Philadelphia Leather Pride Night

Titleholders call at PLPN 2013

November 9, 2013 - Sir and I traveled to Philadelphia to coordinate the bootblacks for the 5th Philadelphia Leather Pride Night.  We arrived around 2 p.m. and set up the bootblack stands at the Voyeur for the event.  I began working at 4 p.m. on those volunteers who needed some leather loving before the event started at 7 p.m.  I was joined by Raquel and, much later, by Oil Tam Sam (IMBB 2013).

Working on Security guy, Mason, boots

Working on boots

Loving on Clay's leather uniform. YUM!

Rare white leather chaps!

These chaps needed lots of love!

The lovely drag king also had some black chaps.

I found out just before the evening started that a marvelous bootblack, Tim Starkey, had died around noon.  Although I knew he had been fighting kidney and liver failure since June, it still hit me hard and I cried while Sir and Nikki (Ms. NJ Leather 2013) held me.  He was such a wonderful man and he will be missed by many in the Leather community.

Sir Robert Bowden and I speak about Tim Starkey's life.

Tim Starkey and Mama Vi Johnson

Mr. Maryland Leather Contest

November 1-2, 2013 - Pug and I worked the bootblack stands in Baltimore, Maryland for the C.O.M.M.A.N.D. MC's Mr. Maryland Leather Contest.  I worked the stand at the Grand Central on Friday night's Meet & Greet, making sure that anyone who needed it, had their leathers worked on and loved before the weekend began.  It was my first time in Grand Central and I was impressed by the beautiful layout of the upstairs bar and dance floor.

Saturday was the contest and Pug and I manned the stands during the contest for all who wished for some leather loving. The newly sashed Mr and Ms New Jersey Leather titleholders attended and I was so happy to see them.   David Puhl won the contest and he will be a wonderful titleholder.

*I have no pictures to post since Sir was not carrying his camera Friday night and did not attend the contest.

Leather History Conference 2013

 Quilt of Leather Flags

October 25-27, 2013 - Sir and I traveled to Winston-Salem, NC for the third Leather History Conference.  We arrived later than expected because I had to attend a hearing in Maryland Friday morning and rolled into the host hotel around 6 p.m.  We checked the bootblack stand area and discovered that there were already stands in place so no need to unload the ones we brought from Maryland.  tidbit (NC Community Bootblack 2012) and Bella (IMsBB 2013) had set up the stands and were taking shifts during the weekend.  Also on hand were Boy River and Pug.  This was a very lucky thing for me since I become very ill on Saturday and was not able to do much from about 2 pm until we left Sunday morning to return home.  I hated not doing as much as I usually do to coordinate bootblacks for this event but my body refused to cooperate. *sighs*

Working on Pup Tank's boots

I did get to attend the story telling session for Sir James Michael Allen from South Africa.  Wow!  He is very high energy and it is very clear how much getting the word out about his personal mission means to him.  Passionate does not do him justice!  I was honored to sign the South African flag that he wanted those who attended to sign for him.  I hope someday to visit South Africa and see the Leather community that is growing there.

Signing the South Africa flag.

Sir James Michael Allen (SA Leather Batman)

Sir and I talking to the Leather Batman

Philadelphia Leatherwomen's Bar Night (3rd one in 2013)

October 4, 2013:  Sir and I rode up to Philadelphia PA for the third bar night of the year for Leatherwomen of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.  The Pit in the Bike Stop was set up for the Leatherwomen to have fun in women-only space for the evening.  I set up my kit and immediately had women step up to the bootblack stand for some loving.  I spent the next three hours working on leather, as well as teaching a new baby bootblack, Emrys, how to care for a skirt, a corset and a pair of boots.

The energy in the Pit was very welcoming and I enjoyed it immensely.  I worked on Nikki Wireman's leather chaps and, for my efforts, I was subjected to having my breasts kissed, licked and chewed.  Oh the horror!  *giggles*  She is running for Ms. New Jersey Leather in two weeks and I hope that she does well.  Her chaps looked really good and I had a wonderful time working on them (and on her!).  Nikki was presented with a poster containing the hot Leatherwomen picture that advertised the second bar night, signed by those women who had been present for all three bar nights.  I hope it brings her much money for her travel fund (since I really believe she will win).

Pittsburgh Leather Pride Weekend

September 20-22, 2013: Sir Tatsujin Paris, Raquel and I went to Pittsburgh on Friday to spend the weekend enjoying the Leather community, as well as presenting classes on Saturday.  Ann Robertson opened her heart and her home to us, giving us a place to spend Friday and Saturday night (as well as naps between the afternoon and evening events).

Friday night was the Meet & Greet at the Blue Moon bar.  It was a packed house and I loved seeing so many Pittsburgh folks whom I had met in Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland at prior events.  This is the fourth year for the Pittsburgh Leather & Fetish competition and it was clear that the Leather community in Pittsburgh is growing and excited.

Raquel, me and Nina Love at Blue Moon

At the Meet & Greet Friday night.

Saturday, Raquel and I presented classes at the Blue Moon bar in the afternoon.  I started with Leather Care, trying to cram my years of experience as a bootblack into a 1.5 hour class.  I discovered afterwards that I actually went 2 hours.  Raquel then presented a class on how to be a top, as well as a bottom, while working as a bootblack.  It was an eye-opener to many that a bootblack could be a top and that a scene that is hot and sexy could be incorporated into having leather worked on while a person is wearing it.

Working on Mike's chaps

Sir's cowboy boots

A boot on the chest is a wonderful thing!

Saturday evening, we went to Cattivo for the contest and to be available as bootblacks for anyone who wanted to have their leather worked on.  There were four contestants for Mr. Pittsburgh Leather & Fetish and one contestant for Ms. Pittsburgh Leather & Fetish.  I was amused by the fact that at least two of the male contestants had attended the bootblack classes after their interviews.  Clearly, the draw of leather, as well as bootblacking, is strong in Pittsburgh.

Doc is in the house!

Mike and Ron (OMG is he TALL!)

Instant Minion and her mother (she is awesome!)

Doc and her Sir, and me.

Raquel, Johnny Flex and his boy.

Johnny muffles his boy!

Sir Tatsujin Paris gets into a picture with us!

Sunday morning we all woke up with symptoms of the flu so Sir decided we should just go home and skip the BBQ at the Leather Central which was scheduled for the afternoon.  We arrived home safe and glad to crawl into bed after an amazing weekend.  I look forward to more trips to Pittsburgh PA. Yinz  be safe and have much fun, Pittsburgh Leatherfolk!

The Floating World

August 16-18, 2013 -  This was my first time at The Floating World and I went there to present three classes, one of which was on leather care.  I did very little bootblacking and that was a different experience for me.  Generally speaking, I spend most of my time at an event working at the stand and spreading the love for leather to those who sit in my chair.  However, it was my skills as a presenter that were on display this weekend.  AND, I got to attend some of the workshops!  Whee!  I attended a class called "Sacred Touch Experience" and it was interactive.  Very interesting class and one of the participants revealed that he found me to be an "old soul" who was a "healer in a past life."  The experience of touching someone that I did not know and opening myself to see beyond the outer shell was very informative and I enjoyed it a lot.

I got to attend part of Laura Antoniou's class and bought her latest two books AND she signed them for me.  That was a good time and the participants in her class were lively in their interactions with her. *smiles*

I found that two of my classes were well received - Leather care 101 and Legal Issues for LGBT relationships.  Both classes were small but the participants asked a lot of questions and I believe that they came away from the classes with new information and a need to follow up on what they learned.  I am a happy teacher!

Baltimore Pride Parade

Mid-Atlantic 2013 Leather Family on the march.

June 15, 2013 -  Once again, the entire Mid-Atlantic Titleholder Family for 2013 was together for an event.  I had brought the huge Leather Pride flag with me from Philadelphia PA and Sir Hooker gathered enough Leatherfolk to carry it in the parade.  It looked so awesome going down Charles Street behind the titleholders.  I found it interesting to try and march behind the Leather color guard, while waving and throwing beads.  It is a lot harder than it looks from the sidelines!  I had found some rainbow tights at Hot Topic and I wore them in the parade.  I received a lot of compliments on those tights.

Boy David in the color guard.

Ready to march with my beads.

Leather Pride Flag in Baltimore MD. YAY!

Before the parade started.

Jaki and me, sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for the parade to start!

 I was happily surprised to see my son on the sidelines and he even met up with us afterwards and hung out with us.  In fact, I learned later that he had hung around with Hooker & Boys for a while at the Pride Block Party.  I was too tired and went home to rest.

My son is so tall!

Even when he slouches, he towers over me.

My son, Sir Hooker, and boy quinton

Philadelphia Pride Parade

June 9, 2013 - Sir and I drove up to Philadelphia so that I could march in the Leather contingent headed by the Philadelphian MC.  I joined with the Keystone Boys of Leather, the New Jersey Amazons, and other titleholders to march in the PRIDE parade.  It was awesome to meet up with Doc (American Leatherwoman and Pittsburgh Leatherwoman 2012) and her Sir, as well as Cowboi Jen and Tina, and so many others.  I was honored to meet James (the Leather Bat man from South Africa!), who came to the US to see how we celebrate PRIDE in here.  The marching music was a lot of fun and I was one of the people who got to carry the huge Leather Pride flag through half of the parade.  It was made for Cowboi Jen by the Leather community in South Africa and we had fun with it: flapping it up and down so folks could run underneath it, as well as rolling a red ball on it from side to side.  The day was nearly perfect for a parade - hot but not sweltering and no rain in sight.  This time, I did not get sunburned!  I guess the 100+ sunscreen worked as advertised. *grins*

Some of the Keystone Boys of Leather.

James from South Africa is next to me! Leather Batman and the Boot Bat.

Doc, boy quinton and me.

Boy Roger of Keystone Boys of Leather.

The Philadelphian MC banner holders. WOOF!

Early in the parade.

The Bootblack Brigade flag in the parade.

Cheering on the crowd.

Marching with boy chris.

Blowing kisses to the crowd.

The Leather Pride flag from South Africa, on display.

Marching down the street with the Leather Pride flag.

Folding up the flag at the end of the parade.

Just before the grandstand!

DC Latino GLBT Pride Fiesta Dance

June 6, 2013 -  I was invited by Jose Gutierrez to attend the Fiesta Dance for DC Latino GLBT Pride and I was happy and proud to do so.  As a Boricua on my father's side, celebrating my heritage is always a pleasure.  Since I knew there would be drag queens in attendance, I did my best to dress up to the occasion, wearing a long gown with sparkly beads on it, slits up both sides to show the legs, and a low cut back to show off my back tattoo.  The title sash went around my neck and the outfit was complete.  Sir came in a nice suit with a purple shirt (as a tilt of the hat to my love of purple!).  I met the local Latino titleholders and even got a  picture with Mr. Latino GLBT Pride for 2012 and 2013, who was a hot young thing!  The Mayor of DC showed up and kicked off the festivities and it is just possible that there will be a picture of me in the Washington Post!  I had a lot of fun, dancing with fellow Latinos and celebrating the inclusive nature of the City of D.C., where even the police officers there for security enjoyed the music and laughter of the GLBT crowd.

Que guapo!

DC Mayor Gray

Jose Gutierrez and me

The volunteers from AIDS Walk.