The Southern California Leather Woman contest celebrated its 10th Anniversary at Threshold in North Hollywood, California, where Brenda Scileppi was tops among three contestants on Saturday night January 11 in front of about 200 people
SCLW founder and producer Duff Roberts is retiring the title and she is moving to Europe where she has been hired as a teacher. She did not want to turn the title over to anyone else.
The other contestants were Cupcake and Val.
The judges were SCLW 2005 Jesse Duran, SCLW 2006 Bikkja Amy, SCLW 2007 Rane Fox, SCLW 2011-2012 Mistress Melissa, SCLW 2012-2013 Naria Jordan and SCLW 2014 Brigette B. The judges' slave was slave tuesday and the tally master was Casey.
Ms Sanctuary Leather 2014 Shae Flanigan announced that the Ms Los Angeles Leather title would be revived in 2016. This received a loud ovation.
CineKink Announces Award Winners at Twelfth Annual Kinky Film Festival
Rounding out multiple days of screenings and parties in its twelfth anniversary appearance, organizers for CineKink NYC/2015 announced the recipients of awards in a range of categories during the film festival's closing celebrations held on Sunday, March 1.
"It was an especially tight competition this year," noted Lisa Vandever, CineKink co-founder and director, as she presented the awards. "It's an indication of the overall quality of the works showcased this festival, that our jurors and audience had such a hard time choosing between them. And what we're honoring tonight is the absolute best of the best."
Audience Choice Awards for CineKink 2015 were given to "Back Issues: The Hustler Magazine Story" (Michael Lee Nirenberg) for Best Documentary Feature, with "Marriage 2.0" (Paul Deeb) winning for Best Narrative Feature, and an Honorable Mention award going to the documentary "Inside Her Sex" (Sheona McDonald). A special festival prize, a CineKink Community Visionary Award, went to "High Shine: 15 Years of International Ms Bootblack" (Christina Court). The CineKink Choice awards were determined by audience ballot just following each eligible film's screening during the festival.
In the shorts competition, juried festival awards went to "It's My Birthday and I"ll Fly If I Want To" (Morgana Muses) for Best Documentary Short, "The Gordon Game" (Jared Robbins) and "Kimi Kabuki" (Yoko Okumura) tied for Best Comedy Short, "Rubber Romance" (Sophie Dros) and "The Table" (Izabel Grondin) tied for Best Dramatic Short, and "Zolushka" (Wes Hurley) for Best Musical Short. Honorable Best Mention awards were presented to "No Artificial Sweeteners" (The Madame), "Tease" (Ms. Naughty) and "The Art of Spanking" (Erika Lust).
Determining the shorts awards, CineKink jurors this year included Viviane Tang, ring-leader of the sex blog "Viviane's Sex Carnival," Bill Woods, a film festival programmer and curator of the New Filmmakers series at Anthology Film Archives, and Cheyenne Picardo, an alumnni CineKink filmmaker.
The sixth annual CineKink "Bring It!" award, determined by audience ballot during a presentation of excerpts showcasing current adult cinema, went to "(S)he Comes" (Petra Joy).
The CineKink Tribute, recognizing extraordinary depictions of kink and sex-positivity in mainstream film and television, was presented to the series "Transparent" (Jill Soloway/Amazon), for its "wry, yet tender look at the ripples created when one individual finally comes to terms with their true identity." Honorable mentions for the CineKink Tribute went to several television series: "Bob's Burgers" (Fox), "The Mindy Project" (Fox) and "Outlander" (Starz!). Works eligible for consideration this year were those released or aired in the United States from January 1 until December 31.
Making its 12th annual run February 24-March 1, and enjoying record-breaking attendance, with several sold-out programs, CineKink NYC featured a specially selected program of films and videos that celebrate and explore a wide diversity of sexuality. Billing itself as "the kinky film festival," the event is dedicated to the recognition and encouragement of sex-positive and kink-friendly depictions in film and television. With offerings drawn from both Hollywood and beyond, works presented at CineKink NYC ranged from documentary to drama, comedy to experimental, mildly spicy to quite explicit - and everything in between.
Sponsors of CineKink NYC/2015 included Bowery Bliss, KinkyMedical.net and njoy, along with Conduit Enterprises, Dom Sub Friends, Leather Archives & Museum, Leather Pride Night NYC, Lyft, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Open Love NY, Pandoraís Box, Pleasure Salon, Poly Cocktails, Purple Passion and The Eulenspiegel Society.
Selections from CineKink NYC will be featured in a traveling version of the festival, slated to appear in various cities throughout the coming year.
For more information, visit http://cinekink.com
Winter’s cold and snow failed to deter the hundreds of Leatherfolk from converging on Chicago for the Mr. Chicago Leather 2015 Contest Weekend hosted by Touché January 23-25 with Chicagoan Luis Tipantasig emerging as the winner at the Leather Archives & Museum.
The task of selecting Mr. Chicago Leather 2015 was carried out by International Mr. Leather 2014 Ramien Pierre, International Leather Slave 2014 slave angie, Joe Spaceman, Sir Volt, Mr. Chicago Leather 2014 Miguel Torres. Tallymasters were Pup Ryker and Ron Moser.
IML 2003 John Pendal emceed, marking the 12th straight year that John has returned to Chicago from London to host the contest.
Joining Luis Tipantasig in the competition were Stitch, Michael, Shadi and Clint, all fine Chicago Leathermen.
The evening began with a blessing by the Chicago Abbey of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
John Pendal then introduced the five contestants as they were judged in five categoires, their leather image, cruise leather, speech, Q&A and the crowd pleasing jockstrap. During the evening Touché bar manager David Boyer announced the recipient of the Chuck Windemuth Mentorship Award. The bar established this award to honor the life of Chuck who was himself Mr. Chicago Leather 1991 and was instrumental in the revival of the title in 2004 after a five year absence. The purpose of this honor was to recognize those who have demonstrated a major role as a mentor to new, younger Leather/fetish folks coming into the community year after year. This year’s honoree was Mr. International Rubber 2002 and producer of MIR William “Rubberwilli" Schendel.
The weekend featured a full schedule of events beginning with a Welcome Party on Friday with introductions of the judges and contestants. During the party, the five contestants conducted a raffle of the Mr. Chicago Leather Travel Fund with a 2015 IML weekend registration donated by IML as the top prize.
The night also featured the roasting of outgoing Mr. Chicago Leather 2014 Miguel Torres which was hosted by Thib Guicherd-Callin, Mr. Santa Clara County Leather 2012. Once again Thib did a tremendous job giving the many “roasters” on hand a chance to speak about Miguel while delivering several jabs of his own.
Saturday afternoon, while the judges were interviewing the contestants at Chicago’s LGBT Library and Archives, the Gerber/Hart Library, Touché kept the crowd entertained with a Leather/fetish flea market.
Several groups and individuals were on hand offering Leather gear and more for sale. Gerber/Hart Library also hosted a Dirty Book Sale with thousands of magazines, books, videos and DVDs. The Titans of the Midwest also hosted a KINK U at the bar during the afternoon with three sessions, hot wax, rope and sensory deprivation with large audience for each session.
Survivors gathered Sunday for the Leather Brunch at the Andersonville Brewing Company and were treated to a scrumptious buffet and libations.
Patrick Smith becomes Eagle LA Mr. Leather 2015
By Motorboot Robert
Patrick Smith walked out on to Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA with a sash, medallion and back patch as Eagle LA Mr. Leather 2015 on Sunday night, January 18. The first runner-up was Esteban Bartholo Iriarte and the second runner-up was Joseph Arellano.
The other three amazing contestants were Michael G. Liberatore, Dan Lovell and Troy Coe.
Hosted by Jasun Mark with a Special blessing by the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The Eagle LA Mr. Leather 2015 Contest featured music by DJ Sean Niles.
The judging panel was led by Kevin Casey with, Mr. LA Leather/Eagle LA 2014 Eric Paul Leue, Eddie Hibbs of the Stockroom, Eagle LA DJ Eric Pruitt and Robert Green of the CA B&B Corps.
Eagle LA rarely has the contest on a Sunday yet, the bar was still packed with a line outside. Space was at a premium even for the judges squeezed in at against the bar for their view of the show.
With six sexy, articulate and fun contestants, it was a tight race. Eric Paul Leue had an emotional step down speech as Mr. Leather Eagle LA 2014.
Patrick Smith will vie for the coveted Mr. LA Leather 2015 title during LA Leather Pride Week, March 22-29.
To see more photos of the Eagle LA Mr. Leather 2015 Contest go to the Facebook Album of Motorboot Photography
Leather HEAT with the theme of Honorably Embracing All Tribes will be held April 17-19 in Van Nuys, California at the AirTel Hotel.
Leather HEAT 2015 will be a Leather/BDSM/Kink
FTL Leather Pride announces Shades of Pride, a month-long celebration of Leather Pride in March, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. FTL Leather Pride has partnered with 22 clubs, organizations, businesses, and charities to celebrate the unity, breadth, depth and diversity of Fort Lauderdale’s Leather Community. As of this writing there are 16 events scheduled with something to appeal to almost every demographic in the Leather community.
From a cocktail reception at The Stonewall Gallery celebrating the exhibit Stroke: From Under the Mattress to the Museum Wall, to dinners at two restaurants, an infamous Friday Night Party at LeatherWerks, to a superhero party, a pup party, and numerous Leather-themed parties at Fort Lauderdale nightclubs to name a few; there are events for everyone.
Check out www.ShadesOfPride.com or the FTL Leather Pride Facebook page at for a complete and up to date schedule of all the events.
Fort Lauderdale Leather Pride is produced by an unpaid staff of volunteers. All profits will be divided between Stonewall National Museum and Archives, The World Aids Museum, The Leather Archives & Museum, and to provide seed money for FTL Leather Pride to produce an even bigger and better Leather Pride in 2016.
The Ms and Mr. Philadelphia Leather 2015 contest was held at the Bike Stop on Valentine’s Day - the first time the contest was held there since 2008 - and Lascivious Jane from Philadelphia, Artistic Director of the Liberty City Kings of Drag and Burlesque, who ran unopposed, was chosen as the new Ms Philadelphia Leather, and Jason, from Philadelphia, who ran against four other contenders, was chosen as the new Mr. Philadelphia Leather.
Winners’ prizes were sashes, Leather back patches, custom-fitted vests from Wolfstryker Leather, and hotel and airfare to the next International Ms Leather and International Mr. Leather contests, in which they will compete.
The Second Annual San Francisco Sober Leather contests are moving to a larger and kinkier venue this year, the San Francisco Citadel, located at 181 Eddy Street between Taylor and Mason with the main event scheduled for Saturday, November 15 at 7 PM, followed by a play party beginning at 11 PM.
The party is a new addition, as are two events on the days preceding and following the contest: a meet and greet taking place Friday, November 14, and a victory brunch on November 16.
The contest has grown into three titles, all serving the broader objective of fostering sober leadership, outreach and expression within the kink community. The San Francisco Sober Kinkster is open to any individual who feels like they either don’t identify with the male or female gender model or that they shouldn’t have to choose a gender. The other two titles are Mr. San Francisco Sober Leather, which is a feeder into the Mr. San Francisco Leather 2015 contest, and Ms San Francisco Sober Leather 2015, which is a feeder into the Ms San Francisco Leather 2015 contest.
While all will take place simultaneously, each will have its own panel of three judges. The contests are open to individuals 21 and over residing within the Greater Bay Area and Sacramento. Applications for entry are available on the organization’s Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/SFSoberLeathercontest They are due by October 21.
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
