Baby On Board: Leather Lesbians on the Mommy Track

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #139, September 22, 2000)

PHOTOS:

On Sunday afternoon, August 13, 2000, leather history was made when a baby shower was held at The Minneapolis Eagle—quite possibly the first baby shower ever held at any leather bar anywhere. The entire Twin Cities leather community had managed to keep the upcoming shower a secret from the two moms-to-be, PJ and Vicki Knight, and many leathermen and leatherwomen had braved the terra incognita of Target’s baby department and lived to tell about it. Ed Hopkins, the owner of The Minneapolis Eagle, was at the shower and was clearly excited and pleased about the event. PJ and Vicki were completely surprised, and totally delighted as well.

This may be the start of a trend. Vicki is due to deliver a baby boy at the end of September. Another leather lesbian couple, Kay and Shelley, are the proud parents of a beautiful daughter born in 1999. Shelley is the birth mother and Kay is a legal guardian of the child. According to Kay, “she is still on the petite side at only 22 lbs. but her vocabulary and understanding of concepts and conversation are growing at a phenomenal rate. She is quite the interesting person.” (At Kay and Shelley’s request, their last names do not appear in this article, and neither does their daughter’s name.)

While certainly there are folks in the leather community with kids, up to now most of them had their children in their “previous” lives, when they were still married to someone of the opposite sex. A relative few have become parents through adoption. What’s new and noteworthy is that lesbians are coming out in both a GLBT and a leather sense, pairing up, and then deciding they want to raise kids, and to—ahem—make them “from scratch,” even.

While it’s revolutionary in one sense that leatherwomen are having babies, in another sense it’s a non-issue. All these mothers agree that they are not raising “leather babies.” Nor are they necessarily raising future leather daddies or leather dykes. “I don’t know who this new little person is,” says Vicki. “People come up to me and joke about the future leather daddy. I don’t know if he’s a future leather daddy or not. This kid is not waving any flags for the leather community, unless he chooses to do so when he’s an adult. And that will be HIS choice—I don’t have any control over it.”

Kay says her daughter HAS waved a flag: “Our daughter rode the trolley at the head of the gay pride parade in Chicago, waving her little rainbow flag, and she went to the Pantheon of Leather this year and to the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival last year. But she doesn’t really understand any of those things yet. I think our daughter will grow up more as the child of a lesbian couple than as a ‘leather baby,’ because in many respects we live a pretty dull, vanilla life, and she leads a pretty sheltered life, too.”

Shelley isn’t sure what she and Kay will tell their daughter about their sexuality and their leather/SM leanings—“That’s the big unknown for us, both philosophically and practically. There’s not much that she sees, of course: we keep our play and equipment well out of her consciousness. But for us, leather/SM doesn’t begin and end at the dungeon door. The baby sees me in my collar at home, and hears me call Sir ‘Sir’—I feel like now she’s too young to understand, but soon that won’t be true. I’m not interested in recruiting her for the International Ms. Leather contest in 2025, yet I don’t want to imply that there’s anything shameful or wrong about her parents’ dominant-submissive relationship. I honestly don’t know how we’ll handle this one. I’m just glad I don’t have to do it perfectly.”

Like the rest of these women, Vicki feels that leather is for consenting adults and not for a child’s consumption. “Leather/SM and child-rearing are apples and oranges to me—they’re two completely different worlds. I don’t personally want this kid to know anything about my sex life, or any lifestyle in that respect that I choose to follow. While we’re raising our child, that part is in the background.”

PJ believes it’s possible to enjoy leather while keeping it separate from child rearing. “When I was young, my parents would allow me to go to a friend’s house for a sleep-over. Well, I know full well NOW what they did the nights that I was gone—they were making babies. So while our child is sleeping over at a friend’s, we’ll be playing in the sling—what’s the difference there? The point is that all the toys are taken out when the child is gone, and are all packed away nice and neat before the child returns home.”

Still, parenthood brings inevitable changes. Kay describes a few: “We can’t hop on the motorcycle or go to a movie or do any of the spontaneous things we used to do. Weekend visits to see friends are logistically more demanding because children are equipment-intensive. And we don’t swear anymore because our daughter picks up on words so easily. We now live a child-focused life, but we were ready to make that commitment.”

Shelley says, with a sigh, “Becoming a parent has meant giving up a lot of the things I most enjoyed about being a leather dyke. We rarely travel to leather events anymore; it’s hard to find the time and space for intense play; and I’m 15 lbs. too big for my hottest outfits.” But she accepts the changes and says, “I’ve found I can’t have everything, but I’m happy and blessed with what I have.”

With the birth of their child getting closer and closer, PJ sounds like she’s ready for parenthood. “Right now everything seems to be like it is for every other pregnant couple getting ready for childbirth. We’ve done birthing classes and I feel like all the rest of the fathers in the room—the anticipation, the extra work, the preparations, all of it.” PJ says she needs to get a workbench together—just like her father had—so she can fix things like bikes and skateboards and rollerblades.

Vicki has had a difficult pregnancy and says it will be a relief when the pregnancy is over and her child is finally born. But more than that, she is excitedly looking forward to being a parent. She sounds refreshingly enthusiastic when she says, “I want to be involved with the PTA. I want to do bake sales and all that kind of stuff—I do! This is not a mistake. This is a choice—I’m choosing this person to be in my life, so I’m going for it!”

Wouldn’t it be great if every child could be born into such welcoming circumstances?

Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)

Second Annual Drag-Challenged Wig Party
Saturday evening, Sept. 23, The Saloon
Walter, The Saloon’s manager, says, “I believe even some of the butchest butches have secretly wanted an excuse to put on a wig. Now here’s your chance.” No dress, no makeup—just grab a wig and throw it on. (The Ragstock store on Lake Street in Uptown will give a discount to anyone who whispers the magic words, “Saloon Wig Party.”) The event is hosted by the fabulous Tinea’. If you’re really good you may share in $500 of prize money.

Dispatches from the Future: The Leather Summer of ’28

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #165, September 21, 2001)

With autumn fast approaching it’s time for a look back at some of this summer’s leather activities. And what a summer it’s been! But with a kick-off event like the 50th International Mr. Leather (IML) contest, how could it not be? The event was held over Memorial Day weekend, as always. And for that weekend, Chicago’s McCormick Place became the world’s largest leather bar—filled to capacity with leatherfolk of all genders, ages and descriptions.

A capacity crowd jammed the McCormick Place auditorium to watch the contest, and estimates placed the number of viewers who watched the contest via the internet in the millions. The evening’s most unforgettable moment: first-ever IML titleholder David Kloss (all these years and he still looks good!) received a standing ovation from the crowd after reading the list of next year’s judges. New IML Lik Tinghe (from Antarctica—it’s only the second year they’ve sent a contestant) won’t be spending much time at home this year as he fulfills his titleholder duties.

In contrast to IML, which is firmly rooted in Chicago, the International Ms. Leather (IMsL) contest in recent years has never been in the same city twice in a row. This year they returned to Las Vegas, Nevada, where Mary Kay Khali, Ms. Leather Dakota, was chosen from a field of 64 contestants as the new International Ms. Leather. The last time they were there was back in 1999, and what a difference the intervening years have made! This year’s host resort was Las Vegas’ newest and kinkiest showplace, The Charenton. Named for the insane asylum where the Marquis de Sade spent his last years, it was a perfect backdrop for the weekend’s activities. Imagine—a hotel where every one of the 5,000 rooms is a fully-equipped dungeon. Only in Vegas, folks.

The excitement of IMsL had barely subsided when it was time for another competition of a different sort: the Summer Olympics, this year returning to Greece. Several new competitive events have been added this year; after much campaigning and lobbying by members of the leather community we will finally get to witness both Tag Team Fisting and Competitive Bullwhip. (Tag Team Fisting was first proposed as an Olympic event by a contestant in International Mr. Leather 2001—that’s how long it has taken to get that event added to the Olympic lineup.)

The leather/SM community also continued to influence the world of entertainment. Last year’s Broadway smash “Fantasy: The Musical,” an all-singing, all-dancing revue of breathtaking leather fantasy performances, is still packing them in (you’ll be lucky if you can get tickets for 2031). Building on the success of the musical, “Fantasy On Ice” has been touring major metropolitan ice arenas this summer, and from the crowds lining up at box offices across the land it looks like Disney has another winner. (But how they can skate and flog at the same time is beyond me—after the show in Minneapolis one of the cast members got me on the ice and I tried it, but even with his coaching I just couldn’t make it work.) By the way, plans are in the works to make “Fantasy: The Musical” the permanent show at The Charenton in Las Vegas.

And now, a look ahead: The Leather Summer of ’28 will officially close with another milestone, the 50th annual International Mr. Drummer contest. This year it finally returns to San Francisco (as the song says, right back where it started from) to be held in conjunction with the Folsom Street Fair—which outgrew Folsom Street years ago and now stretches along Market Street from downtown to the reclaimed and revitalized Castro. Drummer and Folsom in the same city on the same weekend—all’s right with the world again.

Romano-Blas takes Ms. World Leather title

PHOTO: Annie Romano-Blas and Mindy Chateauvert

PHOTO CREDIT: Marcus Hernandez

From a field of nine leatherwomen/activists Annie Romano-Blas was chosen the first-ever Ms. World Leather on September 2. Romano-Blas is a health advocate and is the domestic partner of former International Ms. Leather Jo Blas.

Runner-up honors went to Mindy Chateauvert, a college professor from the Washington D.C. area. The contest weekend was held in Dallas, TX. (Thanks to Marcus Hernandez, leather columnist for San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter, for contest details and photograph.)

Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)

Leather Fashion Show
Sunday, September 23 (doors open at 7PM, show starts at 8PM), Quest Nightclub
Featuring the work of designer Sean Doyle in his first-ever solo fashion show. Eye-popping leather fantasywear for women and the unveiling of the designer’s line for men. He also has some fun accessories that might appeal to anyone who’s into leather. General admission $10 at the door, VIP admission $25. For a preview visit www.seandoyle.com.

What The Leather Archives & Museum Can Do For You

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #138, September 8, 2000)

PHOTO: Joseph Bean, Executive Director, Leather Archives & Museum

PHOTO CREDIT: LA&M

PHOTO: The Leather Archives & Museum: “Located In Chicago, Serving The World”

PHOTO CREDIT: LA&M

I’ve written before about the Leather Archives & Museum. (All together now: “Located In Chicago, Serving The World!” That’s what a leather crowd always yells at the first mention of the words “Leather Archives & Museum.”) But every previous time I’ve written about it I’ve written in the spirit of “What a great concept, let’s all make it happen.” Well, it’s happening, and it’s happening bigger and faster than anyone dared hope. The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) has become a multi-faceted, vibrant organization working in many ways to collect, preserve, display and perpetuate the leather community’s unique heritage. The LA&M serves up a feast of leather culture, and you don’t even have to go to Chicago to indulge.

In a speech to the audience at the International Mr. Leather (IML) 2000 contest in Chicago, Executive Director Joseph W. Bean was clearly and happily overwhelmed at how quickly the community has embraced the LA&M. In November, 1995 the archives occupied its first public space, a rented storefront on North Clark Street in Chicago. By 1997 it had already outgrown the space. Bean told the IML audience, “I first dreamed of us owning a building in December, 1997. That was yesterday, barely. I announced the Capital Campaign to buy a building in January, 1998, imagining that it would take you guys ten years to buy us a building. Well, it took you less than a year and a half. You’d think that the geniuses of finance would live on Wall Street. Instead we live on Leather Street, U.S.A.

“Last year [at the 1999 IML contest] I showed you a picture of a building that could be a home for the Archives—this year it’s a reality.”

Bean went on to say that his hope was that the LA&M would be able to make the transition from leather community charity to leather community resource, and this appears to be happening as the LA&M finds news ways to reach out to the worldwide leather community. In addition to the exhibits in the improved display space afforded by the new building, the archives has put together a traveling exhibition of leather community history and memorabilia which has been ricocheting from city to city for some time now. (It was supposed to be in Minneapolis this summer for the Twin Cities Festival of Pride and Minnesota Leather Pride 2000, but the exhibit was lost in transit. It was subsequently found and is now slated for next year’s Pride festival.)

If you have internet access and a web browser, you don’t even need to leave home to enjoy an exhibit from the LA&M. For some time their website (www.leatherarchives.org) has presented an online Art Gallery with examples of “the many erotic works the Archives has access to.” Also on the web, The Colors Project has been an ongoing effort to collect and display the patches, banners and logos of the organizations, motorcycle clubs, discussion groups and social clubs that, as the website puts it, “are part of the foundation of the leather community, part of the proof that we ARE a community.”

Much more is on the way; a brand-new website now under construction will feature many more exhibits including a leather history timeline and Q&A, more art exhibits, regularly updated newsletters, online shipping at the Gift Shop, and an e-mail list server (to join the list server, send an e-mail to webmaster@leatherarchives.org). The new site should be available shortly, so keep checking that URL.

If you’re in Chicago, of course, you can visit the Archives (6418 N. Greenview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626; 773/761-9200; archives@leatherarchives.org) and see the exhibits in person. The Archives requests that you please call or e-mail in advance to make an appointment; according to Bean, “We can almost always accommodate anyone’s schedule if we hear from them in advance.” The LA&M also occasionally presents classes, lectures and workshops—contact them for details.

The expanded space provided by the new LA&M building means that the Archive’s collection can continue to expand. Bean noted during his IML 2000 speech that the Archives has “gone from representing about nine countries when I spoke to you last year to more than 30 this year. We keep getting letters from people saying, ‘Someone from Ohio wrote to me, I’m here in Morocco, and I thought you’d like this.’ It happens, it happens all the time and it’s because of you. You guys are making them do it.” And, he told the IML audience, “Without you none of it would have ever happened. No government institution, no foundation, no public reservoir of money has been involved. Every penny that has made the Leather Archives & Museum happen has come out of the pockets of leatherfolk.”

Bean noted that while he might wish otherwise, the need for raising funds for the LA&M continues. “We have the building, but that means we have a mortgage. I’m dreaming of paying off the mortgage in 2004. . . . If we pay off the mortgage by the refinance date in August 2004 you, the leather community, will save $813,000 in interest.” He concluded by saying, “That’s worth the effort. Make the effort.”

What You Can Do for the Leather Archives & Museum (or What You Can Do for the LA&M)

There are many ways you can contribute to the LA&M:

• You can contribute financially by becoming a member or by making a donation to either the operating fund or Capital Campaign.

• You can contribute your time and talents by volunteering to work in the collections or to do administrative work. The Archive’s Vacationing Volunteer program gives you a chance to do this even if you don’t live in the Chicago area. In some cases you can even work from your home by computer or otherwise.

• You can expand the LA&M’s collection and knowledge base by helping to research the histories of local clubs and organizations or by collecting the colors (logos, patches, etc.) of those clubs.

• Be aware of the leather history around you. Help the LA&M properly record and preserve leather history by identifying individuals who should be interviewed and by discovering leather holdings and estates in your area that should be collected and preserved.

• By making a will or adding a codicil to your will, you can ensure that your leather-related items, perhaps some of your money from insurance or other holdings, and even saleable assets such as real estate are donated to the LA&M. According to LA&M Executive Director Joseph W. Bean, “People can name the LA&M [as a beneficiary] in their life insurance policies or pick up a separate, often very inexpensive, life insurance policy just to provide something for the LA&M that can be many times larger as a gift than it will ever be as premiums.” Donations to a 501.c.3 charity like the LA&M can be very useful in estate planning; contact the Archives for more information.

Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)

Atons Leather/Levi Night
Saturday evening, Sept. 9, 7 pm, It’s Greek to Me (626 W. Lake St., Minneapolis)
Presented by the Atons, open to all. Reservations are not necessary this month—just show up. Drinks at 7 pm in the bar, dinner at 7:30 pm in the downstairs banquet room. Visit the club’s website at www.atons.com or call the Atons HotLine for more information.

A Leatherman Looks at the Presidential Race

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #137, August 25, 2000)

Recently I wrote a column comparing the way we select the President of the United States with the way we select International Mr. Leather. On further observation I’m beginning to think this year’s presidential election has more in common with a local leather contest—one of those contests where the promoters have been able to come up with only two contestants, and as you watch them onstage you wonder if either of them will be able to serve the title properly. Forgive me for delving into political waters again, but it is, after all, an election year. This is what one leatherman thinks about the presidential race so far.

First of all, neither of the major candidates has said anything about being kink-friendly. In this post-Monica age (have you forgotten about Monica? The folks in Washington, D.C. haven’t), where Altoids and cigars are considered kinky and where the pendulum continues to swing further toward “traditional family values,” I think it will be quite awhile before a presidential candidate courts the kink vote. So we shall have to judge them on other criteria.

By almost any criteria (on second thought, delete that “almost”), I don’t like Bush and don’t want to see him in the White House. It’s appropriate that I live in Minnesota; according to Newsweek, Minnesota is the only state that’s more or less a sure thing for Al Gore.

So I guess that means I cast a vote for Gore as my “George W. Bush over my dead body” vote. But I’m not all that excited about Gore, either, because he hasn’t given me much to get excited about. Aside from the legendarily wooden way he presents himself (which I guarantee you would not score big points in a leather contest), he hasn’t really said much of anything about anything. So far, he’s a blank. His wife, Tipper, seems to have taken firmer stands on more issues than he has. I sincerely hope he is able to better define himself before the election in November.

The news media are constantly pointing out that this is the first presidential race where both candidates are of the boomer generation. Is this really the best my generation can do? Are we boomers really that lightweight? Eight years ago I thought Clinton, also a boomer, was lightweight—now, compared to Gore and Bush, he seems like a brilliant statesman.

If this was a leather contest, and I was judging, I would watch the proceedings and I would mark my score sheet. And I would do so secure in the knowledge that most leather contests are set up so that if none of the contestants receives a certain minimum number of points (usually 70% of the maximum number of points possible), the title will not be awarded. This is another instance where the leather/BDSM community has come up with a way of doing things that society in general might do well to follow.

Contrast this with the way a presidential election works: no matter how turned-off the electorate becomes, no matter how many voters stay home, each state’s electoral votes will go to one candidate or the other (barring a third-party-candidate upset). Theoretically a president could be picked by only 10% of the country’s eligible voters, even if the other 90% were so disgusted with both the candidates that they decided to stay home on election day.

In this country there’s no such thing as a presidential no-confidence vote. You can vote for a third-party candidate as a way of saying you don’t like either of the two major-party candidates, but that’s usually called “throwing away your vote.” I say “usually” because Jesse Ventura proved that if enough people feel enough disenchantment with the two major parties, a third-party candidate can win. Will Nader or (perish the thought) Buchanan pull off a Ventura-style upset nationally? Wait and see.

I suppose we can take some comfort from history. Just as the leather nation has survived the occasional lackluster titleholder, the United States has survived the occasional lackluster president. Even so, whether we’re talking about a Hobson’s choice between leather title contestants or one between presidential candidates, the lesser of two evils is a better choice than the greater of two evils.

One final thought: Al Gore made history by selecting as his running mate Joseph Lieberman, the first-ever Jewish candidate on a presidential ticket. That started me thinking about other Presidential barriers that have been broken, such as presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in 1960 being the first-ever Roman Catholic on a presidential ticket (he won), and vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 being the first-ever woman on a presidential ticket (she and Walter Mondale lost).

How long will it be before we have a self-proclaimed member of the GLBT community as a presidential or vice-presidential candidate on a major-party ticket? Or the first openly-kinky candidate? Or maybe even both at once? It could happen one day, and that day might be sooner than you or I expect. But it won’t happen through apathy and hiding. It will happen through involvement and pride. Be proud enough this year to get involved in the political process—even if that involvement is “only” paying attention and voting intelligently, and encouraging others to do the same. I said it before and I’ll say it again: This election is too important to tune out.

Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)

Duluth/Superior: Kick-Off Cocktails for Pride in Boots & Leather (in conjunction with Twin Ports Pride Festival)
Friday, Sept. 1, 4-7 PM, The Main Club, 1217 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI
This is the kick-off; other Pride in Boots & Leather events are planned as well throughout the weekend, so it will be worth the trip north. For full details contact Bob Jansen, owner of the Main Club, or send an e-mail to mainclub@skypoint.com. For information about Twin Ports GLBT Pride Festival events visit www.dspride.bizland.com. Bonus: In addition to the above events the Great Northern Classic Rodeo will be held at the Superior Fairgrounds (4700 Tower Ave., Superior) at 7 PM on both Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2 and at 2 PM on Sunday, Sept. 3.

BDSM Party Raid in Massachusetts

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #136, August 11, 2000)

Also a new International Ms. Leather and a Drummer Update

The recent raid of a private BDSM party in Attleboro, Massachusetts has lessons for everyone reading this magazine, whether you’re into leather/BDSM or not. Cops, courts and the laws of the land are not kind to those who practice ANY kind of “alternative sexual practices”—and if it’s not one-man-one-woman-missionary-position, it’s considered “alternative.” Until that situation changes, we all need to be aware of what’s going on out there, and what we need to do to keep ourselves out of jail and out of the court system. (Information about the raid was supplied by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, hereinafter referred to as NCSF.)

On Saturday, July 8, 2000, beginning at approximately 10:30 PM, police broke up an SM party in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and two individuals were arrested. The party was private. All guests were over 21 years of age and were well known by the host. A donation at the door (to cover food and rent charges for the space) was requested but not required.

Thirty-five to 40 people were at the party at the time the police entered the premises. How the police discovered the party is unknown; according to police and news reports, they were in the building on an unrelated matter. Neither the host nor any guest at the party saw a warrant at any time, despite repeated requests to see a warrant.

The host had his wallet, Palm Pilot, and employer-issued laptop computer seized by the Attleboro police. Also seized was a printed copy of the guest list, in which attendees were identified by their screen names only. Other personal property (which belonged to the host and was being stored on the premises) was seized, including clothing, a TV/VCR, stereo equipment and personal financial records. Equipment bags belonging to the host and many guests were also confiscated, some without property receipts from the police. So far, nothing that was seized has been returned to its rightful owner.

Benjamin Davis, the host, and another guest were arrested. (Another person was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant—that the police later admitted had been dismissed a year earlier). Davis was arraigned on 12 charges:

• “operating a business without a license” and “keeping a house of prostitution” (because Davis asked for donations at the door)

• possession of an item of “self-abuse” (in Massachusetts, as in many states, it is illegal to own an instrument for “self-abuse”—this includes sex toys of all sorts)

• assault and battery of a police officer (see “If It Happens To You,” below)

• and eight counts of possession of a dangerous weapon. The State Judicial Court of Massachusetts has ruled that items such as riding crops, whips, kitchen type knives, walking sticks, broom handles, flashlights, etc. can be “dangerous weapons” depending “to a certain extent on the context in which it is used.” (Commonwealth v. Appleby [300 Mass. 304 (1980)])

The guest was charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The alleged “weapon” was a large wooden kitchen spoon (some reports call it a “spatula”) with which she was spanking her partner. Spanking your sexual partner, even with his or her consent, is against the law in Massachusetts.

A prominent Massachusetts law firm, with experience in this area of the law, has agreed to take the case, and a defense fund is being established. Donations can be sent via the Bisexual Resource Center, a kink-friendly, non-profit community group based in Boston, who have volunteered to act as a holding account until further notice. (Checks may be made out to “BRC” with “PDL” in the memo line, and mailed to Paddleboro Defense League, Cambridge, MA.)

As might be expected, every newspaper (and most of the television and radio stations) in the Boston area have covered the raid and are continuing to report on the situation, as well as producing many articles and pieces about the SM-Leather-Fetish communities. For the most part, the reporting has been fair and unbiased. Boston Herald columnist Margery Eagen even wrote a hilarious column pointing out the absurdity of the dangerous wooden spoon (worthwhile reading at www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/eagan07252000.htm). This represents progress: the media focus has generally been less on the titillating aspects of the party and more on the overbearing manner of the Attleboro police and the cluelessness of the prosecutors and courts. At least one newspaper ran photos of Davis and the guest, however, which raises ethical questions regarding the right to sexual privacy. The NCSF reminds us that “it took many years before the media stopped harassing gays and lesbians using similar tactics.”

If It Happens To You

Still, the media is making progress, which seems to be more than can be said for the police and judicial system in Massachusetts. And we in Minnesota can’t afford to be smug—I remember being at one recent party in Minneapolis that was raided. The host spent the night in jail after being arrested on trumped-up charges that were later dropped. And some of us may travel to Massachusetts or other states and suddenly find ourselves embroiled in a legal nightmare that seemingly came out of nowhere. Here are some recommendations from the NCSF to minimize unpleasantness if the police come calling.

• Stay calm. If the police question you, be respectful, polite and courteous and use common sense. Don’t take a “bad attitude.” No matter how much you might want to, taking a swing at someone is not a good thing to do right now.

• You have the right NOT to make statements. You have the right NOT to incriminate yourself. You have the right NOT to allow a “consent search” or a “voluntary entry” of your car, your property, your home, or your place of business.

• Try to handle the police inquiry outside the door, not inside your home. If the officer(s) demands entry, voice your objection, then stand aside.

• If the officer(s) believe there is a domestic violence call, volunteer for your partner to talk to the police.

• Transport all equipment in a secure (closed) container and in the trunk of the vehicle. Do not consent to a search.

• If you are arrested, do NOT make any statements, and ask for an attorney.

• Remember that some items commonly found in equipment bags (double-edged blades, regulation issue handcuffs, etc.) are considered contraband in some states. To paraphrase the U.S. Customs Service, “Know Before You Go.” For example, in Massachusetts items such as dildos and vibrators are technically classified as items of “self-abuse” and could be subject to confiscation, arrest, and penalty. As laughable as that sounds now, you won’t be laughing if it happens to you.

For updated information about the Attleboro Raid and the legal defense committee, visit www.nla-newengland.org/attleboro.html. The NCSF website’s URL is www.ncsfreedom.org.

Jo Blas wins International Ms. Leather 2000

PHOTO: Jo Blas

The International Ms. Leather (IMsL) 2000 contest was held July 22 in Toronto. San Diego’s Jo Blas won the IMsL 2000 sash; Christine Baker of Calgary was first runner-up and Crickett Watkins of Chula Vista, CA was second-runner-up. In the concurrently-held International Ms. Bootblack 2000 competition the winner was Michael Ann of Colorado Springs, CO.

Megan DeJarlais, IMsL 1998 and associate producer of IMsL 2000, was pleased with this year’s event: “Even though the contest was smaller this year [because it was outside the U.S.], people really seemed to enjoy it. We had many comments on how smoothly the event ran, and the hospitality shown by the city and the hotel was outstanding.”

Going to Drummer? Stay in the Drummer Bunkhouse

The International Mr. Drummer 2000 contest has come up with a novel approach to accommodations at their host hotel, the Suncoast Resort Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL. The Drummer Bunkhouse is a barracks-style lodging facility for men only during International Mr. Drummer 2000 Weekend (Sept. 14-17). For the set price of $100, guests may stay for up to three nights. Reservations for the Drummer Bunkhouse will be granted only to International Drummer Weekend package holders.

The Drummer Bunkhouse will offer army cots or air mattresses, shared showers and bathrooms, and air conditioning. Bring your own sleeping bag or linens. Guests will be entitled to use of the swimming pool and other Suncoast Resort facilities. There will be security posted at the door throughout Drummer Weekend, but there are no lockers or locked storage facilities, so bring a locked suitcase or bag. Space is limited to 100 to 150 men. Reservations will be given on a first-come, first-served basis by e-mail or call (10 am to 10 pm EDT). Weekend packages are still available by visiting the International Mr. Drummer website (http://contest.drummer.com) or by calling the above telephone number.

Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)

Atons Leather/Levi Night
Saturday, August 12, Buca di Beppo (2728 Gannon Rd., St. Paul)
Presented by the Atons, open to all. Call the Atons HotLine for more information and to make reservations. Information is also available at the club’s website: www.atons.com.

Tony DeBlase, 1942-2000

(Transitions article published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #135, July 28, 2000)

By Joseph W. Bean

PHOTO: Tony DeBlase

Tony DeBlase, creator of the Leather Pride Flag, died peacefully in Portland, Oregon, on July 21, 2000, after an extended illness. Dr. DeBlase—a mammalogist, specializing in the biology of bats—was one of the most active lecturers, demonstrators, writers, editors, publishers, instructors and philosophers of leathersex in the latter third of the 20th Century. (He was also a renowned gourmet cook.)

In 1982, as “Fledermaus,” DeBlase wrote a collection of stories titled The Fledermaus Anthology, many of which have become classics of the genre. As the founding publisher of DungeonMaster magazine, DeBlase pioneered the field of SM technique publishing. In 1986 DeBlase purchased the Drummer family of magazines, which reached their peak in power and influence by the time they were sold in 1992. DeBlase helped found The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) and served as Vice President of the Board of Directors from 1992 until 2000.

Among the many honors and awards given to DeBlase were NLA’s Man of the Year award in 1987, Pantheon of Leather’s Business Person of the Year Award in 1990, its Lifetime Achievement award in 1994 and the Forebear Award in 1997. The honor DeBlase said he treasured most was the coveted Caligula Award from Chicago Hellfire Club for his service to the club in the development of Inferno.

DeBlase’s most widely celebrated achievement is the Leather Pride Flag which he presented to the world as a “proposed design idea” in 1989. Deconstructions and recompositions of the flag’s familiar black, blue and white stripes with a red accent—originally a heart—are common, but the design itself was accepted worldwide as introduced.

A private memorial was held in Portland, and plans are underway for a major memorial celebration of DeBlase’s life during International Mr. Leather 2001. Cards and condolences may be sent to Tony’s surviving partner, Dr. Andrew Charles, in care of The Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview Ave., Chicago IL 60626. Memorial donations to the Leather Archives & Museum will be accepted.

Bootblacks: Unsung Leather Community Heroes

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #135, July 28, 2000)

PHOTO: 2057.JPG Contestants for International Mr. Bootblack 2000.

PHOTO: 2042.JPG The new International Mr. Bootblack 2000, David Hawks.

Where would we in the leather community be without bootblacks? We’d be in scuffed, dull-looking boots, that’s where. Bootblacks are too often among the leather community’s unsung heroes. Even though they have their own titleholders (International Mr. Bootblack and International Ms. Bootblack), their contests are held in conjunction with (and are usually overshadowed by) the International Mr. Leather and International Ms. Leather contests. Most of the bootblacks I know don’t mind being overshadowed, though, and that humility is one of the reasons they tend to be such nice people.

The Contest

This year marked the eighth annual bootblack competition held in conjunction with the International Mr. Leather (IML) contest in Chicago. Until last year the title was International Bootblack and the contest was open to all genders, but with last year’s establishment of the International Ms. Bootblack contest as part of the International Ms. Leather (IMsL) competition, the IML bootblack competition was renamed International Mr. Bootblack.

The presentation of this year’s Bootblack awards was emceed by International Mr. Bootblack 1999 Robert Ehrlich. Before presenting the award he announced that the Mid-Atlantic Bootblack competition (held in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend in January 2000) was the first bootblack contest to combine ballots and judging. (Traditionally bootblack competitions have been based on ballots alone—the winner is the bootblack who shines the most boots and therefore gets the most votes.) For Mid-Atlantic Bootblack 2000 some of the finest bootblacks in the country were judges, including International Mr. Bootblack 1998 Matthew Duncan, International Ms. Bootblack 1999 Leslie Anderson, and Mid-Atlantic Bootblack 1999 Ms. Tracy Black. The judging was done in four categories, including physical skills, social skills, general knowledge and presentation. Ehrlich said the contest was received very well by everyone, most importantly by the bootblack contestants themselves. Ehrlich further stated that starting in 2001, International Mr. Bootblack and International Ms. Bootblack will be incorporating a new system including ballots and judging.

The awards for International Mr. Bootblack 2000 were presented by the first-ever International Ms. Bootblack, Leslie Anderson. The contestants were Gregory Yort of Decatur, IL (sponsored by the Flashback Lounge); Boo-Boo of Cleveland, OH (sponsored by Laws Leather/The Tool Shed); David Hawks of Richmond, VA (sponsored by Centaur MC of Washington, DC and the Richmond Leather Club); Gregory Hansord of Taylor, MI (sponsored by R&R Saloon and Mr. Leather Michigan); and Eric Leiff of Philadelphia, PA (sponsored by Fetishes Boutique).

The first award presented was the Bootblack Brotherhood Award; the winner was chosen by the contestants themselves and went to the contestant who best represented the spirit of brotherhood. It was awarded to David Hawks. Presentation of this award was followed by the announcement and presentation of the International Mr. Bootblack awards: second runner-up, Eric Leiff; first runner-up: Boo-Boo; and the new International Mr. Bootblack 2000, David Hawks.

Meet David Hawks, International Mr. Bootblack 2000

Here’s what Hawks had to say the next day about why he is a bootblack and what he hopes to accomplish with his title:

“I polish boots mainly for myself. It reminds me of my place, and helps keep me in focus on what’s important in life. When I polish boots, people open up to me in a way that they typically don’t when they stand in a bar and stare at each other, wanting to talk but don’t, and I meet people on a deeper level. So in my way, I hope to affect everyone I touch and help them see the important things in life—that all we really have are the people in our lives.

“Traditionally bootblacks are around, but they’ve been little-noticed. We’re in a dark corner of a bar, and we do our thing. [Some] people that get into it get up in our chair and have a good time, and everyone else goes on about their evening. [But] it’s much more than just getting a boot shine. My job is to go out there and try to get people to see that—to stop just walking by, and to actually meet some of us and see what we do and why we do it.

“I have already as Mid-Atlantic Bootblack been doing that. I give demonstrations and lectures and am quite overwhelmed at the number of groups that have come to me wanting [lectures or demonstrations]. The first one that approached me, in all honesty I thought “What a lame evening, they’re going to watch someone polish boots all night.” But they truly enjoyed it, and I was barraged by e-mail. So I will keep personally going out and trying to reach the community. I’m available to anyone who needs me for any event. I never charge for my services.

“That’s what I’m going to do—keep shining boots.”

Event Updates: International Drummer (St. Petersburg, FL) and Folsom Street Fair (San Francisco, CA)

Autumn used to be a time for leatherfolk to travel to San Francisco to experience two amazing events in one weekend: the International Drummer Contest and the Folsom Street Fair. This fall the two events are in different cities and on different weekends.

International Drummer/drummerboy 2000 is taking place September 14-17 at the Suncoast Resort in St. Petersburg, FL. At this writing the Suncoast is completely sold out; three other hotels are being used for Drummer accommodations, so you should still be able to find a room for the weekend—but make your reservations soon. For more information visit www.drummercontests.com.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, this year’s Folsom Street Fair is Sunday, Sept. 24 and represents the finale of San Francisco’s Leather Pride Week. The week-long celebration begins Sunday, Sept. 17 with the annual Leather Pride Walk and continues with leather-themed events every night of the week including, this year, the International Mr. and Ms. Deaf Leather Contest on Saturday, Sept. 23. If you plan to be there and don’t already have reservations you should make them immediately. For more information visit www.folsomstreetfair.com.