mr. NJ Leather 2018 is Rai Guerra. Rai is a resident of Asbury Park, NJ The contest was held at Paradise in Asbury Park, NJ on Saturday October 21. There were no competitors for Ms NJ Leather 2018. Mr. NJ Leather 2011 Robert “scruffy” Vitalie served as Head Judge and was joined on the judging panel by American Leatherwoman Jackie Thompson, North America Drummer 2017 Jack MacCullum, International Master 2007 Master Larry, Mr. Connecticut Leather 2016 Scooby, Lady Desire, Ms Woods Leather 2016, Ms NJ Leather 2017, Velvet Storm and Mr. NJ Leather 2017 Richard Farias.

Mr. Chicago Leather Weekend in January
By David Boyer
Mr. Chicago Leather 2018 weekend will be held January 26-28 and will include a welcoming cocktail party, Fetish Flea Market, Kink U, MCL Brunch and roast of Mr. Chicago Leather 2017 Gerald “Daddy G” Cernak. Joining him on the judging panel will be IML 2017 Ralph Bruneau, Joe Dinello, Freddy Miranda and Pup Link. Returning for his 15th consecutive year to host Mr. Chicago Leather 2018 at the Leather Archives & Museum on that Saturday night will be International Mr. Leather 2003 John Pendal. The winner will compete at International Mr. Leather 2018 in May. A weekend package is $75 at Brown PaperTickets.com beginning. For more information check out http://www.ToucheChicago.com

15 True Stories and Insider Facts About BDSM Dungeons and Sex Parties
By Jacob Shelton of Ranker.com
People are weird about sex they don’t understand, which goes quadruple for the BDSM scene. Most people who get a glance at the scene use humor as a way to shield themselves from the uncomfortable feelings they have when seeing a woman hanging upside down by her vagina, or a 60-year-old guy in a latex baby costume. But don't hate - it could be your mom or grandfather. Just because a woman likes to hang from her vag doesn't mean she doesn't have feelings, and you're not hurting them... Most BDSM club stories begin the same way, with nervous anticipation, or jokes about spankings, but they diverge when the experiences begin. The truth of the matter is.... Read the rest at https://www.ranker.com/list/bdsm-club-facts/jacob-shelton?ref=nxtlst&pos=1<ype=l&l=2475456&g=1&a=48&collectionId=1829ref=nxtlst&pos=1<ype=l&l=2475456&g=1&a=48&collectionId=1829

Santa Clara County Leather Week XX
Santa Clara County Leather Week 2017 - Looking Beyond, hosted by the Santa Clara County Leather Association, is all set to go the weekend of October 29 - November 5 in San Jose, CA. Highlights include the Mr. and Ms Santa Clara County Leather 2018 contest, interview with Rich Stadtmiller, silent auction, Recovery party and barbecue and kinky karaoke. https://www.facebook.com/SCCLeather/

Bears in Kilts by Bears LA
Join Bears LA for Bears in Kilts at the Bullet Bar on Saturday night, October 30, starting at 9 PM. $6 Dollar cover or $5 when wearing a kilt. Best Kilt contest has a $50 prize. https://www.bearsla.org/

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How you can include your information on Dave Rhodes' Hump Day. 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 November 15, make sure I have it by Monday afternoon, November 6.

Things to send:
1. Short article of about 75 words. So what if you are a few over. Just don't turn it into a Russian novel.

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. Style sheet stuff. When listing titleholders we use the title followed by the person's name - International Mr. Leather 1993 Henri ten Have, not Henri ten Have, International Mr. Leather 1993. One would say President Obama, not Obama, President and less punctuation.

We're getting more photos - join the club. Send yours to us. If a news item comes in which we feel should also be a larger article we will contact you about it. Send to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Photos need to be jpg format.

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