San Diego Pride is upon us! The San Diego Leather Realm is back again this year, educating those who are “kink” curious.
The kink curious persons are normally those who have kinky thoughts, but most of the time feel they are the only ones who feel that way, until they meet other like-minded men and women who are into the same thing. It is then that their fantasies transform into reality.
Some of the most notable kinks are bondage, discipline and sadomasochism – aka BDSM. BDSM can be as minimal as just tying someone up with rope. The person doing the tying is not always referred to as a sadist. They could just be the willing partner who has the desire to transfer energy to the masochist. The masochist, on the other hand, wishes to be tied up; it gives them a sense of submission.
The profile of a masochist could be someone who during their day-to-day professional lives has authority over others. They might crave the need to relinquish that authority, and by being tied up they give up control. They require nothing, but to be tied up, and perhaps blindfolded. They go into a headspace that relinquishes them of all control, and places them in a euphoric frame of mind, pleasing and relaxing to them!
A masochist can also be submissive in nature, just born that way, deriving the same pleasure. A sadist does not necessarily have to be a “strapping man!” He can be your average guy; not strapping, striking or overly handsome, just your “average Joe, or Jane!” Men tie up women and vice versa, men tie up men, as do women tie up other women.
On the other end of the spectrum there are fetishes that some would call extreme. In the leather community, handkerchiefs worn in either the left or right pocket distinguish a lot of these fetishes. A handkerchief worn in the left pocket signifies that you are a top/dominant; worn in the right pocket means you a bottom/submissive.
I must stress that these kinks and fetishes are practiced by both sexes.
Since this is a family publication, I won’t go into graphic descriptions, but I challenge you to look them up and see what might intrigue you. I will give you a few hints, and not in any particular order of their extremes, because what might be extreme to one might not be to another.
So this weekend at San Diego Pride, stop into the Leather Realm “The Back Alley” and ask questions. The more mature your question, the more mature the answer you will receive.
Here is the rundown of what you can expect.
There will be presenters Saturday, July 16, starting at 1:30 p.m. on Embracing the Erotic Side of Your Leather Journey. At 2:45 p.m., you will have Bend Your Gender. At 4 p.m., you will be informed on the topic of Things that Pinch. Following the gender bender at 5:15 p.m., presenters will talk to you about Being Open to the Relationship That Finds You. You don’t want to miss the caning at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, things pick back up at noon with Sex, Gender and Play, followed by The Art of Sensation Play, Sex, Magic and Primal Florentine flogging. At 3:45 p.m., if you want to learn the terminology, then stop by and take notes. The evening finishes at 5 p.m. with a little Electricity Play.
The community awareness forum will be going on all day, giving you insight on how the internet is making us socially retarded, bringing the community together in new ways that work really well, safe sex practices and leather and sober living, concluding with a meeting of the “Friends of Bill.” I hope some of this has intrigued you.
Wait, there is more. Come on out and explore, see the spiritual and the family side of the leather community.
Mama Sandy Reinhart from San Francisco will be in San Diego. She has been dubbed the “Mama” of the leather family because she adopts all of us who work behind the scenes and contribute to the charities that she believes in. A lot of these charities aren’t just LGBT related. They are national as well as international charities. Come to her reception at Pleasures and Treasures on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
I, like all of Mama’s boys and girls, wear the name badges with the name she bestowed upon us. It’s a badge of honor. I am “Mama’s Leather Sir.”
Mama will speak Saturday at the Leather Realm’s “Back Alley” on Community, Volunteerism and Family. There will also be a Mama’s family reunion picture taken.
Before or after hearing Mama speak, visit the San Diego Leather History Project and learn about the amazing and long-standing history of the San Diego leather community. The Realm has bootblacks, a niche market and art, art, art.
To top off the evening, you can try some of the things you’ve read about here under the guidance and instructions of the ambassadors. I think there might be some puppies in attendance as well! And yes, if you like, someone will be there to take your picture to capture that moment when you started on your kinky journey.
When you see Todd Bishop, California Leather Sir 2011, wish him well on his journey, as he goes to San Francisco, Dore Alley weekend to compete for the title of International Leather Sir 2011. Christi Campbell, Ms. San Diego Leather 2009, is heading up this group of family members to make this all happen.
Come on and check out the other side of you. There is nothing to be afraid of, but you!
