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.
A fundraiser, Raising Hell for Dark Angel, will be held at Eagle LA on Friday, February 18 at 9 PM. $7 cover. A full schedule of events will appear in the March Issue of The Leather Journal.
Want to make a difference in your community? Consider volunteering for LA Leather Pride 2022 Week.
https://losangelesleatherpride.com/volunteer/
Smaller MAL a Big Hit
By Rodney Burger
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. Usually seen as the festive start of the Leather community’s new year, this year’s MAL was....continued at
https://theleatherjournal.com/news/mid-atlantic-leather-2022
CLAW 22 in Cleveland
The producers of CLAW did not have much time to recuperate from producing CLAW 21 in Los Angeles as it already time for CLAW 22 at the Westin Cleveland Downtown and Hyatt Regency at the Arcade hotels in Cleveland, OH the weekend of April 28 - May 1.
As usual, CLAW will have a powerful schedule of events. The CLAW 22 package includes all of the following: 125 Skills and Education Sessions, huge Leather Vendor Mart, world's greatest Cigar Deck, Academy Dungeon Men's Play Parties, Fetish Speed Dating (12 sessions, (three Silent Auctions, Kinky Art Show, Bound and Beautiful Muscle Gallery, hotel parties and socials, Leather Stallion Saloon parties, Square Peg Toys and MisFit Toys sale, two Pup Moshes, ABDL Playground, Strip Bingo, Kinky Kabaret, transportation to bars, dungeon and hotels, and four days and nights with thousands of Leathermen.
To book your room go to https://www.clawinfo.org
IML and IMBB judges named
The panels of judges for International Mr. Leather and International Mr. Bootblack are set and they are, beginning with International Mr. Leather 2019 Jack Thompson, Thorsten Buhl, Brian "Bolt" Donner, Alan Dudley, Bob "Mongo" Eikleberry, Bob Goldfarb, Leena Magnet, Jim Plante and Choc Trei. The International Mr. Bootblack 2022 judges will be International Mr. Bootblack 2019 Krisszly de Hond, Jackie Thompson and a third to-be-named judge. The tally masters will be Danny Thanh Nguyen and Bootblack Zach.
The IML and IMBB 2022 contest will be held at the Auditorium on Sunday, May 29 starting at 6 PM in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-30. The host hotel is the Congress Plaza on Michigan Avenue, in Chicago, of course.
https://www.facebook.com/International-Mr-Leather-Inc-220555721291160/
SF Leathermen's Discussion Group 25th Anniversary
The San Francisco Leathermen’s Discussion Group held its 25th Anniversary Celebration and Volunteer Appreciation Party at Oasis Nightclub on December 12 in SoMa. Highlights of the day were a blessing by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, California State Senator Scott Weiner reading an official proclamation from the California State Senate and a speech, Supervisors Matt Haney and Honey Mahogany both spoke. Catered bites were provided by Mama Bear.
Every one of those 25 years is a testament to the dedication of the volunteers who set out and re-racked chairs, those who passed around plastic canisters with Leather pride stickers, volunteers who worked coat check, professionals, college kids, and lawyers, everyone who took time to gave what they could. To them, SF LDG said, "thank you."
Founded in 1996, SF LDG has an educational mission with a once-a-month presentation of a kink/fetish/leather/BDSM skill or topical discussion, interview, or panel relevant to kinky guys and their allies. Every month, 60-150 people join them for two hours to meet new people, learn, and have fun. Come with a friend, or drop in on your own. With a huge audience of the most interesting folks in the Bay Area, SF LDG tends to be the best place to meet and socialize and hang out with other kinksters. You'll be welcome.
https://www.sfldg.org/all-programs/ldg25thanniversary
SF Bare Chest Calendar Men contest season
The 2022 SF Bare Chest Calendar Men contest season is underway with semi finals every Thursday from February 18 - March 25, starting at 8PM each week, streaming on Facebook and Twitch.
For over 35 years the Bare Chest Calendar Men have been a huge part of the San Francisco community raising more than three million dollars for PRC (and its original agencies AIDS Emergency Fund and Positive Resource Center). The Bare Chest Calendar is a fun and dynamic fundraising project disguised as a Calendar. Each year, through a series of contests held at the Powerhouse, Bay Area Men compete for the opportunity to appear on the calendar. Once selected, Calendar Men volunteer at a series of fundraising events during the Calendar Season, between May and December to raise critical funds for the 5,000-plus clients served each year by PRC.
https://www.facebook.com/barechestcalendar/
New England Leather Alliance disbands
By Scott Erickson
The New England Leather Alliance ceased operations on December 31, 2021, having served the BDSM, kink, and Leather community since 1991. NELA first started as a chapter of the National Leather Association and was known as NLA New England. In January of 2000, the organization changed its name to the New England Leather Alliance. Since 1993, NELA’s Fetish Fair Fleamarket built up to become the largest kink-based conference in the country through the hundreds of presenters and vendors we were lucky to have had. In all, NELA put on 52 Flea’s that became the must-attend event for many. NELA was also known for supporting community organizations, all in creating a safer space for such a diverse community. Over the years NELA has given over $100,000 in charitable giving because of the support from the community.
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See who has made monthly pledges to support us
Maybe you will become part of it
https://theleatherjournal.com/news/patrons-of-the-leather-journal
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Wanna be the face of Snowbound 2022?
By Richard Conley
Like to show it off? Wanna be the face of Snowbound 2022? Send a winter-themed picture of yourself in your Leather/fetish/gear (rated G – XXX) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Photos received will be printed as an 8 1/2" X 11" poster (high resolution please) and displayed at the Beer Blast at the Watership Inn, Snowbound Brunch at Bayside Betsy’s, Leather Dance at Atlantic House and Snowbound Brunch II at Crown & Anchor.
Snowbound participants will vote for their favorite with a suggested $10 donation to ASGCC. The man with the most dollars raised will be Mr. Snowbound 2022, win a cash prize and have their image displayed on any promotional material for 2023. Deadline is 6 PM on February 11. Be sure to include to your name, nickname (if preferred), address, phone number and e-mail address. Results will be announced at Snowbound Brunch at the Crown & Anchor Restaurant on Sunday, February 27.
https://www.matesleatherweekend.com
Smokeout Las Vegas returns to Spring
After a hot summer run in August, the 2022 version of Smokeout Las Vegas will be held the weekend of April 6-11 at the Tuscany Suites and Casino.
Among the many events and fun things at Smokeout 2022 will be a hospitality suite, Vendors Row, pool, underwear, cocktail, private play and other parties, scotch and cigar social, dinners at Hofbrauhaus, a local Italian restaurant, all-you-can-eat sushi, uniform dinner, dippers' gathering, Desert Brotherhood MC Saturday ride, pipe social, poker game, boot blacks, cigar crawl, bar parties at Fun Hog Ranch and Charlie's and more - plus all that Las Vegas has to offer. For registration and hotel information go to
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1485223168228920
ONYX SoCal-Southwest
The men of ONYX SoCal Southwest will present Red Hot at Eagle LA on Sunday, February 13 with kinky go-go, Studs and BDSM demos as a celebration of Valentine's Day. Brain Novy will be the DJ. Eagle LA is ONYX' home bar.
https://www.facebook.com/events/603236167405524/
Camp Oneida Fetish Pride
Camp Oneida Fetish Pride will be held June 16-18 in New Milford, PA. Camp Oneida Fetish Pride will include workshops and demos, play parties and a lot of the usual camp run debauchery.
https://www.camponeidafetishpride.com/
Leatherwoman Rachele Sullivan dies
By Cynthia Laird for the Bay Area Reporter and photo by Liz Highleyman
Rachele Sullivan, a Leatherwoman who once served on the board of San Francisco-based Folsom Street Events, died January 17, according to the nonprofit that produces the Folsom Street Fair and other activities. She was 54.
A cause of death was not released. Ms. Sullivan passed away at home in the Bay Area surrounded by friends and family, Angel Adeyoha, a queer nonbinary person who is executive director of Folsom Street Events, told the Bay Area Reporter in an email. Ms. Sullivan had relocated....
https://www.ebar.com/news/news/312439?
GearUp Weekend Retreat
GearUp is a go for July 7-10 at Saratoga Springs Retreat Center near Clearlake, about 130 miles north of San Francisco. GearUp is a primarily San Francisco Bay Area-based group of gay male kinksters and fetish enthusiasts centered around this annual retreat, GearUp Weekend. The retreat is a place where the next generation of kinky/kink-curious guys and Leathermen can socialize with, learn from, and play with other men of all ages in a safe and friendly environment.
https://www.gearupweekend.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gearupweekend/about
Conductors LL - Track XL
After much discussion between club members, the Conductors LL has decided that they are going to proceed with Track XL the weekend of March 25-27. The theme is, Track XL – Reflections/Through the Looking Glass. This will be one of those club runs with cocktail parties, great meals, play parties and likely a show. More details will be updated soon. The Conductors LL is a member of the Mid America Conference of Clubs.
https://conductorsnet.godaddysites.com/track-xl-reflections-1
Transform1060 - new San Francisco kink venue
Story and photo by Christopher Wood
California public benefit corporation Transform1060, Inc. finalized a new lease for the Leather, kink, and fetish community space at 1060 Folsom Street, in San Francisco’s South of Market District, taking effect on January 1, 2022. The space, previously known as Alchemy and later SF Catalyst, served as an event space serving a variety of sex-positive affinity groups for more than a decade.
On October 21, 2021, the San Francisco Bay Leather Alliance voted unanimously to accept the sole proposal, offered by a team that included members of the space’s existing operations team as well as community stakeholders invested in its future success.
Transform1060’s newly signed lease is for both the 1060 Folsom Street space and the Russ Street addition, an expansion into a connecting space in the same building. The Leather Alliance added the Russ Street space in 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This new lease ensures that kinky folks from all of our communities will continue to have a safe space in SF to gather, play, teach, and learn,” said team member Christopher Wood.
To assist with retiring the rent debt expediently, Transform1060 has announced a Founding Stakeholder capital campaign. The campaign's donation goal is $100,000 by the end of the first quarter of 2022.
Pup Play' Isn't Just a Sexual Kink. It's Freedom
They dress up as puppies and play on mats. Yes, they get off—but it's so much more.
By Zachary Zane for Men's Health
Some guys feel like they turn into an animal when they have sex. But if you watched season 2 of Netflix's BDSM show, Bonding, then you know others prefer to dress up as an animal when they do it. Puppy play (a.k.a pup play) is a form of consensual, adult role-play popular in the gay leather community, where people dress up and embody the characteristics of a dog. Often, these so-called "pups" wear a leather dog mask and a tail, usually in the form of a butt plug. They walk around on all fours, bark, and sometimes eat and drink from a bowl.
But these pups aren’t strays. They typically have an "owner," also called a "handler" or "master." The owner may walk their pup on a leash, pet them, and shower....
https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a35523288/puppy-play-bdsm/
Northwest Leather Celebration postponed
By Ms Rhonda and Erich
We have been hard at work negotiating with the host hotel to ensure the safety of Northwest Leather Celebration attendees as the status of Covid-19 and the related California regulations continue to change. Unfortunately, negotiations stalled when we were notified that the hotel renovations we were expecting two years ago have now begun. Guest rooms and meeting rooms are being renovated simultaneously, leaving the hotel without sufficient space available to host our event as scheduled.
This is not a cancellation. We have not given up on NWLC 2022. We are pursuing other options for a later date this year, so please stay tuned. As soon as we have information, we will release it.
http://www.northwestleathercelebration.com/
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Race Bannon and Mr. Kristofer’s new YouTube fireside chat series
Check out Race Bannon and Mr. Kristofer’s new YouTube fireside chat series, called On Guard Cigar Salon. Watch these sexy guys smoke cigars, and shoot the shit. It’s relaxed, insightful, and fun. The first episode is History of Bath Houses. The setting is a casual patio with a circular rocky gas fire ring. Take look a recent talk among the duo and guests....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyN7WeYU61M
CLAW Corp seeks new Executive Director
By Bob Miller
CLAW Corp announces that they are accepting applications for the position of Executive Director following the 21 year tenure of CLAW Co-founder Bob Miller. It is a full time independent contractor position with a salary range of $48,000-$60,000. Details about the job description, qualifications and application process are available at https://www.clawinfo.org The Deadline for applications is February 9.
Faultline Bar liquor license canceled
The WeHo Times reported that, "The Faultline Bar liquor license was officially canceled on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. An update on the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) reports the bar’s liquor license was sold to a new straight bar called Bestie Lounge, at 2416 Melrose Avenue...."
https://wehotimes.com/faultline-bar-liquor-license-is-canceled-transferred-to-new-owner-bestie-lounge/
Mr. Chicago Leather 2022 Contest postponed
Touche' postponed the Mr. Chicago Leather 2022 Contest weekend for now and will reschedule it this Spring. Besides the threat of a huge surge with COVID-19 over the next few of weeks, the whole travel thing is becoming nightmare for those that usually go to Chicago for this event. Touche' bar manager David Boyer will keep us posted on a new weekend date as soon as it is determined. Those who have already registered for the weekend will be contacted shortly about our rescheduling and/or refunds.
BHT Foundation Grant Reception
By Rik Newton-Treadway
You are cordially invited to attend the BHT Foundation Grant Reception via Zoom. We hope you will join us as we celebrate 45 years of Building, Helping, and Transforming the communities, one grant at a time.
The event will be held Wednesday, February 9, from 8-9 PM on Zoom. Feel free to invite your friends and colleagues to join them. ASL services provided by MADIF.
https://www.facebook.com/events/449349383590024/
New Mexico Leather League - Spring Pandemonium
Started way back 2005 and held almost yearly until COVID-19 called “red” on, well, pretty much everything back in 2020, Spring Pandemonium expresses New Mexico Leather League’s mission into a single weekend: outreach, education, community, and kick-ass play parties. Spanning and serving all forms of RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink) and drawing attendees and instructors from all over, Spring Pan also honors and reaffirms NMLL’s Leather roots through education and hosting the Corazón Leather Contest. This year's Spring Pandemonium will be held April 8-10 in Albuquerque, NM at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Albuquerque Midtown.
https://nmleatherleague.com/spring-pan/
Join the NCSF today and enter the fight
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom needs activists now, as much as ever. The NCSF has three levels of membership: 1. Coalition Partners - organizations or businesses who support NCSF with an annual membership of $100/year, plus hold an annual fundraiser to benefit NCSF, and vote on the Board Members. See a list of our Coalition Partners; 2. Supporting Members - individuals or organizations who support NCSF with an annual membership of $100/year. See a list of our Supporting Members; 3. Individual Members - individuals who support NCSF and contribute $25/year in membership dues.
NCSF members may apply for liability, property and D&O insurance through the NCSF Members Insurance Program, run by Gleason & Associates LLC. NCSF does not provide the insurance and all disputes are between the insured and the insurance company. NCSF does not receive an endorsement fee with this service.
Crown Leather Hangout
By Jeff Galley-Reay
Let's celebrate all the February birthdays with an Underwear Party and Valentine's sexy undies contest at The Crest in Long Beach, CA on February 11, starting at 9 PM. There will be games and prizes. There is a $5 door donation and $5 donation for the clothes check. If the numbers are still up in cases for COVID, then we will switch to a Zoom Meeting.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1031446257435208/
How to Spice Up Your Relationship with Beginner-Friendly BDSM Toys
By Essex Mag
One benefit to exploring BDSM in your sex life is that you learn to communicate better – both inside and outside the bedroom. BDSM is about discipline and control, but also about respecting one anothers limits: when you are able to ask directly for what you want, set your limits, and enforce your boundaries, this creates a healthy framework for the relationship in general. Lack of communication is a relationship-killer, so developing this skill together will enhance your relationship and lessen potential conflict....
San Francisco Men’s Spanking Party ceases
By Spank Master Bill
Sorry to tell you this, after 20-plus years, the San Francisco Men’s Spanking Party has come to an end.
Due to staffing issues, COVID-19, lower attendance, increasing rent, all these things become a factor in why December 2021 was the last Party.
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Dave Rhodes Hump Day Mailing List
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Join our Facebook Group today and Have my biweekly news blog sent to your Facebook Notifications every time we post as well as interviews and main features from The Leather Journal.
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A Blast from the Past
Empire City MC’s 20th Anniversary
Emil, an Empire City MC emeritus, member, found this wonderful photo of the club's 20th Anniversary week-long motorcycle trip, taken around August 1984 in the Fingerlakes. Every five years, Empire City MC celebrate its anniversary with a week-long trip somewhere. On their 50th Anniversary, ECMC went to Deal’s Gap, NC to ride the Tail of the Dragon. Empire City MC's next major Anniversary will be their 60th and will take place in 2024. They have not yet decided on a venue. Empire City MC’s 11th Annual Motorcycle Weekend is going to be held May 26-29
Photo by Dave Rhodes
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Links to all Dave Rhodes' Hump Days going back to August 9, 2017
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2132-links-to-all-dave-rhodes-hump-day-posts
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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
