The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) announced today that they have named Matthew Steinbrecher as Curator for the Guest Artist Gallery (GAG) at the museum.
The GAG features prominent and up and coming erotic artists. Previous artists include Justice Howard, Mary Chiodini, Philip Hitchcock, Lochai, John Randle and over a dozen other artists.
Rick Storer, Executive Director of the Leather Archives said "We look forward to his [Matthew Steinbrecher] background and knowledge of erotic art to bring new and different artistic experiences to the GAG Gallery."
This new found fetish, play and lifestyle has become increasingly popular amongst the leather community. I myself identify as a puppy and my breed and name have been given to me by my puppy Trainer, Trainer Ky, who is also my husband.
If you didn’t know, puppy play is when a person (doesn’t matter what gender) acts out the behavior, mindset, mannerisms of a four legged puppy. Each puppy usually has a specific breed that represents their own mannerisms. For example my puppy breed is a Hungarian Vizsla, which is described as a pointer-retriever breed medium sized hunter dog. Vizsla’s are very excellent nose with high trainability. Usually Vizsla are lively, affectionate, sensitive, fearless, loyal protective and gentle; but only usually bark or growl is provoked. Physically their coats are brownish red in color coming out with a solid rust color. They are called Velcro Dogs.
Looking at all these characteristics my Trainer is the one who made this determination that I am a Hungarian Vizsla.
Here are some really good things to think about when in puppy mode for Trainers and for pups.
1) Trainers before puppy play, always make sure you clear all breakables and sharp objects from the space. If the pup is in puppy space will honestly sometimes not be aware of things around them while in the head space. Make sure the space is clean, and know what your puppy is allergic to, to protect them in that certain space.
2) Get a feeling on what a puppy actually sees. I suggest getting on all fours (yeah I mean ALL FOURS) and look at how their world is at their level.
3) I BIND YOU NANCY, okay I will say that I do not bind any puppy I play with. If you do be VERY careful. Circulation in the legs is highly important. Some people bind and have no problem at all. Just be careful and make sure you check on the puppy’s legs to make sure they are getting circulation.
4) DO NOT SHARE TOYS sharing toys often can be dangerous. Face it we are human and our gums bleed even without us knowing. I mean you wouldn’t shove a toy in your ass that someone else has had up their ass without washing it. I mean come on, We do live in a time of diseases like Hep C.
5) Puppy mitts, knee pads and boots are a must. If you do not have any I suggest duck taping your knuckles like a boxer would. I was irresponsible and I let one of my puppies play without mitts and her knuckles bled. OUCH. She came to me whimpering and showed me her paw. I felt like a dick, but I learned my lesson. Also puppies can injure their feet without proper protective boots.
6) Puppy mask isn’t necessary but if your Trainer decides you deserve one, get one that might look like the breed of the puppy.
7) MAKE SURE YOUR PUPPY HAS THEIR SHOTS……..you know what I mean lol
8) Be attentive to your puppy’s needs. Not all puppies are social creatures and some are darn right mean. If your puppy is mean please do NOT take them to a puppy mosh. At International Mr. Leather I saw a mean puppy that was taking down by four puppies at one time. You have been warned, just letting you know it could happen, and don’t be surprised if it does.
9) HAVE YOU SEEN MY DOG: If you collar a puppy, puppy tags are a requirement. Please make sure you have the puppy name and your phone number on the back of the tags. Also with any collar make your puppy’s neck doesn’t have an allergic reaction to it.
10) CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR PUPPY………need I say more. If your puppy shits I hope you have a plastic bag.
The NCSF's (National Coalition for Sexual Freedom) Consent Counts project is holding discussions around the country to gather input on their Consent Statement so they can move forward to change laws and and perceptions of BDSM. Kinky people still have significant legal, political and societal issues facing them. The majority fears the very real threat of being prosecuted or losing our jobs or families. To change the assault laws, the world needs to know what we think of consent. What is ethical consent? What are the gray areas? Are there things people shouldn't be able to consent to in a BDSM context?
Leather activist and author Race Bannon joined the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) board of directors.
Race is the founder of the popular Kink Aware Professionals free list service that refers people to kink-sensitive psychotherapeutic, medical and legal professionals. Race asked the NCSF to take over the hosting and management of KAP, which is now one of our most popular programs. Race was also the leader of The DSM Project that led to a beneficial change in 1994 in the way the psychotherapeutic profession views BD/SM.
The NCSF is currently building on the foundation laid by Race and Guy Baldwin in that project, moving closer towards the goal of depathologizing BD/SM.
Kinky sex has been one of Race Bannon's passions as a practitioner, organizer, writer, educator, commentator, activist and leader since his first explorations of the leather world starting in 1973.
Race is the author of the best seller Learning The Ropes: A Basic Guide to Safe and Fun SM Lovemaking (Version 2.0 available soon); founder of Daedalus Publishing Company, the first publishing company dedicated to publishing nonfiction leather/SM/fetish books; writer of many articles on sexuality; former sex advice columnist; former producer and host of Bound To Talk, the first internet talk show about kinky sex; past Board member of NLA: International, NLA: Los Angeles and Avatar Club Los Angeles; and associate member of Chicago Hellfire Club.
Race sits on the Board for the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities (www.carasresearch.org) and also for the Leather Hall of Fame (www.leatherhalloffame.com). He is on the organizing committee for Open SF, an upcoming 2012, three-day conference focused on creating non-monogamy community (inclusive of polyamorous people, BDSM aficionados, swingers, sex workers, queer non-monogamous folks, and non-monogamous families).
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Race can be reached through his web site at www.bannon.com where you can read his sexuality and relationship blog. For more information on NCSF, go to http://www.ncsfreedom.org
The Tom of Finland Foundation, based in Los Angeles, CA announced that Helsinki-filmi, the innovative Finnish production company, has asked it to do a feature about Tom of Finland. Helsinki-filmi has demonstrated enormous respect for the artist who started the Foundation that bears his name.
The Helsinki-filmi biopic will be the first feature-length portrait of Tom of Finland's influential life and career, and everyone involved has committed to crafting it the way that would make Tom proud.
"Every project we've seen from this esteemed company has consistently impressed us with its creativity. The production team has a full grasp of the layers of the subject matter they take on," says Durk Dehner, president and cofounder of Tom of Finland Foundation.
Tom's real name is Touko Laaksonen, he was born on May 8th, 1920 and "May" in Finnish is "Toukokuu." He lived and worked in Helsinki and later Los Angeles. He died in 1991 and was involved in two documentaries made about him during his lifetime (Boots, Biceps and Bulges: The Life and Works of Tom of Finland, 1988 and Daddy and the Muscle Academy, 1991).
With over 60 club dignitaries and Leather titleholders representing 13 Mid Atlantic clubs and major titles backing her on stage, Viola Johnson accepts the Seventh
Annual Leather Leadership Award during the Creating Change Conference closing plenary session produced by the NGLTF (National Gay and Lesbian Task Force)
in Baltimore, MD the weekend of January 25-29. Photo supplied by NCSF
The Leather Journal has a new Mailing Address
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.
Okay so let’s just put it out there. Not every SIR is the right SIR for you. I was collared to a very nice SIR for about 6 years. When that relationship transitioned I took time to myself to figure out just what exactly I needed and wanted. It wasn’t for several months later that I found another SIR I was willing to submit to, who is great. When I’m on certain sites that the leather community frequents and see boys and girls begging to be collared. Some boys even go as far as to change their usernames to things like “CollarMeSir”. I have even seen a boy go too far and put his number on the website. Sometimes the best thing to do is to take your time, and not to worry about when the special SIR is going to come into your life. Yes I said “Wait” as the saying goes, “Good things happen to little boys who wait”.
To pick out the right SIR:
• envision what attributes you want in a SIR
• look at what personality traits best fits yours
• what characteristics do you have that you want to grow?
• what characteristics do you have that might be beneficial to a SIR?
Yes there are such things as boys who don’t live with their Sir, which is absolutely normal. PLEASE do not think that you are not a boy or you are less of a boy because you do not live with your SIR. Sometimes it’s best for both parties to feel out what kind of relationship can blossom from not living together at first. BASICALLY SLOW YOUR ROLE, do not get collar because you’re in a rush to have a SIR.
Yes there are such things as bad SIRS. I’ve seen abusive pseudo SIRS and SIRS that don’t know what they are doing. It can be very dangerous especially during play. Be very careful and make sure you have safe guards in place.
BOYS DO NOT DRINK THE KOOL-AID. There are several SIRS that “collect” boys just to say or have boys around; it doesn’t make sense for this to happen. Make sure that you analyze how the SIR works with his other boys. Sometimes SIRS can bite off more than they can chew and that is an honest mistake, if they are honest with themselves, that’s even better.
Now I will leave you with this:
1. Every boy has the right to have his body, intellect, and emotions protected by his Dom.
2. Every boy has the right to choose the man whom he serves and to discontinue that service and take his leave without being subjected to physical, mental, or emotional abuse.
3. Every boy has the right to be cared for, disciplined appropriately, and allowed to feel pride in his submission.
4. Every boy has the right to protected sex if he so wishes.
5. Every boy has the right to privacy if he so wishes. No boy can be blackmailed, publicly humiliated, or physically coerced into service without his expressed desire to be so.
6. Every boy has the right to defend himself from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
7. Every boy has the right to consent or not to consent to sexual activities.
8. Every boy has the right to seek refuge, counsel, and advice from other subs and DOMS without the expectation of sex, money, or any other service in return.
9. Every boy has the right to a physically and emotionally available circle of friends.
10. Every boy has the right to protect his own possessions and finances against intercession, theft, and non-consensual acquisition.
SIRS: Please copy and paste this Bill of Rights into your online profiles if you wish to let subs know how you feel about their rights.
subs, boys, and pups: Please include the Bill in your online profiles and take a stand against abuse.
"And The Kinkiest City In The United States Is…"
On Sunday, August 11 The Gloss published an article by Amanda Chatel stating that Phoenix, Arizona is the kinkiest city in the United States. She presented a Top 10 cities that are the kinkiest in her opinion. San Francisco and Los Angeles made the list, but some other huge cities are conspicuously missing. One is the hub of the Midwest and Great Lakes and the other is on the Eastern Seaboard and will not be amused to see that they are not there.
"Guess.Seriously. I want you to guess. Rack your brain, think of the kinkiest people you know and where they reside. New York City? Los Angeles? Some Podunk town in Kansas somewhere? Where, oh where, could they be?They’re in Phoenix, Arizona, you guys."
After several years of studying video production, theatre, radio, and also various types of building and manufacturing at Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts, Ethan Taranto-Kent moved to Los Angeles in 2010 to begin his career as an actor and short film maker. He has also worked as a prop master, prop maker, set builder, film armorer, and firearms instructor. Taranto-Kent left art department work to pursue an acting career.
From his kickstarter: My name is Ethan (Taranto-Kent), and I love making movies. Mad Nation is one of those movies. It is, in essence, a post-apocalyptic western series. It's been a few hundred years after the bombs went off, and life in the former USA has largely returned to that of the mid-nineteenth century.
Films like The Road or The Road Warrior (no relation) or video game franchises like Fallout or Wasteland reflect one part of Mad Nation. In Mad Nation, these themes are married to classic western ideas found in shows like Deadwood or films like True Grit, 3:10 to Yuma, and the Dollars Trilogy.
The Leather Archives and Museum (LA&M) announced today that they have hired Jakob VanLammeren as Archivist and Collections Librarian. Jakob has been a project archivist at the Leather Archives since November of 2012, working with the Chicago Hellfire Club Collection. Prior to his work on the Hellfire Club Collection, Jakob was an intern in 2012, processing and describing two small collections and transcribing an oral history.
Jakob will graduate with his MLIS degree from Dominican University, River Forest, IL in August of 2013, where he has pursued coursework focusing on archives, archival theory, and metadata. His professional interests lie in increasing user access and utilizing new and innovative ways to build relationships among finding aids and digitization. He is also deeply committed to creating and sustaining traditional and 21st century innovations for the field. Jakob is a member of the Society of American Archivists, the Chicago Area Archivists, and the American Library Association. In addition to his work as an archivist, Jakob is a poet and received his MFA in Poetry from Bennington College, Bennington, VT in 2008.
LA&M Executive Director Rick Storer said "We are excited to bring Jakob on board. His understanding of archival, museum and library collections will enhance services the Leather Archives and Museum provides to its patrons." Through his work with the collections, he will focus on digitization efforts to bring materials available at the Leather Archives to a wider audience.
For additional information, Jakob can be contacted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (773) 761-9200.
The Leather Archives and Museum is a library, museum and archives pertaining to Leather and alternative sexual communities. The geographic collection scope is worldwide and includes all sexual orientations and genders. The library collection contains books, magazines, scholarly publications, films and electronic resources related to the subject matter. The museum collection contains original erotic art and artifacts from alternative sex organizations and individuals. The archival collection contains unpublished papers and records from notable activists, artists, businesses and organizations related to the subject matter. Click on Leather Archives and Museum to find more information.
Greg and Aaron met at The Black Eagle Toronto on Pride Day 2009. What began as an introduction over beers by a mutual friend blossomed into a partnership that became a marriage on July 14 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
The wedding was officiated by Rev. Randal Kinnear who flew up from Dallas Texas.
Our guest list included our Leather family, natural family and friends; some who had travelled from as far away as Japan and others who had rode their Harley's up from Chicago and other parts of the United States to be with us as we exchanged our wedding vows. Our wedding and reception were held at Bronte Harbour Marina, Oakville, Ontario and attended by 75 guests.
Our photographer was the lovely and talented Victoria Windsor of Toronto, Ontario who did an amazing job capturing our special day.
In Boots and Leather,
Sir Greg
On behalf of the NCSF (National Coalition for Sexual Freedom), Jim Fleckenstein and Susan Wright attended the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Annual Conference the weekend ofn June 5-9 in Miami, Florida.
NCSF organized the AASECT Alt Sex Special Interest Group munch that took place Friday evening in the Hilton Miami Downtown hotel. Over 40 AASECT members attended this dinner to ask questions of several volunteers who are experienced in the BDSM and polyamory communities. It was an informative meeting and provided specific information that the professional service providers wanted. The sharp rise in attendance from last year’s 25 attendees indicates a rise in interest in alternative sexual practices.
Jim Fleckenstein was the lead presenter on What Do Polyamorists Want? A National Survey of an Underserved Population, a workshop discussing the key findings from the Loving More and NCSF internet survey, the largest-ever sample of self-identified polyamorists.
“We made some very important discoveries about this large sample of the polyamorous community,” says Jim Fleckenstein. “Our findings refute a number of negative stereotypes about openly non-exclusive relationships, especially in terms of reported health and happiness. Sharing these findings with the therapeutic community is an essential part of NCSF's service to our constituents.
Susan Wright was the presenter on Understanding Consent in a BDSM Practices, a workshop presenting survey data from the NCSF Consent Counts survey assessing kinky peoples’ attitudes on consent in a BDSM context.
The NCSF booth in the Exhibit Hall featured free copies of NCSF’s newly refreshed guide: "What Psychology Professionals Should Know About Polyamory" courtesy of a grant by Alan of Polyamory in the News (http://polyinthemedia.blogspot.com), as well as brochures on NCSF’s projects and programs.
This year for the first time at AASECT, two of the plenaries dealt with kink issues: Dr. Ken Zucker and Dr. Michael First discussed the DSM-5: Implications for the Field of Sexuality that explained the process by which the paraphilias were separated from the Paraphilic Disorders. As the plenary description stated, the “(DSM) has proven both helpful and hurtful for addressing sexual concerns throughout history.”
The plenary held on Friday afternoon was “A Journey into BDSM & Race” by Mollena Williams, who discussed her personal narrative of being a black submissive (a minority within a minority group) in the kink world. Mollena’s plenary drew hundreds of people and was well-received by the attendees.
Please help NCSF continue our important outreach at events like the 2013 AASECT conference. Please join as a member now, go to our donation page, or encourage your group to hold a fundraiser for NCSF. Your support is critical to NCSF and we need it to continue to help the BDSM, swing and polyamory communities. http://www.ncsfreedom.org
Not long after the United States Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs who sued to have Proposition 8 reinstated had no standing, enabling same sex marriages to resume in California, marriages resumed and on the evening of March 26 a celebration of the demise of Proposition 8 was held in West Hollywood, CA.
Many watched the announcements on the morning of Wednesday, June 26 with anticipation. First came the announcement that part of DOMA (Defense Of Marriage Act) had been overturned. It did not knock all of DOMA out, but it did establish the equality of GLBT citizens.
Those in California were anxious about the second game of the doubleheader, the ruling on Proposition 8. The announcement was made and the celebration was on. Both California plaintiffs who sued to have Proposition 8 overturned were seen on television as were their attorneys, David Boies and Ted Oleson. The Plaintiff in the DOMA case was seen as well. She traveled to New York for a DOMA overturned celebration there.
A victory celebration was planned in the City of West Hollywood, CA, organized by AFER (American Foundation for Equal Rights) for Wednesday at 5:30 PM which was about a half hour late, probably due to the flight arrival time of the victorious players in the Proposition 8 case at LAX. Some of us who saw these people on television only seven hours before on the steps of the Unites States Supreme Court in Washington, DC were now seeing them live, in person.
Approximately 3,000 people packed the area just south of Santa Monica Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd to hear from the victors. Early on, West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land, who was not scheduled to be at the celebration, welcomed everyone to rousing cheers. She was followed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who addressed the crowd in English followed by the same speech in Spanish. The crowd cheered the speech en Espanol as loudly as they did the English version.
Speakers AFER co-founder Chad Griffin who is the President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Executive Director of AFER Adam Umhoefer, male couple Plaintiffs Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, the female couple Plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, followed by Lead Co-Counsel David Boies and Ted Oleson. Several other dignitaries spoke and all were cheered loudly as signs appeared throughout the crowd. A gallery with many of the signs and the people who were there will be posted soon.
When they spoke, attorneys Boies and Oleson humored how the other was the best barrister the one had seen. They mentioned how, after depositions that some of the Proposition 8 proponents just faded away, not to be seen; and that the one left helped make the case to defend same sex marriage. Oleson and Boies were opponents in the Bush v. Gore case in 2000.
Although The Leather Journal did not notice anyone dressed in Leather, many from the Leather/BDSM/Fetish community were there including International Mr. Leather 2007 Mikal Gerle who works for the City of West Hollywood. Gerle posted a statement from the City of West Hollywood promoting the victory celebration.
The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of Hollingsworth v. Perry, the landmark federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. It is the first case involving the right of gay and lesbian Americans to marry ever to be fully briefed and argued before the Supreme Court.
In August 2010, the District Court held, “Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.”
“The Perry case changed the conversation. It altered the game,” said Plaintiff Jeff Zarrillo. “It created a groundswell of momentum and passion that brought us here to the Supreme Court today. Today, the Court said that I am more equal, that we are more equal, our love is just like our parents and grandparents and that any children we may have in the future will be more secure. I look forward to growing old with the man I love. Today is a great day to be an American.”
“Today, we are closer to marriage equality for all,” said Plaintiff Paul Katami in Washington, DC. “We are lucky, but we know that this fight continues across the country. We cannot forget our LGBT brothers and sisters that are in states that still discriminate against them, and we will not allow it. We will continue the fight until all of us our equal. We stand on the shoulders of so many people that came before us. People that risked their lives to stand up and be who they are.
They gave us the legs to stand up on today. They gave us the momentum to run with and the voice to speak loudly and say proudly: we are gay, we are American, and we will not be treated like second-class citizens.”
See the Gallery on WeHo Celebrates Demise of Prop 8 in the Gallery bar at the top of the page.
The Supreme Court decision on March 26 in United States v. Windsor, concluding that Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional because it violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws.
In an opinion by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the Court held that DOMA “demeans” gay and lesbian couples and “humiliates tens of thousands of children now being raised by [those] couples.”
Enacted by Congress in 1996, Section 3 of DOMA nullified the marriages of gay and lesbian couples for all purposes of federal law. With the end of the Section 3 of DOMA, the federal government will no longer be permitted to exclude legally married gay and lesbian couples from the federal rights, benefits, and burdens that govern all other married couples.
The Windsor case was brought on behalf of Edith (“Edie”) Windsor by the American Civil Liberties Union, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
Read the United States Supreme Court deciscion here.
Read the Federal District Court decision here.
The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) is the sole sponsor of Hollingsworth v. Perry, the landmark federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. After bringing together bipartisan attorneys Theodore B. Olson and David Boies to lead its legal team, AFER successfully advanced the Perry case through Federal District Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. The Perry case is the first involving the fundamental right of gay and lesbian couples to marry ever to be fully briefed and argued before the Supreme Court. The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage equality.
www.afer.org
As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC's vision a reality.
Founded in 1980, HRC advocates on behalf of LGBT Americans, mobilizes grassroots actions in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect fair-minded individuals to office and educates the public about LGBT issues.
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
