Timeline

Leather Archives & Museum

Timeline Table of Contents

Timeline Homepage: Introduction

Previous: Timeline Page One: 5000 BCE - 1969

Previous: Timeline Page Two: 1970 - 2004

	2005
	2006
	2007
	2008
	2009
	2010

**2005**
Time	Event
2005, :	The Lexington Lyons L/L Club of Lexington, KY published a cookbook, A Matter Of Taste: Feasts from the Lyons Den.
2005, :	After almost four years of being a productive member of the business community in Allentown, PA, through its Bureau of Planning and Zoning, the City of Allentown forced the closing of Leather Masters II, a Leather/BDSM/Fetish shop.
2005, :	Fetish Diva Midori released a new book in August entitled Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink Educational, Sensual, and Entertaining Essays. Midori is an educator and writer on s/m, fetish and human sexuality. She has traveled the world presenting to universities, the s/m community, media and the greater society, and lives in San Francisco. Also, Alex Wisniowski introduced his second documentary, "My Leather Jacket II: More Stories from the Road".
2005, :	Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced that his office will specifically target beastiality, urination, defecation, as well as sadistic and masochistic behavior, in pursuing new obscenity prosecutions. The Department of Justice began recruiting in late July for a new anti-obscenity squad to pursue obscenity prosecutions, and the FBI announced in September that it was forming an anti-obscenity task force to crack down on pornography.
2005, :	After being in the same location on 7th Street for some 14 years, Mr. S relocated two blocks away to a 28,000 square foot retail and manufacturing space. The building would house both Mr. S and Madame S under one roof.
2005, Jan.:	The Vancouver Men in Leather celebrated their First Anniversary and AGM at the end of January.
2005, Jan. 1:	Bob Gunther died due to emphysema on January 1. He was the founder and owner of the Sling bar on Western Avenue in Hollywood, CA. He served as president of Avatar Club Los Angeles, president of Somandros, and was on the Christopher Street West board for several years.
2005, Jan. 5:	The death at 2:34 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, of John Klamik - better known as "Sean", the artist. An artist and activist, John succumbed to pneumonia at West Anaheim Medical Center in Anaheim, California following a series of strokes and a diagnosis of lung cancer, listed as the official cause of death. John was born on July 22, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, where he studied at the world-famous Art Institute. He moved to California in the mid '60s, settling in West Hollywood, which, next to Chicago, was his favorite city in the world.
2005, Jan. 6:	Billy Collison passed away on January 6 and was connected to so many in so many ways including Centaur MC, Academy of Washington, Theatrical Drag Entertainment Organization, Atlantic States Rodeo Association, Regional Rodeo Organization and Brother, Help Thyself. Billy held the title of Mr. BHT one year, won during one of these events by raising money and performing. Billy came on the BHT Board of Directors as the representative of Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association. Billy had been a Rodeo Director and Assistant Rodeo Director, both major jobs. When he was appointed to BHT, he served as a director, vice president and other positions.
2005, Jan. 21:	Jimmy Lee Murray lost his battle with the virus on the night of January 21, 2005. He worked for six years as the Chicago House and Social Service Agency facilities manager. He was recognized by the Gay Chicago Magazine Awards as Employee of the Year. Jimmy was the first Mr. Ebony in Leather and was an early International Mr. Cheeks and Chaps titleholder, and was Mr. North Atlantic Leather 2000.
2005, Jan. 30:	The 501 Eagle in Indianapolis caught fire. The fire was found to have started on the second floor in the office area due to a faulty paper shredder.
2005, Feb. 11:	A new group, known as PerverCity, presented Bondage and Bonbons at the Center for Sex and Culture in San Francisco, CA.
2005, Feb. 4-6:	LIFE Detroit held its first Detroit Area Rough and Kinkfest (DARK) Weekend.
2005, Feb. 20:	With a fiery flash and a puff of smoke culminating seven years of intense fundraising, the Leather Archives & Museum loudly took ownership of their permanent home on Sunday, February 20. A capacity crowd filling the Etienne Auditorium watched as LA&M President and Founder Chuck Renslow set afire the paid-off mortgage.
2005, Feb. 25-27:	The 15 Association of San Francisco celebrated its 25th Anniversary.
2005, Mar.:	The Philadelphians MC commemorated their 30th Anniversary with a weekend-long celebration that drew Leatherfolk from across the Mid Atlantic region to the City of Brotherly Love. During their entire 30-year history, the Philadelphians MC have been avid fundraisers and staunch supporters of a variety of local charities.
2005, Mar. 7:	Jeffrey L. Bays (Daddy Jeff) was killed in a traffic accident in Las Vegas, NV. Jeff was survived by his partner, Stan Harrell. Jeff was Mr. Drummer Texas 1997-1998.
2005, Mar. 11:	New York artist Albert Crudo had two of his paintings vandalized at an Upper West Side cafe, La Fenice 2012 Broadway, NYC. The painting, entitled "The Nature of the Beast: Parts I, II, III" has been causing quite a stir among patrons since it's installation in early December.
2005, Apr. 8-9:	The first Mr. Midwest Leather Contest was held at One Flite Up in Dubuque, IA.
2005, Apr. 22-24:	The Regiment of the Black and Tans, a Los Angeles uniform club currently celebrating its 30th year, held its annual Spring Maneuvers at various locations around the Los Angeles area.
2005, Apr. 29-May 1:	The Fourth Annual CLAW (Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend) held April 29 - May 1, with proceeds benefiting the Leather Archives & Museum and other charities.
2005, Apr. 29-30:	Dynamic Diversions, a BDSM event for women only sponsored by American Leather Woman 2001 Phyllis Darcy and her partner Piper Fairbanks, made its debut in Denver, CO.
2005, May. 7:	The Leather Archives and Museum opened the Uniforms Gallery, which exhibited uniforms along with media and artifacts related to uniforms.
2005, May. 8:	The Tom of Finland Foundation, based in Los Angeles, CA, held its spring Tom's Bar in the Faultline parking lot in celebration of the birthday of the man whose illustrations played a major role in shaping the image of a Leatherman, Tom of Finland. The Foundation was celebrating its 20th year.
2005, May. 9:	Mark Richard Isenberg, a founding member of Leatherpost.com died on May 9, 2005 due to complications from a heart attack.
2005, May. 13:	Palpable Testosterone was an introduction to the homoerotic work of Chicago artist Etienne. The exhibit opened Friday, May 13 at the 1926 Exhibition Studies Space in Chicago, IL.
2005, May. 20-22:	The Tom of Finland Foundation presented its Fifth Annual New York Erotic Art Fair at the LGBT Center in Manhattan. More than 40 artists from the United States and Europe displayed and sold their works.
2005, May IML:	Attendees of the 27th annual International Mr. Leather (IML) weekend raised $40,000 for the Leather Archives and Museum.
2005, May:	Mr. Chicago Leather 2005 Jeff Willoughby established the Leather Quilt Project in the Spring of 2005.
2005, May. 16:	Robert Davolt died of cancer on Monday night, May 16 at Davies Hospital in San Francisco, CA. Davolt was best known as editor of Drummer Magazine, his book Painfully Obvious: An Irreverent & Unauthorized Manual for Leather/SM, recent editor of Bound & Gagged Magazine, Board member of the Leather Archives & Museum, holding the San Francisco Leather Daddy XIX title in 2003, and wrote numerous columns and articles for a variety of publications. He was born in Renton, WA on June 27, 1958. At 17, he joined the United States Navy, stationed on small ships patrolling the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. While in Wisconsin, Robert won the Wisconsin Leather Daddy title in 1995 and competed at International Mr. Leather. Robert was survived by his loving partner of seven years, Joe Granese of San Francisco.
2005, Jun. 25:	Bound & Gagged magazine suspended publication immediately after Issue 106 in June 2005.
2005, Jun.:	As of June 23, the U.S.C. Title 18, Section 2257 adult material record keeping and labeling law was expanded to include the Internet. These regulations updated the record keeping requirements of the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1988. Barbara Nitke and the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court of the District Court's decision in the Communications Decency Act (CDA) challenge. Their appeal contended the District Court applied an incorrect legal standard for determining whether protected material was improperly banned under the CDA. The District Court also committed legal error in finding that many local communities do not have predetermined standards of obscenity that can be verified and then ruling the plaintiffs failed to prove what those standards were.
2005, Jun. 27:	A fire struck the Iron Eagles home bar, the 540 Eagle, in Canton, OH, and it was a total loss. Lost in the fire was the complete seven-year history of The Iron Eagles - the club's colors, their many trophies and awards, and archives, along with the Colors presented to both The Iron Eagles and The 540 Eagle from other Clubs.
2005, Jul.:	The Rochester Rams held their 30th Anniversary, Run XXX.
2005, Jul. 1:	The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced that they formed a partnership. Also, the renowned Gauntlet II Leather bar, in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles, CA changed hands.
2005, Jul. 1:	Hudson, curator and owner of Feature Inc., a gallery influential in the early recognition of artist Tom of Finland, has donated two pivotal drawings by the artist to the Permanent Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
2005, Jul. 22:	The Harbor Room in Milwaukee, WI celebrated its Fifth Anniversary.
2005, Jul. 21:	The 15th Annual International Deaf Leather Contest was held in conjunction with the International Deaf Bear Contest at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC.
2005, Aug. 5-7:	Rodeo Riders Chicago celebrated their 30th Anniversary with The Antique Rodeo Run in Chicago, IL.
2005, Aug. 14:	Pistons bar in Long Beach, CA celebrated its 10^th Anniversary with a low-key buffet and door prize giveaway.
2005, Aug. 18-19:	The Knights of Leather of Minneapolis, MN celebrated their milestone 20th Anniversary with a beer bust at the Minneapolis Eagle on Thursday night, August 18 and a fantasy and demo night at the Bolt Underground on Friday night, August 19.
2005, Sep. 1:	Frank Blondale and Dan Majewski bought the Cell Block in Chicago, IL from founder Roger Hickey and took over operations.
2005, Sep. 3:	The Chicago Leather Club held its first Back To School Dash. The sold out one-day run featured presentations from community educators on diabetes in the scene, building dungeon furniture and Leather history. The Back To School Dash also included a lunch barbeque at Touche' and a homemade pasta bar dinner at Man's Country. The evening was topped off with an erotic hypnotist and an open bar at the Chicago Eagle. All funds raised were donated to the Leather Archives & Museum.
2005, Sep. 15-16:	The LA&M Film Series resumed with SandMutopia University, Rope that Works being shown in the Etienne Auditorium at the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago, IL.
2005, Oct.:	A new organization named the San Francisco girls of Leather (SFgoL) was open to Leather girls, people whose primary self-identity was a girl. SFgoL defines the term Leather girl as openly as possible.
2005, Oct. 14:	THOR (Trust, Honor, Order, Respect) of Orange County, CA held their first Top auction at Pistons in Long Beach.
2005, Nov. 8:	Jay Borne, owner of Second Skin Leather and a great contributor to the New Orleans/Southeast Leather community, died Tuesday, November 8 at his home. He fell from his roof while doing repairs in Louisiana. Jay Borne was 51 years old.
2005, Nov. 10:	The New York boys of Leather is formed by five founding members.
2005, Nov. 9:	David Barker, longtime Hayward resident, passed away on Wednesday morning, November 9. He had been battling AIDS for 23 years and recently cancer. David was one of the original members of the Alameda County Leather Corps and was President of ACLC twice, in 2000 and 2004.
2005, Nov. 11:	Oakland, CA, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force presented its first annual Leather Leadership Award posthumously to Dr. Tony DeBlase, co-founder of the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago and creator of the Leather Pride Flag. The award, presented in Oakland at the Task Force's 18th Annual Creating Change Conference, was accepted by DeBlase's partner of 24 years, Dr. Andrew Charles.
2005, Nov. 14:	The Chicago Hellfire Club, a brotherhood of men who share interests in gay male BDSM, voted at their Monday, November 14 meeting to support a group of charities that support the gay, Leather/SM/Fetish communities with donations totaling over $6,000 for the Leather Archives and Museum, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Lambda GLBT Community Services, the 15 Association of San Francisco's Sorrell Fund, GMS/MA's Hocutt-Ferguson Fund, and the Chicago MAFIA's Windhorse Fund.
2005, Nov. 18-24:	The DC Eagle in Washington, DC celebrated its 35th Anniversary.
2005, Nov. 26:	Mr. Triangle Denver Contest celebrated its 10th Anniversary.
2005, Dec. 2:	In a daring daylight raid, thieves got away with a major piece of art from The Barracks Bar in Palm Springs, CA on Friday, December 2. The piece of erotic art, interpreted by local artist William "Taurus" Webster from an original by Stephan, was secured by screws to the outside wall of the bar inside a locked patio area. The thieves removed part of the patio's wooden fencing to gain access to the area. The crime happened between 8:30 AM when the bar's cleaning man finished his work and 1 PM when the day barman arrived.
2005, Dec. 3:	Nancy Alperin and Kendra Keller claimed they were fired after they refused to expose their bosoms to the primate, and after reporting sanitary problems at Koko's home in Woodside, an upscale town south of San Francisco. The pair claimed they were threatened that if they "did not indulge Koko's nipple fetish, their employment with the Gorilla Foundation would suffer," the lawsuit alleged.
2005, Dec. 10:	The Ottawa Knights hosted its 25th Annual Toys for Tots Fundraiser at Centertown Pub in Ottawa, Canada. 940 toys were collected and $2,220 in cash donations were received for the Children's Aid Society of Lanark County and were distributed to the children and their families in the Perth, Smith Falls Region.
2005, Dec. 12:	Folsom Street Events announced the selection of Demetri Moshoyannis as executive director.
2005, Dec. 28:	United States District Court Judge Walker D. Miller issued a long-awaited ruling December 28th, 2005 on the Free Speech Coalition's motion for a preliminary injunction in Free Speech Coalition v. Gonzales, the trade association's challenge to U.S.C. 18 2257, the federal labeling and record keeping regulations.

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**2006**
Time	Event
2006, :	45 Years: Satyrs Motorcycle Club, Badger Flat Run, Los Angeles, CA. 30 Years: Corn Haulers LL, Cornball '06: XXX Wedding, Des Moines, IA. 20 Years: International Ms Leather, Omaha, NE. 15 Years: Three Rivers Leather Club, Pittsburgh, PA; Leather Archives and Museum, Chicago, IL. 10 Years: Leathermen's Discussion Group, San Francisco, CA; Mr. and Ms Oregon State Leather, Portland, OR; Mates Leather Weekend, Provincetown, MA; Mr. International Rubber, Chicago, IL. 5 Years: San Diego League of Gentlemen, San Diego, CA; CLAW (Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend), Cleveland, OH; Southern California Leather Gathering, Whittier, CA; Great Lakes Leather Alliance Weekend, Indianapolis, IN.
2006, :	Ringold Alley closed in late Spring after serving San Diego's Leather community for about five years.
2006, :	MC Faucon, Montréal, Canada disbanded.
2006, :	Mr. Eagle NYC Robert Valin has launched the NYC Leather Invasion Group composed of diehard leather people who are attempting to revive the "old days of leather" interaction.
2006, :	Leather Sins, a pansexual BDSM group in the Chicago Area completes its adoption of the Museum Store at the Leather Archives & Museum.
2006, :	Passing of Jan Lyon. Jan was a founding member of the National Leather Association in Seattle where she lived in 1986.
2006, Jan. 26:	Wally Sherwood, a Leatherman whose efforts at fundraising befitted the Leather communities of San Francisco, CA and New Orleans, LA over the last 30 plus years, died from renal failure in the early morning of January 26 in Dallas, TX.
2006, Jan. 28:	The U.S. Justice Department subpoenaed Google to compel the Internet search engine to turn over records on millions of its users' search queries. NCSF believes that Internet users have the right to an expectation of privacy in their web use, and supports Google's refusal to comply with the subpoena.
2006, Feb.:	First Anniversary celebrated by MAsT: Central NJ. MAsT is a community-inclusive support group for those who identify as owner/master/mistress or property/slave.
2006, Feb. 4:	The Arts and Entertainment Center saw a representation of the entire San Diego GLBT Community as the first San Diego Leather Community Awards was held.
2006, Feb. 10:	Race Bannon and the National Coalition of Sexual Freedom (NCSF) announced the transfer of management of Kink Aware Professionals to NCSF. The Kink Aware Professionals program was founded and had been managed by Race Bannon for many years.
2006, Feb. 10:	NCSF releases an Action Alert regarding TV's "Dr. Phil" and his latest hour-long special, where polyfidelity issues are discussed and "Dr. Phil" tells the couple, and the viewing audience, that polyfidelity is nothing but "cheating".
2006, Mar.:	The US Supreme Court refused to hear the Barbara Nitke case against Alberto Gonzales and his Communications Decency Act.
2006, Mar. 15:	The new reality show, Top Chef, airing on the Bravo Channel featured the Mr. S Leather and Madame S store in San Francisco, CA for its one-hour second show in the series. This show was filmed in the store in November.
2006, Apr. 5-7 :	International Ms. Leather returns to its birthplace, San Francisco, CA under the direction of Glenda Ryder.
2006, Apr. 7:	At the 10th annual Leather Leadership Conference, held in New York City April 7-9, 2006, Matt J donated the banner used for the leather, fetish and sm contingent of the 1993 March on Washington. “We found it when we were cleaning out the Leather Pride Night storage container” Matt commented. The banner is in excellent shape and has been well-preserved during LPN’s custody. The banner measures 20’ x 4’, and will be displayed in the LA&M lobby after processing.
2006, Apr. 7-9:	Nearly 350 people attended the 10th Annual Leather Leadership Conference in New York City, where the first conference was held in 1997. In attendance at the Hotel New Yorker in midtown Manhattan were elected leaders and active members of dozens of SM/Leather/Fetish groups, as well as individual community members, from 26 US states, Washington DC, three Canadian provinces and Germany.
2006, Apr. 20:	The passing of International Mr. Leather Judge Emeritus Thom Dombkowski on Thursday morning, April 20 at his home in Chicago, IL. Thomas Raymond Dombkowski was born in Rochester, N.Y., June 28, 1950, to Bernard and Helene, now deceased. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame and a law degree from DePaul University. Thom left a career with the Internal Revenue Service to devote himself to the needs of people living with AIDS.
2006, Apr. 22:	Charlie Matula and business partner Vince Quattrocchi, along with bar manager Hunter Fox, announced that the Los Angeles Leather bar Gauntlet II would become the Eagle LA.
2006, May:	Ray Castro has been the official portrait artist for some of the Leather world's most prestigious contests including International Ms Leather, International Master and slave, International Leather Sir and Leatherboy, Ms World Leather and Mr. Leatherman Toronto. Titleholders for these events have all received portraits of startling vision and passion that captured their unique qualities as champions in Ray Castro's own style. In celebration of this, the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago, IL hosted a special exhibition of Ray Castro's works during International Mr. Leather Weekend in May.
2006, May IML:	One of Chuck Renslow’s dreams came true… Who would have guessed that a small contest, held in the Gold Coast would have exploded into the largest leather event in the world and that the contest would be held at one of the premier theatres in the US, the Chicago Theatre.
2006, May 12-13:	The Bellingham Leather Men celebrated its First Anniversary the weekend of May 12-13 at Warehouse Studios.
2006, May 17:	The Leather Archives and Museum celebrated its 15th Anniversary at International Mr. Leather 2006 at the Palmer House Hilton.
2006, May:	The Chuck Renslow President’s Award is presented to CLAW Directors Dennis McMahon and Robert Miller for their continued support of the Leather Archives & Museum. Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend has donated over $10,000.00 to the LA&M since its inception.
2006, Jun. 16:	Tennessee Raptors was formed in Nashville. Espousing Old Guard or Traditional Leather values, the group had its first bar night on June 16 at their home bar, The Chute Complex.
2006, Jun.:	In San Diego, CA Pleasures and Treasures opened at the end of June. This was only a couple of months after Ringold Alley closed. Pleasures is owned by Bill Freyer of Red Hankies of San Diego fame.
2006, Jun.:	Alex Werner develops a new Road Show exhibit for the Leather Archives & Museum called "Women of Leather". It makes its debut at International Ms. Leather in July.
2006, Jun. 26:	Ramon (Ray Ray) Thomas passed away late in the afternoon of June 26th after a very brief illness in Palm Springs, CA. He was 50 years old. Memorial services were held at the Leather Archives & Museum. Ray Ray's involvement with IML goes all the way back to the very first weekend in 1979. In past years, he worked as our Food and Beverage Coordinator and, most recently, as the Co-Coordinator in charge of the Day Pass/Wristband Registration area. He was a longtime member of the Chicago Leather community and a member of what has come to be called "The Chicago Leather Family." He was very active with the "12 Step Recovery" community, and helped many newly sober Leather folk to understand they could have a life in Leather and Recovery. Ray Ray and his partner John moved to Palm Springs early in 2005 to begin a new life out in the desert.
2006, Jul. 28:	A Taste of Cine Kink - Chicago, presented by the Leather Archives and Museum, showcased feature films and videos from the best of Cine Kink NYC, the really alternative film festival, with topics that include SM, Leather and Fetish, swinging, non-monogamy and polyamory, and gender bending.
2006, Jul. 29:	The Leathermen's Discussion Group celebrated its 10th Anniversary at San Francisco's Gay and Lesbian Center.
2006, Aug. 30:	Kink Blamed for Hurricane Katrina: Southern Decadence, a world-famous LGBT event, was slated to start August 31st. According to an evangelical Christian group that regularly demonstrates at LGBT events, "Hurricane Katrina has put an end to the annual celebration of sin."
2006, Sep.:	The Leather Archives & Museum publishes a special edition of the Leather Times to commemorate its 15-year anniversary. This full color issue contained a timeline of the LA&M along with photos from opening day on Clark Street, the ribbon cutting at 6418 N Greenview and memories from staff and volunteers.
2006, Sep. 1-4:	The Satyrs Motorcycle Club's Badger Flat Run took place September 1-4 near Huntington Lake northeast of Fresno, CA. This was Badger's 45th year.
2006, Sep. 8-10:	The Corn Haulers LL of Des Moines, IA reached a milestone with Cornball '06: XXX Wedding at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, IA. The weekend will also see the 2006 fall MACC Conference.
2006, Sep. 15:	The San Diego Leatherboys held their founders meeting and first bar night at the San Diego Eagle.
2006, Sep. 17:	The 15th Annual Leather Walk saw over $21,000 raised for the AIDS Emergency Fund and the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund.
2006, Sep. 20:	Closing of the Triangle Bar in Denver, CO.
2006, Sep. 22-23:	The Chicago Leather Club held their 2006 Mini Run in Chicago, IL, which benefited the Leather Archives & Museum.
2006, Sep. 25:	The Denver Triangle closed its doors for good on or about September 25. The Triangle had served the Leather community for over 30 years and was the oldest gay bar in Colorado.
2006, Nov. 1:	The Free Speech Coalition announces its selection of Diane C. Duke as its new Executive Director.
2006, Nov. 27:	Andrew Charles passed away on Monday, November 27, 2006 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 67. He is survived by his partner of five years, Thom Butts, and his mother, Carol Goettel in Chicago.

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**2007**
Time	Event
2007, Jan. 23:	The Windy City Boys Troop celebrated five years recently with a private dinner at T's Restaurant in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.
2007, Jan. 24:	The Chicago Leather Kennel Club has signed its charter, making it a fully functional leather organization in Chicago.
2007, Feb. 3:	Bondage Video Company Too Much Even For San Francisco... Kink, which distributes its videos on X-rated Web sites with names such as Hogtied and Men in Pain, bought the old State Armory in the Mission District for $14.5 million, saying the vacant building's dark Moorish architecture would make a perfect backdrop for fetish films.
2007, Mar.:	Alden Spafford was killed in a motorcycle accident on a freeway in the East Bay.
2007, Mar. 21:	Mr. Marcus Hernandez, columnist for the Bay Area Reporter, celebrates his 75^th birthday.
2007, Mar. 23-25:	25th Anniversary of the Mr. and Ms. Washington State Leather Contest at the Cuff Bar in Seattle.
2007, Mar. 25:	The LA&M hosts its first wedding today, between Joseph and Leslie and ordained by Mistress Joanne C. Gaddy.
2007, Apr. 10:	The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) announces that Kink.com has become its newest Corporate Sponsor.
2007, May 22:	Release date of the DVD, Mr. Leather, a documentary by Jason Garrett about the contestants vying for the Mr. L.A. Leather 2003 title.
2007, May 30:	$50,000 was raised for the Leather Archives & Museum during International Mr. Leather 2007, held over Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago. Over $29,000 was raised through daypass admissions to the infamous IML Leather Market. The remaining $21,000 was raised through a fetish gear auction, individual contributions and other fundraisers. The museum will use these funds to support its core mission of preserving and providing access to leather and fetish culture and history. The Leather Archives & Museum thanks the organizers and attendees of International Mr. Leather 2007 for their generous support of the institution.
2007, Jun. 5:	MidTangent Productions (MTP) presents their third annual production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM: A QUEER TALE. This wild adaptation, written and directed by Tony Lewis, is an adrenaline-fueled and modernized twist to the Bard’s crazed classic. It is thought-provoking, fun and even a bit heartbreaking. This year MTP decided it was time to start giving back to the LGBT community that has supported us these past few years. The show’s themes of sexuality, personal rights and forbidden desire made the Leather Archives & Museum a natural fit.
2007, Jun. 11:	Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho was arrested by a plainclothes police officer investigating complaints of lewd conduct in a men's restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, according to a report just issued by Roll Call.
2007, Jun. 16:	The Leather Archives & Museum auctioned off a 1998 convertible Toyota RAV4 automobile to raise funds for the organization. The RAV4 was donated to the museum by a local Chicago man for fundraising purposes. The LA&M received $6,500.00 for the automobile.
2007, Jun. 21-27:	A display on the Leather Archives & Museum’s Teri Rose Memorial Library won second place at the Diversity Fair at the American Library Association’s 2007 Annual Conference. This prize came with a $200 gift certificate from DEMCO, a library/archives supplier and the Diversity Fair sponsor.
2007, Jul. 1:	10th Annual Butch Revue at the Hole in San Diego. This event is produced by former Ms. World, Annie Romano.
2007, Jul. 1:	In Orlando, Florida, Full Moon Saloon owner Bob Graves announced, rather abruptly, that his 18-year-old bar would close on Saturday July 1.
2007, Jul. 8:	Castro Lions 20th annual Leather & Whatever Auction at the Eagle Tavern. Over $37,000 will be distributed to worthy charities.
2007, Jul. 20:	Police have arrested a San Francisco man on murder charges stemming from what authorities believe was a sadomasochistic bondage session that ended in the victim's death. Terry D. Frazier, 40, was arrested Wednesday in the July 11^th death of former community activist Joe Konopka, 65.
2007, Jul. 21:	AIDS Emergency Fund 25th anniversary gala at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco. This is a quarter century of AIDS activism.
2007, Jul. 22:	Fifth Folsom Fair North flourishes thanks to perfect weather. The fifth edition of the annual leather fair, FFN drew record crowds to a fenced-off area of Allan Gardens on Jul 22 in Canada.
2007, Jul. 29:	San Francisco Leather Daddy contest celebrates 25-year anniversary.
2007, Aug. 16-19:	The organization for people of color, Black Beat, holds an event in Baltimore, Maryland. Viola Johnson receives the Lifetime Achievement Award.
2007, Aug. 27:	NCSF celebrates 10 years of advocacy.
2007, Aug. 27:	An S&M dungeon run by an Allston-Brighton, MA. couple allegedly trawling the Web for johns was busted by police as part of a citywide crackdown on Internet prostitution postings.
2007, Sep. 14:	The Eagle Tavern in San Francisco celebrates its 10th anniversary.
2007, Sep. 26:	The Miller Brewing Company, a sponsor of Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco, has asked to have its logo removed from an advertising poster that has offended some Christians. However, Folsom Street Events, the non-profit organization putting on the 24th annual Folsom Street Fair put out a press release that indicated the design is the first in a series that draws from well-known paintings, album covers, movie posters or other iconic images.
2007, Oct.:	Touche Leather Bar in Chicago turns 30. Also, Galleria Domain II in Chicago celebrates its five-year anniversary.
2007, Oct.:	A special THANKS! to The Society of Janus in San Francisco for the donation of over 700 books and magazines to the Leather Archives & Museum collections.
2007, Oct. 12:	The Catholic League, Concerned Women for America and Americans for Truth have called for a boycott of Miller Brewing Company because they are one of the sponsors of Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. "Miller is sponsoring an incredibly outrageous and palpably anti-Christian event," said Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League.
2007, Oct. 18-21:	"Hoedown," the 10th anniversary of Mr. Kentucky Leather in Louisville, KY.
2007, Oct. 20:	CellBlock/Detroit Eagle manager Dan Majewski passes away from a massive heart attack.
2007, Oct. 23:	United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit issued its decision in the case of Connection Distributing Company v Keisler striking down 2257 as unconstitutional on its face.
2007, Nov. 2-4:	Mr. Leather Ottawa contest in Ottawa - their 15th edition by the Ottawa Knights.
2007, Nov. 9-11:	25th Anniversary of the Mr. and Ms. Philadelphia Leather contest sponsored by the Bike Stop.
2007, Nov. 13:	Peter LaBarbera of American’s For Truth tries to stir up trouble for the International Mr. Rubber Contest by posting his usual blatherings on his website mentioning the LA&M and the Center on Halsted… “Rubber-men were treated to the lecture, “A brief history of kink in America,” at the Center on Halsted in Chicago on November 10. History is important to the “fetish community”: this particular presentation was made by the Leather Archives & Museum, a Chicago “museum” that caters to sadomasochists”. With a link in his story that points to the LA&M website. Unfortunately, www.leatherarchives.org only received 8 hits from the link.
2007, Nov. 23:	Bound South and the Leather Masked Ball raises over $8,000.00 for the Leather Archives & Museum.
2007, Nov. 23-25:	The LA&M Road Show makes its first debut in Canada for the Mr. Toronto Leatherman Competition. This is the first time the LA&M has exhibited in Canada, showing off its new Canadian Pride exhibit.
2007, Nov. 29:	CineKink is back in Chicago. This special showcase featured films and videos culled from the best of CineKink NYC, "the really alternative film festival," with topics that include S/M, leather and fetish, swinging, non-monogamy and polyamory, and gender bending. The films were shown at the Leather Archives & Museum in the Etienne Auditorium.
2007, Dec. 1:	The new owners and producers of ILSb and ICBB, Mark Frazier, Randal Kinnear and Lou Molnar, announce a change to the long-standing "bio-male" requirement for the ILSb contests and float the possibility of moving the content weekend to San Francisco.
2007, Dec. 2:	Jack Mackness, a founding member of Spearhead and co-owner of the legendary Leather bar, the Toolbox, passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 76. "He was one of the community's elders," says Leatherman and friend David Adkin. "He was a true leader with a generous spirit."
2007, Dec. 17:	NCSF announces the addition of a new, full-time Executive Director, Keith Richie.

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**2008**
Time	Event
2008:	Release of The Loving Dominant 3^rd Edition by John Warren.
2008, Jan.:	The US Supreme Court ruled that the San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent now owns the trademark of Dykes on Bikes. San Francisco Dykes on Bikes Women's Motorcycle Contingent is an organization committed to creating a local, national and international community of women motorcyclists and friends of women motorcyclists. Our mission is to support philanthropic endeavors in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and women's communities and beyond, and reach out to empower a community of diverse women through rides, charity events, Pride events and education.
2008, Jan.:	The Regiment of the Gloves and Garter forms in Los Angeles.
2008, Jan. 4:	Kasidie.com announced its launch of a new online magazine published, edited and written by one of this country's most controversial and misunderstood sub-cultures: Swingers.
2008, Jan. 14:	A German couple were fired from their jobs at a retirement home after using company expenses for an S&M vacation, instead of attending a work-training seminar. Bosses learned that "the middle-aged couple had actually taken a holiday apartment used by devotees of sado-masochistic sex near the Dutch border."
2008, Jan. 18:	In Italy you can legally record a sex tape without consulting your partner, according to the country's supreme court. The court ruled in favor of a man who was being tried for taping his bedroom antics with a former girlfriend without her consent.
2008, Jan. 20:	Ronald "Daddy Clyde" Clark passed away in Jacksonville, FL. He is survived by his life partners, Jim & Wayne.
2008, Jan. 21:	The 21st sees the first national fetish day in the UK and a concept and day that seems to be spreading around the world. The concept first mooted on an Internet forum was simple enough, a proposal that on a specified day anyone in the BDSM / Fetish scene show their support by wearing anything from an item of purple to a full purple outfit.
2008, Jan. 23:	BBC News: A goth man who leads his girlfriend around with a dog lead and collar was stopped from getting on a bus amid fears for passenger safety, a bus firm confirmed. The company said it was writing to Mr Graves "to apologize for any distress caused by the way this matter was handled".
2008, Jan. 24:	Mr. Marcus of the Bay Area Reporter gives an oral history to a crowd of over 40 people in the Etienne Auditorium of the LA&M. Seen that evening, Marcus dressed in drag singing "Down-town" in the movie Men Behind Bars.
2008, Jan. 30:	Scolding Fetish Gets Man in Hot Water: Tokyo - A lonely Japanese man has been arrested for allegedly calling directory assistance thousands of times because he liked to be scolded by female operators.
2008, Jan. 30:	Despite complaints from some alumni, the College of William and Mary is hosting the Sex Workers' Art Show on campus.
2008, Jan. 31:	In a controversial move believed to be a first by an American college, San Jose State University President Don Kassing has suspended all campus blood drives because of a longstanding government policy that bars gay men from donating blood.
2008, Jan. 31:	Some Lego fans are making the famous children's toy "more 'adult.'" The Sun, a U.K. based newspaper recently discovered Lego porn videos on YouTube that include "explicit toy action in animated video spoofs of adult films." One of the videos named, 'Crissy's Lonely Valentine's Night', starring Crissy Canyon as 'Suzie' and Eric Neverhard as 'Phone Guy', features voiceovers and saucy music.
2008, Feb. 1:	Avatar Club Los Angeles, CA celebrates 25th Anniversary.
2008, Feb. 4:	A federal judge upheld a jury verdict that found the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, had invaded privacy with intent to inflict emotional distress on the father of a Marine whose funeral Phelp's Westboro Church had picketed.
2008, Feb. 7:	A copper male "chastity belt" used in 19th-century Catholic France is expected to fetch up to £3,000 on eBay. According to U.K.'s Metro, the antique "anti-masturbation device...was designed to enclose the genitalia to make sure boys did not commit the 'sin' of masturbation."
2008, Feb. 9:	The Eagle PDX closes the doors at its old location and moves to 27 NW 6^th St.
2008, Feb. 9:	Guy Baldwin received the Leather Leadership Award today for his longtime work on behalf of the Leather community. Mikel Gerle, International Mr. Leather 2007, presented the award to Baldwin, a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist, author and activist on behalf of “erotically uncommon people.” Accepting his award, Baldwin talked about how our community needs to be united against agents of intolerance.
2008, Feb. 9-10:	(Detroit) With attendees that included homeless youth, LGBT and straight elders, civil rights leader Julian Bond and New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change celebrated its 20th anniversary.
2008, Feb. 17:	A children's book about two male penguins that hatch and parent a chick was pulled from library shelves in Loudoun County, Virginia elementary schools this month after a parent complained that it promoted a gay agenda.
2008, Feb. 19:	A U.S. federal appeals court has overturned a statute outlawing sex toy sales in Texas, one of the last states - all in the South - to retain such a ban.
2008, Feb. 19:	Japan's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a collection of erotic photographs by the late Robert Mapplethorpe does not violate obscenity laws, a decision that should allow the sale of the book for the first time in eight years. The decision overturned a 2003 Tokyo High Court ruling that the book "Mapplethorpe" was indecent, court spokesman Takashi Ando said. It was believed to be the first time the top court has overruled a lower court ruling on obscenity.
2008, Mar.	The Spike, New York's famed leather bar opens after being closed for years due to gentrification.
2008, Mar.	CineKink Film Festival in New York City celebrates it's 5^th year with Audience Choice Awards given to Call Me Troy, produced and directed by Scott Bloom.
2008, Mar. 8:	John Turner, 63, of Deptford PA, one of the first openly gay physicians to treat HIV/AIDS patients in the earliest years of the epidemic, died Friday of complications of a neuromuscular disease at Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury.
2008, Mar. 10:	Nampa, Idaho - After an open meeting, the Nampa Public Library board ruled in favor of removing two books containing sexual content. The Joy of Sex and The Joy of Gay Sex are no longer on the shelves at the library. Both sides came out in force to a Monday night meeting to voice their opinion over the books.
2008, Mar. 10:	LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Faced with rising divorce rates and poor communication between couples, the Church of England says it is time to talk about sex. The Anglican Church is publishing a course and a guide to marriage called "Growing Together" that encourages married couples to be open and frank with each other.
2008, Mar. 18:	GLAAD Awards held in New York, among the recipients, ABC's "Boston Legal" won the nod for outstanding individual episode (in a series without a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered character in its regular cast) for "Do Tell."
2008, Mar. 20-25:	BLF to host their 10^th Anniversary weekend, Easter in Berlin.
2008, Mar. 21:	Ronald H. Haines, 73, who was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington throughout the 1990s and ignited a stormy dispute when he ordained a lesbian priest, died of cancer at his home in Lancaster, Pa.
2008, Mar 27:	Rainbow Rampage: CEMS (Chennai Event Management Services) launches the World's first Gay Motorsport events in Europe and America.
2008, Mar 28:	Margot Weiss, assistant professor of women’s studies at the College of William & Mary, presents a lecture, “Sex Play and Social Power: Race, Gender and the Politics of SM.”
2008, Mar 29:	Mr. LA Leather, in collaboration with Outfest, hold a kinky film festival with films from Alex Wisniowski and T. Arthur Cottam.
2008, Mar 29:	Investors sought for The L.U.R.E.'s NYC reopening.
2008, Mar 30:	Hundreds of people from Kansas and across the country gathered Sunday in Topeka to protest Pastor Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church. The march was also a way to promote peace, love, and equality.
2008, Apr:	National Conference To Address Gay Black Concerns: Hundreds of LGBT African Americans will meet in Baltimore this month in the first ever conference aimed at empowerment. The three-day conference is being organized by the National Black Justice Coalition - the nation's largest Black LGBT rights group.
2008, Apr. 4-6:	30^th Anniversary of the Mr. San Francisco Leather Contest
2008, Apr. 4:	Chaps II opens at 1225 Folsom in San Francisco, CA in the former Ramrod and My Place location.
2008, Apr. 5:	The 5^th Anniversary of Bear Cafe, New York.
2008, Apr. 6:	Bonk, a new book about science and sex, investigates the history of sex research over the centuries. The book reveals details about the history of sexual beliefs -- if two testicles are good, aren't three better?! -- but also how little is still known about some basic mechanics of human sexuality.
2008, Apr. 9:	After 16 years the Phoenix Uniform Club of San Francisco has decided to discontinue their Pride Weekend annual "Uniform & Leather Ball."
2008, Apr. 9:	Detroit, MI. City Council passes an ordinance banning discrimination against transgender people by an 8–1 vote. The measure’s passage comes on the heels of last week’s victory in Kansas City, Mo., where the City Council unanimously passed an identical ban.
2008, Apr. 9:	NLA: International, a leading organization for activists in the pansexual leather community, announces the creation of annual awards for excellence in writing and publishing about leather, SM, bondage and fetishes.
2008, Apr. 10:	COPENHAGEN (AFP) — Homosexuals have been designated an area in a Copenhagen cemetery for those who want to be buried among people who shared their sexual orientation, one of the project initiators said on Tuesday. "We founded an association called Regnbuen (Rainbow) and our goal is that gays and lesbians can be buried next to each other," Ivan Larsen told AFP. The association has rented spots that can hold up to a total of 45 urns at Assistens cemetery. The cemetery already hosts figures as diverse as the Danish fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen and the philosopher Soeren Kierkegaard.
2008, Apr. 12:	Mistress Simone Worthington of Chicago, IL is awarded the title as the first Illinois Ms. Leather Pride
2008, Apr. 13:	San Francisco, CA. 10th anniversary of the Sundance Saloon at 550 Barneveld Ave.
2008, Apr. 20:	VANCOUVER: After 23 years of fighting Canada Customs' seizures of books bound for the gay and lesbian bookshop, the partners have put Little Sister's up for sale. The fight against Customs put the store at the forefront of the battle against censorship in Canada. Among books seized were Jean Genet's Querelle, Quentin Crisp's The Naked Civil Servant, Joe Orton's Prick Up Your Ears, The Joy of Gay Sex and The Joy of Lesbian Sex.
2008, Apr. 23:	The BC Court of Appeal has ruled that the province's Human Rights Tribunal can resume hearing a complaint of alleged discrimination on the basis of BDSM practices to determine whether BDSM is protected from discrimination under the Human Rights Code and, if so, whether any discrimination took place in this case.
2008, Apr. 23:	Dan Clark, International Mr. Drummer, 2000 and the co-founder of the Great Lakes Leather Alliance passed away due to a stroke.
2008, Apr. 24:	SM Odyssey in San Jose, the group that produces the Folsom Fringe weekend during San Francisco's Leather Week, has abandoned that project and this year will be staging the Northwest Leather Celebration the weekend of May 16-18.
2008, Apr. 24:	The Historical Society of San Francisco presents an opportunity to become a Dykes on Bikes Warrior; displaying a showcase of Dykes on Bikes exhibit honoring that group.
2008, Apr. 26:	A memorial service was held for Kathleen Cheryl Bolton, RN, who died Monday, April 14 when a tree limb snapped and fell, hitting her and her car in Stern Grove in Golden Gate Park. She was 50. Ms. Bolton was active in the LGBT community; she did volunteer work in BDSM education with the Exiles and the Butch Femme Group
2008, Apr. 30:	The University of Wisconsin Law School canceled an event with controversial sexual content and some students are calling the action a possible First Amendment violation. The Wisconsin Law Students for Reproductive Justice had planned an event called “Sex Toys 101” to promote safe alternatives to sex, educate about sexual health and pleasure, and discuss law concerning sex toys.
2008, May 1:	The passing of Steven Duane Johnson. Steven was Mr. Sooner State Leather, 2001 and a long time volunteer for International Mr. Leather
2008, May 1-4:	The 10^th Anniversary Celebration of the International Ms. Bootblack Contest.
2008, May 2:	For the first time in 116 years, Canada's age of sexual consent changed on Thursday, climbing to 16 from age 14.
2008, May 3-4:	The Bullet bar in Southern California will be celebrating its 10th anniversary
2008, May 8:	A new law in the UK gets the final go-ahead which will make it illegal to own violent porn. From next January extreme videos, photos and online material will be banned.
2008, May 10:	Equality Illinois Education Project and the Leather Archives & Museum [LA&M] are coming together to host a seminar day to educate people on the importance of the Illinois civil union bill (House Bill 1826) and legal protections for the LGBT community.
2008, May 10:	C.O.M.M.A.N.D. MC of Baltimore, MD celebrates its 25^th Anniversary
2008, May 14:	(Chicago, Illinois) Former state Rep. Larry McKeon - the first openly gay member of the Illinois General Assembly - dies at age 63.
2008, May 27:	Germany unveiled a monument to the tens of thousands of homosexuals persecuted under the Nazis, whose laws were used to prosecute gay men for a generation after World War Two. Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit, who is openly gay, hailed the grey, concrete memorial as a long overdue acknowledgement of the repression of homosexuals, 50,000 of whom were convicted by Nazi courts during Adolf Hitler's 12-year dictatorship.
2008, May 30 - Jun. 1:	The Knights of Leather hold Tournament, their 20^th Run.
2008, May 22-26:	The 30^th Anniversary Celebration of the International Mr. Leather Contest Weekend which raised $55,000 for the Leather Archives & Museum. Gary Iriza, Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2008 was announced as International Mr. Leather 2008 and Bootdog, of the Alameda County Leather Corps in Castro Valley, CA. was announced as International Mr. Bootblack
2008, Jun 6:	Cuba, in the latest change since President Raul Castro took office in February, has allowed doctors to perform sex change operations, a specialist at the National Center for Sex Education.
2008, Jun 8:	The elephant in the room at the ongoing child pornography trial of R&B icon R. Kelly is the fact that the man shown in the amateur sex video—the prosecution's key piece of evidence—seems to take pleasure in urinating on his sex partner. Staff writer for the Chicago Tribune, By Rex W. Huppke contacts the Leather Archives & Museum for some guidance on this, sometimes, uneasy subject. Huppke quotes Susan Wright of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom among others in his eyebrow-raising story.
2008, Jun 9:	Jury selection begins in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom in the trial of an adult filmmaker facing federal obscenity charges for selling films featuring bestiality and defecation. Ira Isaacs, 57, a Bronx native who lives in the Hollywood Hills, is charged with four counts of importing or transporting obscene material for sale or distribution and two counts of importing or transporting obscene material.
2008, Jun 10:	An attempt to stop homosexual women calling themselves lesbians begins in Athens with a court hearing that comes amid growing national debate over gay rights in one of Europe's most socially conservative countries.
2008, Jun 13:	Americans for Truth About Homosexuality President Peter LaBarbera today accused the Chicago public TV station WTTW, and by extension the Public Broadcasting System, of using taxpayer monies to celebrate homosexuality and worse, air programs that displays flagrant anti-religious bigotry during "Gay Pride Month." WTTW aired a program called Out and Proud in Chicago. The documentary showcased the struggle that Chicago gay & lesbins faced in the days of opression and their struggle for basic human rights. Resources from the Leather Archives & Museum and Gerber Hart Library, among other institutions, were used to make this documentary. The documentary aired during WTTW's annual fundraising efforts. Reports state that the fundraising gole was surpassed durring the airing of the program.
2008, Jun 14:	The passing of Wayne Nesbitt of Washington DC. Wayne served as Mr. DC Eagle 1997-98. He emceed numerous contests in DC and around the leather community, volunteered on numerous boards and several events, including Eagle Wings.
2008, Jun 17:	Author Larry Townsend sues Oklahoma-based Nazca Plains Corporation for copying Townsend's works without permission and then distributed the books to booksellers.
2008, Jun 21-22:	Ottawa, Canada. The First ever BDSM Boot Camp, Jun 21-22 at Breathless. The weekend included over 20 workshops, along with round table discussions, and a play as you like pansexual party on the Saturday night.
2008, Jul. 1:	A new law in Indiana that takes effect July 1 requires businesses that sell sexually explicit material to pay a $250 fee and register with the secretary of state, who would then pass the information to municipal or county officials so they can monitor the businesses for potential violations of local ordinances.
2008, Jul 13:	Two condoms have been found inside a medicine book dating from the XVI century at Salamanca University. Made from pig gut, and with a blue ribbon used to tighten, the condoms were discovered during a revision and cataloguing of the historical books in the library. Library Director, Margarita Becedas, said that the two condoms were perfectly wrapped in a newspaper dating from 1857, and are thought to date from the 19th century.
2008, Jul 18:	Religious conservatives are accusing Mattel's racy new Black Canary Barbie of promoting S&M. The Sun reports that the doll, which wears leather and fishnets and is based on the D.C. Comics character of the same name, is being described as "filth" by a group called Christian Voice. "Barbie has always been on the tarty side and this is taking it too far," the organization said in a statement.
2008, Jul 20:	Pantheon of Leather awards are handed out at the Leather Archives & Museum. Among the winners, Glenda Rider is woman of the year, Rick Storer is man of the year and Jeanne Barney wins the Lifetime Achievement Award.
2008, Jul 20:	International Mr. Leather is recognised as the 4^th largest, non trade show convention in the City of Chicago.
2008, Jul 29:	The passing of Larry Townsend. Author of dozens of books including Run Little Leather Boy (1970) and The Leatherman’s Handbook (1972) at pioneer erotic presses such as Greenleaf Classics and the Other Traveler imprint of Olympia Press.
2008, Aug 5:	A collection of pornography belonging to Franz Kafka was discovered in the British Library in London and the Bodleian in Oxford. It appears that the stash had been concealed by scholars in an attempt to preserve the writer's image.
2008, Sep 19:	Dallas Boys of Leather (DbOL) disbands. During its history DbOL was well known in Dallas and the United States for its leadership, charity and social events. DbOL had hosted many boy/sub gatherings in both Dallas and Oklahoma , at such events as Beyond Vanilla, South Plains Leather fest, ILSb (when in Dallas ). As well as co-producing Dallas Leather Sir/boy contest 2002-2003 and North Texas Leather Sir boy 2005-2006. DbOL's crowning charity program was the annual boys and bears stuff animal drive for the children in Scottish Rite Hospital. Last year DbOL added Bryans House for children affected by AIDS to its charitable work.
2008, Sep. 10:	Passing of Robert W. Davis (December 1964 - September 2008)
2008, Sep. 10:	Passing of Ken Jacobson (1960-2008). Past Hellfire Club President and Secretary Ken Jacobson passed away on September 27, 2008 from ALS which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Ken was active for many years in the leather community. He founded the Northwest Gay and Lesbian Organization and served on the Chicago Commission on Human Rights in the 1980's
2008, Oct. 5:	Jim Clark, THOR Leathermen founder died at Hoag Hospital in Orange County CA on Sunday October 5^th, 2008 A celebration of life was held in his living room on October 14 with about 25 in attendance.
2008, Oct 9-12:	Domcon celebrates it's 5^th year in Atlanta, GA
2008, Oct 3-5:	Les Cuirassés de Québec, celebrated its milestone 15^th Anniversary in Québec City. No special theme was used on that occasion
2008, Oct 17-19:	20^th Oklahoma Mr. Leather Contest is held at Angles Event Center.
2008, Oct 18:	The California B&B Corps held it's 40^th Anniversary
2008, Dec 12:	Legendary pinup queen Bettie Page died of pneumonia at the age of 85 in a hospital in Los Angeles, California, a week after suffering a heart attack.
2008, Dec 12:	The Leather Archives & Museum receives a $10,000.00 donation from an anonymous Chicago donor.
2008, Dec 31:	On New Year's Eve 2009 in Studio City, California, the country western bar Oil Can Harry's celebrated its 40th anniversary, a record-breaking run these days. Some of you may recall the Oil Can Harry's in San Francisco in the early '70s on the corner of Larkin St. at Geary.

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**2009**
Time	Event
2009:	The Annual Mid Atlantic Leather weekend in Washington DC receives an unusual amount of press because it takes place the weekend before the inauguration of Barack Obama.
2009:	The Leather Archives & Museum receives a $10,000.00 donation from Bound South and the Leather Masked Ball, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. and a $2,500.00 donation from American Brotherhood Weekend, New Orleans, LA.
2009, Jan 16-28:	The Centaur Motorcycle Club celebrate the 25^th annual Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend in Washington DC.
2009, Jan 12:	Death of Mark Olson. Mark served as SVL President through most of 2008 and Vice President in 2007. He also held the title of Sacramento Leatherboy 2006.
2009, Jan 16	The Leather Archives & Museum mounts a new exhibit in the Guest Artist Gallery. “Beauties Service," is a themed retrospective of watercolor figures, by Chicago Fetish Artist Kate Tastrophe. Her works illustrate women who have taken complete and utter control over their own external sexuality. Kate Tastrophe, who speaks of her images as if they where real, works toward contemporary theories of 3rd wave feminism and shows that this newly found sexually liberated woman is nothing new. The images show women who use and accentuate their “assist,” and in doing so take hold of beauty and make it their servant. These ladies want to be looked at. They want to be studied. They want to inspire those dirty little thoughts. And it’s their rendering of “beauty” that grants them the power in that moment.
2009, Feb:	The South Florida boys of Leather announced its formation (www.sflbol.com) and will continue in the tradition of most of the boy organizations across the nation.
2009, Feb 6:	Beginning in February of 2009 six boys/bois in Cleveland, Ohio saw a hole in the community that they felt boys/bois were uniquely qualified to fill; the need for dedicated volunteers. Knowing that one of the biggest passions in a boys/bois heart is service and hearing the call for help from everywhere, they decided to form a club. They held their first meeting February 6, 2009 and thus The Ohio Boys of Leather was formed. The club is called appropriately enough….The Ohio Boys of Leather
2009, Feb 27-Mar 1:	The 15 Association in San Francisco holds its 20^th anniversary weekend party and the 10^th annual South Plains Leather Fest takes place in Dallas, Texas with the naming of the new Inernational Master/slave.
2009, Mar 21:	The first ever Mr. Stonewall Inn Leather contest takes place in New York City.
2009, Apr 5:	WALP (Women @ Amsterdam Leather Pride) ended it's 12 year run.
2009, Apr 7:	Gay porn icon Jack Wrangler died from complications of lung disease. He was 62
2009, Apr 17	The Leather Archives & Museum mounts a new exhibit, Under Orders by Kelly Courtney in the Guest Artist Gallery.
2009, Apr 25:	The ShipMates Club of Baltimore celebrates their 35th Anniversary
2009, Apr 25:	Chuck Renslow, John Willie and Tom of Finland are the first inductees into the Leather Hall of Fame at Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW).
2009, Jun 20	The Leather Archives & Museum opens a new exhibit in the Multi Media Gallery, the Leather SINS Screening Room. Leather Sins, a pansexual BDSM group near the city of Chicago has adopted what houses the Leather SINS Screening Room (adoption in progress). This upscale and contemporary screening room will house the institution's vast audio/video collection and will run clips from that collection during regular museum hours.
2009, Jul:	GMSMA (Gay Male S/M Activists) goes into the history books and ceases existence. During its heyday, GMSMA had hundreds of members from not only New York City but from across the country and even from overseas. Regular meetings were held twice a month, and it was not uncommon for the third floor meeting room of the gay community center on West 13th Street to be jam packed with dozens or even 100 or more men eager to learn and to socialize. One night the topic might be how to tie up your boyfriend in really good rope bondage, another time you could learn all about flogging and whipping, or how to put together a really kick-ass cop or firefighter uniform.
2009, Jul 2-5:	The Rockymountaineers celebrate their 35^th Anniversary, The Golden Fleece Run
2009, Jul 3-5:	The DC boys of Leather celebrate their 10^th Anniversary
2009, Jul 27:	Cathy Kuhlum, former President of the T-Bears in Boston and active member of the East coast leather community, passes away from a heart atack
2009, Aug 10:	The passing of Gary Coulter of the Rochester Rams
2009, Aug 12:	The passing of one of the founders of the DC Boys of Leather Ray Hall. Ray's work lead to the founding of 27 Boys of Leather Clubs were founded across the country, including Chicago.
2009, Aug 15:	WOOLF celebrates Leather Camp V in Wichita, KS
2009, Aug 15:	Al Reese, the first Mr. San Diego Eagle and the 1^st runner up at International Mr. Leather 1995 passes away
2009, Aug 18:	Jack McGeorge, founder of Black Rose, an officer of the Leather Leadership Conference and frequently recognized regional leader for BDSM advocacy and education passed away from a complication of open heart surgery
2009, Sep 12:	The Regiment of the Black & Tans celebrate their 35^th Anniversary
2009, Oct:	In Toronto Canada: The Bent Inn, a "leather themed" bed & breakfast, closed it's doors
2009, Oct 8:	Marcus Hernandez, who served as the Bay Area Reporter's longtime leather columnist, died Thursday, October 8 at Pacifica Nursing and Rehab Center in Pacifica. He was 77. The cause of death was complications from diabetes and arteriosclerosis. Mr. Hernandez was known to his legions of readers by his pen name "Mister Marcus" and dubbed the "dean of leather columnists." His weekly columns of contest goings-on and gossip were a must-read for leather community leaders, titleholders, and newcomers alike for 38 years.
2009, Oct 10:	After 10 years of serving the Sydney/Petersham, Australia fetish community, the Manacle closed it's doors
2009, Oct 10:	In honor of their 45^th Anniversary, the Empire City MC celebrate aboard the USS Lexington at the Skyport Marina in New York City
2009, Oct 17:	While sorting the collection papers of Tony DeBlase at the LA&M, Board Member Rob Ridinger uncovers the original draft of the Leather History Timeline including all citations on the compellation of the Timeline and a paragraph explaining how to contribute more information. This information will be made available to the general public before the end of 2009.
2009, Oct 23:	The LA&M opens a new exhibit in the Guest Artist Gallery, "Restraint" by John Randle. Born in 1944 and raised in Chicago, John Randle received a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1968 and taught art in high school for 31 years in suburban Chicago. He also received an MA degree in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College in 1989. He has been retired for 10 years and enjoys travel and working for small theater companies. He was resident scenic designer for the NeoFuturists for 5 years and created two shows of drawings and paintings for their productions of "Alice" and "The Last Five Minutes of the Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen". He had a show of drawings and paintings this year at Touche'.
2009, Oct 23-25:	Leather SINS celebrates their annual event, Kinky Kollege V, "Taboo, Taboo" in Chicago
2009, Oct 25:	Robert "Bob" Maddox. co-founder of Male Hide Leathers passed away suddenly at the age of 74. Bob, with his lover and partner Frank Goley, began making leather attire for friends at their kitchen table before opening their first store in Chicago. A memorial service was held at the Leather Archives & Museum in November where hundreds of leather folk showed up to celebrate his life.
2009, Oct 31:	Longtime gay activist Larry Stansbury, 61, died Saturday, Oct. 31, following a weeks-long struggle at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the District.
2009, Nov:	Atlanta-based Window Media, ceased operations at gay-oriented publications, which include the Washinton Blade newspaper, Southern Voice newspaper and David magazine in Atlanta, and the South Florida Blade and 411 magazine in Florida.
2009, Nov 21:	The Thanksgiving Slave Auction takes place at Dragons Gate Studios in Yorba Linda, CA in the Dungeon of Mistress Jordan. This is it's 10^th year Anniversary
2009, Nov 21:	Memorials for Mr. Marcus were held all over the United States wit the main service taking place at City Nights in San Francisco, CA
2009, Nov 24:	The Atlanta Eagle, and patrons who were present during the police raid on September 10, 2009, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit this morning against the City of Atlanta, Police Chief Richard Pennington, and the individual police officers involved in the raid. The lawsuit was filed jointly by Atlanta attorney Dan Grossman, Lamdba Legal, and The Southern Center for Human Rights
2009, Nov 28:	The Satyrs MC celebrate their 55^th Anniversary
2009, Nov 28:	At the Leather Masked Ball in Fort Lauderdale, FL. International Leatherboy Bill Hoeppner donates David Kloss' International Mr. Leather 1979 title vest to the Leather Archives & Museum. Bill had won the vest in an auction at the International Leather Sir/boy contest in San Francisco and thought it was only fitting that it be sent home to the LA&M
2009, Dec 1:	SPICE (South Florida People Involved in Consensual Endeavors" disbands donating their remaining funds to the Leather Archives & Museum and the NCSF
2009, Dec 16:	Mr. Bullet Leather 2000 Ted "Tedbear" Kuehner passed away on Wednesday December 16 while visiting his family in Indiana for the Christmas Holiday.

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2010

Time

Event

2010:

Publication of and donated to the Leather Archives & Museum

	A Nice Boy From A Good Family by David May
	Band of Bikers by Scott Zieher
	My Leather Workbook by Matt Johnson
	Smoke, Ash and Burning Embers by John D. Weal

2010, :

Spearhead of Toronto Canada celebrates its 40^th Anniversary

2010, :

Ottawa Knights of Canada celebrate their 35^th Anniversary

2010, Jan 1:

The Leather Archives & Museum along with Leigh Fleming and Sarah Humble announce The Women's Leather History Project. The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) is committed to collecting, preserving and providing access to the contributions, experiences, and histories of women in leather, BDSM, fetish, and related lifestyles. The Women’s Leather History Project (WLHP) represents the LA&M’s ongoing commitment to making the diverse voices of women in leather visible and heard. The WLHP will collect artifacts, stories, and other items that represent the experience of all women (straight, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, women of color). The resulting collections will be featured in future exhibitions at the Leather Archives & Museum.

2010, Jan 15-17:

40^th Anniversary of Centaur Motorcycle Club's Mid Atlantic Leather Weekend

2010, Jan 19:

The Chicago Leather Kenel Club, who's goal was to help you achieve your personal best in the pursuit of a local, regional, national, or international fetish title, disbands

2010, Jan 24:

Rick Storer is honored with the Leatherman's Heart Award presented at South West Leather Conference in Phoenix, AZ

2010, Feb 5-7:

15^th Annual Dark Weekend sponsored by LIFE Detroit, Detroit, MI

2010, Feb 22:

The passing of Jamie Gillis, who died today in New York at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer. Gillis is best known for his work in classic BDSM roles.

2010, Mar 27-28:

15^th Annual Tom of Finland Erotic Art Fair takes place in West Hollywood, CA

2010, Mar 12-13:

On Friday March 12 and Saturday March 13, history was made within the NYC Leather community when the city's oldest and original Leather/Levi bar, Rawhide, held it's first ever Mr. Rawhide, NYC leather competition. Despite the monsoon conditions outside for two days the bar was packed with Leather men and women as they celebrated the first Mr. Rawhide, NYC, Ryan Mollar. The esteemed panel of judges consisted of Darrell Perry, Cirrtone, Grant Anderson, Master Tip, Morgaine, Kip Hollar, and Mike Dreyden. The judges boy for the event was Fenix, with Spanky and Damian serving as tally masters. Behind the scenes, serving as Den Daddy, was Hillary S. Naploleone Williams. The event was emceed by Will Clarke with DJ Delroy spinning tunes and Ray Daniels dancing "Coyote Ugly" style throughout the weekend.

2010, Mar 22:

Jim "Dottie" Dohr passed away today, Monday-March 22- at noon after a very short battle with liver cancer. Jim produced the IML Contest and weekend in the early years, and also managed Chicago's legendary Gold Coast bar before going to work for the Chicago Department of Health.

2010, Apr 9-11:

20^th Anniversary of Chain of Command, TCC Landsite, Cameron, TX

2010, Apr 15:

The Los Angeles Band of Brothers conducted its founding ceremony. As current and former Los Angeles-area Leather Titleholders gathered at a member's home in Los Angeles, CA.

2010, Apr 16-18:

30^th annual KC Pioneers Trails End Run, Kansas City, MO

2010, Apr 1-4:

10^th annual Las Vegas Smoke out sponsored by Desert Brotherhood Motorcycle Club

2010, May 14-16:

35^th Anniversary of Excelsior MC, Long Island, NY

2010, May 31:

Self-proclaimed "Leather gimp" Tyler McCormick, a wheelerchair-reliant female to male transgender man, breaks down barriers to win the 2010 INTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER contest - the first time in the competition's 32 year history.

Lance Holman, Mr San Francisco Leather, took first runner-up, and Jack Andrew Duke, Mr. Texas Leather, took second runner-up. The IML competition was held Memorial weekend (May 27-31 2010) in Chicago

2010, May 31:

CHICAGO -Chuck Renslow, founder of International Mr. Leather and the Leather Archives & Museum, announced plans to donate or give International Mr. Leather, Inc. to the Renslow Charitable Foundation with the Leather Archives & Museum as the sole beneficiary at the 32nd annual IML contest on May 30, 2010.

Renslow cited the creation of the foundation as a way for International Mr. Leather to benefit the international kink and fetish community directly. "I am pleased to announce that all profits from the annual IML contest will flow back to the leather tribe through the LA&M -- the only organization that preserves, displays and celebrates the history of IML, the leather tribe, and the expanding international kink and fetish community."

The Trustees of the Renslow Charitable Foundation will operate the International Mr. Leather Weekend and ensure that all proceeds benefit the LA&M when Renslow retires as IML Executive Producer.

Rick Storer, LA&M Executive Director was overjoyed but not surprised by the announcement. "All of us in the LA&M family are grateful for the continued support and leadership of our founder, Chuck Renslow. Once again, Chuck is setting a stellar example of how each of us can generously support and serve the community that makes our lifestyle real, fun and possible."

2010, Jun:

25^th Anniversary of the Cosmic order of KA. This celebration will also mark the disbanding of the club

2010, Jun 5:

Diamond Jim's Saloon closed it's doors after serving the community for more than a decade

2010, Jun 10-13:

15^th Anniversary of SouthEast LeatherFest Atlanta, GA

2010, Jun 15:

Passing of boy xody. 30-year-old Michael Winters died of a heart attack in Henrietta Township, OH. boy xody was a founding memer of NAIL (New Age In Leather) and volunteered for CLAW. xody was the boy of Mid Atlantic Leather Sir 2009, Ky of Pittsburgh, PA. A celebration of Michael's life was held Saturday, June 9 at the LGBT Community Center of Cleveland

2010, Jul 10:

Detroit Eagle closed its doors. This is the 3rd gay bar to shut its doors in this city in the last couple months

2010, Jul 10:

California B&B Corps hosted a dress uniform cocktail party and dinner to celebrate their milestone 500^th meeting in Pasadena, CA

2010, Jul 16-18:

American Brotherhood Weekend is held at the Leather Archives & Museum in the Etienne Auditorium. ABW, a celebration of the bonds shared as a Leather family of men and women took place in and around two iconic Chicago Leather institutions: Touché, one of the oldest and most established Leather bars in the city, and the Leather Archives and Museum, the definitive library, museum and archive of our history as Leatherfolk.

2010, Aug 6-8:

The 5^th annual Utah Rebellion was held at Club Try-Angels in Salt Lake City Utah

2010, Aug 12-15:

Pantheon of Leather 20 returns to the place where it all started in 1991, Los Angeles, CA

2010, Sep. 24-26:

20^th Anniversary of Beyond Vanilla hosted by NLA Dallas

2010, Oct. 7-10:

15^th Anniversary of Blackout hosted by Onyx: Mid Atlantic

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Form Object

In an ongoing effort to keep the Leather History Timeline that Tony DeBlase started alive, the staff of the Leather Archives & Museum has taken on the task of updating the timeline starting with 2005. Since there is so much information out there, we have set up some criteria for information to be added to the timeline.

Clubs or events that celebrate milestone anniversaries (5 year increments)
Passing of people notably involved in the leather community
Closing of leather bars, ending of clubs, ending of contests, etc…
Anything to do with the history of the LA&M itself
Notable laws, court cases or police reports dealing with Fetish/BDSM and the Leather Lifestyle
Books published and donated to the Leather Archives & Museum

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