Leatherati

Do you have Desire?

Desire is a weekend retreat June for leather and kinky women. Desire creates an environment where women can learn new things, be around other fun women, and fulfill your wildest desires. DESIRE 2012 is bigger and better and invites you to join us in creating a place where to be free and play! 

Desire 2012 will take place in a beautiful resort in Palm Springs, California. The private setting allows freedom for unrestricted play outdoors anytime, and of course clothing is optional at all times. Most dungeon equipment is outside beneath the trees and on grassy shaded lawns. Imagine floating in the pool and watching the play around you. There will be 3 evening parties for play under the stars and in air-conditioned rooms.

Desire has gathered a wonderful group of presenters from around the U.S. and Canada who are eager to share their expertise and provide exciting workshops. They also come to DESIRE to play and help create this weekend community.

Desire is the opportunity to have a one-on-one session with one of the presenters. These individualized sessions provide participants with an opportunity to learn new and/or advanced skills from a presenter of their choice. There are limited sessions so register early to ensure that you get one!

Come to Palm Springs and experience the event everyone is talking about. Whether you’re a curious beginner, a confirmed “pervert”, or simply a woman who loves sex and wants to be around other sexy women in an open environment – come to DESIRE!!!!!!

News to Abuse: Girls Night Out - The Sexual Woman - As You Like It

Girls Night Out - Women's Play Party

tiger (Ms San Diego Leather 2010) presents: Girls Night Out -- Womens Only Play Party on Saturday, January 28th, 2011

Girls Night Out -- All Women Play Party is hosted by tiger (Ms San Diego Leather 2010), along with Club X and Dungeon Servitus!

This event is only held four times per year, and is limited to around 40 attendees so get your tickets early. GNO is an amazing, high-energy event geared toward all types of women: straight, bi, gay, femme, butch, etc who love female energy!

The date for the next GNO is Saturday, January 28th, 2011 from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM

Advance tickets only - no door sales. This is a private party and you must pre-pay and be on the will-call list to attend.  Address provided upon receipt of payment, tickets are non-refundable without advance notice.

the Cost is $10 for Club X members/$15 non-members.  Dress code: Leather, fetish, military, or black is always good! Please be street legal and quiet outside of the Dungeon!

Email tiger at tigerboisd@yahoo.com for access to online registration.

IMsL Early Bird Rates

Don‚t miss the world's largest leather event for women and EVERYONE who loves them.

Cruise and schmooze with 700+ leather folk, and experience the extraordinary IMsL extravaganza that‚s now in its 26th year!

At IMsL, watch incredible Leatherwomen strut their stuff in 2 incredible contests: International Ms Leather 2012 and International Ms Booblack 2012, and celebrate your love of leather by attending all of our events

• Steamy live stage shows, like Seduction: our hot Hot HOT opening party that boasts an evening of burlesque, strip tease, lap dancing, drag∑and more.
• Educational Classes: 24+ top notch presenters share their knowledge with you about everything from walking in high heels to fisting, erotic breathwork and blood play.
• Bootblack Salon and Leathercare Lounge: get turned on by getting your leathers done.
• Sunday Brunch with Tristan Taormino. Don't miss this keynote speech by this award-winning author, columnist, sex educator college lecturer and feminist pornographer!
• Hospitality Receptions and Parties: visit ongoing receptions and special parties, including; The Uniform Party (hosted by the Dyke Uniform Corps, The Boots & Cigars Party, The Littles Slumber Party and Petting Zoo
• An Onsite, 24-hour, Equipped Play Space!  That's right: anytime from Thursday evening to Midnight Sunday, you have a space to play and romp!

Experience Leather history in the making at the longest running, most recognized women's Leather contest and celebration in the world!

Get yourself to San Francisco March 29th through April 1st for an unforgettable weekend. All the info is on the website

Don't forget that Early Bird Registration Rates only last until Monday, January 16, 2012

Vi Johnson Receives NGLTF Leather Leadership Award

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced today that Viola Johnson will receive its 2012 Leather Leadership Award, to be presented at the Task Force's 24th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. More than 2,500 leaders and activists are expected to attend the conference, which will be held in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 25-29, 2012.

The award will recognize Johnson's nearly four decades of leadership and activism within and on behalf of the leather community. She is the seventh person and first woman to receive the prestigious award, which is accompanied by a $5,000 honorarium. Previous recipients include leather luminaries Guy Baldwin, Tony DeBlase, Hardy Haberman, Chuck Renslow, Dave Rhodes and Graylin Thornton.

“We are proud to recognize Vi Johnson's extraordinary record of selfless service to our community,” says Sue Hyde, director of the Task Force’s Creating Change conference. “Her warmth, humility and quiet perseverance have endeared her to several generations of leathermen and women and this award is a way for the larger LGBT community to embrace her as well.”

“I never intended to become an activist,” says Johnson. “I simply acted on those issues which I was passionate about, and on my need to make life better for the next generation as it was made better for me. I am so humbled and honored that the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has noticed my work.”

More about Vi Johnson

Viola Johnson has been an activist, educator, writer, motivational speaker and author in and for the leather community for nearly four decades. She has served as a mentor to countless individuals, and was dubbed "Mom" by several generations of leathermen and women. She is delighted to now be “Grandmom” to a whole new generation.

She is passionately involved with preserving the history of the SM/leather/fetish communities, serving as the director and senior griot of the Carter/Johnson Library and Collection, a traveling library designed to bring history to the communities it serves. Previously, she sat on the board of directors of the Leather Archives & Museum. Johnson is a member of Tulsa Uniform Leather Seekers Association (T.U.L.S.A.), the Lesbian Sex Mafia (LSM), and the ONYX Pearls, as well as honorary member of many other organizations.

She has lectured at numerous academic institutions, including Bryn Mawr and Barnard Colleges, and Oklahoma State University. She continues to speak on panels at a wide variety of events and organizations.

In addition, Johnson has received numerous honors for her work, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from Pantheon of Leather, the National Leather Association, and Black Beat. She is the author of two books, Dhampir: Child of the Blood and To Love, To Obey, To Serve: Diary of an Old Guard Slave. She is the wife of Jill Carter, International Ms. Leather 1996.

News to Abuse: Domina Calendar - LDG 15 - IMsL Judges

Pro Dommes and Beyond "Best of the World Dominas 2012".

From the Publisher - "An Exquisite Collectible Calendar of Professional Dominas from Around the World for 2012, from Pro Dommes and Beyond."

I truly did not know I needed this but now I kinda want one.  I'm especially (and rather inexplicably) drawn to July.

Available on Lulu.com

Leathermen's Discussion Group 15th Anniversary

Thanks once again to the generosity of Folsom Street Events, the San Francisco Leathermen's Discussion Group is holding its fifteenth anniversary bash in the Andrew Spencer Ceremonial Room at the LGBT Community Center.

Meeting details - Saturday, December 17, 2011, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM in the Spencer Ceremonial Room, 4th floor LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

The meeting is open to all adults. Come help them honor their past, celebrate the present, and hear what they have in store for the future. 

Along with music and merriment by our leather/latex/who-knows-what elves and helpers, we'll present our first-ever LDG Service awards and a preview of our upcoming mentoring program.  Speechmaking will be minimal but choice: our featured speaker is activist, educator, organizer, commentator, community leader, and longtime friend of LDG, Race Bannon. 

Note:  The LDG is still seeking both volunteers to assist at the event and food & beverage sponsors.  If you can help, please drop a line to:  volunteer@sfldg.org 

IMsL Judges

International Ms Leather just announced their judging panel for 2012.  IMsL is March 29 - April 1, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway hotel in San Francisco.

International Ms Bootblack 2012 Judges: 

• International Mr Bootblack 2011 Jim Deuder
• International Ms Bootblack 2010 Jayson Daboi
• Great Lakes Bootblack 2007 Riley Johnson
• Plus one Secret Judge

International Ms Leather 2012 Judges: 

• International Mr Leather 2011 Eric Guttierez
• International Ms Leather 2010 Mollena Williams
• International Master 2008 Master Rick
• Sir Cougar
• Arli Nikkel
• Colten
• Head Judge Sarah Humble

IMsL contestants will participate in an all out, hot and steamy contest as they answer pop questions, give speeches, strut their stuff in hot wear and entertain the crowd with their fantasies on stage. And the contest structure for the bootblacks has been changed and updated, and it’s as exciting as ever! Learn more at http://imsl.org/newsite2010/mainpages/contestrules.html 

Want to throw your heel or boot into the ring? Go to www.IMsL.org to request an application.

Additionally, Early Bird registration is available now.  There are also opportunities to volunteer, a great way to lower the cost of the event, and be a part of a great team, making a great event happen!

More info and registration at www.imsl.org

Ms SF Leather Results

Ms. SFL Leather does it again – rocking contest nets windfall for worthy charities! 

2011 marked the third consecutive year for the Ms. San Francisco Leather contest (resurrected after a 10-year hiatus). Ea ch year has featured an amazing contest, and 2011 was no exception.

The one and only Lady Hilary entertained the crowd as emcee for the meet and greet, held October 7th at the Lone Star. The contest was held October 8th at the Hotel Whitcomb, where a standing-room-only crowd enjoyed watching the contestants be put through their paces. The emcee, Miranda, kept the contest moving and the audience entertained. The contest also continued its tradition of large charitable donations, with the two 2011 beneficiaries: Community United Against Violence (CUAV), and the Women’s Leather History Project of the Leather Archives and Museum receiving a whopping $2,250 each! The contest was dedicated to George Wong, a beloved member of the leather community.

Leather Archives & Museum names Dr. Alex Warner Project Historian

The Leather Archives & Museum has named Dr. Alex Warner as the first Project Historian for the Women's Leather History Project at the institution.

Dr. Warner, who recently received her doctorate from the History Department at Rutgers University, will work with the Women's Leather History Project through collection and program development, volunteer oversight, fundraising and oral history administration. 

"The addition of Dr. Warner adds a new depth to the Women's Leather History Project" said Sarah Humble, LA&M Board Member and co-coordinator for the Women's Project.  "Her experience will both broaden the collection and inspire new ways to deliver Women's Leather history through programs and exhibits."

Warner recently completed a dissertation examining the intersection of the politics of feminism and sexual liberation through investigating the organization of lesbian sado-masochists in the 1970s and 80s.  She lives in Iowa with her partner, Amber, and plans to continue her academic work and teaching History and Gender/Sexuality Studies.

 

Ms SF Leather Contestants Announced

The tradition continues! The Ms. San Francisco Leather contest, scheduled for October 8, 2011, is more powerful than ever as organizers prepare for a star studded night of mischief, mayhem and of course, plenty of sexy leather clad women.

Last year, enthusiastic crowds packed The Hotel Whitcomb to watch Leo Peralta, Marketing Director and Co-Owner of butchboi.com and a founding member of The Big Pink House win the hotly contested title. 

The 2010 contest lit up the San Francisco night with cheer and revelry while raising more than $4,000 in funds for Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (LYRIC), and the Women's Leather History Project of the Leather Archives and Museum.

2011 promises to be even bigger.  Here are the Ms. SF Leather’s 2011 savvy and sexy contestants…

News to Abuse: Keystone Boys - Ms SF Leather Judges - Women's International Leatherfest

Keystone Boys of Leather

The KboL have just announced their officers for 2011-2012

• Alphaboy/President - boyZech
• Betaboy/Vice President - boyChris
• Techboy/Scribe - boyKeith
• Moneyboy/Treasurer - boyMartin
• Boy-at-arms/Sargeant-at-arms - boyLarry

 You can catch up with the KboL at their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM at the Bike Stop in Philadelphia.  More info on their website

Ms SF Leather Judges Announced

On October 7 and 8, 2011, a panel of esteemed judges will select Ms. San Francisco Leather 2011!  This year's judges include Ms. Margaret, the producer of the Northwest Leather Celebration; Tracy Wolf, Ms. San Francisco Leather 2009 and Women's International Leather Legacy 2011; Jason DaBoi, International Ms. Bootblack 2010; Darren Bondy, Mr. San Francisco Leather 2011; and our secret judge who will be revealed on the night of the contest!!    

The contest festivities begin with a Meet and Greet on Friday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lone Star Saloon, 1354 Harrison Street (between 9th and 10th) in San Francisco and then on Saturday, October 8, the entire Bay Area leather community will come together at the Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market Street (at 8th), to cheer on this year's contestants as they strut their stuff, entertain us with their fantasies, answer pop questions and give speeches.               

More informationat: http://mssfleather.org/  

Women's International Leatherfest

Women in Leather International announced The Women's International LeatherFest - Celebrating Sexuality.  

The event will take place June 1 - 3, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. Men are welcome to attend and will have their own workshops, all other events and hotel areas are open to all people.   

Info on the website

 

 

Stompers, San Francisco

by Leland Carina

There has been a lot of talk lately about the need for our community to frequent the businesses that support us. Not only is Stompers the hottest boot store I've ever been to, but they are also absolutely supportive. As an example of their support and for full disclosure, I should mention that they made a generous donation in support of my run for Ms SF Leather 2011.