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

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!