By Rodney Burger and Gallery photos by Rodney Burger, Michael Fowler, Todd Wolfstryker, Mufasa, Jeffrey Wayne, Ivan Nunez, Roberto Cuero and Lewis Curtis
Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Bear 2023 Daniel “Dan Bear” DeLuca, a salon owner and dancer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was selected Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2023 during the annual Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend presented in Washington, DC on January 12th – 15th. Mr. Connecticut Leather 2023 Trell Walters was selected first runner-up and the title of second runner-up was awarded to Chad Alan, first runner-up to Mr. DC Eagle 2018.
Meet Mr. Mayhem Leather Bear 2022 David Sugar
By Rodney Burger
David Sugar of Baltimore, Maryland was sashed Mr. Mayhem Leather Bear 2022 during the annual Bears, Bikers & Mayhem event held May 5-8 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Born and raised in Baltimore, David discovered the Leather community in December of 2013 when he was asked to deejay for the ShipMates Leather Club’s annual Daddy Christmas fundraiser. David pledged the ShipMates in 2017 and began his Leather journey.
Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2022 Duke interview
By Rodney Burger. Photos by Todd Davidson including main photo, Todd Wolfstryker, Rodney Burger, Dave Rhodes, John O'Brien, Facebook.
On January 15th, I sat across the judge’s table and interviewed Mr. Mayhem Leather 2021 Duke as he competed for the title of Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2022. Although clearly nervous, he opened up and answered the wide variety of questions tossed at him by the distinguished panel of judges. On February 5th I interviewed Duke again after he captured the MAL 2022 title on January 16th. Dressed all in black with his signature black cowboy hat, he was beaming, confident, and relaxed. With his sites on the International Mr. Leather 2022 Contest in May, this cowboy was clearly ready for the ride.
Smaller MAL a Big Hit!
by Rodney Burger Photos by Rodney Burger, Todd Wolfstryker and from Facebook
Mr. Mayhem Leather 2021 Duke, from Alexandria, Virginia, was sashed Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2022 during Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend (MAL), January 14-17 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Runner- up was awarded to Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Bear 2020-2021 Josh Englert. Also competing were Mr. Northwoods 2021 Buck Wilder and Roberto Calabrese from Washington, DC.
CLAW shines in California debut
CLAW 2021, held November 24-28 at the Westin Bonaventure in Down Town Los Angeles, has come and gone and plans for next year are already under way with a new name, The Leather Getaway. The huge space with events going on at the same time in the lower convention rooms and suites and halls on the top section of the world-class piece of architecture made it difficult for attendees to get an idea of just how many Leatherfolk were there.
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
