By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
On December 4, with Excelsior Motorcycle Club President Gabriel Rivas presiding, officers and members of such clubs as Excelsior, Empire City MC, New York City Pups and Handlers, Iron Guard, and District of Columbia Bear Club, and of the Atlantic Motorcycle Coordinating Council (AMCC), and Leather titleholders as well, gathered on the first floor of the Eagle Bar NYC for Excelsior’s annual Trim-a-Tree Party.
Assisted by Excelsior’s Daddy Chaz, members and associates of the clubs hung ornamental red glass balls, adorned with the clubs’ colors, on the Eagle’s Christmas tree.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charity Partners Announced for Los Angeles Leather Pride 2016
Los Angeles, CA: December 11, 2015; The Los Angeles Leather Coalition is happy to announce the Charity Partner recipients of this year’s Los Angeles Leather Pride 2016 (LALP). The LALP Committee and the Board of Directors of the LALC are proud to announce we have chosen three very different organizations to receive the net proceeds (less expenses and a reasonable reserve) for LALP 2016.
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The designated Charity Partners for 2016 are: ONE Archives Foundation, Tom of Finland Foundation, and Sexual Minorities Uganda. They will receive their share of the proceeds after the event. Attendees can help in many ways: buying tickets, donating at venues, participating in the silent auction, and buying raffle tickets for the GRAND PRIZE WEEKEND IN BERLIN RAFFLE.
Marlon Morales, Los Angeles Leather Pride Chairman, stated “These valuable partnerships allow the LA Leather community to give back and support organizations that help do fantastic things which benefit us all.”
The ONE Archives Foundation collects, preserves, and protects the history, art, and culture of the LGBTQ and leather communities in collaboration with ONE Archives at the USC Libraries. Founded in 1952, ONE Archives currently houses over two million archival items including periodicals, books, film, video and audio recordings, photographs, artworks, organizational records, and personal papers.
The Tom of Finland Foundation offers a safe haven for all erotic art in response to rampant discrimination against art that portrays sexual behavior or generates a sexual response. In addition, the Foundation educates the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality.
Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) was formed in March 2004 as a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) non-government network to address emerging Human Rights issues based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The network comprises 18 organizations all working to advocate for LGBTI rights. The SMUG is entrusted the responsibility of advocacy for policy reforms as Member Organizations offer services on economic empowerment, health, counseling and guidance, and other services to the LGBT community.
IML / Mr. LA Leather 2016 Patrick Smith visited LGBT leaders in Uganda this past summer.
IML / Mr. LA Leather 2016 Patrick Smith visited LGBT leaders in Uganda this past summer.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES LEATHER PRIDE
LALP is an annual event held by the Los Angeles Leather Coalition to honor the Los Angeles Leather Community. Since its inception in 1999, LALP has helped bring the L.A. Leather Community together to celebrate both past and present successes.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES LEATHER COALITION
LALC is a non-profit 501(c)4 organization which facilitates communications and mutual understanding among different segments of the leather-affiliated community, as well as promotes unity through cooperative endeavors that offer entertainment, education, social interaction, and community service.
By Queen Cougar
The Leather community in San Francisco will present Remembering Mr. Marcus on January 9 at the SF Armory in the Fourth Floor Studio at 7 PM.
Remembering Mr. Marcus is a fundraiser to remember Mr. Marcus and to inform the Leather community that his cremains will be interred on February 28 in the plot next to Empress I Jose Sarria and his own former Empress Maxine from the Imperial Court at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma, CA.
Marcus was the first Emperor crowned in the Imperial Court, done in San Francisco. His lifetime of Imperial Court and Leather activities are being remembered and honored with these events.
Remembering Mr. Marcus will have an extensive slideshow presentation of photo's from his life, entertainment, refreshments and a cash bar.
It has been six years since his passing.
E-mail Queen Cougar at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I do love a good leather contest. But then, who doesn't, right? Christopher Street West Leather 2016 was held Saturday night (June 7, 2015) at The Bullet Bar in North Hollywood. The always hot pre-pride Leather crowd had the privilege to watch the adorable Jeremy Ronceros and the shining star of Our Gay Group, Don Mike emcee the evening as Christopher Paul stepped down and Jeffrey Erdman take his place as the new Mr. Christopher Street West 2016. First runner up, Caleb Engen, and the other contestants, Francisco Perales and Keshav Tyagi (tee-AH-gee) cheered him on.
The four contestants were a varied bunch, any of whom would surely have done the title proud. Contestant number one, Jeffrey Erdman, originally from Seattle, WA, now lives in Los Angeles. Francisco Perales is from Fort Worth, TX, and he also has made his home here in LA. Number three, Keshav Tyagi relocated to LA from Boston. Lastly, but not least, is Caleb Engen, who went from N.O. (New Orleans), LA, and now resides in North Hollywood, CA.
There were more judges than contestants and they, too, were a varied bunch. Not only did Tom Wong, Mr. CSW Leather 2007, sit as a judge, but so did Thomas Trafelet and Nicholas Oliver. IML 2015 Patrick Smith and Christopher Paul, the current Mr. CSW rounded out the judging panel.
When asked what the biggest problem facing the leather community today is, Erdman, a lawyer, answered "the biggest problem facing the leather community today is addiction, specifically Crystal Meth addiction." He would like to see a partnership between agencies dealing with the problem of addiction partner with the LGBT community to combat this growing trend.
Francisco Perales, works with homeless Vets and agreed that addiction is a huge issue plaguing the community. He thinks that education is the main way to combat the problem of addiction in our community.
Keshav Tyagi discussed the old guard and new guard, hoping to further a coalition between the two. He feels that the old guard can mentor the new guard and, therefore, form a more cohesive community. He knows first hand how important leather community mentoring is after being rejected by his own cultural community.
Caleb Engen's first question was, does a leather title makes you a better leatherman. He denied that it does stating, "it is who you are, the title does not make you more than you were before".
All four contestants were sure of themselves, well spoken, and would have made an exemplary Mr. CSW 2016. But the votes came in and First Runner up went to Caleb Engen. The title went to Jeffrey Erdman.
Once Christopher Paul passed the sash to Jeffrey and the photo op finished, it was time for Jeremy to wax poetic about the outgoing Mr. CSW. Christopher, in his tenure, had put in over 300 service hours and raised over $5000 for various charities. Impressive indeed! Jeremy Ronceros inducted Christopher into the Los Angeles Band of Brothers.
Two generous baskets courtesy of Tom of Finland and contained ToF sex toys along with assorted lubes; and Eagle LA basket contained leather scented soap, Eagle LA bling and, of course, alcohol was given away to the generous winners as the celebration continued into the night. Congratulations, Jeffrey Erdman and Caleb Engen! And bravo to Francisco Perales and Keshav Tyagi for running and doing the community proud!
On Friday, April 10, 2015 Des Moines Iowa police recieved an anonymous tip which led to the arrest after a confession by Eric Reece Wiethorn, 49, of Aimes Iowa. He confessed that he sent a letter containing a white powder the Blazing Saddle, a gay bar in Des Moines Iowa. We reported on March 27, 2015 that the owner Robert “Mongo” Eikleberry had received a letter containing a white powder at which point he called the authorities.
The letter addressed to the bar included white powder and included the statement “This is your punishment for sinning against God, and hopefully you'll die from anthrax on this letter!
Investigation by Des Moines fire department determines that the white powder was nothing more than Gold Bond medicated powder.
Wiethorn was being held on $2000 bail as of the afternoon of April 9 2015.
Eagle LA Mr. Leather Patrick Smith was awarded the title of Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2015 on Saturday night, March 28 at Club 333 in downtown Los Angeles. He will go to compete at the upcoming International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago in May 22-25, 2015. Over 1,000 revelers from all over the world experienced Los Angeles Leather Pride 2015 at the Mr. Los Angeles Leather contest and the post contest dance LEGION, where participants celebrated well into the early morning. On the upper veranda of Club 333 guests had a fantastic view of the iconic lights of the central city.
The day started with the 12th Annual Southland Honors where representatives from all parts of LA’s diverse Leather community gathered for a festive champagne brunch to salute the individuals, businesses and organizations that contribute to the success of the festival.
Before the awards how started a great brunch prepared by Lane, official caterer for LA Leather Pride Week was served.
Lou Romano emceed the Awards and his biting humor was as sharp and deadly as ever. Almost no one was missed as targets.
DES MOINES – Des Moines’ Blazing Saddles bar, home for much of Iowa Leather Weekend, received a threatening letter today containing white powder.
KCCI in Des Moines reported that the FBI was investigating the letter. Capital City Pride, the organizer of the city’s Pride Parade, said the powder turned out to be baby powder. Blazing Saddles is a long time supporter of the parade.
Capital City Pride released this statement this afternoon:
Today, a part of Des Moines’s LGBT community faced a threat from an unknown source. A letter was sent to the Blazing Saddle with a white powder included in the envelope. Authorities were called and we are very happy that it was only baby powder.
For more info see the full story on Great Lakes Den
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
