Dave Rhodes' Hump Day, October 7, 2020

September 14, 2026

Dave Rhodes' Hump Day, October 7, 2020

By Dave Rhodes October 08, 2020

Mates Leather Weekend

While the official Mates Leather Weekend scheduled for the first weekend of October had been cancelled, a group of friends got together for a Mini Mates Leather Weekend at the Watership Inn in Provincetown, MA. Scroll down to see our Flash Back gallery of Mates Leather Weekends of the past. The event has raised approximately $75,000 for the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod since it was founded in 2000. Mates Leather Weekend is a kick-back, have a good time, meet some hot new friends weekend for those who want to hang out, socialize, relax or party with other like-minded people in Leather, Rubber and Uniforms. Mates Leather Weekend is produced by Rick Conley, longtime Provincetown resident and Leatherman. "I want to thank all MLW sponsors, friends and past participants who have contributed to the success of Mates Leather Weekend. I’m grateful for all the new friends that I’ve made along the way." While it is sad that Mates Leather Weekend was cancelled, Snowbound Leather Weekend XIV is still planned for February 19-21.

https://www.matesleatherweekend.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/402687466428652

DomCon New Orleans Virtual

DomCon New Orleans Virtual, the premier professional domination convention, will be held October 30 - November 1 through Domcon.com. DomCon NOLA is the wicked sister of the east to DomCon Los Angeles. The conventions are the result of Mistress Cyan’s dedication over the years to bring a better understanding of BDSM in the adult alternative lifestyle and to bring the BDSM, Leather, fetish and professional communities together. The event celebrates our diversity and promotes awareness through demonstrations, seminars, and panel discussions. DomCon also acts as a showcase for creators and performers from around the world to debut their latest talents to the kinky and curious public at large. Joining in the event are the world’s top Dominatrices, bondage and fetish models, webmasters, fetish photographers, performing artists, sex educators, Leatherfolk and BDSM lifestyle people. For a schedule events and registration check out

http://www.DomCon.com

https://www.facebook.com/DomConNewOrleans

Daddy Ray's PS Leather Brunch 202?-Resurrection

By Ray Tilton

During this time of isolation I thought having something to look forward to might give a little "Leather" spark - Daddy Ray's PS Leather Brunch 202?-Resurrection on Saturday, October 31 at 10 AM PDT at Lulu California Bistro. Celebrate the indomitable spirit that Leather freaks are known for. It will be one helluva blow out time with Halloween and now the white party too.

https://www.facebook.com/events/509848179725347

Pup’kin Carving Party

By Matthew Mullins

A Pup’kin Carving Party will be an online event on Wednesday, October 28 from 5-8 PM PDT. This will be a fun and interesting pumpkin carving party among many types of people, so leave all judgement and prejudice outside and carve some pumpkins. This is at your own risk in your own home. Please be careful with your carving tools. No one at the Zoom party is at fault if you hurt yourself. Join us, it’s free. But you have to get a pumpkin. I suggest buying cheap ones that are at the 99 cents only store about one week before carving it, store it in a dry cool place, that’s super clean.

https://www.facebook.com/events/375095413521787

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An ONYX Table Talk - Race and Sexuality

Onyx Mid-Atlantic and Lynx Onyx will host An ONYX Table Talk on Saturday, October 10, from 4-6:15 PM EST, discussing how the BLM Movement has stirred up questions and points of view as they relate to the Leather Community’s conversation about Radical Sexuality and Race. Joining this part of the conversation will be Stephen Bailous, Counselor Ochumaré, Master Blue and blue frost, and Major/minor. This segment will provide ASL interpretation. Anyone needing those services is more than welcomed to join in. ONYX is the National Fraternity for gay and bisexual Men of Color in the Leather lifestyle. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter (ONYX-MA) is centered in the Washington, DC / Baltimore area and includes Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia.

http://www.fb.com/Onyx.Midatlantic

Leather Archives & Museum - FEK Draw Live

Ken Art Model and Leather Archives & Museum are hosting another FEK Draw Live event in the Etienne Auditorium of the Leather Archives on Friday, October 9, from 6:30 - 9:30 PM in Chicago, IL. FEK Draw, the LA&M's figure drawing class for artists of all skill levels, has moved to Friday evenings. Each class features a model in a series of short and long poses with an emphasis on fetish, erotica and kink. Tables will be set up but artists need to bring all supplies. Masks and Social distancing will be observed. FEK stands for Fetish, Erotic and Kink Figure Drawing. $10 to cover model costs. For those not comfortable coming in, zoom is available. $10 payable through venmo@LeatherArchives and Paypal This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. All skill levels welcome.

https://leatherarchives.org/events/upcoming-events

SigMa DC suspends operations

By Ed Gunts For Washington Blade

SigMa DC, a members-driven organization that describes itself as “DC’s only all male BDSM space,” announced that it plans to suspend operations and vacate its current location after September 30, due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement posted on Facebook Sept. 18, the organization said it isn’t shutting down altogether. It said board members hope to resurface at another location at some point, once the pandemic is over, and may seek to hold meetings in temporary locations until that happens.“It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that SigMa must close our doors and vacate our space,” the message said. “We hope this is a temporary measure until COVID is behind us.” Established more than 25 years ago, SigMa has operated as a 501-C7 non-profit, with the mission of ‘education, socialization, networking and providing a safe clean environment for men to explore and practice BDSM, kinks and fetishes.” It was one of the only clubs of its kind in the country....

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/09/24/sigma-dc-to-suspend-operations-on-sept-30/

https://www.facebook.com/SigMaDC

Delmas Howe 85th Birthday Retrospective

By Bear Mike

Delmas Howe is a well-known artist of the male form, including Leather/kink community scenes, often combining mythology with South-West iconography. Shown here is his “Martyred Angel” and three models in the painting, left to right, Alphaboy Rex, David Zaintz, and Daddy Ruben. Ruben and Rex are long-time Leather community members, also founders of the Albuquerque Leather Daddys. Ruben is Mr. Rio Grande Leather 2004. David and Ruben are also New Mexico artists. A
retrospective of Delmas’ art is 6-9 PM, Saturday October 10 in his home town of Truth or Consequences, NM, at the Rio Bravo Fine Art Gallery. He will deliver a talk on Sunday at 1 PM about what each painting in the retrospective means to him.

https://www.facebook.com/Rio-Bravo-Fine-Art-Gallery-144515135644763

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International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack telethon

Save the date of November 14 for the First International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack telethon, which will be 12 hours of IMsLBB magic from around the country and the globe as they raise funds to build a virtual, accessible and wildly hedonistic playground. IMsLBB are still in the planning phases on this and are looking for members of the IMsLBB Community who would like to help. If that's you, send an E-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. More details on this will be released in October so mark your calendars and don't forget to keep an eye out for IMsLBB E-mails and visit IMsLBB online

https://imslbb.org

https://www.facebook.com/IMsLBB/

Plaintiffs Continue Effort to Overturn FOSTA, One of the Broadest Internet Censorship Laws

By Aaron Mackey for Electronic Frontier Foundation

A group of organizations and individuals are continuing their fight to overturn the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, known as FOSTA, arguing that the law violates the Constitution in multiple respects. In legal briefs filed in federal court recently, plaintiffs Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Human Rights Watch, the Internet Archive, Alex Andrews, and Eric Koszyk argued that the law violates the First and Fifth Amendments, and the Constitution’s prohibition against ex post facto laws. EFF, together with Daphne Keller at the Stanford Cyber Law Center, as well as lawyers from Davis Wright Tremaine and Walters Law Group, represent the plaintiffs....Read the rest at

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/plaintiffs-continue-effort-overturn-fosta-one-broadest-internet-censorship-laws

Register to Vote - Last chance

Voting has already started in many states, but that does not means voter registration is closed. It is still open in many places until October 18. Do it now so you won't miss out.

https://microsoft.turbovote.org/

Study provides new insights into the biological mechanisms associated with BDSM

By Eric W. Dolan for PsyPost

New research published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine — the first of its kind — has shed light on the biological effects of experiencing a BDSM interaction. The findings provide preliminary evidence that power exchanges between consensual partners result in measurable changes in biomarkers related to reward and stress. “When starting medicine, I already knew my interests lay in psychiatry and sexuality in particular,” said Elise Wuyts, a psychiatrist in training at the University of Antwerp and the corresponding author of the new study. “The opportunity to help lessen stigma surrounding BDSM, which is widely-practiced and yet poorly understood, was something..."

https://www.psypost.org/2020/09/study-provides-news-insights-into-the-biological-mechanisms-associated-with-bdsm-58007

https://ncsfreedom.org/

Centaur MC's JP Halford dies

By Todd White

It is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes that I make this post. This afternoon, Friday, October 2, John Peter "JP" Halford, past President of the Centaur MC passed away peacefully in his home with Dougie by his side. With your passing a huge void has been left behind. I will always treasurer the advise and criticisms you gave me from one president to another. The numerous stories you shared with me and everyone around you gave us the history behind the foundation on which the community was built. Your fight is over my friend and you are now at peace. My memories with you I will hold close to my heart and cherish forever.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/centaurmcva

Alan Keeler, co-founder of Phoenix boys of Leather, passes away

By Stephen Bloom

It is with great sorrow the Phoenix Leather family shares the passing of a great member of our community. Alan Keeler, co-founder of Phoenix boys of Leather, husband to Stephen Bloom, boy to Sir David, monkey's uncle to a couple of great kids, and friend to all who knew him, passed away on Sunday, September 13 after a long fight with cancer. Alan was 53 years old. He never wanted center stage and he never sought titles, but supported those who did, including virtually all IML and SWLSb contestants from Arizona over the past 15-plus years and was the de facto den boy for most of the contests in the Phoenix area. He co-founded what is now the longest consistently operating boy group in the world, the Phoenix boys of Leather. Alan, who counted Shakespeare's Puck, Batman's Robin, and Peter Pan, as his inspirations, welcomed all boys, regardless of gender identity or orientation. He sought to make and keep PboL a welcoming group to all self-identifying boys, and even some Sirs and friends.

Philadelphians MC new officers

The Philadelphians MC would like to announce the results of their election of officers including Captain Phillip Lane, Co-Captain boy Leon Ingleright, Master-At-Arms John Roberts and continuing Scribe Jim Schofield. Congratulations to our new Executive Board members and a huge thank you to our outgoing Captain of four years, Jo Ann Wadsworth.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/175715094290/user/100004206227204/

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Flash Back Gallery From Past Major Events

Mates Leather Weekend

Here is a Flash Back gallery of Mates Leather Weekends of the past. The event has raised approximately $75,000 for the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod since it was founded in 2000. Several hundred LGBT Leather-clad kinky people and and friends descend on the gay Mecca of New England, Providence, Massachusetts, for Mates Leather Weekend. Founded and run by Richard Conley, Mates Leather Weekend has a contest or two, vendors, cocktail parties, dinners, cookouts and more. Guys are having such a blast that plenty of kinky play goes on. The host hotels are right along the Atlantic Ocean where more fun happens. Throughout this gallery one will see some faces more than once. This is in part due to the fact than so many come back every year.

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A Blast From The Past

The Tom of Finland Foundation hosted their Tom of Finland Art Fair in October 2000 and this bronze sculpture was one of the highlights enjoyed by many of the 500 or more erotic art enthusiasts in attendance. Artists from Europe displayed their work as well as from all over North America.

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Past Dave Rhodes' Hump Day news blogs