Welcome to Dave Rhodes' Hump Day - Wednesday, September 27, 2017. This column will appear here every Wednesday on TheLeatherJournal.com

Denver's Exile 6 Fetish Ball
By Exposer Magazine
For six years, Lokusdor Productions (at the EXPO Event Center in Denver, CO) has put on the event and each year, it seems to gain the attention of many new people. 350 attendees had already arrived by 10pm and the show had just begun! Bringing in new vendors and sponsors. Last year, this event raised $10,000 for organizations in our community. You don’t hear too often of an event that gives so much back to its community, but that may be why this particular event rises above all others around it....The Exile Fetish Ball has a showcase of kink everywhere you look, from the flogging posts to the right of the stage, along with electrical apparatuses designed to heighten your sexual arousal. This place has it all, for any sort of fetish you might be into. More photos and details at https://xposermagazine.com/exile-6-fetish-ball-2/

Los Angeles Boys of Leather
Join the Los Angeles Boys of Leather for HELL BOY! on Friday, October 13 at 9 PM at The Bullet Bar in North Hollywood, CA. Get your Halloween Costume ready and join in our Costume Contest. Live Performances by the amazing Ursula Major and the freakishly phenomena Annie Chryst. Raffle prizes, bloody Jello shots, hot men and sexy women. $7 at the door! With admission you will receive one raffle ticket to win some amazing ghoulish prizes. https://www.facebook.com/labolclub/photos/gm.1952370658334790/1944377002485026/?type=3&theater

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/

Leather History Preservation Weekend

Leather History Preservation Weekend, October 20-22, Radisson Hotel High Point in High Point, NC will be a weekend of shared journeys, camaraderie and fellowship, with multiple historiographers sharing their experiences. Among the historians are JAH Holiday, OB Hamm, Sir Tom Matt, JP Garner, and Angel Propps. Go to http://www.lhpfoundation.org

The incredible true history of gay pirates and their strangely modern world
Gay Star News
From deadly cross-dressing pirates having a lesbian-affair to booty, rituals and same-sex civil unions....Piracy was a world apart, and one where homosexual couples may have been the norm, not the exception. So to celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day (19 September) here’s our queer history of piracy....But they didn’t just have health insurance. A form of same-sex civil unions, called matelotage, was also common. Buccaneer Alexander Exquemelin wrote: ‘It is the general and solemn custom amongst them all to seek out… a comrade or companion, whom we may call partner… with whom they join the whole stock of what they possess. Your partner was called a ‘matelot,' which can also be translated as bunkmate. It’s possible the relationships started with one man selling their services to another, to satisfy debts, get food or for protection. But it went deeper than that. If one matelot died, his partner inherited his property and share of the booty. In some cases, partners took punishment on each other’s behalf. In battle, they fought as a team and died together. Arrrrgh! Read the rest here https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/incredible-true-history-gay-pirates-strangely-modern-world/#gs.hVDo4sgstrangely-modern-world/#gs.hVDo4sg

Bay Area Cub
So you think you can Cub? Join us for the Bay Area Cub Contest at the Lone Star Saloon (Bear Bar USA). We welcome all definitions of "cub" and will be celebrating the diversity of our community all afternoon while raising funds for the Alliance Health Project and Project Open Hand. Featuring a beer bust, Bay Area Cub Contest, performance by the Boys of Bearlesque, raffle prizes, jello shots and sexy cubs on Saturday, October 14 at 3 PM at the Lone Star Saloon, 1354 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94103. https://www.facebook.com/events/116608262383657/?active_tab=about

Bad Ass Spanking Weekend VIII

Bad Ass Spanking Weekend VIII is all set for October 19-22 in Augusta, GA and is the largest multi-day event on the east coast for men who are into spanking. http://www.bawevent.com

Leather bar in Mexico City
Traveling to Mexico? The third largest metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere should have one and it is Tom's Leather Bar which is in one of Cuidad de Mexico's LGBT parts of town. There are strippers and a back room and the place fills up. Go to http://toms-mexico.com/ to find out more.

Texas Leather and LGBT candidate Jeffrey Payne interviewed by Dallas Voice
By Tammye Nash, Dallas Voice Managing Editor
Jeffrey Payne is a businessman, bar owner, Leather titleholder and now, a gubernatorial candidate. "Texas has been good to me. Texas has been very, very good to me,” Jeffrey Payne said in an interview this week. Now he wants to repay the favor. That’s why, the Dallas businessman said, he is running for governor in 2018. see complete interview here https://www.dallasvoice.com/setting-sights-austin-10242440.html

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend
The Hyatt Regency on Capital Hill is now accepting reservations for Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend 2018 which will be held January 12-14 in Washington, DC. Leather Cocktails on Saturday night and the Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather contest on Sunday afternoon. And oh, the lobby at the Hyatt Regency on Capital Hill. Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2018 will be a contestant in the International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago, IL, Memorial Day Weekend. Go to http://www.leatherweekend.com/ to find hotel information.

Knight Hawks of Virginia Puppy-Palooza 2
Puppy-Palooza 2, hosted by the Knight Hawks of Virginia and MJ's Tavern will begin at 10 PM on Saturday, October 14. Have you always wondered what it is about? Don't have a clue? Well come out and let the Pups of the Knight Hawks give you some information. Additionally, if you are a pup or a handler and want a safe accepting location, come out and join us for the night. MJ's Tavern, 4019 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23504. https://www.facebook.com/khleather/photos/gm.1322857347836522/1917008615224706/?type=3&theater

Dallas Fetish Ball
The Dallas Fetish Ball: Torture Garden will be held November 10-11 featuring performances by Yusura, Miss Miranda and Lou Lou D'Vil. The Dallas Fetish Ball will include vendors, latex fashion, a spanking booth and a photo booth. The event is produced by The Church Dallas and will be held at 2424 Swiss Avenue. Get tickets in advance at http://www.LeatherMasters.com Many premium spots have been sold, so act soon.

The Formal Fetish Dinner Party in London
The Formal Fetish Dinner Party is unique in the world. Hosted by the founder of Skin Two magazine and owner of KFS TV, it takes place in a fabulous hotel very near Piccadilly Circus. The next dinner is on Sunday, October 8. You can book a hotel room and stay overnight if you wish. Everyone is dressed in their fetish finest - no business suits or cocktail dresses! We serve a three-course dinner and there is a dungeon for play afterwards. This event is restricted to 30 sophisticated couples of any age. Newcomers are welcome - we are friendly people. (No single blokes or Daily Mail readers though. I mean, there is a limit...) We are happy to answer questions and meet for tea and a chat, by all means. https://london.craigslist.co.uk/cas/d/the-formal-fetish-dinner/6302853807.htmldinner/6302853807.html

Leather community working on South Of MArket District in San Francisco, CA. Photo by Eric Pratt

Once seen as a moral scourge, Western SoMa's BDSM scene is poised to become SF's Leather Cultural District
By Peter Lawrence Kane, SF Weekly
Today, SoMa’s Leather scene consists of fewer than half a dozen bars, and although they’re packed on weekends, the neighborhood faces a renewed threat of extinction in the face of displacement. To preserve this vital subculture, activists have chosen a novel strategy: partnering with City Hall to designate a portion of Western SoMa as the San Francisco Leather District. The degenerates are about to be officially sanctioned....“We want Leather businesses to continue to thrive here,” (Supervisor Jane) Kim tells SF Weekly. “We want people to continue to live here. We want it to be a living, breathing district — and that is a lot harder to do than some plaques and street-name changes.” Complete article here http://www.sfweekly.com/culture/feature-culture/folsom-and-jetsam/culture/folsom-and-jetsam/

Las Vegas Rope Social: Twisted Touch: An Intro to Rope and Pressure Point Play
The Las Vegas Rope Social presents: Twisted Touch: An Intro to Rope and Pressure Point Play By Mike Payne. A painful push… a sensual touch… a playful poke. There is a myriad of ways to make physical contact with someone when playing with rope and so many fun, painful, stimulating, and erotic places to touch. This beginner level class will cover safety, pressure point types, some pressure point locations, and techniques to incorporate them into the application and removal of rope as well as everything in between. Saturday, October 14 from 3-5 PM at 705 North Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89101-2058. https://ropesnob.com/

Douglas O'Keeffe interviews a guest during a recent Inside Leather History: A Fireside Chat

Inside Leather History: A Fireside Chat
Inside Leather History; A Fireside Chat announced an ambitious European Chat schedule. Douglas O’Keeffe, co-producer and host of the Chats, will present two high profile interviews in Manchester England October 7 during Manchester Leather Weekend. “I’m very excited to be part of Manchester Leather Weekend” O’Keeffe enthused “I’m interviewing Daddy Ian Allen and Joe King, Mr. Leather Europe 2016." A Fireside Chat is an independent production of Douglas O’Keeffe (host) Mistress Joanne Gaddy, and Vonn Tramel. https://www.facebook.com/Inside-Leather-History-A-Fireside-Chat-1728635300768185/Leather-History-A-Fireside-Chat-1728635300768185/

American Brotherhood Weekend

American Brotherhood Weekend in Chicago, IL is on tap for October 6-8 and features the American Leatherman, Leatherwoman, and Leatherboy contest at the Leather Archives & Museum. The judging panel will include David Katzenberg, Robert "Bobbie“ Smith, Bella Oliver, Jeff Willoughby and Laura Antoniou. For more information go to http://www.AmericanBrotherhood.com

Female Filmmakers Out in Force at Sixth Finnish Film Affair
Variety
As many as 22 women-directed pics will be presented at the Finnish Film Affair this year. Among the filmmakers is Selma Vilhunen, who earned an Oscar nomination in 2014 with her short “Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?” and will be on hand to pitch her second film, “Stupid Young Heart,” as well as present her documentary feature “Hobbyhorse Revolution.” Another promising female director, Kaisa El Ramly, will pitch “Scenes from a Dying Town,” one of the projects to be presented in the Work-in-Progress sidebar.... Among the projects that were previously presented at the Finnish Film Affair and went on to have a successful career in festivals are Teemu Nikki’s “Euthanizer,” which is premiering at Toronto, and “Tom of Finland." http://variety.com/2017/film/global/women-filmmakers-out-in-force-at-6th-finnish-film-affair-1202560069/

Why The Leather Community Is Cautiously Optimistic About Fashion’s Fetish Moment
By Mikelle Street, Huffington Post, Queer Voices
Last week, Comme des Garçons teamed up with Vetements on a limited-edition capsule collection of sweaters. Teased on Instagram, the “gay, lesbian, and fetish” range was sold as a Dover Street Market exclusive with the “fetish” design selling out online shortly after launch. The piece, priced at $620, nodded to a very specific community....In 1989 Tony DeBlase, founder of the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago and publisher of Drummer magazine debuted a flag design for the Leather community at the International Mr. Leather competition. Read the rest of this article at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/leather-community-fashion-fetish_us_586d07bbe4b0eb58648b5084fetish_us_586d07bbe4b0eb58648b5084

Drummer North America

The Drummer North America contests will be at the Alexis Park Resort in Las Vegas, NV, the weekend of February 22-25. DNA contests are open to all gay-identified men in the fetish/kink communities who are residents of Canada, United States and Mexico. Weekend packages are $125. For more, check out http://drummerna.com/

DomCon: New Orleans
Domina Angelina, Madame Margherite, and Mistress Penelope Dreadful of Australia have been named official Mistresses of Ceremonies for DomCon: New Orleans 2017. The event brings together professional and lifestyle BDSM enthusiasts from around the world. Dominants, submissives, fetishists, Leatherfolk and the kinky from all over the globe to DomCon for the latest in fetish and bondage gear, classes in new BDSM techniques, discussions on community, legal, and relationship issues, and of course electrifying parties. DomCon New Orleans will be held October 5-8 at the Astor Crown Plaza Hotel, 739 Canal Street. For photos, guest info, sponsorship opportunities, and details on classes and workshops go to http://www.DomConNewOrleans.com

Circlet Press 25th Anniversary
Help kick off the 25th Anniversary of Circlet Press - your home for sexy aliens, sultry dragons, mystical werebeasts and all manner of dystopias and fantasy worlds! Back this Kickstarter and actually get to choose the stories going into their Best Of... anthology. And THEN, if we can push into stretch goals, establish the publishing schedule for the next line up of books. "Best Erotic SciFi" Anthology. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ceciliatan/circlet-press-25th-anniversary-best-erotic-scifi-a?ref=project_link?ref=project_link

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 13 they meet 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

Oklahoma Mr. Leather 2018
Oklahoma Mr. Leather 2018 will be hosted by TULSA Leather at the Tulsa Eagle in Tulsa, OK the weekend of October 20-22. Tulsa Eagle. 1338 East 3rd Street, Tulsa, OK 74120. http://tulsaleather.com/ TULSA is for people interested in uniforms, Leather, Levi, motorcycles and the celebration of our special interests. The association is open to all individuals, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin, and is dedicated to educating the community and promoting unity via social and charitable activities.https://www.facebook.com/events/1873758806228361/

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. http://leatherleadership.org/index.html

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/

Master Anthony is questioned by emcee Dave Faunce during Mr. SoCal Leather. Anthony heads the Sherman Oaks Munch. Photo by Dave Rhodes

Sherman Oaks Munch
The Sherman Oaks Munch is held the second Tuesday of every month in the River Rock restaurant at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City. 6:30 - 11 PM. This munch has been going for over six years and draws in excess of 250 kinksters each month. No host bar and food. Sit and eat, move around and share. Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel, 12825 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604. http://sportsmenslodge.com/river-rock/

Sash Bash Weekend in Iowa

Join Mr. Iowa Leather 2016 Rob "Papa Bear" Anderson and current and past titleholders from around the region for a weekend full of fun, fetish, and family, Sash Bash Weekend is an event for the Leather family and friends to come together and celebrate, socialize and bring kink to Eastern Iowa area. March 2-4 at Studio 13, 13 S Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240. https://www.facebook.com/MIAL2016RobA/photos/gm.272421293272800/1571218662922049/?type=3&theater

Lambda Literary Awards nominations open
Lambda Literary is proud to announce the opening of the submissions period for the annual Lambda Literary Awards (Lammys). Entering their 30th year, the Lammys honor books in more than 20 genres ranging from literary fiction and poetry to speculative fiction, graphic novels and memoir. Finalists will be announced in March 2018 and winners at the 30th Annual Lambda Literary Awards gala on Monday, June 4 at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. https://www.lambdaliterary.org/

Mr. Leather64TEN will be March 8-11
The 3rd Annual Mr. Leather64TEN Contest will be held in Chicago on March 10. The Mr. Leather64TEN contest and events were created to help the Chicagoland Leather community explore, celebrate, and showcase their Leather pride. https://www.leather64ten.com/calendar/

Tom of Finland 2018 Wall Calendar
The Tom of Finland 2018 Wall Calendar, published by Bruno Gemünder and Putinki, is available through the Tom of Finland Store, Tom of Finland Store, 8116 Romaine Street, West Hollywood, CA 90046. Price is $20. https://tomoffinlandstore.com/collections/paper/calendars

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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 October 27, make sure I have it by Monday afternoon, October 9.

You had a contest or run over the weekend - send us the names of the winners and a photo and a brief bit about it. Your events hotel room block opens - that is news. Send the link and a brief. Someone passes and you want people to remember them, let us know - photo please if available, but do not let lack of an immediate photo stop you from sending.

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