Dark Angel: LA Leather Pride Week

We have the full schedule with full description of each of the events - with links for your convenience. Just scroll all the way down to see what is in store for you during LA Leather Pride. THis is becoming one of those weeks where Leatherfolk from all over the world should visit.

NCSF announces the Vi Johnson Liberation Award

The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom recognizes that voices, experiences, and contributions to the community are not homogeneous or a monolith. The NCSF believes that a dedicated award that intentionally honors and celebrates the contributions of Black, Indigenous People of Color and the LGBTQ community is long overdue.

LA Leather judges named

Los Angeles Leather Pride announced the names of the judges for Mr. LA Leather 2022 and they are: Jamila Dawson, head judge Jack Thompson, Ray Tilton, Cody Troy, Erin Marie, Leo Newcomb, Joshua Hernandez, and alternate judge Dave Rhodes.

The Mr. LA Leather 2022 contest and Legion Dance will be held at Catch One near downtown LA on Saturday night, March 26.

Nine men will vie for the Mr. LA Leather 2022 title. They are: Francisco The Navy Cub, Joe, Angel, Joey Byrne, Colton Stenke, Alan Gabriel, Romyn, Christian Medina and Brandon Bullet.

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.

Smokeout in August

Here is a review of 2021's major events as they relate to the Leather/BDSM/Fetish/Club/Titleholder community. Much of the year was sad news, but we began to come back to life in the latter half of the year.

January 2021

On January 1, the producers of all Olympus Leather Contests announced that after the International class of 2021 is selected, Olympus Leather will be forbearing the Contest Circuit portion of the organization’s activities for the foreseeable future.

Dave Rhodes' Christmas, Solstice, New Year, Holidays and Hanukkah List

After a year hiatus, here is Dave Rhodes' Christmas, Solstice, New Year, Holidays and Hanukkah List. I was not going to post it this year because I'm not sure what to say after all that has gone with the pandemic the last two years. Then again, we need to love and laugh again - without anyone getting hurt.

Alan Stroik - Appreciation for two decades of complete service to Avatar and almost that long with LA Leather Pride. You really deserve a lot of respect.

Billy Lane - Congratulations on your Leather Leadership Award from the NGLBTQ Task Force at the Creating Change Conference.

Gary Wasdin - All the best with the Leather Archives & Museum. Glad to see the huge sum made in the recent fund drive.

The 15 Association - A great Anniversary and Bootcamp as we come back to life.

Peter Fiske - A lot of love to match all the love you give.

Bruce-Michael Gelbert - Thank you for your loyal reporting over the years.

Jack Thompson - All the love from the big bear hug I gave you at CLAW before you won at IML and a matching bear hug for your hubby.

Bill from San Diego - I love you. More times together.

George Herbert - Appreciation for your support.

Tom of Finland Foundation - Congratulations on your successful to live events with this year's Erotic Arts Festival at Second Home.

Rodney Burger - Love you and thank you for your reporting in Baltimore.

Tyler Fong - A visit to LA and bring Reece with you.

Richard Conley - More successful Mates Leather Weekend and Snowbound events.

ONYX - To all of the ONYX chapters and their members a big hug for just being out there. Your visibility has made a huge difference.

Jeffrey Payne - Good fortune.

Mistress Cyan - Success in finding a new and more equitable location - Hopefully near the community.

Vonn Tramel - Spoons - lots of spoons - and in all sizes.

Ariq Wilson - You just radiate fun and confident energy and I love you for it.

Alex Wisniowski - A visit to LA. Do know that Zelda loves you.

SF Eagle - Congratulations on having your bar saved in perpetuity by the City of San Francisco.

Graylin Thornton - Looks like 2021 was your year with the TLJ cover and being named to the Tom of Finland Foundation board. You've more than paid your dues.

CLAW - Success in Cleveland and the hopes CLAW LA, renamed The Leather Getaway, takes root.

Ben Johnson - Joining Scarlett and I at Brent's. We've been virtually planning this for four years now.

Gerald Creole - You are a mountain of a man - in so many ways - and so many of us love you for it.

Michael Lara - You so deserved the award the Payasos gave you at Eagle LA this month. Keep the faith. You are a Mensch.

Guy Baldwin - Thank you for your good deed.

Christopher Edwards - Love and appreciation for what you have given over the years.

Gabriel Green - You are a hard worker. Thank you for all the effort. You are making a difference.

IMsL and IMsBB - Return to the days when you can have live contests again.

Sandy "Mama" Reinhardt - Love you more.

Rick Boehle - More years of Friday night dinners and the best with CMEN.

Our Patreon and GoFundMe benefactors - Thank you because you are a huge reason why we are still here.

Charlie Matula and Hunter - Thanks for being there in a time of great need. The word Mensch applies to each of you.

Viola Johnson - All the best with the Leather Library and thank you for all the effort and energy you've invested in it.

Joey Byrne - You've been a great titleholder in Long Beach - keep it up.

Patrick Grady - Big hugs.

Rick Conley - Look forward to the time when I can attend Mates Leather Weekend.

Ghee Phua - Congratulations on becoming Mr. SF Eagle Leather 2022.

Justin B. Terry-Smith - I've been following you since your early years in Leather and am please with what you've done.

Jon Wright - Enjoy the Tom of Finland print of the One Way bar.

Payasos LA - You guys are the kind of thing that makes LA such a great place to live.

Colton Stenke - It's twue, it's Twue, it's TWUE - Lily von Schtupp.

FiFi LaFille - Miss you. Keep on keeping on.

Mauro, Ruben, Rex, Bear Mike and Bear Marvin, Magnum Masters and the Albuquerque Leather Daddys - XXX.

Jim Neuman - The best health, a decent coach for USC which they just got, and appreciation for all you do for so many.

Todd Nelson - A visit to Hollywood.

Robert Green - You been amazing with the LA Leather Coalition - keep it up. And a star as LA's main photographer.

David Boyer - Keep it up at Touche. You have a magic hand with bars

Brandon Bullet - Keep up the good work with your online interviews.

Ralph Bruneau - Thank you for the two years you served as Avatar president.

Who ever is responsible for ending CODE Night in Chicago - A box of coal.

Smokeout Las Vegas - A-plus for moving Smokeout back to the first weekend of April. So looking forward to the new hotel.

Scarlet Sin - See Ben Johnson - the Brent's thing.

Elliot Musgrove - Lots of love.

Brian Goss - Thank you for the invite to your desert party. You are an amazing chef. Love meeting your partner and friend who seems to love baseball as much as I do.

Leather weekend events - To all of the events, whether they be club runs, contests and or Leather conventions who have been on hiatus until the pandemic subsides, the strength, will and means to make comebacks.

Tracy and Wolf - A million bear hugs the next time we meet. You two have been so supportive and do know I thank and love you for it. Some people are just good people.

Kyle, Dan and the members of Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert - You guys never fail, no matter what.

Marc "Pony" Owens - A visit to LA.

Matthew Mullins and Dan Lovell - Love, bear hugs, and the strength to keep on keeping on.

Every one at Leather64TEN - A huge hug and a visit at IML.

Bob Miller - I think you did a good thing bringing CLAW to LA and hope there is enough there for you to keep it going.

Adam Monda - Your growth as a Leatherman has been amazing. Keep it up.

Cypher - Have not heard from yo in a while and hope to do so soon. Thank you for your support.

Matthew Jensen and Joel - Love both of you.

Race Bannon - Mazel tov on all of the honors you received this year - well deserved.

Avatar Club Los Angeles, The 15 Association and Chicago Hellfire Club - Much brotherhood to all of my fellow members.

Dr. Larry and William - All the best in your new home in the Palm Springs area.

And to all, Merry Christmas, Yule, Solstice and/or Happy Hanukkah.

.

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.

By Richard Villani, photos by Benno Sebastian and Dave Rhodes

On the weekend of December 3–5, the Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF) presented the 26th Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival — Tom of Finland 101: Raw Anatomy. An estimated 1,400 people attended. This was the first year the Tom of Finland Art and Culture Festival was held at at Second Home and the first in-person Festival they have hosted in two years.

CLAW 2021 held November 24-28 at the Westin Bonaventure in Down Town Los Angeles has come and gone. 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. CLAW producers did let The Leather Journal know there were over 400 volunteers

.

Los Angeles Pup is Pup Kieran Hound

The Los Angeles Pup Pride Festival was held October 22-24 with Pup Kieran Hound winning the LA Pup Contest in front of about 100 enthusiastic spectators at MCC in the Valley in North Hollywood, CA.

The judges were Mr. San Diego Leather "Pup Starke" Jay Heimbach, LA Pup 2019 Pup Tony Bark, LA Pup 2020-2021 Pup Star ...