Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  BLACKLINES

LEATHERLIFE
Insert Fran Dresher's Laugh (ehhh ehhh)
by Cain Berlinger
2003-09-01

This article shared 5069 times since Mon Sep 1, 2003
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


The Leather community has adopted (arguably reluctantly) the credo safe, sane and consensual. Apparently more and more of our members are not taking it to heart when practicing in the privacy of their bedrooms, twice again this past month. There are many workshops on knot tying and controlling your slave, where are the workshops that teach and explain the joys but seriously inherent danger (is that the attraction?) of solo edge play? To all you icons and leaders out there who bemoan the loss of leadership in the next generation—a louder plea has never been issued.

Chicago became the latest in Sci-Fi inductee when the beginning of August saw the swarming of millions of new born gnats filling the air like a snowstorm! Folks were swattin' and slappin' and swallowin' bugs du jour. I was in it briefly and went back inside. In the meantime scientists say that swallowin' the critters is a good source of protein. OK. Call me old fashioned but I prefer my protein the old-fashioned way ... Diet drink supplements.

Seems STEAMWORKS gym and Sauna is cracking down on alleged drug use in the place. I have a STEAMWORKS gym pass (yes I ACTUALLY DO use the gym upstairs, not always BALLY's, but good for quickie workouts!) and they confiscated my water. Now who does a workout without a lot of water nearby? Getting on and off the machines to go to the fountain can screw up a guys' momentum! Sunday early morning

(7:30 a.m.) found them going through my backpack with a fine tooth comb, even checking the pages of a book I had with me. Always polite but the next thing to airline security, the guys explained that things were going to get worse with random locker and room searches! I sure hope this isn't a backlash to all the community outreach they've been doing big time.

I've always wanted to print this: This information came from a reliable source I talked to at the desk, via phone who wishes to remain anon-y-mous! Apparently GHB is mixed in water and ... it's all beyond me, this columnist stopped smokin' drinkin' and takin' designer stuff a long, long time ago! STEAMWORKS is the proud sponsor of many diverse community events including MR. EBONY LEATHER. Kudos to STEAMWORKS and their hard line, but weep for a community that has metal detectors at dance palaces (New York has gotten big on that) and random drug searches at the bathhouses. Guess it's time to get a new hobby!

Is there any way to stop these Queens from screaming out to their girlfriends and such as they stagger out of the bars onto Halsted at 2-3-4 a.m. as if they owned it and people DON'T live and try to sleep on the main drag? Maybe they ought to post bouncers at the door OUTSIDE to remind these revelers that Halsted is still and always has been a residential district, show a little consideration. Makes you long for the skulking back alley days when we slipped quietly in and out the back doors!

Got sumpthin' to say? Check my Web site for complete column text n' pics www.mrcain.com . Men of Onyx hosted Blackout VIII—Behind the Eight Ball, a weekend of events by and for African America leathermen. See www.onyxmen.com .

Photos by Kirk Williamson


This article shared 5069 times since Mon Sep 1, 2003
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Mr. Chicago Leather 2024 at Touche, Vince Jay takes title 2024-02-02
- A diverse group of people from around the world gathered at Touché Chicago for the Mr. Chicago Leather 2024 Contest the evening of Jan. 27. Ammar Houssamo hosted the event, at which Mr. Chicago Leather 2022-23 ...


Gay News

Mr. Chicago Leather contest returns to Touche following 2022 controversy 2024-02-01
- The Mr. Chicago Leather contest returned this past weekend, January 26-28, to Touché Chicago, over a year after numerous community members were incensed by a racist incident. But the bartender who quit Touché following the incident ...


Gay News

Leather Archives & Museum announces 2024 Fetish Film Forum 2024-01-27
--From a press release - CHICAGO, Illinois—After a wildly successful inaugural year, including a 10-film series at the Leather Archives & Museum and a 5-film series at FACETS, the Leather Archives & Museum is thrilled to announce the continuation of Fetish ...


Gay News

Lark Lux wins Midwest Fetish Title 2023-10-16
- Midwest Fetish and Leather Collective Contest Weekend kicked off Oct. 13 with a meet-and-greet held at Cellblock Chicago. The next day, three contestants vied for the Midwest Fetish Title, with the main contest held at the ...


Gay News

Winners named for Fetish Weekend contest 2023-07-25
- The inaugural Chicago Fetish Weekend awarded its two titles on the evening on July 22. Lil Daddy Bear won the title of Chicago Leather Ambassador, while Riley won the title of Midwest Rubber. ...


Gay News

Chicago Fetish Weekend gets into gear 2023-07-22
- Chicago Fetish Weekend kicked off July 21 with the welcome party, which was held at The Baton. Emcee Pup Figaro introduced the judges, tally masters and the nine contestants vying for the two titles of Midwest ...


Gay News

Passages: Benjamin Feathers passes away 2023-07-06
- Benjamin Feathers, "Pup Fenrir", 41, of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, died in an apartment fire on July 1. Ben lived a very lively life. He was a lifestyle member of Chicago's Leather community. Like so many others, ...


Gay News

As Pride Month begins, 2Bears Tavern Group issues statement on allyship and safe spaces 2023-06-01
--From a press release - [Chicago, IL — June 1, 2023] As we begin Pride Month, many in the LGBTQIA+ community, and in particular of late, transgender and non-binary people, drag performers, and parts of the leather, fetish, kink, and BDSM ...


Gay News

Barela wins International Mr. Leather title 2023-05-30
- IML45 came to an exciting close at the Auditorium Theater on Sunday Night as the title was awarded to Marcus Barela of Los Angeles, California. Chris Glc of Atlanta, Georgia was awarded first runner up, and ...


Gay News

IML visitors are off to (the leather) market 2023-05-28
- International Mr. Leather visitors shopped and took part in demonstrations at the event's famous (infamous?) Leather Market at the Congress Hotel over Memorial Day weekend. Several dozen vendors took part in the event; a portion of ...


Gay News

IML 2023 begins 2023-05-26
- Visitors from around the world gathered in the Florentine Room of the Congress Hotel on May 25 to kick off the opening ceremonies of the 2023 installment International Male Leather. The event was emceed by Thib ...


Gay News

Bears, cubs and their admirers return for Illinois Bear Contest 2023-04-11
- Visitors and Chicagoans gathered at Charlies Chicago, 3726 N. Broadway, on April 7 to kick off the Illinois Bear Contest weekend, the first since 2019. The contest itself took place the following evening at Leather Archives ...


Gay News

Puppy & Handler Contest returns 2023-02-21
Joseph Stephens - The Midwest Puppy & Handler Contest took place the weekend of Feb. 17-18 for the first time since 2019. The contest's meet-and-greet was held at Cellblock Feb. 17. The contest itself was hosted by the Leather ...


Gay News

Chicagoans gather for Jackhammer re-opening 2023-01-30
Photos by Joseph Stevens - Rogers Park leather and fetish bar Jackhammer held its grand re-opening the evening of Jan. 27 after a long renovation process. The longtime North Side watering hole opened in 1999, taking over the space previously occupied ...


Gay News

ONYX Midwest forum tackles racist performance at Touche's anniversary party 2023-01-22
- In a response to the racist performance that took place at the leather, fetish and bear-focused Touche Chicago's 45th anniversary celebration on Nov. 1, 2022, ONYX Midwest hosted a community forum Jan. 21 at The Leather ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.