Documenting Leather History is not an easy endeavor. Over the last 24 months, traveling on a shoe string budget, C. Creane has been slowly, but surely, documenting women throughout the Leather Community. One-at-a time, falling in love with each participant's personal story. She takes her time getting to know each Leather Woman through her camera lens. Fully engaged in her project, she still continues to forge ahead:
Take this survey even if you’ve never had a consent violation. The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) wants to know what are your power exchange and sexual identities. Are you “out” about being kinky? How often do you go to BDSM groups and online communities?
The NCSF will use these results to help perform its advocacy, such as helping law enforcement, prosecutors and health care professionals understand the experiences of kinky people and provide better quality service.
This survey is anonymous and your privacy is guaranteed by Survey Monkey, a secured survey hosting website. The NCSF does not have access to any identifying information about the participants.
The Leather Journal would like to extend a warm congratulations to our own Mister J, his husband and their adopted son! Their 17 year old son has been living with them for approximately 2 years now at their home just out of Washington DC in Maryland. Mister J and his husband "P" are roll models of all sorts for this young man. Educators, educated, artistic, philanthropic and loving are just some of the words I would use to describe these two men, and now they have added another to the list of "things" they are...fathers. Congratulations friends! We couldn't be happier for you!
Prominent San Francisco Leather community activist Race Bannon will begin writing a new leather column for the Bay Area Reporter, the nation’s longest continually published LGBT newspaper, on January 23, 2014.
Bannon’s first column, penned while attending the annual Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend in Washington, DC, continues the traditions started by the preeminent gay news weekly.
In his first column, Bannon wrote:
“San Francisco and the overall Bay Area has one of the most vibrant leather and kink scenes in the United States and indeed the world. Yes, it’s changed and morphed as various factors have influenced how LGBT kinky folk live and express their alternative erotic identities and sexualities. But the scene is still rather awesome here, and I’m comfortable saying it’s in pretty good shape nationally as well.
“Thus all the more reason I am honored to have been asked to carry on the legacy of the original writer of this column, Mr. Marcus (Marcus Hernandez), who established the Bay Area Reporter’s leather column as one of the preeminent leather news and information sources in the world. Upon Mr. Marcus’ passing, Scott Brogan took over this column and truly did justice to Mr. Marcus’ memory. I promise to always try to live up to both men’s history as I embark on being the caretaker of this important piece of journalistic real estate.”
It is my distinct honor to join the Staff of the Carter/Johnson Leather Library for a very specific project. First, let me say - don't ever post on any social media site where Mama Viola Johnson might see it and read that you are bored and just have too much time on your hands…LOL - just saying.
The project that I am going to undertake is to begin to log the history of our Leather Bars, both past and present. No matter who we are, I think we can all relate to how valuable it was to have a place for groups and clubs to gather. Before more time passes and we lose the memories, I would like to catalog these special places that you remember and know the following:
1. How many Leather Bars are there? (Both past and present).
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has announced that Pat Baillie will receive the organization's Ninth Annual Leather Leadership Award at the Task Force's 26th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. Over 4,000 leaders and activists are expected to attend the conference, which will be held in Houston, January 29 to February 1.
"We are very proud to honor Pat's long dedication to and leadership in our movement," said Rea Carey, Task Force executive director. "Pat's exemplary career in the Air Force and as a rock-solid pillar of the Leather community inspires all of us to do more, to do it better and to stay the course."
The award will recognize Baillie's more than three decades of leadership and activism within and on behalf of the Leather community. Among many other achievements, she is International Ms Leather 1995, a founder of Leather Women United, a Vice Chair of the National Leather Leadership Conference and in September 2013 became co-producer of the International Ms Leather and International Ms Bootblack Contest. See editors note for biography."
Scheduled for February 25-March 2, 2014, the eleventh annual CineKink NYC will feature a specially-curated program of films and videos that celebrate and explore a wide diversity of sexuality. In addition to screenings, plans for the festival also include a short film competition, audience choice awards, a special adult entertainment showcase, and a gala kick-off party. A tour is set to follow this flagship event, showcasing audience favorites from the NYC festival selections.
Billing itself as "the kinky film festival," the event is presented by CineKink, an organization dedicated to the recognition and encouragement of sex-positive and kink-friendly depictions in film and television. With offerings drawn from both the independent cinema world and the adult, works presented at CineKink NYC will range from documentary to drama, comedy to experimental, slightly spicy to quite explicit--and everything in between.
1. Please tell us about yourself, and your connection to the leather world.I am a 51 year old white male and was till recently the secretary of the SA Leathemen Cape Town chapter. I have been the manager for 5.5 years at the oldest Gay male only guest house in SA until it was sold in April 2013. I also dabble into making small leather products for myself and anyone who might be interested, supplying the local bar and an online sex shop with various small leather products. I try and help create an environment in our community where we can be proud to be out and open about our leather community.
I was introduced to the leather world by my ex boyfriend in 2000. Whilst we were dating he was working at the local leather bar "Bar-Code" when it was still situated in Hudson street Cape Town. Since he worked nights and I was working days it became clear to me to join him in working at the bar. And what an eye opener that was.
I did always go to Barcode but the scene has changed so much that I no longer feel that it is the bar for me. We now mostly gather at Lions Corner in Observatory or at Amsterdam bar in Greenpoint. With the community being quite small it is difficult to have a bar that solely caters for the Leather community as a whole.
I personally support "The Gay Pride Shelter" and volunteer there on a permanent basis in doing all their handyman work. I have also together with the Golden Gay foundation raised funds and collected food and clothing for them to be distributed amongst our desperate and in need members of the broader gay and Lesbian community. The Pride shelter is one of the nonprofit organizations that give back to our people. It is time that we start looking after our own.
My Mom, she is my hero. She supports and loves me unconditionally and has never made me feel anything less than the most beautiful person she has brought into this world. I am very lucky and happy to enjoy the full support from my whole family.
I think the notion out there that we are sexual deviants that it is all about the sex in our community. We are so much more than just a sexual preference.
Experiencing the mindset change amongst an audience when they realize it is not all just about the fetish. When you see that spark in their eyes when they look at you and realize you are way more than their preconceived ideas and perceptions.
It means I can express myself sexually with whom I want and experiment without the fear of being persecuted, I n an environment of my choice.
It is my strong believe that we as a male only Leather chapter should open up our group to include ALL the Leather brothers and sisters of South Africa. The only identifying criteria should be Leather; not whether we are male or female, gay or straight. It should become a totally inclusive group. At the moment it is just too fragmented to make any impact and that is why we will always be on the fringes of society unless we unite under single umbrella group structure.
Oh that must be my harness......the smell and feel of the leather on my skin is just wow!!
11. You are a very talented man, making leather, what piece of leather can you design, make to represent yourself?I still want to make the perfect leather waistcoat for myself. With enough well placed inside pockets for your keys and other little tidbits....
If you can no longer express your sexual freedom we will no doubt land up like our brothers and sisters in Russia. You will be persecuted just for whom you love and care for. And that in the whole will make you as an individual lose your identity to conform to narrow minded bigots idea of what a society must be. We did not choose to be gay; it is whom we are. I was born this way.
Welllllllll........... Now that would be telling..... Well I like the fisting scene as it is one of the most intense, trust building and intimate scenes I know. Would not mind being introduced to a little bondage....if I can get over the fear of being tied up.
Banana!
Oh it must be Lamb shank. I make a very nice Beef Curry. The complex spices and taste should just be right. Too little or too much and it is yuk!
The Gay man's Kama Sutra
Stand-up and stand together all the boys and girls! It does not matter who or what you are; if you love Leather then you are part of this community.
Scott Erickson and Thom Cerruto were legally married on October 26th, 2013. The wedding took place at the Harbor Masters 31st Anniversary Run in Ogunquit, Maine. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend David Gant of the Harbor Masters. Scott's Shaman St. Susan Baltozer gave a shamanic blessing, and Joe Lloyd gave a Greek Orthodox blessing. Pam Johnson of Australia performed a belly dance in honor of the couple.
In attendance were members of the Bay State Marauders, Harbormasters of Maine, and Kindred of Maine. As well as members of Scott and Thom's extended Leather family and friends.
Bio: Cowboi JenCowboi Jen has been immersed in the Levi/rodeo community since 1992 and Philadelphia's Leather and kink community since 2000. She was the first Mid-Atlantic Leatherwoman in 2009 and created Philadelphia Leather Pride as her title year fundraiser. She had helped found numerous local and national organizations with the most recent being the Philadelphia Leather Alliance. She is also an associate member to the Keystone boys of Leather, the Heart of the Flag Federation and the Bootblack Brigade.
Jen has volunteered at countless events and fundraisers and she has judged leather contests around the world. She made history in December 2012 being the first International judge as well as the first female judge for the Mr. South Africa Leather Contest.
Cowboi Jen has had the honor of receiving several awards over the years. In 2010 she was the recipient of the 20th Anniversary Pantheon of Leather President’s Award as well as the Diabolique Community Service Award for outstanding community activism.
In 2012, Philadelphia Leather Pride won the Pantheon of Leather Award for Small Event of the Year and Jen was the proud recipient of the Chuck Renslow Presidents Award from the Leather Archives and Museum.
In 2013, she was chosen as the recipient of the Pantheon of Leather Woman of the Year and had the utmost honor of receiving the Toronto Leather Pride Award for Life-Time Achievement and for Continued Development of Leather Pride.
Beyond the Sash is a new Bear/Leather/Gear fundraising calendar, produced by Mr. Rawhide NYC 2011 and Mr. North American Bear 2012 Jed Ryan. The all-new calendar features 12 months of testosterone-soaked portraits by acclaimed male erotic photographer Richard Yates. The result is a searing combination of unapologetic, raw masculine sexuality and intimate male sensuality. From wrestling gear, to harnesses and boots, to jockstraps, right on down to men in just their Bear skin, Beyond the Sash is guaranteed to get one's temperature rising.
All the men in Beyond the Sash are dedicated community activists who "live the life," working hard and definitely playing hard. As its name suggests, Beyond the Sash features Leather and Bear titleholders and some outstanding members of the Leather/Bear/GLBT community in all their hot and hairy glory. And, for the first time, the Calendar adds a dash of searing estrogen into this mens' only after-hours party: Lady Kim Justice. Here's a rare lady with that same unapologetic, raw sexuality mentioned before. She can defintiely handle a cigar and a whip as well as any of her Leather brothers.
Starting on November 9 and running through January 26, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles, presents Bob Mizer and Tom of Finland, the first American museum exhibition devoted to the art of Bob Mizer (1922–1992) and Touko Laaksonen, aka “Tom of Finland” (1920–1991), two of the most significant figures of Twentieth Century erotic art and forefathers of an emergent post-war gay culture. The exhibition features a selection of Tom of Finland’s masterful drawings and collages, alongside Mizer’s rarely seen photo-collage “catalogue boards” and films, as well as a comprehensive collection of his groundbreaking magazine Physique Pictorial, where drawings by Tom were first published in 1957. Organized by MOCA Curator Bennett Simpson and guest co-curator Richard Hawkins, the exhibition is presented with the full collaboration of the Bob Mizer Foundation, El Cerrito, and the Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles and is made possible by David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles and The City of West Hollywood .
someone gave me really good advice. Do NOT bring it up when running for a contest.
People starting asking me to judge contests throughout the U.S and I was so sick of hearing people bringing up this Old Guard vs. New Guard controversy. Most of us know that Old Guard was a very exclusive group of people who were veterans from WWII. There were no women or minorities in this group what so ever. Then women and minorities started making themselves known that were already a part of this exclusive group of kinksters because of what they engaged in sexually. Okay now that we know the facts, why do we constantly harp on the differences? So to all the prospective titleholders please stop and desist on making your 90 second speech about it. Many people might not agree with me at all, but is all well and good.
Make your speech about something you are passionate about. I honestly suggest personalizing it because it gives the judges a glimpse of you as a person. Make sure you practice it using bullet points and not word for word you might forget your own speech.
If you’re a short, little or big man or woman it doesn’t matter. If you don’t have leathers you can borrow some or buy some your own but I suggest going into a store physically and buying leather uniforms unless they have your specific measurements. But on the other hand you can buy online then have alterations done to whatever you’ve purchased, just leave plenty of time to do so. When it comes to the jockstrap (Pecs and Personality) part of the contest, take it easy. I know a lot of people that get antsy about this category. The whole purpose of it is to see if you are comfortable in your own skin.
Even if you don’t know where you are going, act like you do. You’re going to have to be social and burst out of your shell. Being a titleholder means you are going to have to be at the forefront of our community as a representative of who we are.
Baby, when I say they can and will save your ass in a pinch, I really mean it. Make sure that you fulfill your obligations to them and if you cannot make sure you let your producer know as soon as possible.
If you’re in a relationship make sure your partner understands that you will be away or busy more often than not, but it is important he or she supports you.
Watch yourself because others are too. BE YOURSELF people can see a fake person a mile away.
Have fun and do not take yourself too seriously…..let your producer(s) do that for you!
Mister J
The ever-shrinking US Post Office has cut out a large segment of Post Office boxes in stations all over the country. For the second time in less than three years the Hollywood, CA branch has eliminated several hundred boxes and The Leather Journal has been assigned a new PO Box.
Our new address is PO Box 3596, Los Angeles, CA 90078.
Although we moved less than 30 feet inside the same building we were assigned a new ZIP Code. Please make note of this.
The Leather Journal can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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
