(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #104, May 21, 1999)
Joshua Smith talks about his community, his kids and his faith
PHOTO: Mr. Minnesota Leather 1999 Joshua Smith
Mr. Minnesota Leather Joshua Smith will be representing Minnesota in the International Mr. Leather (IML) contest in Chicago May 27-30. We talked recently about some of the things he’s accomplished during his title year. We also talked about his experiences as a southern Pentecostal revival preacher; about telling his three daughters what leather means to him; and about his passion for God, for the leather lifestyle, and for his partner and fellow titleholder Thomas Smith (the current International Mr. Rubber, as well as Mr. Kentucky Leather 1996).
One of the most common goals expressed by those aspiring to a leather title is “to bring the community together.” At last year’s Mr. Minnesota Leather contest Joshua Smith did more than say it—his now-legendary contest speech graphically demonstrated the concept by bringing to the stage members of the various clubs and subcommunities comprising the Minnesota leather community. Smith had everyone stand in a circle, join hands, and sing a Sunday-school song he remembered from his childhood: “If we all pull together, how happy we will be.”
The mechanism Smith implemented to bring the community together was the Leather Roundtable. According to Smith, “The Roundtable is about two things. The first is setting a schedule, a simple calendar of what’s going on for the next twelve months, and maintaining and updating it every month. I want to know in advance what’s happening so I can plan to support as many people as I can—if I’m going to need their support one day, I need to be there first for them.” The second function of the Roundtable is to have an open forum for discussion about what help is needed for events and who is available to help.
Smith is proud of his creation. Later this summer he and his partner will be relocating to Palm Springs, California, but the Leather Roundtable will continue under the auspices of Ms. Minnesota Leather Mario and Mr. Minnesota Drummer Gary O’Neill.
Smith is also proud of the work he and Mario have done on behalf of Hope House, The Leather Archives & Museum and the Aliveness Project, and he’s proud of the example that he and Mario have jointly set in the past months. “I loved Mario’s column at the end of last year where she said that our joint New Year’s resolution was that it’s not going to be a men’s leather community or a women’s leather community, it’s going to be our community. And I do see a change. I see some events now that are almost 50-50 men and women, or at least 75-25, and to me that’s a big improvement as opposed to two women and 150 men.”
As he prepares both to represent Minnesota at IML and to relocate to Palm Springs, Smith makes this assessment of Minnesota’s leather community: ”When you’re not lying in a hammock it sits one way, and the threads are open wide. But when you lie down in it, it stretches, and all those threads go together. Sometimes I see the Minnesota leather community pulling apart, but I also see the elasticity or the bond among the community—because once somebody needs something, it goes right back together. The good thing about Minnesota for me has been that when the going has been tough, people have always been there for us, and we appreciate them very much.”
One of the first things you notice about Smith is the way he speaks—quickly, with the southern accent and rapid-fire intensity of the Pentecostal revival preacher he used to be. “I’d been Pentecostal all my life, and at 16 years old I felt like God had called me to be a preacher. There wasn’t any seminary training—you’re ordained, and you’re sent to work under a pastor for a year, and you get your license. So at age 17, I became assistant pastor for a Pentecostal church called the Ark of Safety in a small town in West Virginia.” Smith preached there for almost two years, then served a church in Brockton, New York for almost four years. By this time he and his wife were the proud parents of three girls: Audrea, Sarah Grace, and Megan.
While serving the church at Brockton, Smith “started feeling things, I didn’t know what they were. I talked to my wife and said, ‘I think we need to go home.’ She knew something was wrong but she didn’t know what, and I didn’t know what it was either. So we moved back to Kentucky, I was in the church about another year and a half, and then I went to my wife and said, ‘There’s some feelings that I have to deal with. I can’t fight this any longer, because when certain people come near me I get short of breath.’
I told my wife I was concerned that I could be gay. I wanted to be with a man. My wife and I divorced in 1988, and the separation was very, very difficult. And I didn’t go back to the church for a long time—I didn’t think I could. I’d get angry with God sometimes. Nobody in this world knows what it’s like to go into a bedroom, and there are three little girls side by side—one with blonde hair who looks just like Goldie Hawn, one with long auburn hair who looks just like her mother, and one who is me, who is just a total picture of me—and you reach down to kiss them, and you know that’s the last time you will ever kiss them in that room, in that bed, as their father. It’s heart wrenching.
“It’s always been very, very difficult for my children because of their Pentecostal faith. They know Daddy is now gay and they don’t think Daddy can go to heaven, and that’s been very hard for them. For almost a year or more they would change the phone number or send my letters back, and say, ‘This is tough love, until you find God you can’t be a part of our lives.’ ” Audrea, Smith’s oldest daughter, is currently expecting a child, and Smith says, “It’s kind of like that right now—my daughter’s not sure if she wants her baby to know a gay grandpa.”
After the divorce Smith relocated to Atlanta and then to Florida. One day he heard that Troy Perry, the founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, was presenting a seminar/revival weekend in North Miami Beach. Says Smith, “I went there and found out about MCC, and for the past six years or so I’ve been as faithful as I can be to an MCC congregation wherever I live.”
At about the same time Smith discovered the Metropolitan Community Church, he also discovered the leather lifestyle, and he sees a connection. “The attraction to both was the intensity that is involved—the dedication, the honor, the respect, the love, the dignity, and the pride. This may sound crazy, but in many ways I felt just as ‘leather’ sitting in a church pew as I did in a leather bar, because the feelings were almost the same. Whether I see a man and I want him so bad I can taste that man, or whether I’m in church and I can feel the presence of the Lord and it’s so strong and so intense I don’t know what to do with myself—that’s leather to me, you know? I guess if I had to choose one word that would describe what leather means to me it would be intensity, because it makes me have a passion.”
While Smith’s daughters aren’t exactly happy about their father being gay, they seemed more accepting when he told them about being a leatherman. “I went home to my children about two weeks before I competed in the Mr. Minnesota Leather contest, and I said, ‘Girls, I want to share something with you that you don’t know about Daddy.’ And I went down into the bedroom and came back in my leather vest, a pair of chaps, and a pair of jeans. And they loved it, they said, ‘Oh, this is incredible, can we have this?’ Our family owned a couple of clothing stores, and because of the fashion world in which we have lived and the business I have worked in since leaving the ministry, they thought it was another fashion statement—‘What’s Daddy doing now?’ And I said, ‘You’ve got to understand what this is and what it represents. This represents a lifestyle, it’s not a fashion statement.’
“And then I told them I was competing for a title called Mr. Minnesota Leather, and they were very intrigued and asked what it meant. I told them you wear leather when you go to a leather bar. I said, ‘We’re leathermen, and this is how we identify ourselves. People know you girls are Pentecostal because you have a dress code—you wear long hair, a long dress, and you never wear jewelry or makeup or shorts, right?’ And they said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘Well, when I’m getting ready to go to the bar, and I’ve got on my clothes—’ and my youngest daughter said, ‘That means you’re a leatherman!’ And I said, ‘Well, Megan, you can identify that because of the appearance, but the leather’s not what’s going to make me a leatherman. It’s how I conduct myself—with honor, respect, dignity and pride.’”
“They asked me what Mr. Minnesota Leather would do, and I told them about my idea for the Leather Roundtable as a place to coordinate scheduling for leather community events. They were intrigued by how many events we have, all these events and all these places. Then I explained that I wanted to help somebody, and I told them about Hope House and the Human Rights Campaign. They knew Thomas and I had gotten married in December, but I told them I don’t want to leave this world until the marriage is legal, and we can say ‘What God has joined together let no man put asunder.’ So I wanted to do something with the Human Rights Campaign for the cause of gay marriage.
“I told my girls, ‘What this title does is give me a voice. I’ll have an active part in making something happen. I’m not sure what it will be yet, but I want this to be positive so that I can do something good for somebody.’ And the children expressed to me later that learning that Thomas and I are leathermen, and that we’re married, is the only thing that helps them cope with their Daddy being gay.
I know that God has work for me to do. Whether it’s behind the pulpit, or whether it’s doing a fundraiser for people at Hope House who need ceiling fans in their rooms—you never know what it is, but he’s always got something for us to do.”
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Sunday, May 30
Atons present the IML Widow Party
The traditional gathering for those who don’t make the journey to Chicago for the International Mr. Leather contest. At my deadline the location and time were still to be determined; for information call the Atons Hotline.
Thursday, June 3
Leather Family Night: “Swan Lake . . . The Sequel” by Ballet of the Dolls
8 PM, Loring Playhouse, 1633 Hennepin Ave.
You loved Ballet of the Dolls at the recent Minnesota Fantasy weekend—here’s your chance to see them again. Special discount ticket pricing for leather community members. Call Wolf Productions for reservations and information. (Reservations must be made before Wednesday, May 26.)
Friday, May 21, 1999
Friday, May 7, 1999
Oh, The Places I’ve Been!
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #103, May 7, 1999)
MN Drummer, Leather/SM at BECAUSE, and scandal in New York City
PHOTO: Gary O’Neill and Doug Waalen (to be delivered Wednesday afternoon)
PHOTO CAPTION: Left: Mr. Minnesota Drummer 1999 Gary O’Neill. Right: First Runner-up Doug Waalen.
In the last two weeks I’ve found myself in some interesting places and seen some amazing sights; in this issue’s column I’ll tell you about them. I was recently in New York City and caught two huge and controversial exhibitions at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Closer to home I participated in BECAUSE ’99, the recent bisexual conference at Metro State U in St. Paul. And I was at Club Metro when the new Mr. Minnesota Drummer was chosen. Let’s get started with that.
After a Friday-night Meet & Greet at The Minneapolis Eagle, this year’s Mr. Minnesota Drummer contest was held at Club Metro on April 24. The judges, all current or recent local titleholders, were Roger Gregg and David McKammon (visiting from San Francisco), Greg Hausler, Mario, Miss Jennifer, Joshua Smith, Thomas Smith, and outgoing Mr. Minnesota Drummer Steve Eue. There were two contestants for Mr. Minnesota Drummer: Doug Waalen and Gary O’Neill. (There were no contestants for Minnesota Drummerboy, so that competition was not held.) Co-emceed by contest organizer Colin Spriestersbach and Allison Brooks, the evening included entertainment by Brooks (who brought her Ernestine Tomlin character out of retirement for the evening), by “Barbie Girl” Eva Monet, and by comic Michelle Balan, the ultimate tough New York dyke. (For me, “West Side Story” will never be the same now that I’ve heard some of Balan’s rewritten lyrics.) The event drew a smaller-than-expected crowd, but the audience seemed to be having lots of fun.
The evening’s fantasy presentations followed the current trend of Industrial Macho. Waalen and former International Mr. Leather Kevin Cwayna did a construction-site scene, complete with a real jackhammer making real noise. O’Neill’s fantasy, which didn’t go quite as smoothly as it should have, featured lots of fog (LOTS of fog!) and lots of clothespins. Nevertheless, when the results were announced it was O’Neill who got the title and the sash, with Waalen taking first-runner-up honors. A postscript: While some folks might have wished for more competitors, I personally would rather see a contest with a few good contestants than a contest with many poor ones.
When I wasn’t attending Minnesota Drummer events that weekend, I was attending the eighth annual edition of BECAUSE, which stands for Bisexual Empowerment Conference: A Uniting, Supportive Experience. I was there because I was invited to be part of a panel of SM players presenting a workshop called “Getting Hurt Can Be Fun.” (I would be representing the “traditional” gay male leather/SM community.) I figured I’d attend, be on the panel, and that would be the extent of my participation. Once I got there, however, I discovered that there were over 30 workshops to be presented, and they sounded interesting. I discovered a good number of leather/SM folk attending. And I discovered that I felt welcome even though I don’t consider myself bisexual. I wound up staying for almost the entire conference; I learned a lot, met many great people, and consider the time very well spent. The organizers of the conference can be proud of the good job they did putting it together. Visit their website at www.bisexual.org/mn/because.html, and then plan to be there next year for BECAUSE 2000. (There’s a lot of other good stuff at www.bisexual.org, too.)
One of the other workshops I attended at BECAUSE was the Minneapolis Safer Sex Sluts presenting “Martha Sexpert Living: Better Sex, It’s a Good Thing.” Greta Bauer as Martha Sexpert showed an uncanny, and almost scary, resemblance to another well-known Martha as she and her assistants discussed and demonstrated everything from making charming lube cozies to the proper way to clean toys. The Minneapolis Safer Sex Sluts will be performing in other venues in the weeks and months to come; whether you love that other Martha or hate her, you’ve got to see this.
Now, on to New York City, where I recently attended an exhibition called Erotica ’99 that outraged many New Yorkers, including mayor Rudy Giulani. He’s just devoted major effort to “cleaning up” Manhattan by closing or relocating sexually-oriented businesses. And now this kinky exhibition comes to the city-owned Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, effectively putting New York City in the porn business. Making matters even worse was a second exhibition at the Javits Center at the same time: the sixth annual International Gay & Lesbian Business Expo and Entertainment Festival, the largest event of its kind in the world. (A church group that had booked an event at the Javits Center pulled out rather than be surrounded by all these evil, twisted people.)
I spent an entire Sunday at the Javits Center attending both exhibits and drew some interesting comparisons and conclusions. Erotica was very kinky but very hetero, while the Gay & Lesbian Business Expo was very gay but not terribly kinky. A combination of the two would have been lovely.
I was glad I was able to get into Erotica before the show opened to the general public because it meant I could explore the booths, view the sizable art gallery, and talk to vendors without having to shout over huge crowds. I left just as the floodgates were about to open—I counted 1,500 people standing in line waiting to get in. Expected attendance for the four-day run of the exhibition was 50,000—the city had to bring in extra police for crowd control. When I went back later in the afternoon it was difficult to move through the crowds.
What was the attraction? I suspect for many attendees it was curiosity about all these things that have been forbidden for so long. The exhibits and vendors seemed to be targeted at people who are predominantly hetero and not “into the scene” at all. There seemed to be an air of “Oh, this is so naughty!” to many of the exhibits that didn’t work for me. Nonetheless, I found a few interesting displays to tell you about.
Healthy Life Resources had a sampling of cutting-edge sex toys for sale. For men there was the “Bonerman,” which can best be described as a milking machine’s evil child. (A Bonerman is custom-fit to each customer after that customer supplies five different measurements—four circumferences and an overall length.) For bottoms of all genders there was the “PoniRocR,” an upholstered hump containing mechanics which can vibrate and move your choice of over 160 different combinations of flexible attachments. If you’ve ever heard the limerick about the man who invented a screwing machine—this is what he would have invented. Neither of them is inexpensive, but alone or in combination they could be great fun. (Unfortunately, they weren’t set up to offer free trials at the show.) They were also showing a “Tantra Swing/Gym” for adults and some other fun stuff. Get all the delicious details at www.safest-way.com.
And now that you’ve got your wonderful new sex toys, how about sharing the experience with a loved one who’s far, far away? Remember those “Reach Out and Touch Someone” long-distance ads? Now, with the emerging brave new world of “cyberdildonics,” you really can. Your computer’s mouse will give new meaning to the word “joystick” as you control your lover’s PoniRocR, Bonerman, vibrator or other “marital aid” from any Mac or PC with an internet connection and a web browser—while you watch their reaction via WebCam, of course. Best of all, according to a press release, it’s healthy: “You’ll never catch a sexually-transmitted disease at SafeSexPlus.com. Nobody will die of AIDs [sic] through SafeSexPlus.com.” To find out more, visit (you guessed it) www.SafeSexPlus.com. The software is free and the service is free. You can also visit remotecontrolsextoys.com, the website of the originator of this technology. No, I’m not making this up.
Here’s another noteworthy event that I couldn’t attend but which was attended by several other members of the Twin Cities leather community: the third annual Leather Leadership Conference (LLC3) in San Francisco. For excellent coverage of this event, I refer you to Gary Virginia, Mr. San Francisco Leather 1996 and columnist for San Francisco-based Frontiers Magazine. You can read his article about LLC3 at www.frontiersweb.com/sfv17iss24/Pages/heart_ofthe_matter.html.
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present Tournament 11, a pansexual run held at a private camp within a park. Workshops, demonstrations and fantasies will be presented. There’s still time to register—call The Knights or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information.
May 28-31: International Mr. Leather contest weekend in Chicago. Joshua Smith will be representing Minnesota, and the tenth anniversary of the Leather Pride flag will also be celebrated. Visit www.imrl.com or call 1-800-545-6753 for more information.
May 30: The Atons present their traditional gathering for those who don’t make the journey to Chicago.
June 3: You loved them at the recent Minnesota Fantasy weekend—here’s your chance to see them again. It’s Leather Family Night at the Ballet! Ballet of the Dolls, that is, performing “Swan Lake . . . The Sequel” at the Loring Playhouse, 8 pm. Special discount ticket pricing for leather community members. Call Wolf Productions for reservations and information. (Reservations must be made before Wednesday, May 26.)
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, May 8
Leather/Levi Dinner
Cocktails at 7 PM, dinner at 7:30 PM. McGovern’s Pub, 225 W. 7th St., St. Paul
Presented by the Atons, open to all. For reservations call the Atons Hotline.
Saturday, May 15
Black Guard Fundraiser
Scooters, 411 Galloway St., Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Meet your friends (or make a new one) in Eau Claire. Call for more information.
MN Drummer, Leather/SM at BECAUSE, and scandal in New York City
PHOTO: Gary O’Neill and Doug Waalen (to be delivered Wednesday afternoon)
PHOTO CAPTION: Left: Mr. Minnesota Drummer 1999 Gary O’Neill. Right: First Runner-up Doug Waalen.
In the last two weeks I’ve found myself in some interesting places and seen some amazing sights; in this issue’s column I’ll tell you about them. I was recently in New York City and caught two huge and controversial exhibitions at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Closer to home I participated in BECAUSE ’99, the recent bisexual conference at Metro State U in St. Paul. And I was at Club Metro when the new Mr. Minnesota Drummer was chosen. Let’s get started with that.
After a Friday-night Meet & Greet at The Minneapolis Eagle, this year’s Mr. Minnesota Drummer contest was held at Club Metro on April 24. The judges, all current or recent local titleholders, were Roger Gregg and David McKammon (visiting from San Francisco), Greg Hausler, Mario, Miss Jennifer, Joshua Smith, Thomas Smith, and outgoing Mr. Minnesota Drummer Steve Eue. There were two contestants for Mr. Minnesota Drummer: Doug Waalen and Gary O’Neill. (There were no contestants for Minnesota Drummerboy, so that competition was not held.) Co-emceed by contest organizer Colin Spriestersbach and Allison Brooks, the evening included entertainment by Brooks (who brought her Ernestine Tomlin character out of retirement for the evening), by “Barbie Girl” Eva Monet, and by comic Michelle Balan, the ultimate tough New York dyke. (For me, “West Side Story” will never be the same now that I’ve heard some of Balan’s rewritten lyrics.) The event drew a smaller-than-expected crowd, but the audience seemed to be having lots of fun.
The evening’s fantasy presentations followed the current trend of Industrial Macho. Waalen and former International Mr. Leather Kevin Cwayna did a construction-site scene, complete with a real jackhammer making real noise. O’Neill’s fantasy, which didn’t go quite as smoothly as it should have, featured lots of fog (LOTS of fog!) and lots of clothespins. Nevertheless, when the results were announced it was O’Neill who got the title and the sash, with Waalen taking first-runner-up honors. A postscript: While some folks might have wished for more competitors, I personally would rather see a contest with a few good contestants than a contest with many poor ones.
When I wasn’t attending Minnesota Drummer events that weekend, I was attending the eighth annual edition of BECAUSE, which stands for Bisexual Empowerment Conference: A Uniting, Supportive Experience. I was there because I was invited to be part of a panel of SM players presenting a workshop called “Getting Hurt Can Be Fun.” (I would be representing the “traditional” gay male leather/SM community.) I figured I’d attend, be on the panel, and that would be the extent of my participation. Once I got there, however, I discovered that there were over 30 workshops to be presented, and they sounded interesting. I discovered a good number of leather/SM folk attending. And I discovered that I felt welcome even though I don’t consider myself bisexual. I wound up staying for almost the entire conference; I learned a lot, met many great people, and consider the time very well spent. The organizers of the conference can be proud of the good job they did putting it together. Visit their website at www.bisexual.org/mn/because.html, and then plan to be there next year for BECAUSE 2000. (There’s a lot of other good stuff at www.bisexual.org, too.)
One of the other workshops I attended at BECAUSE was the Minneapolis Safer Sex Sluts presenting “Martha Sexpert Living: Better Sex, It’s a Good Thing.” Greta Bauer as Martha Sexpert showed an uncanny, and almost scary, resemblance to another well-known Martha as she and her assistants discussed and demonstrated everything from making charming lube cozies to the proper way to clean toys. The Minneapolis Safer Sex Sluts will be performing in other venues in the weeks and months to come; whether you love that other Martha or hate her, you’ve got to see this.
Now, on to New York City, where I recently attended an exhibition called Erotica ’99 that outraged many New Yorkers, including mayor Rudy Giulani. He’s just devoted major effort to “cleaning up” Manhattan by closing or relocating sexually-oriented businesses. And now this kinky exhibition comes to the city-owned Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, effectively putting New York City in the porn business. Making matters even worse was a second exhibition at the Javits Center at the same time: the sixth annual International Gay & Lesbian Business Expo and Entertainment Festival, the largest event of its kind in the world. (A church group that had booked an event at the Javits Center pulled out rather than be surrounded by all these evil, twisted people.)
I spent an entire Sunday at the Javits Center attending both exhibits and drew some interesting comparisons and conclusions. Erotica was very kinky but very hetero, while the Gay & Lesbian Business Expo was very gay but not terribly kinky. A combination of the two would have been lovely.
I was glad I was able to get into Erotica before the show opened to the general public because it meant I could explore the booths, view the sizable art gallery, and talk to vendors without having to shout over huge crowds. I left just as the floodgates were about to open—I counted 1,500 people standing in line waiting to get in. Expected attendance for the four-day run of the exhibition was 50,000—the city had to bring in extra police for crowd control. When I went back later in the afternoon it was difficult to move through the crowds.
What was the attraction? I suspect for many attendees it was curiosity about all these things that have been forbidden for so long. The exhibits and vendors seemed to be targeted at people who are predominantly hetero and not “into the scene” at all. There seemed to be an air of “Oh, this is so naughty!” to many of the exhibits that didn’t work for me. Nonetheless, I found a few interesting displays to tell you about.
Healthy Life Resources had a sampling of cutting-edge sex toys for sale. For men there was the “Bonerman,” which can best be described as a milking machine’s evil child. (A Bonerman is custom-fit to each customer after that customer supplies five different measurements—four circumferences and an overall length.) For bottoms of all genders there was the “PoniRocR,” an upholstered hump containing mechanics which can vibrate and move your choice of over 160 different combinations of flexible attachments. If you’ve ever heard the limerick about the man who invented a screwing machine—this is what he would have invented. Neither of them is inexpensive, but alone or in combination they could be great fun. (Unfortunately, they weren’t set up to offer free trials at the show.) They were also showing a “Tantra Swing/Gym” for adults and some other fun stuff. Get all the delicious details at www.safest-way.com.
And now that you’ve got your wonderful new sex toys, how about sharing the experience with a loved one who’s far, far away? Remember those “Reach Out and Touch Someone” long-distance ads? Now, with the emerging brave new world of “cyberdildonics,” you really can. Your computer’s mouse will give new meaning to the word “joystick” as you control your lover’s PoniRocR, Bonerman, vibrator or other “marital aid” from any Mac or PC with an internet connection and a web browser—while you watch their reaction via WebCam, of course. Best of all, according to a press release, it’s healthy: “You’ll never catch a sexually-transmitted disease at SafeSexPlus.com. Nobody will die of AIDs [sic] through SafeSexPlus.com.” To find out more, visit (you guessed it) www.SafeSexPlus.com. The software is free and the service is free. You can also visit remotecontrolsextoys.com, the website of the originator of this technology. No, I’m not making this up.
Here’s another noteworthy event that I couldn’t attend but which was attended by several other members of the Twin Cities leather community: the third annual Leather Leadership Conference (LLC3) in San Francisco. For excellent coverage of this event, I refer you to Gary Virginia, Mr. San Francisco Leather 1996 and columnist for San Francisco-based Frontiers Magazine. You can read his article about LLC3 at www.frontiersweb.com/sfv17iss24/Pages/heart_ofthe_matter.html.
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present Tournament 11, a pansexual run held at a private camp within a park. Workshops, demonstrations and fantasies will be presented. There’s still time to register—call The Knights or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information.
May 28-31: International Mr. Leather contest weekend in Chicago. Joshua Smith will be representing Minnesota, and the tenth anniversary of the Leather Pride flag will also be celebrated. Visit www.imrl.com or call 1-800-545-6753 for more information.
May 30: The Atons present their traditional gathering for those who don’t make the journey to Chicago.
June 3: You loved them at the recent Minnesota Fantasy weekend—here’s your chance to see them again. It’s Leather Family Night at the Ballet! Ballet of the Dolls, that is, performing “Swan Lake . . . The Sequel” at the Loring Playhouse, 8 pm. Special discount ticket pricing for leather community members. Call Wolf Productions for reservations and information. (Reservations must be made before Wednesday, May 26.)
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, May 8
Leather/Levi Dinner
Cocktails at 7 PM, dinner at 7:30 PM. McGovern’s Pub, 225 W. 7th St., St. Paul
Presented by the Atons, open to all. For reservations call the Atons Hotline.
Saturday, May 15
Black Guard Fundraiser
Scooters, 411 Galloway St., Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Meet your friends (or make a new one) in Eau Claire. Call for more information.
Friday, April 23, 1999
Barebacking: Stop The Madness
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #102, April 23, 1999)
It’s not chic, it’s not rebellious, it’s suicide
Today’s specific topic is barebacking. Today’s general topics are AIDS and dying. Barebacking (anal intercourse without a condom) has become a fashionable way to have sex among certain groups of people in the Twin Cities and nationwide, and the resurgence of this practice has inspired heated debate. Proponents of barebacking seem to feel that AIDS is no longer the threat it once was, and the feel of non-latex sex is worth the risk. Opponents argue that unprotected anal intercourse is what fueled the AIDS epidemic in the first place, and it remains a very dangerous way to have sex because of the high risk of spreading the HIV virus as well as a host of other sexually transmitted diseases.
I have been hearing these discussions about AIDS and barebacking for awhile without contributing anything to the conversation. As a firm believer in safer sex, I knew barebacking was something I personally would never do, but it’s a free country—everyone is entitled to make their own choices, and everyone is responsible for the consequences of the choices they make. Who am I to tell people what to do or not to do?
Who am I? I’m someone who sees a déjà vu disaster in the making and cares enough to send up a warning flare. I can’t make everybody’s choices for them, but I can at least point out a few things that people might want to think about as they’re making those choices:
• The semen of an HIV-positive male contains the HIV virus and is therefore highly infectious. The semen of an HIV-positive male who is taking protease inhibitors may contain less of the HIV virus. But any virus contained in that semen is there because it’s been tough enough to resist protease inhibitors—these are the strongest strains, and therefore the most virulent. If you were to become infected with these strains you would probably be one of those people for whom those magical protease inhibitors don’t work.
• HIV infection is not a cumulative process of being bombarded with the virus many times and having one’s resistance worn down. Just one instance of unprotected sex can be enough to infect you. Enjoying barebacking or other unsafe sex “in moderation” is a meaningless and dangerous concept. Just as there’s no such thing as “a little bit pregnant,” there’s no such thing as “a little bit positive.”
• Some people see barebacking as a form of thrill-seeking, like skydiving, mountain climbing or driving race cars, and how dare anyone tell them they can’t pursue their thrills? Consider this: Part of what makes an experience thrilling is an element of high but survivable risk—being in an extreme situation but “stacking the cards” so that we come out of it alive. No one intentionally skydives without a parachute because death would be pretty much certain; what’s thrilling about that? I submit that with what we know today, having anal sex without a condom makes as much sense as jumping out of an airplane without a parachute; both can be temporarily exhilarating but ultimately fatal.
• The death rate for AIDS has fallen in recent years, a fact for which we can all be thankful. The HIV infection rate, however, has remained constant. Do you find this fact mind-boggling? Nonsensical? Infuriating? I do. In the early stages of the AIDS epidemic we knew people were dying but we didn’t know why—and we didn’t know what we could do to stop it. Now we know. AIDS is not yet curable, but it sure as hell is preventable. And yet, even after all the sharing of information and all the distribution of safer-sex supplies, the rate of new infections is the same. What’s it going to take to bring it down?
• To the young, and to those new to our community, please listen to an old-timer. I’ve seen the gay community, and the leather community, decimated by AIDS. I’ve seen an entire generation of gay men and leathermen removed from the face of the earth. I’ve seen many of my friends get sick. Some went quickly. Some endured years of agony before finally succumbing. Some are still here, living their lives around their illness. None of these scenarios has been at all pretty to watch, much less to live through and/or die from. As you think about barebacking, think about whether you’d prefer a quick death or a slow, painful one—not that you’ll probably be offered that choice, of course. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, rich or poor, pretty or average, experienced or virgin, male, female, or whatever—you are not immune. It can happen to you. And sooner or later, unless you take proper precautions, it will. And when it does, you won’t be able to undo it.
• To those in the community who have been living with the epidemic and are still negative: You’ve made it this far—now is not the time to give up. Yes, the battle fatigue is real. The safer-sex fatigue is real. But you don’t have to give in to it. Rather than barebacking, try new and creative sex options that are safer. Be inventive. You might also consider participating in the AIDS vaccine trial to possibly stop HIV transmission altogether. If you really feel tempted to do something unsafe, talk with a friend who’s living with HIV; ask them how they would feel about you taking risks or becoming infected.
• To those in the community who know they are positive: Do you hate the HIV virus? If you pass it on to someone else, that’s a win for the virus—and you’ve just become an accomplice to this thing you hate. But every time you take proper precautions and have sex without transmitting the virus, it’s a victory for all of us—and you’re a hero.
AIDS is often described as having “torn the fabric of the community.” But let’s not talk fabric for a moment, let’s talk leather. Anyone who has ever ripped their leather jacket or pants knows how difficult it is to repair. And even after being repaired, the damage is usually all too evident. In much the same way, the community is still trying to repair the damage inflicted by AIDS. There are some indications that the tribe is reviving, but nothing we can do will ever bring back that entire generation we’ve lost to AIDS. Why in the world would we want to put ourselves through the same nightmare again—only this time, knowing full well what we were doing while we were doing it?
Now, a disclosure: Your humble columnist believes strongly in remaining safe sexually (he doesn’t flag that black-and-white-checked hanky for nothing). As a matter of fact, he is so risk-averse that he doesn’t even suck cock without a condom, a viewpoint which seems to be rapidly going the way of the buggy whip. Perhaps the jury is still out on some things, so we can agree to disagree. But as far as I know, “safer barebacking” is an oxymoron. It cannot be done without being extremely dangerous.
Maybe that danger is what some people are looking for. They characterize barebacking as Russian roulette, gambling with your life. I say it’s not even gambling, it’s just plain suicide. Science has extended the lifespan of those infected with HIV, and the pharmaceutical companies and their advertising agencies have (almost perversely) glamorized living with HIV. Some people say it’s become a “manageable” disease like diabetes. But keep in mind that the drugs don’t work for everyone, and there’s still no cure. People keep dying—the AIDS Quilt has grown so big it no longer fits on the Mall in Washington, D.C. That should tell you something.
If you think barebacking sounds attractive or enticing, I mean this in the kindest and most caring sense: You should have your head examined. Literally. You have a death wish, my friend, and unless you do something, sooner or later it’s going to come true. Run, do not walk, to your nearest physician, psychotherapist, STD clinic, HIV prevention program or counseling center. Or call the Minnesota AIDS Line toll-free statewide at 1-800-248-2437 (all calls are held in strictest confidence). Another resource is the Centers for Disease Control’s National HIV/AIDS Hotline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432 (Spanish) or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY).
In gay camp parlance from years ago, if you wanted to indicate that something or somebody was really great, you said that either it or he was “to die for.” As the AIDS epidemic grew, the awful, uncomfortable reality of that phrase became apparent. Today, each of us has the power to make sure that sex can be great without being “to die for.”
PHOTO: Mario & Joshua with winning ticket
On April 11 Ms. Minnesota Leather 1999 Mario and Mr. Minnesota Leather 1999 Joshua Smith held their “Family Reunion” fundraiser at The Saloon to benefit Hope House and the Minnesota Leather Travel Fund. One of the highlights of the evening was drawing the name of the winner of the 1982 Suzuki motorcycle that was being raffled off; the winning ticket was sold in Chicago and the lucky winner lives in the Chicago area. Above left is Mario in dress, heels and makeup for the first time ever. Above right, holding the winning ticket, is Joshua Smith in not much more than his birthday suit (which was fitting, since the event was held on his birthday).
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
May 8: Leather/Levi Dinner presented by the Atons, open to all. Location and time to be announced. Call the Atons Hotline for more information or to make a reservation.
May 16: Black Guard fundraiser. Put it on your calendar now, and check the next issue of Lavender for location and time.
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present Tournament 11, a pansexual run held at a private camp within a park. Workshops, demonstrations and fantasies will be presented. Call The Knights or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information.
May 28-31: International Mr. Leather contest weekend in Chicago. Joshua Smith will be representing Minnesota, and the tenth anniversary of the Leather Pride flag will also be celebrated. Visit www.imrl.com or call 1-800-545-6753 for more information.
May 30: The Atons present their traditional gathering for those who don’t make the journey to Chicago.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, April 23
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Minnesota Drummerboy Welcoming Beer Bust
7-10 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
Meet the contestants and judges. $7 at the door.
Saturday, April 24
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Minnesota Drummerboy Contest and Show
Club Metro Underground, St. Paul. Doors open 7 PM, contest starts at 8:30 PM, title awarded at 10:30 PM
Show features leather comedienne Ms. Michelle Balan. A fundraiser for the GLBT community produced by Minnesota Leather Productions in association with The Black Guard, The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Ice Castle, and members of Sober Leather. $15 at the door.
Saturday, April 24
Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago
For more information call the Atons Hotline.
Sunday, April 25
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Minnesota Drummerboy Victory Party
6-9:30 PM, The Saloon
$5 at the door.
It’s not chic, it’s not rebellious, it’s suicide
Today’s specific topic is barebacking. Today’s general topics are AIDS and dying. Barebacking (anal intercourse without a condom) has become a fashionable way to have sex among certain groups of people in the Twin Cities and nationwide, and the resurgence of this practice has inspired heated debate. Proponents of barebacking seem to feel that AIDS is no longer the threat it once was, and the feel of non-latex sex is worth the risk. Opponents argue that unprotected anal intercourse is what fueled the AIDS epidemic in the first place, and it remains a very dangerous way to have sex because of the high risk of spreading the HIV virus as well as a host of other sexually transmitted diseases.
I have been hearing these discussions about AIDS and barebacking for awhile without contributing anything to the conversation. As a firm believer in safer sex, I knew barebacking was something I personally would never do, but it’s a free country—everyone is entitled to make their own choices, and everyone is responsible for the consequences of the choices they make. Who am I to tell people what to do or not to do?
Who am I? I’m someone who sees a déjà vu disaster in the making and cares enough to send up a warning flare. I can’t make everybody’s choices for them, but I can at least point out a few things that people might want to think about as they’re making those choices:
• The semen of an HIV-positive male contains the HIV virus and is therefore highly infectious. The semen of an HIV-positive male who is taking protease inhibitors may contain less of the HIV virus. But any virus contained in that semen is there because it’s been tough enough to resist protease inhibitors—these are the strongest strains, and therefore the most virulent. If you were to become infected with these strains you would probably be one of those people for whom those magical protease inhibitors don’t work.
• HIV infection is not a cumulative process of being bombarded with the virus many times and having one’s resistance worn down. Just one instance of unprotected sex can be enough to infect you. Enjoying barebacking or other unsafe sex “in moderation” is a meaningless and dangerous concept. Just as there’s no such thing as “a little bit pregnant,” there’s no such thing as “a little bit positive.”
• Some people see barebacking as a form of thrill-seeking, like skydiving, mountain climbing or driving race cars, and how dare anyone tell them they can’t pursue their thrills? Consider this: Part of what makes an experience thrilling is an element of high but survivable risk—being in an extreme situation but “stacking the cards” so that we come out of it alive. No one intentionally skydives without a parachute because death would be pretty much certain; what’s thrilling about that? I submit that with what we know today, having anal sex without a condom makes as much sense as jumping out of an airplane without a parachute; both can be temporarily exhilarating but ultimately fatal.
• The death rate for AIDS has fallen in recent years, a fact for which we can all be thankful. The HIV infection rate, however, has remained constant. Do you find this fact mind-boggling? Nonsensical? Infuriating? I do. In the early stages of the AIDS epidemic we knew people were dying but we didn’t know why—and we didn’t know what we could do to stop it. Now we know. AIDS is not yet curable, but it sure as hell is preventable. And yet, even after all the sharing of information and all the distribution of safer-sex supplies, the rate of new infections is the same. What’s it going to take to bring it down?
• To the young, and to those new to our community, please listen to an old-timer. I’ve seen the gay community, and the leather community, decimated by AIDS. I’ve seen an entire generation of gay men and leathermen removed from the face of the earth. I’ve seen many of my friends get sick. Some went quickly. Some endured years of agony before finally succumbing. Some are still here, living their lives around their illness. None of these scenarios has been at all pretty to watch, much less to live through and/or die from. As you think about barebacking, think about whether you’d prefer a quick death or a slow, painful one—not that you’ll probably be offered that choice, of course. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, rich or poor, pretty or average, experienced or virgin, male, female, or whatever—you are not immune. It can happen to you. And sooner or later, unless you take proper precautions, it will. And when it does, you won’t be able to undo it.
• To those in the community who have been living with the epidemic and are still negative: You’ve made it this far—now is not the time to give up. Yes, the battle fatigue is real. The safer-sex fatigue is real. But you don’t have to give in to it. Rather than barebacking, try new and creative sex options that are safer. Be inventive. You might also consider participating in the AIDS vaccine trial to possibly stop HIV transmission altogether. If you really feel tempted to do something unsafe, talk with a friend who’s living with HIV; ask them how they would feel about you taking risks or becoming infected.
• To those in the community who know they are positive: Do you hate the HIV virus? If you pass it on to someone else, that’s a win for the virus—and you’ve just become an accomplice to this thing you hate. But every time you take proper precautions and have sex without transmitting the virus, it’s a victory for all of us—and you’re a hero.
AIDS is often described as having “torn the fabric of the community.” But let’s not talk fabric for a moment, let’s talk leather. Anyone who has ever ripped their leather jacket or pants knows how difficult it is to repair. And even after being repaired, the damage is usually all too evident. In much the same way, the community is still trying to repair the damage inflicted by AIDS. There are some indications that the tribe is reviving, but nothing we can do will ever bring back that entire generation we’ve lost to AIDS. Why in the world would we want to put ourselves through the same nightmare again—only this time, knowing full well what we were doing while we were doing it?
Now, a disclosure: Your humble columnist believes strongly in remaining safe sexually (he doesn’t flag that black-and-white-checked hanky for nothing). As a matter of fact, he is so risk-averse that he doesn’t even suck cock without a condom, a viewpoint which seems to be rapidly going the way of the buggy whip. Perhaps the jury is still out on some things, so we can agree to disagree. But as far as I know, “safer barebacking” is an oxymoron. It cannot be done without being extremely dangerous.
Maybe that danger is what some people are looking for. They characterize barebacking as Russian roulette, gambling with your life. I say it’s not even gambling, it’s just plain suicide. Science has extended the lifespan of those infected with HIV, and the pharmaceutical companies and their advertising agencies have (almost perversely) glamorized living with HIV. Some people say it’s become a “manageable” disease like diabetes. But keep in mind that the drugs don’t work for everyone, and there’s still no cure. People keep dying—the AIDS Quilt has grown so big it no longer fits on the Mall in Washington, D.C. That should tell you something.
If you think barebacking sounds attractive or enticing, I mean this in the kindest and most caring sense: You should have your head examined. Literally. You have a death wish, my friend, and unless you do something, sooner or later it’s going to come true. Run, do not walk, to your nearest physician, psychotherapist, STD clinic, HIV prevention program or counseling center. Or call the Minnesota AIDS Line toll-free statewide at 1-800-248-2437 (all calls are held in strictest confidence). Another resource is the Centers for Disease Control’s National HIV/AIDS Hotline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432 (Spanish) or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY).
In gay camp parlance from years ago, if you wanted to indicate that something or somebody was really great, you said that either it or he was “to die for.” As the AIDS epidemic grew, the awful, uncomfortable reality of that phrase became apparent. Today, each of us has the power to make sure that sex can be great without being “to die for.”
PHOTO: Mario & Joshua with winning ticket
On April 11 Ms. Minnesota Leather 1999 Mario and Mr. Minnesota Leather 1999 Joshua Smith held their “Family Reunion” fundraiser at The Saloon to benefit Hope House and the Minnesota Leather Travel Fund. One of the highlights of the evening was drawing the name of the winner of the 1982 Suzuki motorcycle that was being raffled off; the winning ticket was sold in Chicago and the lucky winner lives in the Chicago area. Above left is Mario in dress, heels and makeup for the first time ever. Above right, holding the winning ticket, is Joshua Smith in not much more than his birthday suit (which was fitting, since the event was held on his birthday).
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
May 8: Leather/Levi Dinner presented by the Atons, open to all. Location and time to be announced. Call the Atons Hotline for more information or to make a reservation.
May 16: Black Guard fundraiser. Put it on your calendar now, and check the next issue of Lavender for location and time.
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present Tournament 11, a pansexual run held at a private camp within a park. Workshops, demonstrations and fantasies will be presented. Call The Knights or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information.
May 28-31: International Mr. Leather contest weekend in Chicago. Joshua Smith will be representing Minnesota, and the tenth anniversary of the Leather Pride flag will also be celebrated. Visit www.imrl.com or call 1-800-545-6753 for more information.
May 30: The Atons present their traditional gathering for those who don’t make the journey to Chicago.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, April 23
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Minnesota Drummerboy Welcoming Beer Bust
7-10 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
Meet the contestants and judges. $7 at the door.
Saturday, April 24
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Minnesota Drummerboy Contest and Show
Club Metro Underground, St. Paul. Doors open 7 PM, contest starts at 8:30 PM, title awarded at 10:30 PM
Show features leather comedienne Ms. Michelle Balan. A fundraiser for the GLBT community produced by Minnesota Leather Productions in association with The Black Guard, The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Ice Castle, and members of Sober Leather. $15 at the door.
Saturday, April 24
Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago
For more information call the Atons Hotline.
Sunday, April 25
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Minnesota Drummerboy Victory Party
6-9:30 PM, The Saloon
$5 at the door.
Friday, April 9, 1999
Fantastic Fantasy Weekend
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #101, April 9, 1999)
Miss Jennifer, David Page win Fantasy sashes
Sometimes fantasies come true. After months of planning and preparation, this year’s Minnesota Fantasy Weekend, which took place March 26-28, exploded out of the minds of its creators into splendid, breathtaking reality. Three committed producers and scores of other talented individuals took an empty parking lot, erected a tent, and filled it with a full weekend of leather magic unlike any I’ve ever experienced anywhere else—and which I can’t adequately describe on a printed page. But I’ll do my best.
On Friday night, the weekend started with the Party Bus Bar Cruise II, which left the Minneapolis Eagle and visited The Brass Rail, Over The Rainbow, Trikkx, The Town House, and The Saloon. Then it was back to the tent set up next to the Eagle, where the Fantasy Dance Party was already in progress. State-of-the-art lighting, a fabulous sound system and a great mix of music got the crowd warmed up for the introduction of the weekend’s contestants and judges. After that, it was time for a performance by Savage Aural Hotbed, the local “industrial percussion” group that makes loud, pulsating, hypnotic music using everything from drums and a bass guitar to circular saws, grinders, and steel pipes. The effect of the music was amplified by a spectacular light show, and the combination resulted in a marvelous endorphin rush and altered state of consciousness. How appropriate, I thought to myself. I was being topped by these four musicians, and I was loving every minute of it.
Saturday night brought rain and strong winds—not the weather you want for an event in a tent. But in spite of the weather the show went on, starting with an opening tableau in which co-emcee (and contest co-producer) Dale Willman introduced the three male contestants (C.C., David Page and Scott Kelley) and two female contestants (Viper and Miss Jennifer). Then co-emcee Tiffany Cartier got the crowd in a playful mood with a song about the joys of “making love alone.”
In the first on-stage category, “Fantasy Wear,” Viper appeared as Xena, Warrior Princess. (Overheard in the audience: “She looks more like Xena than Xena!”) C.C. appeared in a costume that was part leather and part wild animal. Miss Jennifer sported a witch’s hat, sunglasses, a cigarette holder, and the ultimate fashion accessory—a boy on a leash, obediently crawling on his hands and knees. David Page was a gladiator, and Scott Kelley was the first person ever to be naked at the Minneapolis Eagle—underneath his towel, that is.
Other on-stage contest categories were question-and-answer and the Mystery category, in which the contestants had to improvise a fantasy performance using circus props (in keeping with the “Big Top” tent theme). And, of course, there were fantasies—lots of them. In addition to contestant fantasies, performances were given by current International Mr. Fantasy Tim Kernan and current Mr. Michigan Fantasy John Tatum. Contest co-producer Michael deLeon performed a brilliant pas de deux with dancer/choreographer Mary Ann Smith-Johnson of Ballet of the Dolls. And the entire Ballet of the Dolls troupe, accompanied by Savage Aural Hotbed, performed a piece specially choreographed for the evening by Dolls founder and choreographer Myron Johnson.
Then it was time to announce the winners. Ken Flanagan, Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1998, passed his sash to David Page, who became Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999, with C.C. taking first runner-up honors. Miss Jennifer took the first-ever Ms. Minnesota Fantasy sash.
But, as everyone in that tent knew, by this time the event had transcended its status as a contest. As one of the contestants told the judges during the contestant interviews, “This weekend is about more than who wins—it’s about getting the community out and involved and celebrating itself.” And that’s exactly what was happening all weekend. Hats off to producers Dale Willman, Michael deLeon, and Gary O’Neill—they presented an event as good as or better than those I’ve seen in places like Chicago, San Francisco or New York. Hats off to the contestants, the performers, and the staff who shared their talents with the community. Hats off to The Minneapolis Eagle and the bars on the Party Bus Bar Cruise for their support. And hats off to everyone in the audience who enjoyed the weekend and whose support made it economically feasible to present a weekend of such scope and quality. The crowd was large, and it was the most diverse group of people I’ve yet seen at a Twin Cities leather function. That’s important because, as Tiffany Cartier put it, “If we’re alone they’ll pick us off one by one. If we’re together, we’re unbeatable!”
It was such a great weekend I really, really didn’t want it to end. If you were there and felt the same way (or if you weren’t there and are sorry you missed it), keep in mind that Miss Jennifer and David Page will be representing Minnesota at the International Mr. Fantasy contest, which takes place August 20-22—right here in the Twin Cities. That means we’ll all get another chance to produce some more of that magic.
Tiffany Cartier and Ken Flanagan: Alabamy-Bound
Tiffany Cartier (aka Mitchell Nash) and Ken Flanagan have for years been actively involved both in the leather community and with the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Ice Castle. By the time you read this, they will have relocated to Birmingham, Alabama. (A farewell party was held on Tuesday, March 30 at the Brass Rail.) Thanks for everything, and best of luck to you both.
Personality Profile: Tim Forte, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle
PHOTO: Tim Forte, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle ’99
There’s another new titleholder in town: Tim Forte, who is proud to be the new (and first-ever) Mr. Minneapolis Eagle. He was one of five finalists to come out of the Feb. 7 preliminary contest; he won the title at the finals on Feb. 21.
Forte was born into a family of four boys, two straight and two gay, and he counts his parents and brothers among his many mentors. He has lived in Minneapolis most of his life, although he spent a few years in Palm Springs and Milwaukee. He currently works in the computer training department at Best Buy’s corporate offices, but he is also trained as a nurse aide and has worked in AIDS hospices.
He describes his leisure-time activities as “going for walks around the lakes, bike riding during the summer, and playing bingo” (you’ll see him Wednesdays at the Eagle for bingo nights). He also cooks, does catering, works with watercolor paints, and crochets (“a little hobby I picked up from my mama”). He’s also a gardener and a handyman who loves to spend time remodeling, repainting, and fixing up old houses. He lives with John, his lover of five years, and a roommate, leather artist Damon.
His duties as Mr. Minneapolis Eagle will be to represent the bar. He will be on the Minneapolis Eagle float in this year’s Twin Cities Pride Parade, and he also plans to attend the upcoming International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago—not to compete, but to represent and publicize the bar. And, he says, when he’s finished with his duties as Mr. Minneapolis Eagle you just might see him entering another contest someday.
Wanna Win a Motorcycle?
Mr. Minnesota Leather 1999 Joshua Smith and Ms. Minnesota Leather 1999 Mario have teamed up to present “Family Reunion,” a fundraiser for Hope House and the Minnesota Leather Travel Fund. For the last few weeks Mario and Joshua have been selling raffle tickets for a 1982 Suzuki GS650L motorcycle complete with helmet. (You may have seen the bike on display at the recent Minnesota Fantasy Weekend.) Raffle tickets are $10. Only 399 tickets will be sold, and it’s no wonder that with odds like that they’re going fast. If you haven’t bought your ticket(s) yet, call Joshua or Mario. The winning ticket will be drawn at the “Family Reunion” event on April 11 at The Saloon (see the Out & About Calendar for complete details). You needn’t be present to win, but wouldn’t it be more fun if you were there and they happened to draw your ticket as the winner?
The Leather Flag’s True Colors
ILLUSTRATION: (Leather Pride Flag graphic—with BLUE bars this time)
Due to a printer’s error, the Leather Pride Flag illustration which appeared last issue was incorrect (the stripes that should have been blue turned purple). Here is a correctly-colored Leather Pride Flag. Lavender and this columnist regret the error and humbly ask Tony DeBlase, designer of the flag, not to flog us too hard.
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
April 23-24: Minnesota Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy Contest weekend. To be a contestant, call Minnesota Leather Productions.
April 24: Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago. Call the Atons Hotline for more information.
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present their Tournament 11 run. This year’s theme: “Make ’em Heel!” This is a pansexual run held at a private camp within a park. The weekend will feature workshops, demonstrations and fantasies. Call or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, April 10
Leather/Levi Dinner
Cocktails at 7 pm, dinner at 7:30, Little Jacks, 201 Lowry Ave. NE, Minneapolis
Presented by the Atons, open to all. Call for reservations or info.
Sunday, April 11
Minnesota Leather “Family Reunion”
6-10 pm, The Saloon
A fundraiser for Hope House and the Minnesota Leather Travel Fund, presented by Ms. Minnesota Leather Mario and Mr. Minnesota Leather Joshua Smith. Highlight of the evening: some lucky leatherperson will win a 1982 Suzuki GS650L motorcycle complete with helmet; chances are $10, assuming they’re not sold out (need not be present to win). You’ll also see the first-ever Gay Celebrity Newlywed Game. $10 at the door.
Miss Jennifer, David Page win Fantasy sashes
Sometimes fantasies come true. After months of planning and preparation, this year’s Minnesota Fantasy Weekend, which took place March 26-28, exploded out of the minds of its creators into splendid, breathtaking reality. Three committed producers and scores of other talented individuals took an empty parking lot, erected a tent, and filled it with a full weekend of leather magic unlike any I’ve ever experienced anywhere else—and which I can’t adequately describe on a printed page. But I’ll do my best.
On Friday night, the weekend started with the Party Bus Bar Cruise II, which left the Minneapolis Eagle and visited The Brass Rail, Over The Rainbow, Trikkx, The Town House, and The Saloon. Then it was back to the tent set up next to the Eagle, where the Fantasy Dance Party was already in progress. State-of-the-art lighting, a fabulous sound system and a great mix of music got the crowd warmed up for the introduction of the weekend’s contestants and judges. After that, it was time for a performance by Savage Aural Hotbed, the local “industrial percussion” group that makes loud, pulsating, hypnotic music using everything from drums and a bass guitar to circular saws, grinders, and steel pipes. The effect of the music was amplified by a spectacular light show, and the combination resulted in a marvelous endorphin rush and altered state of consciousness. How appropriate, I thought to myself. I was being topped by these four musicians, and I was loving every minute of it.
Saturday night brought rain and strong winds—not the weather you want for an event in a tent. But in spite of the weather the show went on, starting with an opening tableau in which co-emcee (and contest co-producer) Dale Willman introduced the three male contestants (C.C., David Page and Scott Kelley) and two female contestants (Viper and Miss Jennifer). Then co-emcee Tiffany Cartier got the crowd in a playful mood with a song about the joys of “making love alone.”
In the first on-stage category, “Fantasy Wear,” Viper appeared as Xena, Warrior Princess. (Overheard in the audience: “She looks more like Xena than Xena!”) C.C. appeared in a costume that was part leather and part wild animal. Miss Jennifer sported a witch’s hat, sunglasses, a cigarette holder, and the ultimate fashion accessory—a boy on a leash, obediently crawling on his hands and knees. David Page was a gladiator, and Scott Kelley was the first person ever to be naked at the Minneapolis Eagle—underneath his towel, that is.
Other on-stage contest categories were question-and-answer and the Mystery category, in which the contestants had to improvise a fantasy performance using circus props (in keeping with the “Big Top” tent theme). And, of course, there were fantasies—lots of them. In addition to contestant fantasies, performances were given by current International Mr. Fantasy Tim Kernan and current Mr. Michigan Fantasy John Tatum. Contest co-producer Michael deLeon performed a brilliant pas de deux with dancer/choreographer Mary Ann Smith-Johnson of Ballet of the Dolls. And the entire Ballet of the Dolls troupe, accompanied by Savage Aural Hotbed, performed a piece specially choreographed for the evening by Dolls founder and choreographer Myron Johnson.
Then it was time to announce the winners. Ken Flanagan, Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1998, passed his sash to David Page, who became Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999, with C.C. taking first runner-up honors. Miss Jennifer took the first-ever Ms. Minnesota Fantasy sash.
But, as everyone in that tent knew, by this time the event had transcended its status as a contest. As one of the contestants told the judges during the contestant interviews, “This weekend is about more than who wins—it’s about getting the community out and involved and celebrating itself.” And that’s exactly what was happening all weekend. Hats off to producers Dale Willman, Michael deLeon, and Gary O’Neill—they presented an event as good as or better than those I’ve seen in places like Chicago, San Francisco or New York. Hats off to the contestants, the performers, and the staff who shared their talents with the community. Hats off to The Minneapolis Eagle and the bars on the Party Bus Bar Cruise for their support. And hats off to everyone in the audience who enjoyed the weekend and whose support made it economically feasible to present a weekend of such scope and quality. The crowd was large, and it was the most diverse group of people I’ve yet seen at a Twin Cities leather function. That’s important because, as Tiffany Cartier put it, “If we’re alone they’ll pick us off one by one. If we’re together, we’re unbeatable!”
It was such a great weekend I really, really didn’t want it to end. If you were there and felt the same way (or if you weren’t there and are sorry you missed it), keep in mind that Miss Jennifer and David Page will be representing Minnesota at the International Mr. Fantasy contest, which takes place August 20-22—right here in the Twin Cities. That means we’ll all get another chance to produce some more of that magic.
Tiffany Cartier and Ken Flanagan: Alabamy-Bound
Tiffany Cartier (aka Mitchell Nash) and Ken Flanagan have for years been actively involved both in the leather community and with the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Ice Castle. By the time you read this, they will have relocated to Birmingham, Alabama. (A farewell party was held on Tuesday, March 30 at the Brass Rail.) Thanks for everything, and best of luck to you both.
Personality Profile: Tim Forte, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle
PHOTO: Tim Forte, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle ’99
There’s another new titleholder in town: Tim Forte, who is proud to be the new (and first-ever) Mr. Minneapolis Eagle. He was one of five finalists to come out of the Feb. 7 preliminary contest; he won the title at the finals on Feb. 21.
Forte was born into a family of four boys, two straight and two gay, and he counts his parents and brothers among his many mentors. He has lived in Minneapolis most of his life, although he spent a few years in Palm Springs and Milwaukee. He currently works in the computer training department at Best Buy’s corporate offices, but he is also trained as a nurse aide and has worked in AIDS hospices.
He describes his leisure-time activities as “going for walks around the lakes, bike riding during the summer, and playing bingo” (you’ll see him Wednesdays at the Eagle for bingo nights). He also cooks, does catering, works with watercolor paints, and crochets (“a little hobby I picked up from my mama”). He’s also a gardener and a handyman who loves to spend time remodeling, repainting, and fixing up old houses. He lives with John, his lover of five years, and a roommate, leather artist Damon.
His duties as Mr. Minneapolis Eagle will be to represent the bar. He will be on the Minneapolis Eagle float in this year’s Twin Cities Pride Parade, and he also plans to attend the upcoming International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago—not to compete, but to represent and publicize the bar. And, he says, when he’s finished with his duties as Mr. Minneapolis Eagle you just might see him entering another contest someday.
Wanna Win a Motorcycle?
Mr. Minnesota Leather 1999 Joshua Smith and Ms. Minnesota Leather 1999 Mario have teamed up to present “Family Reunion,” a fundraiser for Hope House and the Minnesota Leather Travel Fund. For the last few weeks Mario and Joshua have been selling raffle tickets for a 1982 Suzuki GS650L motorcycle complete with helmet. (You may have seen the bike on display at the recent Minnesota Fantasy Weekend.) Raffle tickets are $10. Only 399 tickets will be sold, and it’s no wonder that with odds like that they’re going fast. If you haven’t bought your ticket(s) yet, call Joshua or Mario. The winning ticket will be drawn at the “Family Reunion” event on April 11 at The Saloon (see the Out & About Calendar for complete details). You needn’t be present to win, but wouldn’t it be more fun if you were there and they happened to draw your ticket as the winner?
The Leather Flag’s True Colors
ILLUSTRATION: (Leather Pride Flag graphic—with BLUE bars this time)
Due to a printer’s error, the Leather Pride Flag illustration which appeared last issue was incorrect (the stripes that should have been blue turned purple). Here is a correctly-colored Leather Pride Flag. Lavender and this columnist regret the error and humbly ask Tony DeBlase, designer of the flag, not to flog us too hard.
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
April 23-24: Minnesota Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy Contest weekend. To be a contestant, call Minnesota Leather Productions.
April 24: Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago. Call the Atons Hotline for more information.
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present their Tournament 11 run. This year’s theme: “Make ’em Heel!” This is a pansexual run held at a private camp within a park. The weekend will feature workshops, demonstrations and fantasies. Call or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, April 10
Leather/Levi Dinner
Cocktails at 7 pm, dinner at 7:30, Little Jacks, 201 Lowry Ave. NE, Minneapolis
Presented by the Atons, open to all. Call for reservations or info.
Sunday, April 11
Minnesota Leather “Family Reunion”
6-10 pm, The Saloon
A fundraiser for Hope House and the Minnesota Leather Travel Fund, presented by Ms. Minnesota Leather Mario and Mr. Minnesota Leather Joshua Smith. Highlight of the evening: some lucky leatherperson will win a 1982 Suzuki GS650L motorcycle complete with helmet; chances are $10, assuming they’re not sold out (need not be present to win). You’ll also see the first-ever Gay Celebrity Newlywed Game. $10 at the door.
Friday, March 26, 1999
Leather Pride Flag Turns 10!
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #100, March 26, 1999)
Tenth Anniversary of Leather Pride Flag to be celebrated at International Mr. Leather ’99
GRAPHIC: Leather Pride Flag Blueprint
Believe it or not, the Leather Pride flag is 10 years old. This milestone in the community will be celebrated at this year’s International Mr. Leather contest, May 28-31 in Chicago. (Visit www.imrl.com or call 1-800-545-6753 for more information about IML ’99.)
The flag was designed in 1989 by Tony DeBlase, a.k.a. Fledermaus, who at the time was the publisher of Drummer Magazine. Here, reprinted with permission, is an excerpt from an “Off The Top” editorial written by DeBlase. It appeared on page 4 of Drummer #131 (July 1989).
A Leather Pride Flag
The rainbow flag has become the symbol of Gay and Lesbian pride and I have been proud to wear it on my clothing, march behind it in parades, and hang it from my balcony. I was thrilled by the rainbow colored balloons used in the opening and closing ceremonies of Gay Games II and the spectacular rainbow of balloons that arched over the main stage at the G&L pride rally here in San Francisco a couple of years ago.
For the 20th anniversary of Stonewall I felt that the time was right for the Leather men and women who have been participating in these same parades and events more and more visibly in recent years, to have a similar simple, elegant banner that would serve as a symbol of their own identity and interests. I decided that calling a committee meeting to design it would be counterproductive, so I just did it. I consulted with most of the staff here at Drummer and some of their suggestions were incorporated. I do not expect this design to be the final form, but the basis from which a widely accepted banner will evolve.
A prototype was constructed and displayed at the International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago on May 28 [1989]. It seemed to be enthusiastically welcomed. I am having a few more flags manufactured. Drummer will be presenting one each to the Leather men and women of New York City and San Francisco. I have asked GMSMA to be the custodian of the former and The Society of Janus and The Outcasts to be the custodians of the latter. With luck both flags will be ready in time to be carried by the Leather contingents in each of these two major pride parades. Drummer will also donate flags to the National Leather Association and to Chicago Hellfire Club. Both of these are groups with which I have been intimately involved for quite some time and both host major events for the Leather and/or SM community.
The flag is composed of nine horizontal stripes of equal width. From the top, and from the bottom, the stripes alternate black and royal blue. The central stripe is white. In the upper left quadrant of the flag is a large red heart. I will leave it to the viewer to interpret the colors and symbols.
Desmodus Inc. [the publishers of Drummer] has a copyright on the design and anyone wishing to use it for purely commercial purposes must receive our written approval. However, we welcome members of the Leather/SM community to use the design for flags, banners, pins, T-shirts, printed material, etc. to be distributed free or sold at cost, or to be used for fund raising for not-for-profit causes that benefit leather men and women. No permission is required for these uses but we do ask that you inform us of the use and, where possible, send us samples.
We have had cloisonné pins made. These are about 1” wide and are available for $5 (plus $1.50 S&H) from the Sandmutopia Supply Co ... Photos of the flag at IML, and hopefully in the parades as well will be in Drummer 132.
Ten years later, writing in the Winter 98/99 edition of the Leather Archives & Museum’s newsletter, Tony DeBlase continues the story of the Leather Pride Flag. (The following is reprinted with permission from DeBlase and from Joseph Bean of the Leather Archives & Museum.)
“Initial reaction to the Leather Pride flag was mixed. Some, particularly on the east coast, reacted positively to the concept, but were quite concerned, some even offended, that I had not involved the community in helping to create the design. I emphatically did not want to have a design competition, in which each and every losing entry, and all of his/her friends, would oppose the winning entry. Nor did I want to have a design committee. Just selecting the members of such a committee was an invitation to the guillotine. Instead I decided to just go ahead with my design.
“I asked one of the staff members at Desmodus to translate my ideas into a drawing, which he did, with many alternatives. He did not like the design and thought that the heart was particularly trite. I did incorporate one of his recommendations, because he managed to convince me that it was an improvement on my original design, and I still agree that he was right on this. I originally had the central stripe red. But he pointed out that the tip of the red heart, bleeding into the red stripe, would not ‘read.’ I agreed and told him to change the central stripe to white. Though he recommended many others, that is the only change to my original concept that I accepted.
“Elsewhere the reactions were more positive. Susie Shepherd, who was International Ms Leather when I made my presentation in Chicago, phoned me shortly after I got back home and asked permission to make a flag for the Portland OR gay pride parade. Naturally I gave her permission and sent her a copy of the above editorial, along with the blueprint-like drawing of the flag that was included with it, and she had a flag made and it was carried in the Portland OR Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade a week before those similar celebrations in New York City and San Francisco.
“On the East Coast, the flag I donated to GMSMA was on the back of the Jeep carrying Guy Baldwin, the reigning IML, for much of the parade. I received a letter from Barry Douglas, the newly elected Chairman of GMSMA, dated June 27, 1989, thanking me for the gift, and telling me of the various conflicted reactions it had drawn. But he concludes by saying “We will keep the flag safe and bring it out for the appropriate events . . . .” The prototype is not seen on display in New York, but the acceptance of the design in NYC has yielded one of my favorite adaptations . . . described below.
“On the West Coast the flag was carried in the Pride day parade in San Francisco and then was prominently displayed in the Shotwell meeting space used both by the Society of Janus and the Outcasts. The Shotwell meeting house closed several years ago and the Outcasts disbanded a few years ago, so I was greatly relieved when a recent inquiry to the Society of Janus indicated that they still have the original flag I donated ten years ago. I agreed that the next time I am in San Francisco I will autograph the flag for them and they will enter it into their organizational archives.
“At Chicago Hellfire Club, the man in charge of Inferno refused to fly the flag in 1989 because it was “too controversial,” however, in 1990 it was flying in spite of his objections. And it has been visible there and at the CHC clubhouse ever since. NLA has displayed the flag proudly at every Living-In-Leather conference.
“The first adaptation of the flag to come to my attention was in December of 1989 when I found Christmas tree ornaments for sale at Worn Out West on Castro St. that were clear glass balls to which someone had applied strips of cloth in the flags’ colors around the diameter of the ornament, and added a tiny red heart on one side. Chuck Higgins, who was then Mr. SE Leather, was the first to wear the flag in any form other than a pin. He had it made as the back panel of his leather vest.
“In 1990 Laurie Lane of Leatherworld in Melbourne, Australia applied the southern cross constellation from the Australian flag to the Leather Pride flag to create a uniquely Australian version. And in 1991 the Melbourne Leathermen became the first organization to incorporate the leather pride flag design elements into their club colors. A few years later, TLFMC of Anchorage was the first of many organizations to use the flag’s stripes to fill in a state outline and use the heart as the marker for their city’s position in the state.
“In May of 1991, I was quite surprised, & pleased, to see that the International Mr. Leather sash had been made in the image of the flag. In October of that year a group of men from Toronto exhibited a huge Leather Pride Flag with a row of red maple leaves running through the white stripe. I am told that that flag still exists and is seen occasionally at events in Toronto, but apparently it is the only one ever made. I have also seen a version with the heart replaced by a red maple leaf.
“In the first few years following development of the flag a few people applied for a license to produce it commercially. One of the first was Chuck Higgins, who made bumper stickers. Lambda Rising requested rights to make decals. We sent them a contract and offered our usual licensing fee: $1 per year. They never bothered to respond, but did start producing a line of decals, pins, stickers and other leather pride flag items. John Ponce was one of the first to incorporate the design into fine jewelry. Some day I hope I can afford one of his beautiful rings with the ruby heart!
“Many people, particularly titleholders, began to use the flag on their business cards, on brochures, newsletters, web sites, and in other ways. Leathermakers sewed colored leather into back patches and back panels. And western style shirt makers created designs in fabric to truly wear the flag. I have seen the flag with the heart replaced by a red computer console used as the logo for a leather computer club and I have seen the heart replaced by a red roast turkey for a Thanksgiving invitation.
“I have seen the Flag crocheted into an afghan and knitted into Cock and Ball warmers (by IML [1994] Jeff Tucker’s mother!). I have seen it worked in rubber as a door mat, in chain, and in beads for all kinds of jewelry, and in colored ropes for bondage and in colored plastic tapes for a full-body mummification. I have seen it worked in leaded glass, candle wax, pebble mosaics, and cloisonné. I have seen it painted on a spare wheel cover on the back of a Jeep, as a hex symbol on the side of a Pennsylvania barn, and on a woman’s fingernails. I have seen it painted on human bodies, and I have seen it tattooed onto them as well.
“Other than the Christmas tree ornament, one of the first interpretations of the flag I saw was a huge flag composed of appropriately colored bandannas filling the window of a leather shop in San Francisco during Leather Pride week. One of my favorites is a T-shirt design suggesting the flag by depicting bandannas tied to the clothes line by one corner and hanging as stripes, with the red one knotted around a blue one. I love my Jeanette Heartwood buffalo flogger with its leather pride handle (Thank you Jeanette and Dale!) And the interpretation that still ranks very close to the top of my list of favorites is the logo used for the Leather Celebration during Stonewall 25 in New York City: the Manhattan skyline superimposed on the flag. I am delighted by each new interpretation I see.
“I thank you for your acceptance of the flag. I remain glad that I never have explained my reasons for the design elements. As I said in my original presentation, ‘I will leave it to the viewer to interpret the colors and symbols.‘ I have heard many wonderful interpretations over the past ten years. And all of them are much better than my original reasons! I am looking forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the leather pride flag at International Mr. Leather, May 30, 1999, in Chicago.”
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
April 11: Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Leather (Joshua Smith and Mario) present “Family Reunion,” a fundraiser for a variety of good causes. You’ll be hearing a lot more about this, so get it on your calendar now.
April 23-24: Minnesota Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy Contest weekend.
April 24: Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago.
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present their Tournament 11 run. Watch your mail for a brochure or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information. (Act quickly—you’ll save $20 if your registration is paid in full by April 10, 1999.)
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, March 26
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Party Bus Bar Cruise
Leaves from The Minneapolis Eagle at 7 pm, returns around 11 pm
Space is limited but may still be available, so it may be worth a trip to the Eagle to check it out if you’re interested. $20 (included in weekend package).
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Dance Party
10 pm-closing, The Minneapolis Eagle (in the Big Top)
Dance to music by Savage Aural Hotbed and meet the weekend’s contestants and judges. $10 at the door (included in weekend package).
Saturday, March 27
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Contest and Show
The Minneapolis Eagle—Big Top opens at 8 pm, contest starts at 9 pm
You won’t want to miss this one—the staging will be spectacular and fast-paced. In addition to contestant fantasies, entertainment will include Savage Aural Hotbed and Ballet of the Dolls. The contest will be followed by the Fantasy Victory Party until closing. $15 at the door (included in weekend package). Call for more information about any Fantasy Weekend event.
Sunday, March 28
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Tea Dance
5-9 pm, The Minneapolis Eagle Big Top
$7 at the door (included in weekend package).
Sunday, March 28
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy “End-Up” Party
9 pm-1 am, The Tank @ The Saloon
Saturday, April 3
Black Guard Fantasy Fling ’99
The Main Club, Superior, Wisconsin, 9 pm-close
Join titleholders and other leather community members as they journey to the Twin Ports to visit our northern friends.
Tenth Anniversary of Leather Pride Flag to be celebrated at International Mr. Leather ’99
GRAPHIC: Leather Pride Flag Blueprint
Believe it or not, the Leather Pride flag is 10 years old. This milestone in the community will be celebrated at this year’s International Mr. Leather contest, May 28-31 in Chicago. (Visit www.imrl.com or call 1-800-545-6753 for more information about IML ’99.)
The flag was designed in 1989 by Tony DeBlase, a.k.a. Fledermaus, who at the time was the publisher of Drummer Magazine. Here, reprinted with permission, is an excerpt from an “Off The Top” editorial written by DeBlase. It appeared on page 4 of Drummer #131 (July 1989).
A Leather Pride Flag
The rainbow flag has become the symbol of Gay and Lesbian pride and I have been proud to wear it on my clothing, march behind it in parades, and hang it from my balcony. I was thrilled by the rainbow colored balloons used in the opening and closing ceremonies of Gay Games II and the spectacular rainbow of balloons that arched over the main stage at the G&L pride rally here in San Francisco a couple of years ago.
For the 20th anniversary of Stonewall I felt that the time was right for the Leather men and women who have been participating in these same parades and events more and more visibly in recent years, to have a similar simple, elegant banner that would serve as a symbol of their own identity and interests. I decided that calling a committee meeting to design it would be counterproductive, so I just did it. I consulted with most of the staff here at Drummer and some of their suggestions were incorporated. I do not expect this design to be the final form, but the basis from which a widely accepted banner will evolve.
A prototype was constructed and displayed at the International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago on May 28 [1989]. It seemed to be enthusiastically welcomed. I am having a few more flags manufactured. Drummer will be presenting one each to the Leather men and women of New York City and San Francisco. I have asked GMSMA to be the custodian of the former and The Society of Janus and The Outcasts to be the custodians of the latter. With luck both flags will be ready in time to be carried by the Leather contingents in each of these two major pride parades. Drummer will also donate flags to the National Leather Association and to Chicago Hellfire Club. Both of these are groups with which I have been intimately involved for quite some time and both host major events for the Leather and/or SM community.
The flag is composed of nine horizontal stripes of equal width. From the top, and from the bottom, the stripes alternate black and royal blue. The central stripe is white. In the upper left quadrant of the flag is a large red heart. I will leave it to the viewer to interpret the colors and symbols.
Desmodus Inc. [the publishers of Drummer] has a copyright on the design and anyone wishing to use it for purely commercial purposes must receive our written approval. However, we welcome members of the Leather/SM community to use the design for flags, banners, pins, T-shirts, printed material, etc. to be distributed free or sold at cost, or to be used for fund raising for not-for-profit causes that benefit leather men and women. No permission is required for these uses but we do ask that you inform us of the use and, where possible, send us samples.
We have had cloisonné pins made. These are about 1” wide and are available for $5 (plus $1.50 S&H) from the Sandmutopia Supply Co ... Photos of the flag at IML, and hopefully in the parades as well will be in Drummer 132.
Ten years later, writing in the Winter 98/99 edition of the Leather Archives & Museum’s newsletter, Tony DeBlase continues the story of the Leather Pride Flag. (The following is reprinted with permission from DeBlase and from Joseph Bean of the Leather Archives & Museum.)
“Initial reaction to the Leather Pride flag was mixed. Some, particularly on the east coast, reacted positively to the concept, but were quite concerned, some even offended, that I had not involved the community in helping to create the design. I emphatically did not want to have a design competition, in which each and every losing entry, and all of his/her friends, would oppose the winning entry. Nor did I want to have a design committee. Just selecting the members of such a committee was an invitation to the guillotine. Instead I decided to just go ahead with my design.
“I asked one of the staff members at Desmodus to translate my ideas into a drawing, which he did, with many alternatives. He did not like the design and thought that the heart was particularly trite. I did incorporate one of his recommendations, because he managed to convince me that it was an improvement on my original design, and I still agree that he was right on this. I originally had the central stripe red. But he pointed out that the tip of the red heart, bleeding into the red stripe, would not ‘read.’ I agreed and told him to change the central stripe to white. Though he recommended many others, that is the only change to my original concept that I accepted.
“Elsewhere the reactions were more positive. Susie Shepherd, who was International Ms Leather when I made my presentation in Chicago, phoned me shortly after I got back home and asked permission to make a flag for the Portland OR gay pride parade. Naturally I gave her permission and sent her a copy of the above editorial, along with the blueprint-like drawing of the flag that was included with it, and she had a flag made and it was carried in the Portland OR Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade a week before those similar celebrations in New York City and San Francisco.
“On the East Coast, the flag I donated to GMSMA was on the back of the Jeep carrying Guy Baldwin, the reigning IML, for much of the parade. I received a letter from Barry Douglas, the newly elected Chairman of GMSMA, dated June 27, 1989, thanking me for the gift, and telling me of the various conflicted reactions it had drawn. But he concludes by saying “We will keep the flag safe and bring it out for the appropriate events . . . .” The prototype is not seen on display in New York, but the acceptance of the design in NYC has yielded one of my favorite adaptations . . . described below.
“On the West Coast the flag was carried in the Pride day parade in San Francisco and then was prominently displayed in the Shotwell meeting space used both by the Society of Janus and the Outcasts. The Shotwell meeting house closed several years ago and the Outcasts disbanded a few years ago, so I was greatly relieved when a recent inquiry to the Society of Janus indicated that they still have the original flag I donated ten years ago. I agreed that the next time I am in San Francisco I will autograph the flag for them and they will enter it into their organizational archives.
“At Chicago Hellfire Club, the man in charge of Inferno refused to fly the flag in 1989 because it was “too controversial,” however, in 1990 it was flying in spite of his objections. And it has been visible there and at the CHC clubhouse ever since. NLA has displayed the flag proudly at every Living-In-Leather conference.
“The first adaptation of the flag to come to my attention was in December of 1989 when I found Christmas tree ornaments for sale at Worn Out West on Castro St. that were clear glass balls to which someone had applied strips of cloth in the flags’ colors around the diameter of the ornament, and added a tiny red heart on one side. Chuck Higgins, who was then Mr. SE Leather, was the first to wear the flag in any form other than a pin. He had it made as the back panel of his leather vest.
“In 1990 Laurie Lane of Leatherworld in Melbourne, Australia applied the southern cross constellation from the Australian flag to the Leather Pride flag to create a uniquely Australian version. And in 1991 the Melbourne Leathermen became the first organization to incorporate the leather pride flag design elements into their club colors. A few years later, TLFMC of Anchorage was the first of many organizations to use the flag’s stripes to fill in a state outline and use the heart as the marker for their city’s position in the state.
“In May of 1991, I was quite surprised, & pleased, to see that the International Mr. Leather sash had been made in the image of the flag. In October of that year a group of men from Toronto exhibited a huge Leather Pride Flag with a row of red maple leaves running through the white stripe. I am told that that flag still exists and is seen occasionally at events in Toronto, but apparently it is the only one ever made. I have also seen a version with the heart replaced by a red maple leaf.
“In the first few years following development of the flag a few people applied for a license to produce it commercially. One of the first was Chuck Higgins, who made bumper stickers. Lambda Rising requested rights to make decals. We sent them a contract and offered our usual licensing fee: $1 per year. They never bothered to respond, but did start producing a line of decals, pins, stickers and other leather pride flag items. John Ponce was one of the first to incorporate the design into fine jewelry. Some day I hope I can afford one of his beautiful rings with the ruby heart!
“Many people, particularly titleholders, began to use the flag on their business cards, on brochures, newsletters, web sites, and in other ways. Leathermakers sewed colored leather into back patches and back panels. And western style shirt makers created designs in fabric to truly wear the flag. I have seen the flag with the heart replaced by a red computer console used as the logo for a leather computer club and I have seen the heart replaced by a red roast turkey for a Thanksgiving invitation.
“I have seen the Flag crocheted into an afghan and knitted into Cock and Ball warmers (by IML [1994] Jeff Tucker’s mother!). I have seen it worked in rubber as a door mat, in chain, and in beads for all kinds of jewelry, and in colored ropes for bondage and in colored plastic tapes for a full-body mummification. I have seen it worked in leaded glass, candle wax, pebble mosaics, and cloisonné. I have seen it painted on a spare wheel cover on the back of a Jeep, as a hex symbol on the side of a Pennsylvania barn, and on a woman’s fingernails. I have seen it painted on human bodies, and I have seen it tattooed onto them as well.
“Other than the Christmas tree ornament, one of the first interpretations of the flag I saw was a huge flag composed of appropriately colored bandannas filling the window of a leather shop in San Francisco during Leather Pride week. One of my favorites is a T-shirt design suggesting the flag by depicting bandannas tied to the clothes line by one corner and hanging as stripes, with the red one knotted around a blue one. I love my Jeanette Heartwood buffalo flogger with its leather pride handle (Thank you Jeanette and Dale!) And the interpretation that still ranks very close to the top of my list of favorites is the logo used for the Leather Celebration during Stonewall 25 in New York City: the Manhattan skyline superimposed on the flag. I am delighted by each new interpretation I see.
“I thank you for your acceptance of the flag. I remain glad that I never have explained my reasons for the design elements. As I said in my original presentation, ‘I will leave it to the viewer to interpret the colors and symbols.‘ I have heard many wonderful interpretations over the past ten years. And all of them are much better than my original reasons! I am looking forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the leather pride flag at International Mr. Leather, May 30, 1999, in Chicago.”
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
April 11: Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Leather (Joshua Smith and Mario) present “Family Reunion,” a fundraiser for a variety of good causes. You’ll be hearing a lot more about this, so get it on your calendar now.
April 23-24: Minnesota Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy Contest weekend.
April 24: Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago.
May 21-23: Knights of Leather present their Tournament 11 run. Watch your mail for a brochure or e-mail ontundra@mindspring.com for more information. (Act quickly—you’ll save $20 if your registration is paid in full by April 10, 1999.)
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, March 26
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Party Bus Bar Cruise
Leaves from The Minneapolis Eagle at 7 pm, returns around 11 pm
Space is limited but may still be available, so it may be worth a trip to the Eagle to check it out if you’re interested. $20 (included in weekend package).
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Dance Party
10 pm-closing, The Minneapolis Eagle (in the Big Top)
Dance to music by Savage Aural Hotbed and meet the weekend’s contestants and judges. $10 at the door (included in weekend package).
Saturday, March 27
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Contest and Show
The Minneapolis Eagle—Big Top opens at 8 pm, contest starts at 9 pm
You won’t want to miss this one—the staging will be spectacular and fast-paced. In addition to contestant fantasies, entertainment will include Savage Aural Hotbed and Ballet of the Dolls. The contest will be followed by the Fantasy Victory Party until closing. $15 at the door (included in weekend package). Call for more information about any Fantasy Weekend event.
Sunday, March 28
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy Tea Dance
5-9 pm, The Minneapolis Eagle Big Top
$7 at the door (included in weekend package).
Sunday, March 28
Mr./Ms. Minnesota Fantasy “End-Up” Party
9 pm-1 am, The Tank @ The Saloon
Saturday, April 3
Black Guard Fantasy Fling ’99
The Main Club, Superior, Wisconsin, 9 pm-close
Join titleholders and other leather community members as they journey to the Twin Ports to visit our northern friends.
Friday, March 12, 1999
Circuit Boys and Girls in Rented Leathers
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #99, March 12, 1999)
Is leather a fashion statement or a way of life? Warning: This is a trick question.
Leather is not one OR the other. Wearing leather or other fetish wear is always a fashion statement, and a pretty strong one. The real question is whether, for a given individual, it’s only a fashion statement, or if it goes further and reflects a way of life. But even for the most hard-core and dedicated member of the leather community, the act of dressing in leather and other fetish wear makes a fashion statement.
What is the primary goal of fashion? At minimum, it’s to look attractive. But those models strutting down the runway in Milan or Paris aren’t stopping at attractive—they’re going for sexy, seductive, alluring. Fashion is about sex appeal, and it’s also about the power over others which comes with being sexually appealing. But, of course, nobody ever talks about it in such blatant terms—that wouldn’t be polite. No, we spend huge sums of money on clothing because “we just want to look nice.”
Leather and other fetish wear is about sex appeal and power, too, but it’s not hidden behind a veil of politeness. When I wear leather or other fetish wear I am sending a very distinct message about myself and my sexuality—what I have to offer and what I’m looking for. This is epitomized by the unashamed convenience of the hanky code, an invention that has yet to catch on in “polite” society.
For some people, wearing leather goes further. It becomes a reflection of a way of life, a set of values, a world view, a type of spirituality. Other people use it as a fashion statement and nothing more. I’ve been at many large leather gatherings where at some point I’ve heard some of the former people trashing the latter. The old-guard, heavy-duty SM player will smugly and disrespectfully refer to the “circuit boys in their rented leathers.” To be truthful, at one time some of you may have heard ME refer to someone that way.
“Circuit boys in rented leathers” is the cliché, but it undoubtedly happens in women’s, het, and pansexual situations as well. Sometimes it’s obvious that a person doesn’t know how to wear the apparel properly; I once saw someone wearing their harness backwards, which many people in the bar that evening found amusing. Other times there are more subtle clues that a person isn’t used to wearing leather—things just don’t look right. Another giveaway: Everything they’re wearing looks brand new and straight off the rack. To paraphrase the Saloon ads: “Your leather will betray you.” And when it does, reactions from “real” leatherfolk may range from mild amusement to an indignant tirade.
Lately I’ve tried to be less judgmental. Hey, everyone has to start someplace. The first piece of leather I ever wore was a borrowed harness, and I was totally unprepared for the feeling I got when I put it on. I felt transformed. At the risk of being politically incorrect, it was like Cinderella must have felt as her rags were changed into a ball gown. Wearing that harness to the leather bar that evening (Rod’s in Madison, Wisconsin) I got cruised like I had never been cruised before. It was heady stuff. (Yes, I was wearing the harness correctly, smart aleck—see below.) Shortly thereafter I bought my very own first piece of leather. Now I’ve got a whole closetful.
Some of the people being ridiculed for their “rented leathers” are having experiences just like that. Some of them are in the process of their leather coming-out and will become tomorrow’s leather community stalwarts.
And some of them aren’t interested in discovering a deeper part of themselves—they’re wearing leather because they know they look hot in it and they want to get laid. They may not fully realize the statement they’re making by wearing leather, or they may not care. But just because they may appear clueless today doesn’t mean they’ll always be that way. If they aren’t ostracized, they might eventually come to a fuller understanding and appreciation of leather as a culture and a way of life.
Rather than criticizing or ridiculing, how about mentoring? When I wore that borrowed harness, I wore it correctly because its owner showed me how to put it on properly. When a harness is worn backwards it shows a need for education, not ridicule.
Big Plans for Fantasy Weekend
Big news about the Minnesota Fantasy 1999 Contest: it’s expanding to include the first-ever Ms. Minnesota Fantasy title. More big news: This year’s International Mr. Fantasy contest, usually held in Omaha, Nebraska, will instead be held right here in the Twin Cities the weekend of August 20-22. The Fantasy contest distinguishes itself from other contests by being fun, erotic, and non-political.
Both Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 will be chosen during what is shaping up to be a huge weekend:
Friday, March 26: The Fantasy Party Bus Bar Cruise leaves The Minneapolis Eagle at 7 pm, and stops at five destinations. The Fantasy Dance Party starts at The Minneapolis Eagle at 10 pm (the Party Bus returns at 11 pm) with music by Savage Aural Hotbed and a chance to meet the contestants and judges. Space on the bus tour is limited, but the Fantasy Dance Party at The Minneapolis Eagle has room for everybody—the bar is being expanded for the weekend with a heated Big Top tent in the parking lot!
Saturday, March 27: The Big Top opens for the pre-show cocktail party at 8 pm, and the Contest and Show action gets underway at 9 pm. You won’t want to miss this one—the staging will be spectacular and fast-paced. In addition to contestant fantasies, entertainment will include Savage Aural Hotbed and Ballet of the Dolls, both of whom have given knockout performances at past leather events. The contest will be followed by the Fantasy Victory Party until closing.
Sunday, March 28: The weekend closes with two big parties: the Fantasy Tea Dance at The Minneapolis Eagle Big Top 5-9 pm and the “End-Up” party at The Tank @ The Saloon 9 pm-1 am.
Weekend packages ($45) including all events and a souvenir T-shirt are available at The Minneapolis Eagle or by mail; single-event admissions are also available. Call Wolf Productions for more information or an order form. If you’re interested in competing for either the Mr. or Ms. Minnesota Fantasy title, contact Dale Willman.
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
April 3: Black Guard Fantasy Fling ’99: Titleholders and other leather community members will pay a visit to The Main Club in Superior, Wisconsin, 9 pm-close.
April 11: Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Leather (Joshua Smith and Mario) present “Family Reunion,” a fundraiser for a variety of good causes. You’ll be hearing a lot more about this, so get it on your calendar now.
April 23-24: Minnesota Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy Contest weekend.
April 24: Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago.
Memorial Day Weekend: International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago. Make your travel plans now, the host hotels are already filling up. Visit www.imrl.com for more information.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, March 13
Atons Leather/Levi Night
Patrick McGovern’s Pub, 225 W. 7th St., St. Paul. Cocktails at 7 pm, dinner at 7:30 pm
Presented by the Atons, but attendance is open to all. To make reservations call the Atons Hotline. Certain people, you may recall, consider the layout of downtown St. Paul’s streets confusing—so if you need further directions to Patrick McGovern’s Pub, call them.
Sunday, March 14
Atons General Meeting
The public is invited. Call Atons President Sam Carlisle for details.
Sunday, March 21
Leather Tea Dance
Saloon, 6-10 pm
Featuring 60’s/70’s/Disco music and a live appearance by porn star Jackson Phillips (who also will be appearing Saturday night, March 20.)
Is leather a fashion statement or a way of life? Warning: This is a trick question.
Leather is not one OR the other. Wearing leather or other fetish wear is always a fashion statement, and a pretty strong one. The real question is whether, for a given individual, it’s only a fashion statement, or if it goes further and reflects a way of life. But even for the most hard-core and dedicated member of the leather community, the act of dressing in leather and other fetish wear makes a fashion statement.
What is the primary goal of fashion? At minimum, it’s to look attractive. But those models strutting down the runway in Milan or Paris aren’t stopping at attractive—they’re going for sexy, seductive, alluring. Fashion is about sex appeal, and it’s also about the power over others which comes with being sexually appealing. But, of course, nobody ever talks about it in such blatant terms—that wouldn’t be polite. No, we spend huge sums of money on clothing because “we just want to look nice.”
Leather and other fetish wear is about sex appeal and power, too, but it’s not hidden behind a veil of politeness. When I wear leather or other fetish wear I am sending a very distinct message about myself and my sexuality—what I have to offer and what I’m looking for. This is epitomized by the unashamed convenience of the hanky code, an invention that has yet to catch on in “polite” society.
For some people, wearing leather goes further. It becomes a reflection of a way of life, a set of values, a world view, a type of spirituality. Other people use it as a fashion statement and nothing more. I’ve been at many large leather gatherings where at some point I’ve heard some of the former people trashing the latter. The old-guard, heavy-duty SM player will smugly and disrespectfully refer to the “circuit boys in their rented leathers.” To be truthful, at one time some of you may have heard ME refer to someone that way.
“Circuit boys in rented leathers” is the cliché, but it undoubtedly happens in women’s, het, and pansexual situations as well. Sometimes it’s obvious that a person doesn’t know how to wear the apparel properly; I once saw someone wearing their harness backwards, which many people in the bar that evening found amusing. Other times there are more subtle clues that a person isn’t used to wearing leather—things just don’t look right. Another giveaway: Everything they’re wearing looks brand new and straight off the rack. To paraphrase the Saloon ads: “Your leather will betray you.” And when it does, reactions from “real” leatherfolk may range from mild amusement to an indignant tirade.
Lately I’ve tried to be less judgmental. Hey, everyone has to start someplace. The first piece of leather I ever wore was a borrowed harness, and I was totally unprepared for the feeling I got when I put it on. I felt transformed. At the risk of being politically incorrect, it was like Cinderella must have felt as her rags were changed into a ball gown. Wearing that harness to the leather bar that evening (Rod’s in Madison, Wisconsin) I got cruised like I had never been cruised before. It was heady stuff. (Yes, I was wearing the harness correctly, smart aleck—see below.) Shortly thereafter I bought my very own first piece of leather. Now I’ve got a whole closetful.
Some of the people being ridiculed for their “rented leathers” are having experiences just like that. Some of them are in the process of their leather coming-out and will become tomorrow’s leather community stalwarts.
And some of them aren’t interested in discovering a deeper part of themselves—they’re wearing leather because they know they look hot in it and they want to get laid. They may not fully realize the statement they’re making by wearing leather, or they may not care. But just because they may appear clueless today doesn’t mean they’ll always be that way. If they aren’t ostracized, they might eventually come to a fuller understanding and appreciation of leather as a culture and a way of life.
Rather than criticizing or ridiculing, how about mentoring? When I wore that borrowed harness, I wore it correctly because its owner showed me how to put it on properly. When a harness is worn backwards it shows a need for education, not ridicule.
Big Plans for Fantasy Weekend
Big news about the Minnesota Fantasy 1999 Contest: it’s expanding to include the first-ever Ms. Minnesota Fantasy title. More big news: This year’s International Mr. Fantasy contest, usually held in Omaha, Nebraska, will instead be held right here in the Twin Cities the weekend of August 20-22. The Fantasy contest distinguishes itself from other contests by being fun, erotic, and non-political.
Both Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 will be chosen during what is shaping up to be a huge weekend:
Friday, March 26: The Fantasy Party Bus Bar Cruise leaves The Minneapolis Eagle at 7 pm, and stops at five destinations. The Fantasy Dance Party starts at The Minneapolis Eagle at 10 pm (the Party Bus returns at 11 pm) with music by Savage Aural Hotbed and a chance to meet the contestants and judges. Space on the bus tour is limited, but the Fantasy Dance Party at The Minneapolis Eagle has room for everybody—the bar is being expanded for the weekend with a heated Big Top tent in the parking lot!
Saturday, March 27: The Big Top opens for the pre-show cocktail party at 8 pm, and the Contest and Show action gets underway at 9 pm. You won’t want to miss this one—the staging will be spectacular and fast-paced. In addition to contestant fantasies, entertainment will include Savage Aural Hotbed and Ballet of the Dolls, both of whom have given knockout performances at past leather events. The contest will be followed by the Fantasy Victory Party until closing.
Sunday, March 28: The weekend closes with two big parties: the Fantasy Tea Dance at The Minneapolis Eagle Big Top 5-9 pm and the “End-Up” party at The Tank @ The Saloon 9 pm-1 am.
Weekend packages ($45) including all events and a souvenir T-shirt are available at The Minneapolis Eagle or by mail; single-event admissions are also available. Call Wolf Productions for more information or an order form. If you’re interested in competing for either the Mr. or Ms. Minnesota Fantasy title, contact Dale Willman.
Mark Your Calendar
For events in the next two weeks, see the Out & About Calendar. Here are some other events planned for the weeks ahead:
April 3: Black Guard Fantasy Fling ’99: Titleholders and other leather community members will pay a visit to The Main Club in Superior, Wisconsin, 9 pm-close.
April 11: Mr. and Ms. Minnesota Leather (Joshua Smith and Mario) present “Family Reunion,” a fundraiser for a variety of good causes. You’ll be hearing a lot more about this, so get it on your calendar now.
April 23-24: Minnesota Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy Contest weekend.
April 24: Atons Road Trip to the Cell Block in Chicago.
Memorial Day Weekend: International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago. Make your travel plans now, the host hotels are already filling up. Visit www.imrl.com for more information.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, March 13
Atons Leather/Levi Night
Patrick McGovern’s Pub, 225 W. 7th St., St. Paul. Cocktails at 7 pm, dinner at 7:30 pm
Presented by the Atons, but attendance is open to all. To make reservations call the Atons Hotline. Certain people, you may recall, consider the layout of downtown St. Paul’s streets confusing—so if you need further directions to Patrick McGovern’s Pub, call them.
Sunday, March 14
Atons General Meeting
The public is invited. Call Atons President Sam Carlisle for details.
Sunday, March 21
Leather Tea Dance
Saloon, 6-10 pm
Featuring 60’s/70’s/Disco music and a live appearance by porn star Jackson Phillips (who also will be appearing Saturday night, March 20.)
Friday, February 26, 1999
Cori Ander Wins National Ms. OIympus Leather Title
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #98, February 26, 1999)
Pantheon of Leather IX/Olympus Leather Contest
Pantheon of Leather IX, the Leather Community Service Awards, was held February 5-7 in New Orleans. Sharing the weekend was the Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather 1999 Contest. Space permits me only to share a few highlights of the weekend.
The biggest news for Minnesota is that Cori Ander, Ms. Minnesota Olympus Leather 1999, brought the national Ms. Olympus Leather title home to Minnesota. More good news: Greg Hausler, Mr. Minnesota Olympus Leather 1999, took second runner-up honors nationally. (The new Mr. Olympus Leather 1999 is little erick Lundgren from Louisiana).
Saturday night’s contest was beautifully produced in a wonderful old theater in the French Quarter. It was an entertaining evening that drew enthusiastic approval from the audience, which included a large contingent from Minnesota supporting Cori and Greg.
The community service awards were handed out Sunday afternoon at the same theater. The program opened with a salute to veterans in the leather community. Thirteen audience members took the stage and stated their name, rank and the branch of the armed forces in which they served. Then, while they stood at attention, a recording of Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” was played. I was prepared for it to be trite; instead it was incredibly moving.
The biggest disappointment of the weekend (for me, anyway) was that so few of the award winners were present to pick up their awards. That was a symptom of a larger problem with the weekend: Pantheon IX was an inspiring event that drew a crowd of great people, but it deserves a larger attendance than it had. The board of directors of Pantheon are aware that it needs and deserves more and better promotion, and they plan to work on this issue in the coming year.
For more coverage of the weekend visit www.theleatherjournal.com/Pantheon.htm. Then make plans to visit Pantheon X in New Orleans next year.
Black Frost ’99: The Land of Oz
The Black Guard didn’t just top themselves with their latest run—they took the whole concept of a run banquet and show to a new level of sophistication. Again, space permits me to share only a few details, so I will focus on Saturday evening’s run banquet, show, and Red Heart Party.
Although you might think the Mall of America would not be the most leather-friendly place to hold an event, the staff at the Camp Snoopy Playhouse was friendly and accommodating. Dinner was quite enjoyable; the food was prepared well and presented attractively. (One point of etiquette that needs to be mentioned, however: fisting doesn’t really qualify as pleasant dinner-table conversation.)
The Playhouse itself is an impressive venue with good stage, lighting and sound facilities, and the Black Guard put them to very good use. They pulled out ALL the stops for this show, a retelling of the Wizard of Oz story. The soundtrack drew from many versions of the tale, including the 1939 film with Judy Garland and the Broadway musical The Wiz. At one point we even heard Eartha Kitt as the Wicked Witch of the West.
The costumes were absolutely amazing and must have taken hours and hours to make. An example of the witty and irreverent staging: Dorothy (perfectly played by Allison Brooks, aka Carl Gscheidmeier, who also directed) carried her little dog Toto in her basket. But Toto had nine different identities throughout the evening, among them a brown dog, a pink dog, a leather teddy bear, and a rubber chicken.
This show was unlike most run shows in that professional talent was brought in for the evening. Dancers Frit and Frat Fuller and the Kin International Dance Company added immeasurably to the presentation as Munchkins and Flying Monkeys, and the tornado sequence was breathtaking. Black Guard cast members Bruce Gohr (Scarecrow), Colin Spriestersbach (Tin Woodsman), Karl Keturi (Lion), Steve Katz (Auntie Em, also production designer and event producer), Mike Delorme (Glinda), and Ralph Schmidt (Evilene, the Wicked Witch of the West) held their own against the professional dancers.
Another professional, Donn Simione, brought the house down as the Wizard. His first appearance, dressed in leather and tap boots, was hot; his second appearance was even hotter as he tap-danced in impossibly high heels, a cape, a fishnet shirt and a studded leather jockstrap. If ever oh ever a Wiz there wuz, there never before wuz a Wiz like this! WOOF!
After the Land of Oz presentation came the Red Heart Party, presented in cooperation with Because We Care. It was emceed by Jm J. Bullock and featuring performances by singer Margaret Wakely Harris, pianist/comedian Dale Gonyea, and singer Kelly Britt. But by then a large segment of the crowd had either gone back to the host hotel or to the Minneapolis Eagle. That was too bad, because there was a huge amount of talent onstage that evening, and their choice of material was impeccable. If you want to see what you missed, ask a Black Guard member about getting a videotape of the evening.
Atons and Black Guard announce new officers
At the conclusion of Black Frost ’99 the Black Guard installed their new club officers: President Michael Delorme, Vice-President Steve Katz, Secretary Colin Spriestersbach, and Treasurer Carl Gscheidmeier.
New Atons club officers are President Sam Carlisle, Vice-President Jim Courtney, Secretary Keith Cheetham and Treasurer Paul Rozendaal. Their installation ceremony on March 7 will be part of the Atons “March Into Spring” weekend (see below).
Mark Your Calendar
The Atons present the “March Into Spring” weekend March 5-7, featuring Recruitment, Induction, and Installation. See this issue’s Out & About Calendar for full details.
The Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 Contest Weekend happens March 26-28. Friday night is the return of the Party Bus Bar Cruise, followed by a meet-and-greet dance party featuring the music of Savage Aural Hotbed. Saturday evening’s Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 contest features entertainment by Ballet of the Dolls with Savage Aural Hotbed. The weekend closes with two parties, a Fantasy Tea Dance from 6-9 pm and an “End Up” party from 9 pm to 1 am. Check next issue’s Out & About calendar for complete details. If you’re interested in competing, contact Dale Willman. (Correction: Last issue I mistakenly referred to this event as the “Mr. Minnesota Olympus contest.” But you knew I really meant to write “Fantasy” instead of “Olympus,” didn’t you?)
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, March 5
March Into Spring: Recruitment
8-11 pm, The Minneapolis Eagle
Presented by the Atons and cosponsored by Clinic 42, this event will feature hot safe-sex videos and educational presentations as well as “recruitment” for the AIDS vaccine study at Clinic 42. Pay $5 for a glass and they’ll keep it filled with keg beer. All proceeds go to the Atons safe-sex supply fund.
Saturday, March 6
March Into Spring: Induction
6-10 pm, The Saloon
Presented by The Atons. There will be a brief pre-induction physical at the door. New recruits can get a buzz cut from leather barber Vince and a bootblack will get those boots shined up and ready for inspection. Drink and beer specials, free food from 7-9 pm. $5 donation at the door.
Sunday, March 7
March Into Spring: Installation
Cocktails at 11 am, brunch at noon
The Atons will install new club officers and honor a Friend of the Atons. Admission is limited and by reservation only; call for location information and to RSVP. $10 at the door.
Pantheon of Leather IX/Olympus Leather Contest
Pantheon of Leather IX, the Leather Community Service Awards, was held February 5-7 in New Orleans. Sharing the weekend was the Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather 1999 Contest. Space permits me only to share a few highlights of the weekend.
The biggest news for Minnesota is that Cori Ander, Ms. Minnesota Olympus Leather 1999, brought the national Ms. Olympus Leather title home to Minnesota. More good news: Greg Hausler, Mr. Minnesota Olympus Leather 1999, took second runner-up honors nationally. (The new Mr. Olympus Leather 1999 is little erick Lundgren from Louisiana).
Saturday night’s contest was beautifully produced in a wonderful old theater in the French Quarter. It was an entertaining evening that drew enthusiastic approval from the audience, which included a large contingent from Minnesota supporting Cori and Greg.
The community service awards were handed out Sunday afternoon at the same theater. The program opened with a salute to veterans in the leather community. Thirteen audience members took the stage and stated their name, rank and the branch of the armed forces in which they served. Then, while they stood at attention, a recording of Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” was played. I was prepared for it to be trite; instead it was incredibly moving.
The biggest disappointment of the weekend (for me, anyway) was that so few of the award winners were present to pick up their awards. That was a symptom of a larger problem with the weekend: Pantheon IX was an inspiring event that drew a crowd of great people, but it deserves a larger attendance than it had. The board of directors of Pantheon are aware that it needs and deserves more and better promotion, and they plan to work on this issue in the coming year.
For more coverage of the weekend visit www.theleatherjournal.com/Pantheon.htm. Then make plans to visit Pantheon X in New Orleans next year.
Black Frost ’99: The Land of Oz
The Black Guard didn’t just top themselves with their latest run—they took the whole concept of a run banquet and show to a new level of sophistication. Again, space permits me to share only a few details, so I will focus on Saturday evening’s run banquet, show, and Red Heart Party.
Although you might think the Mall of America would not be the most leather-friendly place to hold an event, the staff at the Camp Snoopy Playhouse was friendly and accommodating. Dinner was quite enjoyable; the food was prepared well and presented attractively. (One point of etiquette that needs to be mentioned, however: fisting doesn’t really qualify as pleasant dinner-table conversation.)
The Playhouse itself is an impressive venue with good stage, lighting and sound facilities, and the Black Guard put them to very good use. They pulled out ALL the stops for this show, a retelling of the Wizard of Oz story. The soundtrack drew from many versions of the tale, including the 1939 film with Judy Garland and the Broadway musical The Wiz. At one point we even heard Eartha Kitt as the Wicked Witch of the West.
The costumes were absolutely amazing and must have taken hours and hours to make. An example of the witty and irreverent staging: Dorothy (perfectly played by Allison Brooks, aka Carl Gscheidmeier, who also directed) carried her little dog Toto in her basket. But Toto had nine different identities throughout the evening, among them a brown dog, a pink dog, a leather teddy bear, and a rubber chicken.
This show was unlike most run shows in that professional talent was brought in for the evening. Dancers Frit and Frat Fuller and the Kin International Dance Company added immeasurably to the presentation as Munchkins and Flying Monkeys, and the tornado sequence was breathtaking. Black Guard cast members Bruce Gohr (Scarecrow), Colin Spriestersbach (Tin Woodsman), Karl Keturi (Lion), Steve Katz (Auntie Em, also production designer and event producer), Mike Delorme (Glinda), and Ralph Schmidt (Evilene, the Wicked Witch of the West) held their own against the professional dancers.
Another professional, Donn Simione, brought the house down as the Wizard. His first appearance, dressed in leather and tap boots, was hot; his second appearance was even hotter as he tap-danced in impossibly high heels, a cape, a fishnet shirt and a studded leather jockstrap. If ever oh ever a Wiz there wuz, there never before wuz a Wiz like this! WOOF!
After the Land of Oz presentation came the Red Heart Party, presented in cooperation with Because We Care. It was emceed by Jm J. Bullock and featuring performances by singer Margaret Wakely Harris, pianist/comedian Dale Gonyea, and singer Kelly Britt. But by then a large segment of the crowd had either gone back to the host hotel or to the Minneapolis Eagle. That was too bad, because there was a huge amount of talent onstage that evening, and their choice of material was impeccable. If you want to see what you missed, ask a Black Guard member about getting a videotape of the evening.
Atons and Black Guard announce new officers
At the conclusion of Black Frost ’99 the Black Guard installed their new club officers: President Michael Delorme, Vice-President Steve Katz, Secretary Colin Spriestersbach, and Treasurer Carl Gscheidmeier.
New Atons club officers are President Sam Carlisle, Vice-President Jim Courtney, Secretary Keith Cheetham and Treasurer Paul Rozendaal. Their installation ceremony on March 7 will be part of the Atons “March Into Spring” weekend (see below).
Mark Your Calendar
The Atons present the “March Into Spring” weekend March 5-7, featuring Recruitment, Induction, and Installation. See this issue’s Out & About Calendar for full details.
The Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 Contest Weekend happens March 26-28. Friday night is the return of the Party Bus Bar Cruise, followed by a meet-and-greet dance party featuring the music of Savage Aural Hotbed. Saturday evening’s Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 contest features entertainment by Ballet of the Dolls with Savage Aural Hotbed. The weekend closes with two parties, a Fantasy Tea Dance from 6-9 pm and an “End Up” party from 9 pm to 1 am. Check next issue’s Out & About calendar for complete details. If you’re interested in competing, contact Dale Willman. (Correction: Last issue I mistakenly referred to this event as the “Mr. Minnesota Olympus contest.” But you knew I really meant to write “Fantasy” instead of “Olympus,” didn’t you?)
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, March 5
March Into Spring: Recruitment
8-11 pm, The Minneapolis Eagle
Presented by the Atons and cosponsored by Clinic 42, this event will feature hot safe-sex videos and educational presentations as well as “recruitment” for the AIDS vaccine study at Clinic 42. Pay $5 for a glass and they’ll keep it filled with keg beer. All proceeds go to the Atons safe-sex supply fund.
Saturday, March 6
March Into Spring: Induction
6-10 pm, The Saloon
Presented by The Atons. There will be a brief pre-induction physical at the door. New recruits can get a buzz cut from leather barber Vince and a bootblack will get those boots shined up and ready for inspection. Drink and beer specials, free food from 7-9 pm. $5 donation at the door.
Sunday, March 7
March Into Spring: Installation
Cocktails at 11 am, brunch at noon
The Atons will install new club officers and honor a Friend of the Atons. Admission is limited and by reservation only; call for location information and to RSVP. $10 at the door.
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