Gather round the fire, kids, and let me tell you a story. It’s a tragic tale about how the Philadelphians MC truck died a strange and horrible death in the middle of the Philly Pride Parade on a hot day in June way back in 2009.
It was right there at the intersection of Eighth and Market streets, and you can still see evidence of the horror if you know where to look. A pitted scar and a dark stain on the pavement marks the spot where a hose splintered and cracked and dumped an entire load of transmission fluid on the street. It was terrible.
But if you listen closely and if you imagine real hard — I mean really hard — you can almost hear ghostly echoes from the anguished cries of the club members, mingled with their laughter at their misfortune … and their stupidity.
Well, not this year, bitches! Instead of a 20-year-old Ford Ranger salvaged from underneath a dying willow tree on the shore of a South Jersey lake, the club loaded its sound system and camo netting onto a shiny Ford F-150 that had no trouble making it to the reviewing stand!
The truck escorted over a dozen members of Philadelphians MC and the Keystone boys of Leather and their friends. The heat, humidity, sudden downpour and subsequent steam bath couldn’t put a damper on what turned out to be a truly excellent day for all.
IML 2010
International Mr. Leather 32 was held over Memorial Day weekend in Chicago and, without a doubt, this year’s winner will go down in history. New Mexico’s Tyler McCormick became the first winner of the contest who uses a wheelchair and who is FTM transgender.
Response to McCormick’s crowning as IML 32 has sparked widespread discussion. Many people see it as evidence the leather community is becoming more inclusive. Others see it as evidence the IML contest has strayed from the “old school” leather ideal on which it was founded (see www.instigatormagazine.com for that publication’s take on it).
McCormick is far from the first FTM to compete at IML. That particular trail was blazed in 1998 by current IML judge co-coordinator Billy Lane. He placed in the top 20 at IML XX and since then has continued to be a prominent member of the community and a longtime IML volunteer. So an FTM “Mr. Leather” is nothing new, but an FTM IML is.
IML attendance was noticeably down this year, as were booth rentals in the Vendor Mart. Surely that’s due in part to the economy, but I wish I could figure out a way to measure how much is a result of IML’s 2009 pronouncement against barebacking and companies promoting it.
As I suspected, porn companies like Colt, Titan, Raging Stallion and Treasure Island Media were absent from the Vendor Mart, but old favorites Bijou Video and Fort Troff were there. I guess barebacking is in the eye of the beholder: You say potato and I say po-tah-to, you say barebacking and I say pre-condom classic.
Philadelphians MC gives back
On June 7, Philadelphians MC presented two local organizations with proceeds from recent fundraisers at its June meeting.
Last New Year’s, Philadelphians MC produced Tri-Cen 19, raising $2,000, which was donated to the Hospitality Center at The Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany on 13th Street. The center, run by the Rev. Mike Haines, supports people affected by HIV/AIDS.
Last April’s Kinky Carnival at The Bike Stop raised $670, which was donated to the William Way LGBT Community Center. Thanks to an anonymous donor, the funds were matched one-for-two, for a total of $1,005.
The Philadelphians were honored to have the Rev. Rodger Broadley, rector of St. Luke’s, and Laurie Ward, interim executive director of William Way, on hand to receive the donations.
Keystone boys of Leather turn 2
The Keystone boys of Leather marked their second anniversary last weekend with a Pride Saturday bar crawl and a post-parade Sunday cookout at WOOF.
There’s nothing worse (better?) than a boy in his terrible twos, right? The boys have some great new members and awesome stuff planned, like the next BootLust and a superhero-themed event in the fall. It should be a great year!
UPCOMING EVENTS: WOOF! PHILLY: Every Sunday at 5 p.m., 1416 Chancellor St. See www.woofphilly.com for DJ and dancer schedules.
LIBERTY BEARS SOCIAL: Balls, Butts ‘N Suds, 1:30 p.m. July 10 at The Woods Campground. See www.libertybears.net or Facebook for information.
Questions? Comments? Thoughts about IML? Contact Jim at [email protected].