Posted on 01/06/2003 2:31:10 AM PST by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - A homosexual motorcycle club expects thousands of leather fetish enthusiasts and dozens of erotic merchandise vendors to fill the streets and hotels of the nation's capital over the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. But City Hall and one animal rights group are at odds over the social merits of the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend.
According to Mike Dembski, spokesman for the Centaur Motorcycle Club (MC), "The office of the mayor and the D.C. City Council routinely present Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) Weekend organizers with a city-wide declaration honoring and recognizing Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend for its commitment in helping sustain leather community and pride; and certainly symbolizing recognition of MAL's positive contribution upon the local economy."
Phyllis Jones, spokeswoman for the city council, confirmed that at least one ceremonial resolution has been passed in recent years in recognition of the civic and economic importance of the homosexual leather fetish event.
Democratic Councilman Jim Graham authored a 1999 resolution declaring that "the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend promotes goodwill, helpfulness and a solid sense of community among the gay and lesbian residents by extending a warm hand of hospitality to all."
Sharon Gang, spokesperson for D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, said the mayor's office has not received a proclamation request from organizers of the Jan. 17-20 event and denied that the mayor had issued any such resolutions for past Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekends.
"The office of the secretary has no record of a resolution for this organization," Gang said.
Gang's denial, however, should not discount Williams' record of supporting homosexual advocacy groups and policy issues.
In a speech delivered at the Human Rights Campaign's 20th anniversary gala in 2001, Williams told guests, "I am proud as the mayor of America's capital to be graced in our community by the large number of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered members of our community. They are strong, they are powerful, they have a voice and they are recognized by this mayor."
Homosexual organizers of the Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest, however, are limiting the diversity of contestants.
"The Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest is open to all gay Leathermen. While everyone is welcome to attend, the contest is not open to heterosexuals," the event's website states. "The contest is a gay event and contestants must be a resident of North America, be 21 years of age or over, and should self-identify as gay."
The contest is scheduled to take place at the D.C. nightclub, Nation, which was recently declared off-limits to all U.S. military personnel in the national capital region because of alleged drug use and trafficking on the club's premises.
The Washington Plaza Hotel will play host to a "boot black" polishing competition, "leather exhibit hall" and the "Centaur General Store." More than 30 exhibitors hailing from across the nation have registered with Centaur MC to peddle their BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, Masochism) dungeon equipment, leather clothing and explicit homosexual pornography.
Centaur MC organizers have also made special hotel accommodations for the event's "almost entirely gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered" out-of-town contingency. Five hotels, including the Holiday Inn Downtown and Marriott Residence Inn, are offering discounted room rates to all who mention Centaur MC or Leather Weekend when making reservations.
Leather Pride Collides With Animal Rights
"We're all for pride in every community, but any community would have even more to be proud of if they rejected a relic of the past when we were less aware of the issues of animal suffering and adopted cruelty-free alternatives," said Lisa Franzetta, spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). "Moving away from products like leather that animals have had to suffer so miserably for would be a true source of pride."
Though Franzetta said PETA currently has no plans for a formal protest against organizers and participants of the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend, she said there was "no excuse" for the leather lifestyle.
"Wearing animal skins won't make you look sexy," Franzetta said. "Our position is that whatever your fetish, animal suffering is a turn-off."
Franzetta said there is an abundance of fashionable alternatives to leather, including a wide variety of vegan bondage devices.
"There are manufacturers who definitely are kind of committed to providing vegan bondage gear who are interested in having that kind of thing but don't want to support animal suffering," Franzetta said. "If that's what you're looking for, there's no excuse for wearing any animal skins."
E-mail a news tip to Michael L. Betsch.
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As soon as they find out that animals kill and eat other animals.
Now THAT is niche marketing.
I'm looking forward to the inevitable protest where pious PETA members do a St. Vitus' dance as they walk down a sidewalk trying not to step on any ants.
I wouldn't wish the scourge of a PETA mentality on my worst enemy. Poor bastards.
and if they had their way, these animals would never live at all...
we as meat eaters embrace life, they deny life!!
Plus they are major-league assholes!!
Or is that too fine a point to put on it?
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