Tom of Finland honored for his centennial in Helsinki
To honor the centenary of the birth of artist Tom of Finland (born Touko Laaksonen, 1920-1991) he received a memorial plaque on the facade of the apartment building in Helsinki where he and his partner Veli Mäkinen (1932-1981) lived between 1969-1984. The building, housing cooperative Sampsa, is located at Tehtaankatu 7 in Helsinki. The memorial plaque wase unveiled on Saturday, August 22 at the Corner of Tehtaankatu 7 and Vuorimiehenpuistikko 6 in the Ullanlinna district of Helsinki. The memorial plaque was made possible by the support of MSC Finland – TOM’s Club ry; Tom of Finland Foundation, Inc., Los Angeles; Kuvittajat ry; Freelance-graafikot ry; Grafia ry,; Sarjakuvantekijät ry; Sarjakuvaseura ry; ECMC European Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs; ToP Top of Europe; SLM København; SLM Stockholm; and LMS Estonia. Cover photo - Durk Dehner, founder of Tom of Finland Foundation, was a close friend, beloved, co-worker, manager and sparring member of Tom (born Touko Laaksonen). He has made his life’s work to maintain and protect the art of Tom of Finland. In this upstairs bedroom, Tom slept and drew. Tom’s life in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
https://www.tomoffinland.org/tom-is-honored-in-helsinki-in-august-for-toms100/
CLAW 20 has been cancelled - Reset for next April
Due to the continuing global pandemic, we have reluctantly determined that we will not be able to hold our event in November. CLAW 20 has been cancelled. We are hopeful that the widespread distribution of a vaccine will come in time for CLAW 21 to be held on April 22-25, 2021. For information about refunds, donations or transferring your registration to CLAW 21, as well as information about existing hotel reservations, please see below. All CLAW 20 package holders may choose between a 100-percent refund, using their package at CLAW 21, April 22-25), or donating their package price to CLAW. CLAW is currently updating its registration database. Please come back to this page in the next couple of days for information on how to process your choice and more information. All reservations at the Westin and Hampton Inn that were transferred to Nov 2020 will be cancelled and deposits will be refunded. You will need to re-book your hotel for CLAW 21 when the hotel links become available later this fall. Virtual CLAW V is planned for August 28-30 and October 2-4. Stay tuned.
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Bear Marvin and Bear Mike wed in Albuquerque
By Michael Skroch
Two members of the Leather community, New Mexico Leather Bear 2019 Bear Marvin and Bear Mike who is a member of the Albuquerque Leather Daddys, were married in Albuquerque, NM on Saturday morning, July 18 by officiant boy Scotty of Phoenix, AZ, representing the late Goddess Sadie Hawkins, founder of The House of Shangri-La, who was an inspiration to both Marvin and Mike. They were honored by family and friends with about 20 local, due to the pandemic and 50 Zoom guests including artists Delmas Howe and Ruben Gallegos, fellow Onyx brothers Mufasa Ali and husband William, members of Onyx Lone Star and Onyx Mid Atlantic, and Albuquerque Leather Daddys.
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21 Rare Gay Motorcycle Club Photos From 1962
By Christopher Harrity for the Advocate
The guys are kicking it up at the Satyrs and Oedipus Spring Poker and Field Meet in May of 1962. The Satyrs Motorcycle Club of Los Angeles is the oldest running gay men’s motorcycle club and organization in the world. Formed in 1954 during the height of the McCarthy era, seven men came together, bonded by the love of the motorcycle to form a club. It was not an easy time in America for gay men...The late Garry Bowie supplied the photos to the Advocate. Read the rest of the story and see the photfos which tell the story....
ttps://www.advocate.com/photography/2019/2/20/21-rare-gay-motorcycle-club-photos-20th-century
Mr. Ottawa Bear competition donates $3,000
The Mr. Ottawa Bear 2020 competition was a smashing success and now that all financial details have been wrapped up, we were able to donate $3,000 to Pedro's charity of choice, Capital Rainbow Refuge. In what has already been called the hottest bear competition Ottawa has ever seen, three incredibly hot bears brought it all to the stage in a stunning evening of song and dance. The action-packed evening featured performances by the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus, Willy Seaman, Roger Fire, the Bear Dance Troop as well some awesome and sometimes hilarious performances by our talented competitors.
https://ottawabears.com/mob2020
Blow Buddies added to the casualty list
Sadly, Blow Buddies in San Francisco, CA will not be reopening after the pandemic. We tried many ways to figure out a path to return and were unsuccessful. We appreciate the willingness of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District and our landlord to explore options with us. It was a good run...August 8, 2988 to March 15, 2020. We are sad to see this chapter close. We thank our many members for their support over all those years. The club was created in response to one virus and done in by another, said Blow Buddies owners.
Women of Drummer Southeast Regional Held on Zoom
By Arielle Sky and photo by Toni Solenne
Women of Drummer (WOD) from the Southeast Region met on Zoom for a full day of fun on Saturday, July 18. WOD started with a brunch and a signature cocktail, Southern Peach Juice, which could be made with or without alcohol. Ingredients and mixing instruction lists were sent out in advance to the attendees, so they could each make their own. After a short break, a Leather roundtable discussion brought a shared love of the Leather lifestyle to the forefront. The day was completed with games, including a sexy guessing game and truth or dare. Many thanks go out to the Southeast Regional planning committee and especially to the regional planning coordinator Ms. D Dom for a successful Zoom event. The photo is 2019 Woman of Drummer titleholder, Salted Honey Bootblack during the shenanigans portion of the evening.
https://www.womenofdrummer.com/
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Virtual CLAW IV - July 31 - August 2
Virtual CLAW IV will have a full weekend of activities to keep CLAW enthusiasts busy from start to finish. The Virtual CLAW IV meet and greet will be on Friday, July 1 from 6-9 PM EDT with Mike D and Dave Watt as hosts. Saturday and Sunday has a total of 10 classes, some of which are Rope Bondage: How to Make a Diamond Harness by Tyger Yoshi, Sex and Covid-19 by Dave Watt, 25 Years of Archiving at the Leather Archives which is a film by Gary Wasdin, Bringing Legacy to Life: Preserving the Historic Leathers by Leslie Anderson, and So You Wanna Be a Cigar Daddy by Master Seykou Nia. Other activities include three sessions by the Leather Archives & Museum, a Gear Party on Saturday night begining at 9 PM EDT, live performance by top porn stars including Drew Dixon, a Cigar Social on Saturday night, plus fundraising events with plenty of big names to entertain. Photo above by BullmanX. To register for CLAW IV go to
Satyrs MC cancels Badger Flat run
By Riley Black, President/Road Captain
The Satyrs Motorcycle Club is saddened and sorry to inform all that the Badger Flat 59 Run (2020) is officially cancelled. With the COVID 19 cases rising everywhere and due to Federal, State, County and USFS restrictions there are no "group" campsites allowed anywhere up on the mountain. For those who had already paid for this year's camping trip the Satyrs will reimburse your fee either by check or PayPal however you paid within the next two weeks. COVID 19 has been and is making life hard this year for all of us. The Satyrs wish all of you to take care and stay SAFE and plan on joining the Satyrs MC next year for Badger Post COVID and keep the rubber side down.
Creating Change Conference will be virtual
For the first time in its 33-year history, the Creating Change Conference will be a completely virtual event. Given the ongoing public health crisis and current safety regulations, Creating Change will be unable to host Creating Change as an in-person convening in Washington, DC, in January 2021. Creating Change presents the Leather Leadership at its conferences. The multi-day conference will be held January 27-31. “We are disappointed we will be unable to gather in person, one of the most powerful elements of Creating Change, but the Task Force is committed to planning a virtual experience that is diverse, accessible, and addresses the many issues facing LGBTQ+ communities,” said Andy Garcia, Director of Creating Change.
https://www.thetaskforce.org/creatingchange.html
Eagle Plaza in San Francisco
The first large batch of plaques were installed next to the SF Eagle bar in The Eagle Plaza in San Francisco, CA in early June. Photo by Jason Husted. Eagle Plaza is at Harrison and 12th Streets.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The%20Eagle%20Plaza/870465186667649
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Master slave Conference 2021 has new venue
For Master slave Conference 2021 and beyond, they will have an awesome new venue: The College Park Marriot Hotel and Conference Center in Maryland. This venue will give MsC the three more important things they need: exclusive use of 239 guest rooms during the five days and four nights of MsC. 40,000 square feet of meeting space which is more than double the meeting space from recent years, an 8,000 square feet ballroom that can sit 600 people for the banquet. In addition, for those who need extra comfort, there will be 20 suites available. Registration and hotel booking will begin on January 2021. MsC 2021 will include workshops, intensives, panels, conversations, roundtables and service stations. The keynote speaker will be International Master 2018 Mister Blue.
http://masterslaveconference.org/
Leather Archives - Virtual Leather Legacies
July 30, 7 PM Central - Bound Together book reading + conversation with Andy Campbell, Jonesy, and Joshua Chambers-Letson
Join the folks at the Leather Archives & Museum for the return of their Virtual Leather Legacies series on July 30 at the new time of 7 PM. These events continue to be online. In his new book, Bound Together: Leather, Sex, Archives, and Contemporary Art, Andy Campbell outlines some of the many ways contemporary artists have engaged with archives of Leather history to create bold, queer visions for today. In this program, moderated by Joshua Chambers-Letson, and joined by artist Jonesy, Campbell will discuss his book and its engagement with Leather archives and collections, including the LA&M.
https://www.shopleatherarchives.com/
There is a slight chance Mates Leather Weekend will be held
By Richard Conley
It is unlikely that Mates Leather Weekend, scheduled for October 1-15 in Provincetown, MA, will take place this year considering the uncertainty of the world we live in and the ever changing news. Hoping for some kind of miracle, the final decision will be postponed until early September. Until then, please stay safe and healthy cause, if Mates Leather Weekend 2020 doesn’t happen, you know Mates Leather Weekend 2021 will be the best f*cking Leather gathering in history.
https://www.matesleatherweekend.com/
Divergent Donations Foundation benefactor to match donations up to $25,000
Divergent Donations Foundation, based in Massachusetts, announced its 2020 Fundraising Campaign. This year has been a challenging year for the world and for the needs of its people. During this time, Divergent Donations has grown in staff and resources to become an international foundation developing connections and affiliations throughout the world. They are in need of any and all unused and unopened HIV medications. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can help. Divergent Donations Foundation announce that a generous anonymous benefactor has committed to match all donations up to $25,000 that are received in July and August. Divergent Donations Foundation's mission is to provide HIV/AIDS medications to those who need them but cannot access or afford them.. To donate, simply click on
http://www.paypal.me/divergentdonations
https://www.facebook.com/divergentdonations/
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Flash Back Gallery From Past Major Events
Dore Alley, Up Your Alley
During the down time created by the Coronavirus we are going to past 10 photos from past events from the closest frame in each Hump Day. San Diego's Leather community has been producing one of the best Leather sections in LGBT Pride festivals for many years. San Diego Pride is amazing. They have their parade, usually on the third Saturday of June, in historic and beautiful Balboa Park which is a world-class city park with a zoo, museums, indoor and outdoor theaters, running paths and tens of thousand of tall eucalyptus trees.
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A Blast From The Past
The Advocate did a photo gallery on the old days of the Satyrs Motorcycle Club and we link that story above. Seen here are the Satyrs MC at their 63rd Anniversary during Thanksgiving Weekend in 2017 in the Hollywood hills.
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Past Dave Rhodes' Hump Day news blogs
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http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2112-dave-rhodes-hump-day-july-15-2020
DomCon LA, Leather Realm, Ginger Beards
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2111-dave-rhodes-hump-day-july-1-2020
Leather Archives re-opens, Lady Gaga, Cherry Grove Pride
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2110-dave-rhodes-hump-day-wednesday-june-17-2020
Supreme Court - LGBT cannot be fired, ONYX Deep South
https://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2109-dave-rhodes-hump-day-june-3-2020
Bars re-opening, Irene Soderberg
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2107-dave-rhodes-hump-day-may-20-2020
Oedipus MC, Leather Masters closing
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2106-dave-rhodes-hump-day-may-6-2020
IML IMBB new date, Centaur MC and Spearhead each are 50
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2105-dave-rhodes-hump-day-april-23-2020
Leather Archives - Leather Speaks By Leslie Anderson
http://www.theleatherjournal.com/op-ed/item/2104-dave-rhodes-hump-day-april-7-2020
Several Leatherfolk passed away, among them Garry Bowie of Satyrs MC
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Mr. Ottawa Bear competition donates $3,000
DomCon LA Virtual coming in August
By Mistress Cyan
DomCon LA Virtual will happen over the weekend of August 28-30. While it will be scaled down from the five days to three days, we're still going to be able to enjoy each other's company and have the DomCon experience even if we do it online. We will come together virtually for all the things we love about DomCon: the Red Carpet Festivities and Opening Ceremonies, industry and lifestyle classes/workshops, vendor rooms, Animal Play Awards, The Gender Bender Pageant, Ladies’ Tea, the group photoshoot, and a variety of socials. We will also have kink performances and our signature Saturday night Fetish Ball with performances from Sanctuary LAX. We will also bring together scenes broadcasted from our playrooms, and from private spaces of those who wish to broadcast their play from around the country. DomCon LA Virtual will be hosting this virtual gathering through the DomCon website that has virtual chatrooms. We require a membership which then enables us to have an uncensored event.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1289373758121586/
Leather Archives is open
After three months, the LA&M has re-opened to visitors. "We anticipate welcoming you back on July 1. However, please check with us as these things change daily. We've made good use of this time. Keeping our history dry is important, and the building now has a brand new roof. We have also made some interior repairs to get the building into better condition." said Gary Wasdin. The Leather Archives has several new exhibits in the galleries that will make their debut when we open again, including: a new run and club pin display in the Uniforms' Room, a pony play exhibit in the main gallery, a Tom of Finland 100th Birthday exhibit in the Teri Rose Library Lens, an exhibit of Leather and kink photography featuring the work of Jim Wigler along with contemporary photographers reflecting the broad diversity of Leather, plus new pieces form the collections, many never seen before.
https://leatherarchives.org/museum/plan-your-visit
Supreme Court rules - Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to LGBTQ
Photos by ABC News and Free Press Journal
Everyone already knows, but we just have to celebrate here, nonetheless. On June 15, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis sex, also protects employees from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This decision confirms workplace anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the country. In the opinion, Justice Gorsuch wrote that when an employer fires an individual for being LGBT “fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids. … the limits of the drafters’ imagination supply no reason to ignore the law’s demands. When the express terms of a statute give us one answer and extratextual considerations suggest another, it’s no contest. Only the written word is the law, and all persons are entitled to its benefit.”
Inside Leather History - Fireside Chats
Inside Leather History; A Fireside Chat conducted an amazing series of Chats in 2019. Chat producer and host Douglas OKeeffe visited London in July 2019 for a thorough interview with Roland Jaggard, the last surviving litigant to Operation Spanner. The six-part Spanner interview, and a series of ancillary interviews about the controversial British legal case, are available for viewing on the Fireside Chats YouTube channel. Then the Chats teamed with Australian not for profit KNOTbound Ltd, for an ambitious 12 Fireside Chats in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, Australia over 14 days in fall 2019. All interviews are available for viewing on the Fireside Chats YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjxC8KIsoDGfm21oGG8CeQ
Oedipus MC Monthly Ride - Solvang Sausagefest
By Eric Gilfand
The Oedipus MC Monthly Ride will go to Solvang for Sausagefest on Sunday, May 31 at 10 AM – 2 PM. Oedipus has a long and proud tradition of encouraging guests to join them on their rides. Oedipus MC doesn’t want to decline any rider who chooses to attend, but they have certain minimum expectations that the club insists on – basically, a fully legal rider on a road-ready bike. Meet at Starbucks with a full tank of gas around 9:30 AM and ready to go, 561 New Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021.
https://www.facebook.com/events/274922623542982/
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
