What a wonderful world it can be

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend 2009 was truly something else. The crowds were smaller but the energy and the optimism were way up as the District of Columbia prepared to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama.

According to representatives from Centaur MC, the hosts and producers of the weekend, registration was down by about a third, but the core members of the community, the men and women who wear their leathers proudly all year long, turned out in force.

MAL coinciding with the inauguration is nothing new: It happens like clockwork once every four years. But so many things made this year different: the prediction of record crowds, the recent economic downturn, the 25th anniversary of the Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather contest and district bars staying open late.

While these factors may have scared some people away, those who came were treated to a special, once-in-a-lifetime MAL. Many attendees were overheard saying emphatically that this was the best MAL in years.

MR. MID-ATLANTIC LEATHER 2009

There were six contestants this year, hailing from Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania: Mr. DC Capital Pride Jim Rinefierd, Mr. Old Dominion Leather Joel Shotwell, Mr. Double L Leather Paul Masterson, first runner-up for Mr. Maryland Leather Kip Holler, Mr. Pittsburgh Eagle Leather Nick Daemous and Mr. Reading Leather Jim Kuser.

The entertainer at this year’s main event was actor and activist Kathy Najimy, who gave a stirring speech during her headlining moment. A staunch supporter of numerous causes including women’s rights, gay and lesbian rights and HIV/AIDS issues, Najimy’s speech sounded at times like she was addressing at a black-tie fundraising gala. But just when you thought she had forgotten where she was, she’d let rip with a few X-rated one-liners that had the audience howling. You could tell she had the utmost respect and affection for the audience and was having a ball submersing herself in kinky leather culture for the day, and the crowd simply loved her back.

Najimy surprised everyone by joining the guys on stage during the jockstrap competition, still wearing her elegant black evening gown, of course. M.C. Frank Nowicki rolled with the punches and introduced her as the seventh contestant. Najimy was game for everything except the traditional routine that closes almost every jockstrap contest: “Turn around, bend over and smile!”

When the votes were counted Najimy shocked us all by returning to the stage once again to help Nowicki announce the winners. It’s unheard of for the entertainer to come back out so often; she must have been having a great time.

Second runner-up was Paul Masterson, first runner-up was Jim Rinefierd and Kip Holler was named the 25th Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather. Holler joins a long line of very proud leathermen who have been very active in their local communities, and he moves on to Chicago in May, where he will compete in the 31st International Mr. Leather contest.

FAIR AND BALANCED REPORTING

For the first time ever, a major news outlet ran a piece on MAL. Last December, ABCNews contacted Centaur MC with questions about the event. Member Larry Barat called their reporter back and gave them a history of the event and a description of the typical weekend proceedings.

After he read their piece, Barat said, “I called them back to thank them, and to tell them that my only wish was that I could have sat in on their call to the Inauguration Committee when they asked if Obama would be attending any of MAL. That was a stroke of genius!”

You can read their piece at http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=6513999.

UPCOMING EVENTS

WOOF! PHILLY: Every Sunday starting at 5 p.m. at 200 S. 12th St. Check the Web for information on upcoming appearances by stars from Bear Films (Jonny Mack and Torez) and Raging Stallion Studios (Ricky Sinz and Jake Deckard)! Visit www.woofphilly.com or www.myspace.com/woofphilly for more information.

GET OUT GET LAID: Feb. 5, from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. Strap on your best leather, rubber, sport or fetish gear and come hang with MidAtlantic LeatherSir and Leatherboy Sir Andy and Steve “boyshark,” featuring special DJ and video entertainment by yours truly, Jim KZ.

CHARITY TRIVIA: Feb. 6, from 7-11 p.m. in The Pit at The Bike Stop. Join hosts James and Toshio for this month’s theme, “Anti-Love,” and the celebrity sponsor is RuPaul! For more information, visit www.queeropinion.com/charitytrivia .

Questions? Comments? Need a shoulder to cry on after the Eagles’ playoff loss? Contact Jim at [email protected] .

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