Friday, March 27, 1998

“John the Baptist Wore Leather”—Group Explores Leather and Christianity

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #74, March 27, 1998)

Are you looking for new places to wear your leather? Do you want to meet new people, but you don’t like the bar scene? Here’s an idea for you: go to church.

A Christian leather group has been meeting for about a year at All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church (3100 Park Ave. S., Minneapolis). While the combination of leather and Christianity may sound bizarre to some, it makes perfect sense to others. Members of this group are quick to point out, for example, that the Bible is quite explicit about the fact that John the Baptist wore leather. According to Matthew 3:4, New International Version: “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.” (The Revised Standard Version calls it a “leather girdle.” Whatever.) John lived and preached in the wilderness, and his food was “locusts and wild honey.” Nobody back then quite knew what to make of him.

In many churches today, nobody quite knows what to make of us leatherfolk, either. The Reverend Troy Perry, a modern-day Martin Luther if ever there was one, is the founder of the Christian denomination known as the Metropolitan Community Church. He has written about the early days of his church in San Francisco (the church was started in 1968)—specifically one Sunday morning when four leathermen showed up for worship services. Murmurs went through the congregation about “those people,” and Perry himself was a little unsure how to handle the situation. Were these people Hell’s Angels? Were they dangerous? They certainly looked like they could be. But after the service they sought him out and spoke to him, and he was surprised and pleased to find that they were kind, gentle, intelligent people. (Rev. Perry has since become a proud leatherman himself.)

Since that time, Metropolitan Community Churches have sprung up in cities across the country, and many of those churches have members from the leather/SM community. The Minneapolis MCC leather group meets Wednesdays at 7 pm; they also have occasional social times on Friday or Saturday nights. The first Wednesday of every month is Leather Cleaning Night: everyone brings their leather, throws it on the table, and cleans and polishes while they talk. According to one member, “You have to clean it sometime, you might as well do it with friends.”

The group is Christian but is open to all spiritual orientations; the substance of the group is what its members bring to it, and anyone wanting to explore the relationship between leather, sexuality and spirituality might find something of value here, regardless of their religious orientation (or lack thereof). For further information, call the church.

Contestants, performers and production personnel wanted for Ms. Minnesota Leather Contest

Contestant qualifications: Must be a resident of Minnesota, a woman 21 years or older, friendly, gracious, knowledgeable in leather, and ready to work equally with the men’s and women’s communities. Eager to educate, support, and listen to newcomers entering the leather scene locally, nationally, and abroad. Must possess strong leadership skills and the ability to organize and speak in public forums. You must be financially capable of supporting the expenses attached to holding this title.

Performer qualifications: Searching for three males and three females to perform in two scenes at the contest. Need dancers strong enough to lift or petite enough to be lifted. Must be SM-oriented and willing to do scenes on stage. Deadline for auditions will be April 4, 1998. Also searching for others wishing to assist with contest production.

For further information, contact W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions.

Upcoming Leather Events

Mr. Minnesota Leather 1998 presents “The Blue Party”
Saturday, March 28—advance ticket sales only.

At this writing tickets are still available; call  for more information.



The Tank One-Year Anniversary Party
Sunday, March 29, 6-10 pm, The Saloon (Tank doors open at 9 pm)

In one short year The Tank has become a Sunday night institution, so come celebrate “One Year of Hard Times.” Twin Cities leather clubs will be represented and Falcon Studios leather stud Steve Pierce will make an appearance. Free food, $5.00 optional cover for beer bust.

Leather Pride Celebration Planning Committee Meeting
Wednesday, April 1—Call for meeting time and location

Do you have a great idea for this summer’s Twin Cities Leather Pride Celebration? Or do you want to volunteer your time to help make it happen? All interested parties are invited to attend.

Mark Your Calendar . . .

April and May are going to be busy months, and you really will need to Mark Your Calendar if you want to keep track of everything that’s happening. Here’s what’s currently scheduled:



Friday-Saturday, April 10-11: Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Drummerboy Contest. If you want to compete contact Colin.

Saturday, April 18: Ms. Minnesota Leather Contest. See call for contestants and performers elsewhere in this column.

Saturday, April 25: Travel to Chicago with the Atons for a fun night in The Pit (at the Chicago Eagle). Call for more info.

Friday-Saturday, May 8-9: Mr. Minnesota Fantasy Contest. If you want to compete contact Dale.



May 21-25: International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago. Up-to-the-minute details at www.imrl.com.

May 29-31, 1998: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament 10, a tenth-anniversary celebration that even includes a Birthday Party. Bring a new participant and receive a 10% discount on your application fee. For more information or an application write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis, MN or e-mail SSCKOL@aol.com.

Friday, March 13, 1998

(UN)LEASHED Open House Opens Minds

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #73, March 13, 1998)

Allow me to introduce you to (UN)LEASHED, a relatively new part of the Twin Cities leather community. I quote verbatim from one of their flyers:

“(UN)LEASHED is a loosely organized social, educational, and play group for women and transpeople who are into leather, BDSM, and other forms of kink/erotic expression/power play. We welcome all sexual orientations and relationship models. Monthly meetings are open to women and transpeople only; some play parties may be open to ‘bio-boys’ as well. • Second Sundays, 5-9 p.m. (potluck, business, demo/discussion, optional play). • Upcoming topics: March-Role Play; April-Fisting/Penetration; May-Impact Play; June-Mummification/Predicament Bondage. Safe, sane and consensual (including polyamory, where applicable) • Smoke-free, alcohol in moderation only. Please no perfume, cologne, hairspray, or other scented products (some of our members are violently allergic to this stuff).”

(UN)LEASHED is a group unlike any other in the area. They are not so much a club as a loosely-organized social network. The group currently has a contact list of about 30; on average, about a dozen people show up for monthly meetings. Diane Marshall, one of their founding members, articulated their goals: “outreach, visibility, access.”

Group members held an open house on a recent Sunday evening. I planned to drop in, talk to some people to get material for a column, and stay about an hour. As it turned out, I stayed for over two hours, talking constantly, and took enough notes for a small doctoral thesis. It was a fascinating, mind-expanding evening for this particular “bio-boy.” I was somewhat dismayed to find that there were so few leathermen in attendance, however. I am encouraging (UN)LEASHED to have another open house soon; if and when they do, I encourage all members of the male leather community to attend and show support for this group and these community members. (And you might even leave the open house with some newfound attitude changes.)

“Red Party” Dazzles

Mr. Minnesota Leather 1998 Roger Gregg outdid himself with the Red Party, the first in a series of fundraising events. Gregg, assisted by a staff of hard-working boys, presented a lavishly leathery evening of food, entertainment and surprises the likes of which these towns have never before experienced. His next one, the Blue Party, happens Saturday, March 28; Gregg promises it will be “equally as spectacular, yet totally different.” Admission will be by advance ticket sale only; more details are forthcoming on flyers which should be circulating shortly.

New! Minnesota Leather Website

Recently-sashed Ms. Minnesota Olympus Leather Renee Indehar is the webmistress of the newly-created Minnesota Leather Website. Point your browser to www.mnleather.org and check it out.

Upcoming Leather Events

Atons Installation Banquet
Sunday, March 15, 6-10 pm, Twin City Grill at Mall of America

Cocktails at 6, dinner at 7. The Atons’ new slate of officers will be formally installed. Admission is $35 and advance reservations are required. For further information: e-mail to atonsmpls@aol.com; or visit the website at www.starbase21.com/ATONS/. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Mr. Minnesota Leather 1998 presents “The Blue Party”
Saturday, March 28-advance ticket sales only

See story above for more information.

The Tank One-Year Anniversary Party
Sunday, March 29, 6-10 pm, The Saloon (Tank doors open at 9 pm)

In one short year The Tank has become a Sunday night institution, so come celebrate “One Year of Hard Times.” Twin Cities leather clubs will be represented and Falcon Studios leather stud Steve Pierce will make an appearance. Free food, $5.00 optional cover for beer bust.

Mark Your Calendar . . .

Wednesday, April 1: Do you have a great idea for this summer’s Twin Cities Leather Pride Celebration? Or do you want to volunteer your time to help make it happen? All interested parties are invited to the next meeting of the Leather Pride Celebration planning committee. Call for meeting time and location.

Saturday, April 25: Travel to Chicago with the Atons for a fun night in The Pit (at the Chicago Eagle). Call for more info.

May 29-31, 1998: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament 10, a tenth-anniversary celebration that even includes a Birthday Party. Bring a new participant and receive a 10% discount on your application fee. Or get early sign-up prices if you register before March 23, 1998. For more information or an application write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis, MN or e-mail SSCKOL@aol.com.