Ms. SF Leather 2013 - Val's blog: Title activities report - March/April 2014: Purim, leather contests, Golden Dildeaux Awards

The first thing that happened in March was the Mr SF Leather contest. I already blogged about that here, so let's move on ...

March 8 - International Women's day and the birthday of one of my exes... My wife Marilyn and I went to Black Saturday at the Powerhouse, to see my new sash husband Scott "Big Red" Farrell. I failed to take any pictures, but please trust that we had fun! We also learned to avoid parking in Dore Alley at night, because of frequent car break-ins there. I am not saying anything about our car having loads of broken glass or anything, but I can attest to the fact that the local cops know where the all-night car wash and vacuum is located. Also, when going to the Powerhouse, I now park on 10th Street, where it's also really safe to walk. Bonus!
March 15 - Purim at Beth Israel Judea synagogue in San Francisco. My synagogue, B'nai Emunah (BE), colalborated with BIJ and two other congregations for a big Purim celebration. Purim is the Jewish festival where you are supposed to get dressed up in costume, and also to get drunk (if appropriate for you, of course). When my rabbi found out I was the current Ms SF Leather, he suggested I dress as that for Purim, so I did. The outfit was certainly quite a conversation-starter! Here's a picture of me and my wife and her kids, all dressed up for the event.
March 21-23 - Washington State Mr/Ms Leather Organization's annual contest for the Washington State Mr. and Ms. Leather and the new title of Washington State Bootblack. The contest meet and greet was held on Friday evening at Doghouse Leathers, a community-owned leather and toy store in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle. I got to meet the judges, contestants, and current titleholders, and to see some old friends. What a great evening! Then on Saturday evening, after spending the day walking Capitol Hill with old friends, it was time for the contest, held at The Cuff, a friendly gay bar with a stage in back, conveniently located right around the corner from Doghouse Leathers. Here are a couple of pics of me with Danelle, outgoing WA State Ms. Leather,

and Stormy and Bill, current Mr. and Ms. Oregon State Leather. I like making new friends! The next day there was an awards brunch where the community and visitors got to mingle and where the new titleholders were officially introduced and given their regalia. Here's a picture of Becca Bee, WA State Bootblack, Tris Esclave, WA State Ms. Leather, and Erik Taylor, WA State Mr. Leather, with their sashes and vests on at the same time, which we are promised we will never see again! (A word to the wise - you usually only wear one at a time. But they just got them that minute, so they had them on together, on purpose.) Congratulations to all the titleholders!

I had a fantastic time visiting Seattle. I received a very warm welcome, I met some really great people, I got to see some old friends too, and I can't wait to go back for another visit!
March 29 - Mr. LA Leather contest. I went down just for the one night. I decided to do this in support of my gorgeous sash husband on his road to IML, but I was really glad I did because I had a great time. Here I am with Big Red,

and here I am with Big Red and the super handsome and all around good guy Eric Paul Leue, the new Mr. LA Leather 2014. Did I just mention handsome? Congratulations to Eric - who is already doing a great job.
Sometimes you have to work as well as party. On April 5th, I attended another meeting of the San Francisco Pride Leather Contingent. The SF Eagle leather bar kindly let us meet on its pleasant patio. The meetings of the Leather Contingent are open, and any interested community member may attend. Local folks, hit me up for info by emailing me via this blog. As I write, Pride is finished for 2014, but the meetings will start up again early in 2015 and I for one plan to stay involved.
April 12 - another Black Saturday at the Powerhouse. Still no pictures! What's with that? Sorry.I had a great time though. The Powerhouse is a really friendly bar and I am glad to have had an excuse to get to visit there a bit more often.
April 13 - meeting with Liza and Jody, my contest producers and the reason I have this title, and other folks on their team. The contest is in October and we have to do a bit of planning and logistics. It was great to spend time with my producers, of whom I don't see as much as I would like. Not that they are absent or anything. I just really like them.
April 18 - program of The Exiles: whips, with Zemis. The Exiles is my home club, and does BDSM education for women and everyone whose gender self-identification is other than male. I always enjoy going to our programs. There is education, you can get cheap safe sex supplies, and there are other kinky women (and genderqueers, etc) to talk to. How bad could that be?
April 19 - the Golden Dildeaux Awards, sponsored by the Golden Gate Guards. The Golden Dildeaux are humorous penis-shaped awards given out each year. The Golden Dildeaux raise funds to benefit the AIDS Emergency Fund. The awards were started in 1972 by the late Marcus Hernandez and were later taken over by the Golden Gate Guards. The Golden Dildeaux are literally awards you can buy. Anyone can nominate someone for one or more of the awards, and then anyone can vote for their favorite nominee. It costs a dollar per vote, and you can vote with as many dollars as you like. Remember, it's for a good cause! I was nominated in two categories: "Iron Lady" (not Margaret Thatcher, but best butch) and "The Great Beauty" (hottest current titleholder), and I came away with both. Remember, you can buy these awards, otherwise do you think I would have beaten IML 2013 Andy Cross? I am not that vain. Here I am with my awards and a fellow happy winner.
April 24-27. International Ms. Leather 2014. If I tried to describe everything that happened here, I would be writing all night. For now, suffice it to say that this was a really great weekend event - no, I mean REALLY GREAT!! I might do a report about it on "that other social networking site", but don't count on it - some things you just have to experience in person.