History of New Mexico Leather & Alternative Community
Venues • Artisans • Groups • Events

The Leather Journal, November 2007, Page 20.

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The Leather Journal, November 2007, p20.  Dave Rhodes attended RGL 2008 title contest.  Pictures on page clockwise from top left: (1) Contest producer Lady Katalina and Mr. Rio Grade Leather 2007 Dread Pirate Drew; (2) Jayson DaBoi works on Pat Baillie's boots; (3) Riogirlscout performed a straight jacket escape scene on Friday night; (4) Ruben Gallegos of the Leather Wolves and his boys rex on his left and geo on his right; (5) Workshop presenters Malik and slave cathy; (6) Belly dancer eve during Albuquerque Shines; (7) (center) Mr. and Ms. Rio Grade Leather 2008 Crrreature and Daddy Bear.  Photos by Dave Rhodes.

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Text of article:

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Rio Grade Leather, held October 19-21 in Albuquerque, NM saw Crrreature and Daddy Bear win the Mr. and Ms. Rio Grade Leather titles at the Howard Johnson Hotel and Convention Center.  Rio Grande Leather was produced by the New Mexico Leather League.  All events were at Howard Johnsons.

Rio Grade Leather included a Friday evening meet and greet, Albuquerque Shines that showcased local new Mexico talent and a private play party.  Saturday began with a morning meditation, work shows all day, the Mr. and Ms. Rio Grade Leather contest and a private play party.  Sunday included a morning meditation, a keynote speech by Phillip “Boymeat” Wolf from New York and several workshops.  A vendor amall and art show as open all weekend as weas a hospitality suite.
Albuquerque Shines was emceed by Dominick Zurlo and Julian Wolf.  There were several hot fantasies, a burlesque show the contestants drew numbers and Dread Pirate Drew presented his step down fantasy.  Other performers were Justin Tanis, PJ Sedillo, LE, Angelica Del Rio, and Martinique Bouvier.

Boymeat’s keynote address on Sunday morning centered around TNG (The Next Generation) group of which he was the major founder in New York.  His speech will appear on www.TheLeatherJournal.com soon.  It was delivered in a way that compared the founding of TNG to many other institutions which became accepted as the status quo.  Boymeat noted the objections that he and his cofounders faced, similar in style to the objections that the other stapes of the Leather community fought at their inceptions.

Also competing were Mauro Montoya for Mr. Rio Grade Leather and Princess Frida for the Ms. Title.  All constestants were different from each other.  They stressed their desire to work together, win or lose.  That was efident as all participated enthusiastically during a travel fun benefit before the keynote speech on Sunday morning.

 

The judges were lead by Lady Hilary, Mr. Rio Grande Leather 2006 Dread Pirate Drew, Drew’s girl Diane, International Ms. Boot Black 1998 Leslie Anderson, Stephani Patten, The Leather Journal publisher and editor Dave Rhodes, and International Ms. Leather 2007 boi moe.  The tally masters were Tony Ross and Heather Larkin.  The judges’ boy and girl were Marc and LE.

Emcees International Mr. Leather 1994 Jeff Tucker and slave alia from Phoenix were a hit.  Both built up the contestants and did not upstage them as is often the case at some contests.

 

A community service awarded was presented to International Ms Boot Black 1998 Leslie Anderson by co-producers Pat Baillie and Lady Katalina.

 

Dread Pirate Drew’s step-down speech was a riot.  He quickly thanked everyone and stated that he was leaving the leather community immediately after his title year ended.  He stepped back and the lights dimmed and the audience was in shock, having no idea how to respond.  In a matter of seconds, he stepped forward and said that he was kidding and that he would not be going away that easily.  With a collective sign of relief, the crowd applauded.  He really played up the pirate theme throughout his year.

A Leather Wolves Bondage Lounge which was busy with mostly men was busy all weekend.  David and Paul from Houston, Master Mitch from Seattle, and Wes Grey Wolf from New Mexico oversaw the play which featured one of those suction cubes and other rubber/latex bondage equipment.

 

Dave Rhodes gave his Leather History presentation in front of about 25 people.  Emphasis at the end was on the New Mexico Leather community with photos and artifacts presented including photos from the 1990s Clubs such as the Motorcyclemen of New Mexico and Sandia Leather were shared.  Many attending the workshop saw photos of themselves from 15 years ago and beyond. Stephanie Patten, a transgender, was Mr. Northern California Drummer circa 1990 and he wond the Golden Whip (congeniality) Award when he competed in the national contest then.  Many in the New Mexico Leather community had never seen that side of Stephanie.

 

Some of the workshops were Fire Cupping, When Protocol Fails, Surviving Corporal 101, Finding The Devine At The End Of A Whip, Show Me Your Soul – The Spirituality and Technique of Cutting, The Empty Vessel, Mumification, Creatin the Leather Relationship Of Your Dreams, and Leather Dinner Etiquette.

Presenters included Cougar, Sir Stephen, slave cathrine, Malik and slave cathy, Master Jefferson, Victoria, slave marsha, Megan Silver, Master Dennis, lave alia, Boymeat, Lady Hilary, and boi moe.

Vendors operated out of hotel rooms dubbed The Mall.  Among ventors there were Prophett’s Toy Bag, Gear Werks, Fire and Ice Jewelry, Self Serve, Prysm Creations, Xcentricities, and the Eyegasm Art Show.

A private wind down party was held at the home of event co-oorganizer Pat Baillie.

Check out www.riograndeleather.org for more information.
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