(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #68, January 2, 1998)
Goodbye, 1997. For the Twin Cities leather community it has certainly been an interesting year that has provided me with more than enough material to fill this column each issue.
CLUBS: Several Twin Cities leather clubs celebrated milestone events. The Black Guard held their twentieth Black Frost run in February, and the Knights of Leather held their ninth Knights Tournament May 30-June 1. The grand-Daddy of them all, however, was the Atons twenty-fifth-anniversary run in September. 1997 saw the formation of new clubs in the area. Sober Leather made its debut in the Pride Parade and later at a “Welcome to the Community” party in September. You’ll hear more about another new club, Unleashed, in early 1998.
CONTESTS AND TITLEHOLDERS: 1997 gave Minnesota new visibility in the national and international leather scene. Minnesota sent a record three contestants to the International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend (Kevin Cwayna, Thomas Smith, and Colin Spriestersbach), as well as sending Twin Cities-based band Savage Aural Hotbed as contest entertainment. Cwayna went on to win the contest and bring home Minnesota’s first-ever international leather title.
In April, Michael deLeon became Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1997, and he went on to win First Runner-Up at the International Mr. Fantasy contest in Omaha in August. Philip Oakes, the 1997 Mr. Minnesota Fantasy Runner-Up, has lately been making a splash as a very popular erotic-video star.
In July, Jack Maynard became Mr. Minnesota Drummer 1997 and Stephen Zeller became Mr. Minnesota Drummerboy 1997.
Roger Gregg won the title of Mr. Minnesota Leather 1998 in October. He will be competing this coming Memorial Day weekend in Chicago at the twentieth-anniversary International Mr. Leather contest.
While Minnesota sent three contestants to the International Mr. Leather contest, it went unrepresented at this year’s International Ms. Leather contest. Ms. Minnesota Leather 1997 Amazon resigned the title for personal reasons (now it can be told—Amazon has become Nick). The title passed to Aalan Cameron, who for health reasons was unable to compete at the International.
NIGHTLIFE: 1997 saw a proliferation of leather nights at local bars: Hard Monday at The Saloon; Wednesday at The Town House; Thursday at Club Metro Underground; and The Tank on Sundays at The Saloon. which seems to have been the most consistently popular. These establishments and Tropix have also served as new venues for contests, fundraisers, and other community events. Old standby The Men’s Room at the Gay 90’s revamped its entry this year, which now is through the (actual) men’s room. In the Duluth/Superior area, the Main Club’s famous “garage” was no more; the old Main Club burned to the ground at the end of 1996. Owner Bob Jansen was able to open a new Main Club in June of this year, with a grand opening in July.
CELEBRITY VISITS: Besides having International Mr. Leather as our very own home-town international titleholder, the Twin Cities has become a destination for other international titleholders and leather luminaries. This year has seen visits by International Mr. Fantasy Kevin Watson, International Mr. Drummer Kyle Brandon, and International Ms. Leather Genelle Moore. The Tank featured ubiquitous porn star Donnie Russo at its grand opening in March and brought in “domestic goddess” Judy Tenuta for a performance during Pride Weekend. The Town House again hosted male erotic superstar Steve Kelso in October. The Gay 90’s presented a show by the Tom of Finland Foundation in November.
PASSINGS: Milo Smith (April 13) and Peter Semotink (December 4).
So that’s some of what happened in 1997. Here’s a look ahead at what’s in store for us in the first part of 1998:
Jan. 23-24, 1998: Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather Contest at the Metro Underground. Call for contestant, hotel and ticket information. Produced by Back in Black Leather Productions. (Winners represent Minnesota in the Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather Contest in New Orleans at Pantheon of Leather February 13-16, 1998.)
February 13-15, 1998: The Black Guard present Black Frost ’98, their 21st annual run, at the Midway Days Inn. All run registrations and requests for information are being handled by phone through The Travel Company. (Ask for the "Black Frost Desk.") VISA and MasterCard accepted! Those dates are coming up fast, so pick up the phone and register now, and encourage your far-flung friends to do likewise—airfare discounts are 5% until January 10. Rates for the run package itself go up after February 1.
March or April: W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is accepting applications for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition (planned for this spring.) Contact W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc., Brooklyn Center MN. (W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is the Official Representative for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition.)
May 29-31, 1998: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament 10. Bring a new participant and receive a 10% discount on your application fee. Or get early sign-up prices if you register before March 23, 1998. For more information or an application form call or write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis, MN.
Friday, January 2, 1998
Friday, December 19, 1997
Holiday Potpourri
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #67, December 19, 1997)
In the style of Charles Dickens' ghosts, this column concerns itself with Leather Past, Leather Present, and Leather Future.
Leather Past: Black Guard and Atons host successful events
The Twin Cities leather/SM community has been treated to some exceptional events lately. The Black Guard's recently presented their twenty-first annual Chili Feed, and they showed that after doing it that many times they know how to do it right. This event marked the inauguration of the Tropix back room as a leather space, and it seemed to work very well on most counts. (Parts of their upcoming Black Frost run will be held in the same space; let's hope that by then there's a better sound system available.) Sizzling fantasy entertainment was provided by some very talented leathermen including current Mr. Minnesota Leather Roger Gregg; current Mr. Minnesota Leather Runner-Up Steve Eue; and J. Martin Ellis, current Mr. Southeast Drummer (who has recently relocated to the Twin Cities from Atlanta).
Two weeks later, the Atons held their annual Holiday Fundraiser at the Saloon, and both attendance and food donations were greater than last year's event. Holiday spirit was in abundance as partygoers posed for photos with International Mr. Santa Kevin Cwayna. A raffle collected food and cash benefitting the Aliveness Project, and the door proceeds of approximately $850 were donated to Every Penny Counts.
Leather Present: Greetings of the Season
Two years ago in this column I wrote: "Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice or none of the above . . . it doesn't matter what other people think about how you celebrate the holiday. What matters is that it be uplifting and meaningful for you . . . whatever you celebrate, however you celebrate it." That's still my holiday wish for all my readers.
Peter Semotink, 1955-1997
PHOTO: Peter Semotink (self-portrait)
Peter Semotink, a prominent member of the local leather/SM community, died on December 4, 1997. Funeral services, held December 9, were attended by members of the leather/SM community as well as a large number of relatives, friends, and the community at large. Semotink had been struggling with AIDS for several years; his death followed a stroke-induced coma. He was preceded in death by his partner of approximately five years, Tim Newman, who died of complications due to AIDS on December 7, 1994.
Semotink was an active member of the Atons for 10 years; he served two terms as club Treasurer and one term as club President (1993-94). Together with club members, he shepherded the Atons through three successful runs: the Egyptian, the Roman and the Renaissance. He was instrumental in launching the annual Leather Pride celebration as an adjunct to the Twin Cities Festival of Pride. He and Newman were active associate members of the Chicago Hellfire Club.
Born July 8, 1955 in St. Paul, Semotink at an early age discovered an interest in computers and technology; he turned this aptitude into a successful career working for many of the area's largest companies, culminating in a management position with supercomputer-manufacturer Cray Research. He was also an accomplished photographer whose work was seen in, among other places, Drummer Tough Customers #10.
In the words of fellow Aton Sam Carlisle, "Peter was a person who, no matter how difficult his situation was, would find a way to help someone who needed it."
Leather Future: Mark Your Calendar . . .
Jan. 23-24, 1998: Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather Contest at the Metro Underground. The Olympus Leather Contest showcases a positive image of leather life and represents the entire diverse range of our community, from motorcycle and leather/levi clubs to heavy SM players and everyone in between. Call for contestant, hotel and ticket information. Produced by Back in Black Leather Productions. (Winners represent Minnesota in the Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather Contest in New Orleans February 13-16, 1998.)
February 13-15, 1998: The Black Guard present Black Frost ’98, their 21st annual run, at the Midway Days Inn. All run registrations and requests for information are being handled by phone through The Travel Company. (Ask for the "Black Frost Desk.") VISA and MasterCard accepted! So pick up the phone and register now, and encourage your far-flung friends to do likewise—airfare discounts are 5% until January 10. Rates for the run package itself go up after February 1.
May 29-31, 1998: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament 10. The site, a private camp within a 16,000-acre wooded state park, includes cabins with military bunks. Weekend events include workshops, demonstrations, fantasies and a tenth-anniversary Birthday Party! Dungeon space is available all weekend. Bring a new participant and receive a 10% discount on your application fee. Or get early sign-up prices if you register before March 23, 1998. For more information or an application form call or write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis, MN.
In the style of Charles Dickens' ghosts, this column concerns itself with Leather Past, Leather Present, and Leather Future.
Leather Past: Black Guard and Atons host successful events
The Twin Cities leather/SM community has been treated to some exceptional events lately. The Black Guard's recently presented their twenty-first annual Chili Feed, and they showed that after doing it that many times they know how to do it right. This event marked the inauguration of the Tropix back room as a leather space, and it seemed to work very well on most counts. (Parts of their upcoming Black Frost run will be held in the same space; let's hope that by then there's a better sound system available.) Sizzling fantasy entertainment was provided by some very talented leathermen including current Mr. Minnesota Leather Roger Gregg; current Mr. Minnesota Leather Runner-Up Steve Eue; and J. Martin Ellis, current Mr. Southeast Drummer (who has recently relocated to the Twin Cities from Atlanta).
Two weeks later, the Atons held their annual Holiday Fundraiser at the Saloon, and both attendance and food donations were greater than last year's event. Holiday spirit was in abundance as partygoers posed for photos with International Mr. Santa Kevin Cwayna. A raffle collected food and cash benefitting the Aliveness Project, and the door proceeds of approximately $850 were donated to Every Penny Counts.
Leather Present: Greetings of the Season
Two years ago in this column I wrote: "Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice or none of the above . . . it doesn't matter what other people think about how you celebrate the holiday. What matters is that it be uplifting and meaningful for you . . . whatever you celebrate, however you celebrate it." That's still my holiday wish for all my readers.
Peter Semotink, 1955-1997
PHOTO: Peter Semotink (self-portrait)
Peter Semotink, a prominent member of the local leather/SM community, died on December 4, 1997. Funeral services, held December 9, were attended by members of the leather/SM community as well as a large number of relatives, friends, and the community at large. Semotink had been struggling with AIDS for several years; his death followed a stroke-induced coma. He was preceded in death by his partner of approximately five years, Tim Newman, who died of complications due to AIDS on December 7, 1994.
Semotink was an active member of the Atons for 10 years; he served two terms as club Treasurer and one term as club President (1993-94). Together with club members, he shepherded the Atons through three successful runs: the Egyptian, the Roman and the Renaissance. He was instrumental in launching the annual Leather Pride celebration as an adjunct to the Twin Cities Festival of Pride. He and Newman were active associate members of the Chicago Hellfire Club.
Born July 8, 1955 in St. Paul, Semotink at an early age discovered an interest in computers and technology; he turned this aptitude into a successful career working for many of the area's largest companies, culminating in a management position with supercomputer-manufacturer Cray Research. He was also an accomplished photographer whose work was seen in, among other places, Drummer Tough Customers #10.
In the words of fellow Aton Sam Carlisle, "Peter was a person who, no matter how difficult his situation was, would find a way to help someone who needed it."
Leather Future: Mark Your Calendar . . .
Jan. 23-24, 1998: Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather Contest at the Metro Underground. The Olympus Leather Contest showcases a positive image of leather life and represents the entire diverse range of our community, from motorcycle and leather/levi clubs to heavy SM players and everyone in between. Call for contestant, hotel and ticket information. Produced by Back in Black Leather Productions. (Winners represent Minnesota in the Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather Contest in New Orleans February 13-16, 1998.)
February 13-15, 1998: The Black Guard present Black Frost ’98, their 21st annual run, at the Midway Days Inn. All run registrations and requests for information are being handled by phone through The Travel Company. (Ask for the "Black Frost Desk.") VISA and MasterCard accepted! So pick up the phone and register now, and encourage your far-flung friends to do likewise—airfare discounts are 5% until January 10. Rates for the run package itself go up after February 1.
May 29-31, 1998: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament 10. The site, a private camp within a 16,000-acre wooded state park, includes cabins with military bunks. Weekend events include workshops, demonstrations, fantasies and a tenth-anniversary Birthday Party! Dungeon space is available all weekend. Bring a new participant and receive a 10% discount on your application fee. Or get early sign-up prices if you register before March 23, 1998. For more information or an application form call or write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis, MN.
Friday, December 5, 1997
Dialogue: Genelle Moore, IMsL ’97
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #66, December 5, 1997)
PHOTO: Genelle Moore, International Ms. Leather 1997
Current International Ms. Leather (IMsL) Genelle Moore is a real-life police officer in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she lives with her sash widow Kathy Tejcka. International leather titles seem to run in Moore’s family — her older brother, Ronald Moore, was International Mr. Leather 1984. The focus for her year as IMsL is summed up by the motto that appears on her notecards: “With participation there’s education and growth.”
As International Ms. Leather 1997, you will spend your title year representing the ideals of the women’s leather community. What are some of those ideals?
When I think back on the women who have been mentors in the community as far as lesbians are concerned, one of the names that always comes to mind is Dr. Gayle Rubin. She was one of our founding mothers — she was working side by side with leathermen when I was a teenager. I think a perfect leatherwoman would be a woman like her, who thinks beyond today, who thinks about where we’re going to be twenty or thirty years from now. She definitely has a commitment to the legacy for new leatherwomen who are coming up, and she has a commitment to maintaining the history of what leathermen and leatherwomen have done. She’s not necessarily the type who’s in this for show, I think she’s in it because she’s committed to this life.
Let’s talk about similarities and differences between leatherwomen and leathermen. First of all, what differences are there?
I think women learn differently from men, and we as leatherwomen need to keep that in mind when we’re trying to teach other women about leather. I don’t think women jump right in. Women like to talk about things, conceptualize it, and then they do it. I’ve talked to women who are interested in leather but are a little intimidated, and I think it’s because they’ve been to leather events where it’s more “in your face.” That’s where women’s leather clubs come into play, because we can sit and talk about it, let people feel comfortable with it, and when they’re able to conceptualize what they want to do, then we do it.
What do leatherwomen and leathermen have in common?
Well, we’re still fighting the AIDS epidemic, and I think that’s a common issue. And I think we have a common commitment to maintaining the history of the leather culture. As far as leather is concerned and the philosophies and teachings behind it, I think the men’s and women’s communities can walk hand in hand and learn from each other. We need to work together and we need to remember that the common goal is “safe, sane and consensual” and that’s what we’re trying to perpetuate.
What is it like being a leatherwoman in the minority among leathermen?
I guess for myself, I feel like I fit into any environment. I enjoy men, so I don’t mind being around leathermen. My brother was a leatherman, so I can relate. But I can understand that some leatherwomen are very uncomfortable being around leathermen, just as some leathermen are uncomfortable being around leatherwomen. I don’t know that it’s a difference of philosophy, I think what’s happening is that leatherwomen, or even women in general, are going through another stage of the evolution of their development. Maybe what leatherwomen need to start developing is the spiritual part of living in leather; maybe that’s the part of our community that’s been missing. Women have always been very spiritual in any culture, and I think that’s what’s happening here. We’re going through some growing pains, not quite understanding where we fit in the whole leather scene, with all the definitions of tops and bottoms and daddies and boys and so on. Women are still jostling with where and how we fit in and how we’re to carry our piece of the community. I think it goes a lot deeper than the play, I think we need to start developing the spirituality that’s involved in living in leather.
(Information about Moore is available at many sites on the World Wide Web. She is featured on IMsL’s web page at www.probe.net/~savo/imsl/imsl97.htm; you can find more web sites with information about her by doing a Web search for her name.)
Upcoming Leather Events
TIES presents Snowbound ’97, an all-day BDSM seminar
Saturday, December 6, Laughing Cup Auditorium (1811 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls.)
Doors open at 11 am, presentations start at noon
Unfortunately, this event sold out soon after I got the press release. But what an event it will be! Topics include negotiation and consensuality, flogging techniques and safety, sensation play, toy making and care, slave training and rope bondage — followed by an attendees-only play party where people can practice newly-acquired skills under the supervision of experienced Dungeon Masters. This seminar hopes to provide new insights for both beginners and experienced players and, as are all TIES events, will be pansexual (GLBT, het, kink). If this sounds interesting, TIES is planning a larger seminar, SunStroke, next June, and they have a full calendar of monthly and quarterly events. For more information: TIES, Minneapolis MN or e-mail: ties@visi.com. (By the way, TIES stands for Tremendously Intense Erotic Situations.)
Atons Holiday Fundraiser
Sunday, December 7, 6-10 pm,The Saloon
A great way to kick off the holiday season. $5 at the door (benefitting Every Penny Counts); free food, drink specials including tap beer or non-alcoholic drinks for 75 cents. Also, food is being collected for The Aliveness Project; for every pound of food you bring, you get an entry in a drawing for a pair of leather pants donated by Back in Black Leather.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Jan. 23-24, 1998: Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather Contest at the Metro Underground. The Olympus Leather Contest showcases a positive image of leather life and represents the entire diverse range of our community, from motorcycle and leather/levi clubs to heavy SM players and everyone in between. Call for contestant, hotel and ticket information. Produced by Back in Black Leather Productions. (Winners represent Minnesota in the Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather Contest in New Orleans February 13-16, 1998.)
SPECIAL BONUS FEATURE: For inclusion in Letters to the Editor:
To the Editor:
Issue 65 of Lavender contained two Letters to the Editor about my column in Issue 63 on electrical SM play. I thank the writers for taking the time to express their views and feel that they, and the community, deserve a response from me.
I don’t choose topics for the “Leather Life” column to “boost my readership”; I choose them based on questions and comments I hear from the community. I try to include things the community either wants to know or needs to know. Here’s what sparked (excuse the pun) the electricity column: I was talking with a gentleman at a party recently, and the topic of conversation turned to electrical play. I mentioned the “never above the waist” rule — a rule with which this gentleman was unacquainted. His response was that gee, it sure was a good thing we talked about this because he had been considering experimenting with a car battery and jumper cables — one clamp to one nipple, one clamp to the other. I told him that was not a safe thing to do, and thought to myself “Well, there’s a column that needs to be written.”
One letter writer chastises me for “advising people to play with bondage or electricity . . . without proper training.” That was most certainly not the intent of the column. Some others may have read only the headline and deduced that I was telling people not to play with electricity at all, ever. That also was not the intent of the column.
I have always tried to make “Leather Life” sex-positive and SM-positive, within the bounds of intelligence, common sense and good taste. The message of the electricity column was not “Don’t play with electricity.” It was “Don’t kill yourself or someone else while you’re doing it.” In this context, I consider the descriptions of other electrical phenomena involving the human body very relevant in establishing a healthy respect for electricity and illustrating the importance of approaching electrical play in an intelligent manner.
When “Leather Life” started two-and-a-half years ago, a decision was made that it would not be a “how-to” column, since that kind of information is available elsewhere. Coverage of SM in this column has either been concerned with reinforcing awareness of the community’s “safe, sane, consensual” motto or has been targeted to those who are new to the community and who have questions. Similarly, the intent of this particular article was not to set myself up as a master “electrician,” but rather to emphasize the importance of seeking out those in our community who are experts at electrical play and learning from them.
Now, about violet wands and auras: I clearly presented it as my opinion (to which I am entitled), and in the next sentence I gave the reader permission to hold their own opinion on this matter. Metaphysics being the indeterminate science that it is, I thought that was fair. But I do thank Robert Johnson for making the quite valid point in his letter that violet wands should not be used around the eyes, and I also thank him for citing Checkpoint and DungeonMaster as learning resources.
Your humble columnist,
Steve Lenius
PHOTO: Genelle Moore, International Ms. Leather 1997
Current International Ms. Leather (IMsL) Genelle Moore is a real-life police officer in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she lives with her sash widow Kathy Tejcka. International leather titles seem to run in Moore’s family — her older brother, Ronald Moore, was International Mr. Leather 1984. The focus for her year as IMsL is summed up by the motto that appears on her notecards: “With participation there’s education and growth.”
As International Ms. Leather 1997, you will spend your title year representing the ideals of the women’s leather community. What are some of those ideals?
When I think back on the women who have been mentors in the community as far as lesbians are concerned, one of the names that always comes to mind is Dr. Gayle Rubin. She was one of our founding mothers — she was working side by side with leathermen when I was a teenager. I think a perfect leatherwoman would be a woman like her, who thinks beyond today, who thinks about where we’re going to be twenty or thirty years from now. She definitely has a commitment to the legacy for new leatherwomen who are coming up, and she has a commitment to maintaining the history of what leathermen and leatherwomen have done. She’s not necessarily the type who’s in this for show, I think she’s in it because she’s committed to this life.
Let’s talk about similarities and differences between leatherwomen and leathermen. First of all, what differences are there?
I think women learn differently from men, and we as leatherwomen need to keep that in mind when we’re trying to teach other women about leather. I don’t think women jump right in. Women like to talk about things, conceptualize it, and then they do it. I’ve talked to women who are interested in leather but are a little intimidated, and I think it’s because they’ve been to leather events where it’s more “in your face.” That’s where women’s leather clubs come into play, because we can sit and talk about it, let people feel comfortable with it, and when they’re able to conceptualize what they want to do, then we do it.
What do leatherwomen and leathermen have in common?
Well, we’re still fighting the AIDS epidemic, and I think that’s a common issue. And I think we have a common commitment to maintaining the history of the leather culture. As far as leather is concerned and the philosophies and teachings behind it, I think the men’s and women’s communities can walk hand in hand and learn from each other. We need to work together and we need to remember that the common goal is “safe, sane and consensual” and that’s what we’re trying to perpetuate.
What is it like being a leatherwoman in the minority among leathermen?
I guess for myself, I feel like I fit into any environment. I enjoy men, so I don’t mind being around leathermen. My brother was a leatherman, so I can relate. But I can understand that some leatherwomen are very uncomfortable being around leathermen, just as some leathermen are uncomfortable being around leatherwomen. I don’t know that it’s a difference of philosophy, I think what’s happening is that leatherwomen, or even women in general, are going through another stage of the evolution of their development. Maybe what leatherwomen need to start developing is the spiritual part of living in leather; maybe that’s the part of our community that’s been missing. Women have always been very spiritual in any culture, and I think that’s what’s happening here. We’re going through some growing pains, not quite understanding where we fit in the whole leather scene, with all the definitions of tops and bottoms and daddies and boys and so on. Women are still jostling with where and how we fit in and how we’re to carry our piece of the community. I think it goes a lot deeper than the play, I think we need to start developing the spirituality that’s involved in living in leather.
(Information about Moore is available at many sites on the World Wide Web. She is featured on IMsL’s web page at www.probe.net/~savo/imsl/imsl97.htm; you can find more web sites with information about her by doing a Web search for her name.)
Upcoming Leather Events
TIES presents Snowbound ’97, an all-day BDSM seminar
Saturday, December 6, Laughing Cup Auditorium (1811 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls.)
Doors open at 11 am, presentations start at noon
Unfortunately, this event sold out soon after I got the press release. But what an event it will be! Topics include negotiation and consensuality, flogging techniques and safety, sensation play, toy making and care, slave training and rope bondage — followed by an attendees-only play party where people can practice newly-acquired skills under the supervision of experienced Dungeon Masters. This seminar hopes to provide new insights for both beginners and experienced players and, as are all TIES events, will be pansexual (GLBT, het, kink). If this sounds interesting, TIES is planning a larger seminar, SunStroke, next June, and they have a full calendar of monthly and quarterly events. For more information: TIES, Minneapolis MN or e-mail: ties@visi.com. (By the way, TIES stands for Tremendously Intense Erotic Situations.)
Atons Holiday Fundraiser
Sunday, December 7, 6-10 pm,The Saloon
A great way to kick off the holiday season. $5 at the door (benefitting Every Penny Counts); free food, drink specials including tap beer or non-alcoholic drinks for 75 cents. Also, food is being collected for The Aliveness Project; for every pound of food you bring, you get an entry in a drawing for a pair of leather pants donated by Back in Black Leather.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Jan. 23-24, 1998: Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather Contest at the Metro Underground. The Olympus Leather Contest showcases a positive image of leather life and represents the entire diverse range of our community, from motorcycle and leather/levi clubs to heavy SM players and everyone in between. Call for contestant, hotel and ticket information. Produced by Back in Black Leather Productions. (Winners represent Minnesota in the Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather Contest in New Orleans February 13-16, 1998.)
SPECIAL BONUS FEATURE: For inclusion in Letters to the Editor:
To the Editor:
Issue 65 of Lavender contained two Letters to the Editor about my column in Issue 63 on electrical SM play. I thank the writers for taking the time to express their views and feel that they, and the community, deserve a response from me.
I don’t choose topics for the “Leather Life” column to “boost my readership”; I choose them based on questions and comments I hear from the community. I try to include things the community either wants to know or needs to know. Here’s what sparked (excuse the pun) the electricity column: I was talking with a gentleman at a party recently, and the topic of conversation turned to electrical play. I mentioned the “never above the waist” rule — a rule with which this gentleman was unacquainted. His response was that gee, it sure was a good thing we talked about this because he had been considering experimenting with a car battery and jumper cables — one clamp to one nipple, one clamp to the other. I told him that was not a safe thing to do, and thought to myself “Well, there’s a column that needs to be written.”
One letter writer chastises me for “advising people to play with bondage or electricity . . . without proper training.” That was most certainly not the intent of the column. Some others may have read only the headline and deduced that I was telling people not to play with electricity at all, ever. That also was not the intent of the column.
I have always tried to make “Leather Life” sex-positive and SM-positive, within the bounds of intelligence, common sense and good taste. The message of the electricity column was not “Don’t play with electricity.” It was “Don’t kill yourself or someone else while you’re doing it.” In this context, I consider the descriptions of other electrical phenomena involving the human body very relevant in establishing a healthy respect for electricity and illustrating the importance of approaching electrical play in an intelligent manner.
When “Leather Life” started two-and-a-half years ago, a decision was made that it would not be a “how-to” column, since that kind of information is available elsewhere. Coverage of SM in this column has either been concerned with reinforcing awareness of the community’s “safe, sane, consensual” motto or has been targeted to those who are new to the community and who have questions. Similarly, the intent of this particular article was not to set myself up as a master “electrician,” but rather to emphasize the importance of seeking out those in our community who are experts at electrical play and learning from them.
Now, about violet wands and auras: I clearly presented it as my opinion (to which I am entitled), and in the next sentence I gave the reader permission to hold their own opinion on this matter. Metaphysics being the indeterminate science that it is, I thought that was fair. But I do thank Robert Johnson for making the quite valid point in his letter that violet wands should not be used around the eyes, and I also thank him for citing Checkpoint and DungeonMaster as learning resources.
Your humble columnist,
Steve Lenius
Friday, November 21, 1997
Steve Kelso: What’s New?
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #65, November 21, 1997)
PHOTO: Steve Kelso and one of his many admirers.
PHOTO CREDIT: Thomas Fleisher
Male icon Steve Kelso paid a return visit to The Town House recently to raise money for the Aliveness Project's Holiday Basket Program. That gave me a chance to update the interview that appeared in these pages a year ago:
What have you been doing since you were in the Twin Cities last year?
We did the calendar last year, which ended up raising over $45,000 for different AIDS organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada. I've been real proud of that, raising a lot of money for different organizations. I'm also real excited about how the calendar is being perceived — I want to change that whole thing about porn celebrities just doing it for the cash. I wish more people in the industry would get involved with their communities, I'd like to see more of that being done.
Last year you were talking about doing a second video. Have you?
This year it's gonna be a go. We're gonna start on it probably in about two months. Last year it was difficult. With all the traveling around we just could not find time.
What can you tell us about the new video?
Not real sure yet. I know it's probably going to be filmed in California somewhere, probably Palm Springs. And we're going to do it all-digital to keep the quality high.
What else are you doing these days? Still working at the club [The Den in Somerset, New Jersey]?
I'm there four days a week, but now that it's travel season promoting the calendar I've cut down quite a bit.
Do people walk in not expecting to see you, and then their mouths drop open when they see who's behind the bar?
I can tell right away when they've recognized me. But I also get a lot of phone calls to the club, people wanting to come in and meet me. A lot of people from out of town—they know I work there because of articles they've read. The best thing I can say is, make sure you call the club to make sure that I'm there and not out on the road. We've got it down this year to, like, maybe every two weeks or so I'm home for a two-week span, which is a lot better than coming and going every day or every other day. Last year I never knew when I was going to be home.
Have you got any other projects that you're either working on or that have come out?
Yes, we're going to start doing other calendars of different guys, putting together a "New Faces" type calendar, and make it the same type of vehicle for raising money for AIDS organizations.
Where are you finding the faces?
I find them as I travel around. Last year we were in forty cities, maybe more, and we meet people. And if anyone's interested, they can forward their picture to me (Eagle Studios, Inc., Lakewood, NJ). We're looking for good midwestern stock, your normal "Joe."
If somebody should hit the jackpot by having their photo selected, what can they expect?
I hope they take my job traveling around the country so I can stay home for awhile.
Do you think it could get that far?
I'm sure. I mean, if I can do it . . . .
(By the way, Steve has recently upgraded his site on the World Wide Web. His new web address is www.stevekelso.com. Take a look.)
Upcoming Leather Events
Black Guard 21st Annual Chili Feed
Sunday, November 23, 5-10 pm (or later), Rear Entry at Tropix, 3rd Ave. N. at 4th Street)
From North Washington Ave., turn west onto 3rd Avenue N. Park in back of the building (limited) or at the 4th St. Ramp. Go to the back of the building and follow the lighted fire escape. $8 at the door includes free beer, chili and door prizes. Specials on drinks, including soft drinks and water (which is a nice way of saying soft drinks, unlike beer, aren't free). Advance word is that fantasies will be presented by titleholders and other guys who really know how to present them. Special raffle with prizes including a run packet to Black Frost ’98 (see below). Leather/Levi dress code will be in effect.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Sunday, December 7: Atons Holiday Fundraiser at The Saloon (details next issue).
February 13-15, 1998: The Black Guard present Black Frost ’98, their 21st annual run, at the Midway Days Inn. Thursday night pre-party is at Club Metro Underground; Saturday night banquet and show is at Tropix/Rear Entry; Sunday wind-down party (and new-officer installation) is at the Brass Rail, with a post-wind-down party at The Saloon. The theme this year is “Come Fly With Us!” In keeping with that theme, registering for the run is just like buying an airline ticket: all run registrations and requests for information are being handled by phone through The Travel Company. (Ask for the "Black Frost Desk.") Out-of-towners can make other travel arrangements at the same time: plane, train, bus, rent-a-car, extended hotel stay, etc. And this is the first run anywhere to take VISA and MasterCard! So pick up the phone and register now, and encourage your far-flung friends to do likewise—airfare discounts are 10% until December 10 and 5% until January 10. Rates for the run package itself go up after February 1.
PHOTO: Steve Kelso and one of his many admirers.
PHOTO CREDIT: Thomas Fleisher
Male icon Steve Kelso paid a return visit to The Town House recently to raise money for the Aliveness Project's Holiday Basket Program. That gave me a chance to update the interview that appeared in these pages a year ago:
What have you been doing since you were in the Twin Cities last year?
We did the calendar last year, which ended up raising over $45,000 for different AIDS organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada. I've been real proud of that, raising a lot of money for different organizations. I'm also real excited about how the calendar is being perceived — I want to change that whole thing about porn celebrities just doing it for the cash. I wish more people in the industry would get involved with their communities, I'd like to see more of that being done.
Last year you were talking about doing a second video. Have you?
This year it's gonna be a go. We're gonna start on it probably in about two months. Last year it was difficult. With all the traveling around we just could not find time.
What can you tell us about the new video?
Not real sure yet. I know it's probably going to be filmed in California somewhere, probably Palm Springs. And we're going to do it all-digital to keep the quality high.
What else are you doing these days? Still working at the club [The Den in Somerset, New Jersey]?
I'm there four days a week, but now that it's travel season promoting the calendar I've cut down quite a bit.
Do people walk in not expecting to see you, and then their mouths drop open when they see who's behind the bar?
I can tell right away when they've recognized me. But I also get a lot of phone calls to the club, people wanting to come in and meet me. A lot of people from out of town—they know I work there because of articles they've read. The best thing I can say is, make sure you call the club to make sure that I'm there and not out on the road. We've got it down this year to, like, maybe every two weeks or so I'm home for a two-week span, which is a lot better than coming and going every day or every other day. Last year I never knew when I was going to be home.
Have you got any other projects that you're either working on or that have come out?
Yes, we're going to start doing other calendars of different guys, putting together a "New Faces" type calendar, and make it the same type of vehicle for raising money for AIDS organizations.
Where are you finding the faces?
I find them as I travel around. Last year we were in forty cities, maybe more, and we meet people. And if anyone's interested, they can forward their picture to me (Eagle Studios, Inc., Lakewood, NJ). We're looking for good midwestern stock, your normal "Joe."
If somebody should hit the jackpot by having their photo selected, what can they expect?
I hope they take my job traveling around the country so I can stay home for awhile.
Do you think it could get that far?
I'm sure. I mean, if I can do it . . . .
(By the way, Steve has recently upgraded his site on the World Wide Web. His new web address is www.stevekelso.com. Take a look.)
Upcoming Leather Events
Black Guard 21st Annual Chili Feed
Sunday, November 23, 5-10 pm (or later), Rear Entry at Tropix, 3rd Ave. N. at 4th Street)
From North Washington Ave., turn west onto 3rd Avenue N. Park in back of the building (limited) or at the 4th St. Ramp. Go to the back of the building and follow the lighted fire escape. $8 at the door includes free beer, chili and door prizes. Specials on drinks, including soft drinks and water (which is a nice way of saying soft drinks, unlike beer, aren't free). Advance word is that fantasies will be presented by titleholders and other guys who really know how to present them. Special raffle with prizes including a run packet to Black Frost ’98 (see below). Leather/Levi dress code will be in effect.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Sunday, December 7: Atons Holiday Fundraiser at The Saloon (details next issue).
February 13-15, 1998: The Black Guard present Black Frost ’98, their 21st annual run, at the Midway Days Inn. Thursday night pre-party is at Club Metro Underground; Saturday night banquet and show is at Tropix/Rear Entry; Sunday wind-down party (and new-officer installation) is at the Brass Rail, with a post-wind-down party at The Saloon. The theme this year is “Come Fly With Us!” In keeping with that theme, registering for the run is just like buying an airline ticket: all run registrations and requests for information are being handled by phone through The Travel Company. (Ask for the "Black Frost Desk.") Out-of-towners can make other travel arrangements at the same time: plane, train, bus, rent-a-car, extended hotel stay, etc. And this is the first run anywhere to take VISA and MasterCard! So pick up the phone and register now, and encourage your far-flung friends to do likewise—airfare discounts are 10% until December 10 and 5% until January 10. Rates for the run package itself go up after February 1.
Friday, November 7, 1997
Celebrating Tom of Finland
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #64, November 7, 1997)
The year was 1957 when the pioneering “bodybuilder magazine” Physique Pictorial became the first American publication to print the work of Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen. Editor Bob Mizer assumed no one in this country would ever be able to remember such an unusual name so he decided, in a stroke of unintended genius, to call the artist Tom of Finland.
From that one magazine cover, the art and archetypes of Tom of Finland have gone on to profoundly influence gay male culture and, by extension, society at large. Tom’s men, still arresting and arousing today, were absolutely revolutionary at the time he started drawing them. He was creating positive masculine role models for himself, and for the rest of the emerging gay culture, where none had existed before. In contrast to the prevailing image of male homosexuals as either tormented, self-loathing souls or “sissies” (as documented in the movie The Celluloid Closet), Tom’s men were both rugged and beautiful at the same time, and they reveled joyously in their masculinity and their same-sex sexuality. The men in Tom’s world were free of guilt, shame and angst at a time when men in the real world were still struggling with that concept.
As gay male culture has grown freer and more comfortable with itself, Tom’s Men have become cultural icons. We are drawn to the look—we want to associate with these men, we want to become these men. And we do. From The Village People to real people in the Village, on Castro Street and in The Tank on Sunday nights, Tom of Finland’s pictures continue, forty years later, to define, mirror and inspire our community.
This 40th-anniversary year of Tom's first publication in America has been marked by three significant events: the publication of the Tom of Finland Retrospective III, containing many examples of Tom’s drawings that have never before been published in book form; the publication of The Complete Physique Pictorial 1951-1990, a complete reprint in three volumes of the magazine that introduced Tom’s art to America; and the introduction of a line of Tom of Finland clothing taken directly from Tom’s drawings. The clothing collection features high-quality, moderately-priced items such as flannel shirts, leatherwear, tank tops, swimwear, vests and “Tom Fit” jeans. So far, of course, you can’t buy them in the Twin Cities; evidently merchandise buyers for local stores don’t think we can handle clothes with that much testosterone.
You’ll be able to see the clothes (and let the folks from Tom of Finland see you) at the Tom of Finland “Manhunt,” an educational/promotional event which is currently touring the country and which will be in Minneapolis on Thursday, November 13 from 9 pm to 3 am. It’s called a “Manhunt” because they are looking for real men to model their clothes in advertisements in major fashion magazines. (No, they are not looking for pumped/steroid bodies. They are looking for men of all types, sizes, shapes, ages and colors, who share the attitude of Tom’s men in that they are confident and comfortable with their sexuality.) You’ll learn about the Tom of Finland Foundation’s mission, accomplishments, and upcoming events nationwide. You may even get lucky and win some of the books and clothing that will be given away. (Or you may just get lucky, if you know what I mean.)
As a warm-up for this event, you might consider renting a copy of Daddy and the Muscle Academy, Tom's filmed autobiography/documentary in which Tom himself (in Finnish, with eloquent subtitles) tells his own story and the story of his art. You’ll gain an appreciation of what makes Tom’s art so extraordinary and so enduring. (While you’re at it, make it a double bill with The Celluloid Closet.)
Yes, It’s At the 90’s. Go To It Anyway.
So far this column has stayed neutral on the subject of the Gay 90’s — I have publicized events at the Gay 90’s in the same fashion as events at other places. This column has never discriminated against establishments that cater to leather only on certain nights of the week, and it will not discriminate against establishments that cater to a gay clientele only on certain nights of the week (such as Tropix). If anyone is having an event that is of interest to the leather community, you’ll find it here (assuming I am made aware of it, of course).
The Tom of Finland Manhunt has three strikes against it: 1) It's Thursday night, which means people have to work the next day. 2) It's cosponsored by Camel cigarettes, which might be offensive to those obsessed with political correctness. And 3) It’s at the 90’s. I urge you to ignore all three of these reasons, and go anyway. Don't say “no” because it’s at the 90’s. Say “yes” because it’s Tom of Finland, an important part of both gay male culture and leather culture which deserves to be supported and celebrated. And you might even enjoy it.
Upcoming Leather Events
Tom of Finland Manhunt
Thursday, November 13, 9 pm-3 am, Gay 90’s Dance Annex
(See accompanying article for details.)
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Sunday, November 23: The Black Guard’s annual Chili Feed at Tropix, 400 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis. (Details next issue.)
The year was 1957 when the pioneering “bodybuilder magazine” Physique Pictorial became the first American publication to print the work of Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen. Editor Bob Mizer assumed no one in this country would ever be able to remember such an unusual name so he decided, in a stroke of unintended genius, to call the artist Tom of Finland.
From that one magazine cover, the art and archetypes of Tom of Finland have gone on to profoundly influence gay male culture and, by extension, society at large. Tom’s men, still arresting and arousing today, were absolutely revolutionary at the time he started drawing them. He was creating positive masculine role models for himself, and for the rest of the emerging gay culture, where none had existed before. In contrast to the prevailing image of male homosexuals as either tormented, self-loathing souls or “sissies” (as documented in the movie The Celluloid Closet), Tom’s men were both rugged and beautiful at the same time, and they reveled joyously in their masculinity and their same-sex sexuality. The men in Tom’s world were free of guilt, shame and angst at a time when men in the real world were still struggling with that concept.
As gay male culture has grown freer and more comfortable with itself, Tom’s Men have become cultural icons. We are drawn to the look—we want to associate with these men, we want to become these men. And we do. From The Village People to real people in the Village, on Castro Street and in The Tank on Sunday nights, Tom of Finland’s pictures continue, forty years later, to define, mirror and inspire our community.
This 40th-anniversary year of Tom's first publication in America has been marked by three significant events: the publication of the Tom of Finland Retrospective III, containing many examples of Tom’s drawings that have never before been published in book form; the publication of The Complete Physique Pictorial 1951-1990, a complete reprint in three volumes of the magazine that introduced Tom’s art to America; and the introduction of a line of Tom of Finland clothing taken directly from Tom’s drawings. The clothing collection features high-quality, moderately-priced items such as flannel shirts, leatherwear, tank tops, swimwear, vests and “Tom Fit” jeans. So far, of course, you can’t buy them in the Twin Cities; evidently merchandise buyers for local stores don’t think we can handle clothes with that much testosterone.
You’ll be able to see the clothes (and let the folks from Tom of Finland see you) at the Tom of Finland “Manhunt,” an educational/promotional event which is currently touring the country and which will be in Minneapolis on Thursday, November 13 from 9 pm to 3 am. It’s called a “Manhunt” because they are looking for real men to model their clothes in advertisements in major fashion magazines. (No, they are not looking for pumped/steroid bodies. They are looking for men of all types, sizes, shapes, ages and colors, who share the attitude of Tom’s men in that they are confident and comfortable with their sexuality.) You’ll learn about the Tom of Finland Foundation’s mission, accomplishments, and upcoming events nationwide. You may even get lucky and win some of the books and clothing that will be given away. (Or you may just get lucky, if you know what I mean.)
As a warm-up for this event, you might consider renting a copy of Daddy and the Muscle Academy, Tom's filmed autobiography/documentary in which Tom himself (in Finnish, with eloquent subtitles) tells his own story and the story of his art. You’ll gain an appreciation of what makes Tom’s art so extraordinary and so enduring. (While you’re at it, make it a double bill with The Celluloid Closet.)
Yes, It’s At the 90’s. Go To It Anyway.
So far this column has stayed neutral on the subject of the Gay 90’s — I have publicized events at the Gay 90’s in the same fashion as events at other places. This column has never discriminated against establishments that cater to leather only on certain nights of the week, and it will not discriminate against establishments that cater to a gay clientele only on certain nights of the week (such as Tropix). If anyone is having an event that is of interest to the leather community, you’ll find it here (assuming I am made aware of it, of course).
The Tom of Finland Manhunt has three strikes against it: 1) It's Thursday night, which means people have to work the next day. 2) It's cosponsored by Camel cigarettes, which might be offensive to those obsessed with political correctness. And 3) It’s at the 90’s. I urge you to ignore all three of these reasons, and go anyway. Don't say “no” because it’s at the 90’s. Say “yes” because it’s Tom of Finland, an important part of both gay male culture and leather culture which deserves to be supported and celebrated. And you might even enjoy it.
Upcoming Leather Events
Tom of Finland Manhunt
Thursday, November 13, 9 pm-3 am, Gay 90’s Dance Annex
(See accompanying article for details.)
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Sunday, November 23: The Black Guard’s annual Chili Feed at Tropix, 400 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis. (Details next issue.)
Friday, October 24, 1997
Roger Gregg is Mr. MN Leather ’98 (and a Few Word about Electrical Play)
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #63, October 24, 1997)
PHOTO: Roger Gregg, Mr. Minnesota Leather 1998
In an extremely close contest, Roger Gregg took the sash at the 1998 Mr. Minnesota Leather competition held Saturday, October 4 at Club Metro Underground. Other competitors were George Vuckovic, Karl Keturi and Steve Eue, who captured the runner-up spot.
Saturday’s contest was preceded by a Thursday-night warm-up at the Brass Rail and a Friday-night “lights-out” party at Club Metro Underground which was quite dark and quite festive. These two events were well-attended, and Saturday night drew the biggest audience for a contest in recent memory.
The crowd was not disappointed. The four contestants looked great on stage and gave interesting, heartfelt speeches. The evening's fantasy performances displayed a creativity and a degree of showmanship not often seen at local contests. Epitomizing this was Roger Gregg’s “cast of thousands” extravaganza with the largest and most diverse cast I’ve ever seen in a fantasy—anywhere.
The judging panel included not one but two current international titleholders—International Mr. Leather (and outgoing Mr. Minnesota Leather) Kevin Cwayna and International Mr. Fantasy Ariq Robinson. Also judging were current Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Mike Siemer, current Mr. Minnesota Drummer Jack Maynard, Gary O’Neill of Wolf Productions, and your humble columnist.
Gregg will compete at next year’s 20th-anniversary International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago, where he will try to bring the International Mr. Leather sash home to Minnesota for the second year in a row.
Electricity: Please Don’t “Die-Hard”
To anyone out there who is considering exploring electricity from an SM perspective, a request: Learn about Mr. Kilowatt before you play with him. There's a lot to learn—much more than this column can go into, so I'll only touch on a few of the basics here.
For SM purposes there are two kinds of electricity: electricity that moves along the surface of human tissue, and electricity that penetrates human tissue and moves through it. Violet wands are of the former type; most other electrical toys are of the latter.
Violet wands were originally sold as medical devices but are now widely recognized as medically worthless. In SM situations, however, they provide both an interesting tactile sensation and an impressive visual image. (However, I don’t play with them because my instincts tell me that they burn holes in one’s aura. Your instincts may tell you something else, and that’s fine.)
Now, as to the other kind of electricity: Think of the various interactions between electrical current and the human body in non-SM situations. Downed power lines and hairdryers in bathtubs can be lethal. Electric chairs are designed to be lethal. Some non-lethal uses of electricity applied to the human body include torturing political prisoners and using “stun guns” to subdue attackers. And there's the legendary convention-time prank involving male conventioneers using cattle prods on female showgirls—all in good fun, of course (or so the men think).
Medical science uses electricity with somewhat loftier intentions. Electricity to the head (electroshock therapy) has been used for decades to treat mental illness and depression, but even after all these years there are still some major side effects to deal with. And in emergency rooms, electric “paddles” are used on the chest to jump-start a heart that has stopped beating. If you've ever watched “St. Elsewhere” or “ER” you know the strength of the jolt the paddles deliver.
Conversely, an electric shock can stop a beating heart. Years ago I learned from a TV repairman that when he was messing around inside a TV set he always kept one hand in his pocket. That way if he got a shock it would only go up one finger and down the other; if he had both hands inside the TV the shock could go up one arm, through the heart, and out the other arm—possibly killing him in the process.
So, since we don’t want electricity around the heart or the brain, the mantra for everyone involved in electrical play is (repeat after me): “Never above the waist.” One major manufacturer of electrical toys for SM play feels this is such an important rule that they've incorporated that slogan into their logo.
If the idea of electrical play intrigues you, don’t just buy a cattle prod at Fleet Farm and start experimenting, and don't try to see what else you can do with a car battery and jumper cables. Before you actually do anything with electricity, learn about electrical play by reading about it and/or by talking with others who have some experience in this field.
Leatherwomen: Contestants Wanted
W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is accepting applications for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition (see previous issue for contestant requirements.) Contact W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc.. (W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is the Official Representative for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition.)
PHOTO: Roger Gregg, Mr. Minnesota Leather 1998
In an extremely close contest, Roger Gregg took the sash at the 1998 Mr. Minnesota Leather competition held Saturday, October 4 at Club Metro Underground. Other competitors were George Vuckovic, Karl Keturi and Steve Eue, who captured the runner-up spot.
Saturday’s contest was preceded by a Thursday-night warm-up at the Brass Rail and a Friday-night “lights-out” party at Club Metro Underground which was quite dark and quite festive. These two events were well-attended, and Saturday night drew the biggest audience for a contest in recent memory.
The crowd was not disappointed. The four contestants looked great on stage and gave interesting, heartfelt speeches. The evening's fantasy performances displayed a creativity and a degree of showmanship not often seen at local contests. Epitomizing this was Roger Gregg’s “cast of thousands” extravaganza with the largest and most diverse cast I’ve ever seen in a fantasy—anywhere.
The judging panel included not one but two current international titleholders—International Mr. Leather (and outgoing Mr. Minnesota Leather) Kevin Cwayna and International Mr. Fantasy Ariq Robinson. Also judging were current Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Mike Siemer, current Mr. Minnesota Drummer Jack Maynard, Gary O’Neill of Wolf Productions, and your humble columnist.
Gregg will compete at next year’s 20th-anniversary International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago, where he will try to bring the International Mr. Leather sash home to Minnesota for the second year in a row.
Electricity: Please Don’t “Die-Hard”
To anyone out there who is considering exploring electricity from an SM perspective, a request: Learn about Mr. Kilowatt before you play with him. There's a lot to learn—much more than this column can go into, so I'll only touch on a few of the basics here.
For SM purposes there are two kinds of electricity: electricity that moves along the surface of human tissue, and electricity that penetrates human tissue and moves through it. Violet wands are of the former type; most other electrical toys are of the latter.
Violet wands were originally sold as medical devices but are now widely recognized as medically worthless. In SM situations, however, they provide both an interesting tactile sensation and an impressive visual image. (However, I don’t play with them because my instincts tell me that they burn holes in one’s aura. Your instincts may tell you something else, and that’s fine.)
Now, as to the other kind of electricity: Think of the various interactions between electrical current and the human body in non-SM situations. Downed power lines and hairdryers in bathtubs can be lethal. Electric chairs are designed to be lethal. Some non-lethal uses of electricity applied to the human body include torturing political prisoners and using “stun guns” to subdue attackers. And there's the legendary convention-time prank involving male conventioneers using cattle prods on female showgirls—all in good fun, of course (or so the men think).
Medical science uses electricity with somewhat loftier intentions. Electricity to the head (electroshock therapy) has been used for decades to treat mental illness and depression, but even after all these years there are still some major side effects to deal with. And in emergency rooms, electric “paddles” are used on the chest to jump-start a heart that has stopped beating. If you've ever watched “St. Elsewhere” or “ER” you know the strength of the jolt the paddles deliver.
Conversely, an electric shock can stop a beating heart. Years ago I learned from a TV repairman that when he was messing around inside a TV set he always kept one hand in his pocket. That way if he got a shock it would only go up one finger and down the other; if he had both hands inside the TV the shock could go up one arm, through the heart, and out the other arm—possibly killing him in the process.
So, since we don’t want electricity around the heart or the brain, the mantra for everyone involved in electrical play is (repeat after me): “Never above the waist.” One major manufacturer of electrical toys for SM play feels this is such an important rule that they've incorporated that slogan into their logo.
If the idea of electrical play intrigues you, don’t just buy a cattle prod at Fleet Farm and start experimenting, and don't try to see what else you can do with a car battery and jumper cables. Before you actually do anything with electricity, learn about electrical play by reading about it and/or by talking with others who have some experience in this field.
Leatherwomen: Contestants Wanted
W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is accepting applications for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition (see previous issue for contestant requirements.) Contact W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc.. (W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is the Official Representative for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition.)
Friday, October 10, 1997
Of Magic and Mountaintops—Reflections on the Atons 25th-Anniversary Run
(Published in International Leatherman, Issue #17, February-March, 1998)
The Atons of Minneapolis recently celebrated their 25th anniversary with a run themed, appropriately, “A Renaissance—Renewing the Ties that Bind.” This Atons run was unusual in several ways. Normally, the Atons hold a run only during even-numbered years; odd-numbered years feature a smaller, informal campout instead of a run. Atons runs and campouts are usually held in the middle of summer at a campground in outstate Minnesota. The 25th-anniversary run was a magnificent exception to those rules. It was a full-fledged run in an odd-numbered year. It was held in autumn, which meant cooler nights which were perfect for wearing leather. And it was held at the Minneapolis Regal hotel in downtown Minneapolis, a first-class facility which made a very comfortable base of operations for the run and its 139 participants.
The run kicked off Friday night with registration and dinner in the hotel’s top-floor banquet room and geodesic-domed lounge with spectacular views of the Minneapolis night skyline. Participants then had a choice of a Bar Crawl to The Saloon, conveniently located a few blocks from the hotel, or two play parties (one bondage, one watersports). After-hours cocktail parties at the hotel completed the evening.
Saturday’s major activity, in keeping with the theme of the run, was a trip to the 27th annual Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota. This 22-acre re-creation of a medieval kingdom has for years been a gathering place for artisans and entertainers who bring the village streets to life with food, drink, continuous entertainment, games, and the atmosphere of an authentic marketplace featuring a wide variety of crafts. As if that weren’t enough, the Atons added their own special events including an Enduro which took participants on a tour of the entire festival grounds gathering pieces of information to solve a puzzle.
Saturday night’s 25th-anniversary banquet featured an appearance by leather lesbian Lynn Lavner and entertainment by members of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. After the banquet were two more play parties (one bondage, one fisting).
The run concluded Sunday with a breakfast buffet during which the weekend’s awards were handed out and charter member Jim Courtney was recognized with a rousing round of applause for being the last remaining fully-active charter member. A Sunday-afternoon wind-down party at The Saloon was available for those who didn’t have to immediately drive or catch a plane back home. And the Atons, who had been planning this event for over a year, could relax and enjoy the afterglow of another well-done run.
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #62, October 10, 1997)
The Atons of Minneapolis held their 25-year anniversary run, “A Renaissance—Renewing the Ties that Bind,” at the Minneapolis Regal Hotel from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28. Following is the text of some remarks I made at the Sunday morning closing ceremonies.
“This has been a magic weekend for me, and I hope for you all as well. I’d like to tell you a little bit about my experiences this weekend, and offer you a few things to think about during your drive or flight home.
“Of course I knew that this weekend was going to be a magical event, and that the Atons’ 25-year anniversary was historic. But I didn’t really appreciate how historic until I spent some time Friday night talking to a gentleman who is here for the weekend from Chicago. He is a professional librarian, and among other things he is currently the head librarian at the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago. He gave me a new appreciation of how far back in the community the Atons’ roots really go, and how amazing it is that out of all the clubs that were started years ago, and all the clubs that have come and gone in the meantime—and there have been many—this club has lasted 25 years and is still here, strong and vital. That really is worth celebrating.
“And celebrate we have. Yesterday many of us went to the Renaissance Festival. I had a wonderful time. I’ve been there many times before—years ago, when I was in high school, I worked it—but being there yesterday as part of this group, and at every turn seeing someone in leather, made the day magical. And yes, the evenings and nights have been pretty magical too.
“And then I woke up this morning and I realized something. This is the last weekend of the Renaissance Festival for this year. Just like the mythical Scottish town of Brigadoon, which sprang to life for only one day each century before vanishing into the Highland mists for another hundred years (you Broadway queens out there know what I’m talking about here), the Renaissance Festival is gone after today until next year. And so is this Run. The Atons will have other runs, but there will never be another run quite like this 25th-anniversary run. It’s about to disappear into the mists of history, and we’ll only be able to call back our experiences of this weekend in our dreams and in our memories. All the while we’ve been celebrating 25 years of the Atons’ history this weekend, we’ve been a part of making the history that our leather descendants—and some of us, I hope—will be remembering in 25 years at the Atons’ 50-year anniversary run.
“I had another thought when I woke up this morning, and was thinking how magical this weekend has been. It’s the same thought I have at the end of every leather event I attend, and I imagine some of you have had the same thought: I don’t want this to end. Even for the Atons, who have been planning this for a year-and-a-half and are probably READY to have this end, I bet some of you are feeling the same thing I felt this morning: Life should always be like this. I want life to always be this magical, to always be surrounded by my tribe and feel the sense of comradery, caring and community I always feel at events like this. Like Moses, I find myself wanting to live the rest of my life at the top of the mountain, in the presence of what I consider holy.
“But life isn’t like that. We have to come down off our mountain tops, and go back out into that everyday, ’normal’ world that often doesn’t understand us, doesn’t always let us be who we truly are, and sometimes makes us feel out of place. Why does this have to be, I was asking myself this morning. And the answer came back—because there are people out in that world who want what we have, who want what we have been enjoying this weekend—and don’t know how to find it. We have to go out there and let them know that they can be a part of this—they can be a part of us— if that’s what they want. They won’t be able to find it by themselves, and we won’t be able to maintain it by ourselves. But by joining together with them, and letting them join together with us—just as a bunch of guys joined together 25 years ago and created a club called the Atons—we’ll ensure that our tribe continues and grows, and that for years to come we’ll always have places and times like this weekend, when we can come together and be who we truly are, and celebrate.”
Leatherwomen: Contestants Wanted
W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is now accepting applications for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition. Requirements: Must be a resident of Minnesota, a woman 21 years or older, friendly, gracious, knowledgeable in leather, and ready to work equally with the men’s and women’s communities. Eager to educate, support, and listen to the newcomers entering the leather scene locally and abroad. Must possess strong leadership skills with the ability to organize and speak in public forums. You must be financially capable of supporting the expenses attached to holding this title and must compete at the 1998 International Ms. Leather competition. For more information or to receive an application, contact W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc., Brooklyn Center MN. (W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions Inc. is the Official Representative for the 1998 Ms. Minnesota Leather Competition.)
Upcoming Leather Events
Steve Kelso Appearance benefiting The Aliveness Project
Friday, October 24, The Town House (St. Paul)
Doors open at 6 pm; $10 admission includes a buffet supper at 6:30 pm; Kelso’s appearance starts at 9 pm. Buy a calendar, poster or video and he’ll autograph it for you (Christmas is coming—great gift ideas). Music is by DJ Damon. All proceeds benefit The Aliveness Project’s Holiday Basket Project.
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