Leather Pride Weekend

By Edward Lee PHOENIX – The annual Southwest Leather Pride Weekend will take place March 4-7, 2010 in Phoenix. This unique event attracts a wide variety of people from around Arizona and the rest of the U.S. “Basically it is very much like Pride, except it is focused on the Leather community. It is our weekend to show our pride in who we are as Leather folk,” says Stephen Palaschak, Southwest Leatherboy 2008, 1st runner-up International Leatherboy 2008 and a member of Southwest Leather Pride. This year’s event will kick-off on Thursday, March 4 with a Button Fly & Cigar Pre-Leather Weekend Party at 7 pm at Apollo’s Lounge. On Friday night the Dirty, Secret, Black Party will be held at Velocity starting at 9 pm. Saturday several events will be going on around Phoenix, with a dinner at My Mothers Restaurant at 6:30 pm. The highlight of the weekend takes place Saturday night at the Bunkhouse Saloon with the Southwest LeatherSIR, Southwest Leatherboy and Southwest Ms. Leather 2010 contests. Special guests include, International Leather Sir Raul, International Leather boy bill and Ms. International Leather Hobbit. According to Palaschak, winners of the Southwest contests will go on to compete. “The Southwest is one of 13 regions involved in the International LeatherSIR/ boy and International Community Bootblack contest which will be held in July during Dore Alley weekend in San Francisco. Each of the regions holds a contest to send their representatives to the International contest. The Southwest Leatherwoman usually goes on to compete at International Ms. Leather, but there are other contest options available to her too.”

Organizers are hoping to have at least three contestants in each category. “Wining the title was absolutely one of the best experiences of my life. When I won, little did I realize the opportunity given me. Over the past two years I have traveled and met many wonderful people. As one friend put it, the bonds you make in one weekend can sometimes outweigh those you’ve had for much longer. I always try to encourage those considering running for a title to do so, since it was such a transformative and rewarding episode in my life.” Besides competing, winners are expected to be leaders in the Leather community and also outreach to the greater Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community as a whole. During his title year, Palaschak went to many of the events sponsored by the Imperial Court as well as the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association. “We also held ‘Leather Invasions’ at non-leather bars to increase visibility as well as educate the public on who we are as a community. The winners will likely hold fundraising events for both SW Leather Pride, who pays their way to San Francisco, and local charities. Which charities the titleholder picks is up to them. Some titleholders have causes that are dear to them, while others simply raise money for well- known local organizations that they appreciate.” A Sunday victory brunch will be held at Cherry Bar. There are events throughout the weekend that are sponsored by various leather clubs and organizations. The host hotel, Days Inn at 502 W. Camelback, is offering rooms for $52 a night. You must ask for the Southwest Leather Pride room rate. Complete weekend packages are available for $35 which includes: Cigar & Uniform Party, Raffle Tickets/Drawings, Receptions, Cocktail Parties, Southwest Leather Formal Dinner, Saturdays Southwest Leather Black Party Celebration, The Last “Sling” Sunday Brunch and T-shirts. Packages are limited. To purchase weekend packages please email: Seattleflyer@msn.com. Individual tickets for the Leather Dinner are $20, and for the brunch $12. For more information or a contestant application go to www.swleatherpride.org. boy and International Community Bootblack contest which will be held in July during Dore Alley weekend in San Francisco. Each of the regions