Presenters
Kim Attica is co-founder of Iron Rose, a fee-free BDSM community/resource website and more that is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Kim is a sadist top with multiple relationships including a primary partner of over 20 years (Ketzer) and a complex boy (Laura). She specializes in resource management with a global organization.
Josh B (JB) is a member of the Knights of Leather and underwent his gender transition from female to male within the local leather community. JB has been on testosterone for four years and has been a tireless advocate for pushing gender boundaries and incorporating gender play in his scenes. He is a health professional and a co-chair of the grassroots organization, MN Transgender Health Coalition.
Brie Baker was introduced to the BDSM community in late 1999 by a friend after experimenting with kink most of her adult life. After years in leadership positions in her local community, she got involved with NLA-I. Currently, she is the regional coordinator of the NLA-I Domestic Violence Project for the states of Iowa and Minnesota.
Robert Bienvenu, PhD is a sociologist who lives in the Washington, DC area. His research addresses policy, ethical, and legal issues affecting sexual minorities, with a focus on strategies for inclusion and positive change.
slave Cat (Southwest slave 2006) has been formally enslaved to Master Conrad for over four years, after enjoying four previous years as his student in the martial arts. She is a self-described warrior slave, and on occasion assists her master in topping or tops herself with his approval and believes that experience makes her a better bottom for her owner. Cat manages the daily operations of Master Conrad’s law office. She has been involved in the legal community in Las Vegas for nearly two decades and has worked as a legal assistant, paralegal and office manager for both local attorneys and the federal government, primarily in the areas of criminal defense, appellate, family law, personal injury, construction defect and slander/libel.
Master Conrad (Southwest Master 2006) has been involved with power exchange relationships and SM for over fifteen years. His role as Master is central to his identity. He has blended modern contract law and historical models to influence his approach to his Master/slave relationship with his slave Cat. Master Conrad currently is the managing partner of a small law firm, a trial attorney, and a court certified mediator specializing in criminal defense and representation of law enforcement personnel. He is a member of several Las Vegas leather and kink organizations, on the board of MAsT: Las Vegas and teaches locally and nationally. He also teaches martial arts and law-related classes to community and law enforcement organizations. He can be reached via www.leatherlaw.com.
Travis Creston (Mr. San Francisco Leather 2007) is pleased to partner with the Department of Public Health of SF for their HIV vaccine trials. He is involved with radio announcements, moderates panel discussions, and participates in the Hep C Awareness Campaign. He also works with the Bare Chest Calender of SF that benefits AIDS Emergency Fund and Positive Resource. He has worked with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and is a member of the Leather Archives & Museum. He is on track to be a kink-aware therapist and is thrilled to be a leather leader for The Next Generation.
Lady D has been a member of the SM community for over 20 years. Her role as co-coordinator, mentor and board member encompass only a few titles on her resume. She has been involved in women’s and pansexual groups in many cities, including Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Minneapolis. Her passion is the weight of subtlety.
Sheryl Dee, American Leatherwoman 2003, is owned by Ms Elle Sachs and has been active in the BDSM community in San Diego since 1996. She is a leader, mentor, lecturer and teacher. Sheryl is the founder of the Leather Girl Network, an ABW co-producer and an LLC, Inc. board member.
Philip Dietch has a long career as a diversity consultant growing out of his service as a civil rights activist, building bridges between diverse issues and communities. He has served on the board of directors or in a leadership position in over 50 national and local not-for-profits or community coalitions. These include efforts addressing civil rights of racial minorities, people with disabilities, choice and women’s rights, HIV-AIDS, prison reform, hate crimes, inter-faith efforts, and activism in and for the LGBTA communities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally). He has presented at leather events around the country and judged many contests including IML, IMDL, IMsL, Ms World Leather and ILSb.
Leigha Fleming has been actively involved in the SM/leather/fetish community for almost 15 years. She serves on the board of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and on the board of ITCR: The Foundation of NCSF. She is responsible for coordinating NCSF’s Incident Response Program and Education Outreach Program. In addition, Leigha oversees NCSF’s financial management.
Graydancer and Minx met five years ago and for the past four years have been exploring the intersection of their lifelong interest in kink. They have shared their explorations in Dominance/submission, fear play, rope bondage and more, through presentations, performances, and especially in their podcasts, “The Ropecast” and “Polyamory Weekly.”
Judy Guerin is a founder of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation and Federation and of Forum 21, and she advises the European Union on sexual expression issues. She is a member of BR, SIGMA, ASSECT, and SSSS. Formerly, she served as NCSF’s Executive Director, on the boards of BR and GenderPAC and on the National Policy Roundtable’s steering committee.
Levi Halberstadt currently is the director of operations for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and the associate producer for International Ms Leather, LLC. He also is the producer of the annual Baltimore BootCamp. He has presented training on issues of gender, sexuality and sexual health, BDSM and the leather community across the country for the past seven years.
Master Fred is a 57-year-old straight male Dominant involved in a 5-year committed M/s relationship with his soon to be bride and always submissive angel. He is the creative force and operational manpower behind Master's D/signs, a 4-year-old lifestyles accessories website making custom restraint sets and collars, and transportable dungeon furniture. The website also features Vollers Corsets from the UK and fetish footwear from the finest makers. Master Fred is very involved in the Minnesota community, serving as a moderator for PEPRMNT, and co-hosting the monthly meeting of MN Electrical Play. He is frequent presenter in the Twin Cities area.
Frederic Harwood currently is serving his third term as a Black Rose (BR) board member and BR’s representative to NCSF. He also is a member of the Transgendered Education Association. As executive director of a DC nonprofit, he was instrumental in building broad community support and working with Woodhull Freedom Foundation to repeal sexually restrictive alcohol regulations that prohibited BDSM.
Jae Januze became involved in the BDSM/leather/kink community in Spring 2000. She has been an active volunteer, particularly in the Colorado scene where she has served as a board member for several organizations. Jae regularly does educational demos and performs fetish shows for night clubs. Holding state and regional leather titles, Jae went on to win Ms World Leather 2006. Her platform is supporting young adults in alternative sexual lifestyles, which she has been working on since she first got involved in the community. She currently resides in Denver, CO, but travels frequently to the DC metro area. For information, visit her site at MsWorldLeather2006.com.
Kivi has been in the SM lifestyle for 20 years. She has given workshops at various events, including Powersurge, Living Silver, IMsL and Mr. Drummer San Francisco. Creativity in SM play and life are her driving forces, and blood is a symbol of her thirst for life and a motivating factor in her play.
Jonathan Krall, PhD is a founding board member of Black Rose of Washington, DC, BESS of Baltimore, MD, and an activist network, DCSMA. A community leader since 1988, he has received awards from Black Rose, BESS and Pantheon of Leather. Dr. Krall presently serves on the boards of LLC and CARAS (Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities).
Steve Lenius became involved in the Twin Cities leather community in 1993. For 12 years he has been Leather Life columnist for Lavender Magazine (also featured on www.leatherpage.com) and is in the process of publishing a book of collected columns. As Great Lakes Mr. Drummer he competed in the International Mr. Drummer Contest in 1994. Over the years he has judged many contests, including IML in 2002, and has been recognized with a President’s Award from Pantheon of Leather. He is an honorary member of the Knights of Leather, MN Storm Patrol and the Atons of Minneapolis. A graphic designer, typographer and advertising production artist for over 30 years, he has designed several logos for the Twin Cities Festival of GLBT Pride and many collectible dog tags for Minnesota Leather Pride.
Allen Lichtenstein is general counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada. He also maintains a private law practice emphasizing First Amendment and other constitutional law issues. Allen has represented all types of adult businesses ranging from adult cabarets to commercial dungeons to legal brothels. Prior to moving to Las Vegas in 1990, he was an associate professor and deputy chair of his department at Brooklyn College. He also was on the faculty of the University of New Mexico, SUNY at Buffalo and the University of Georgia, and has taught at the Greenspun School of Communication at UNLV. He has a Masters degree in Journalism from the University of Florida, a PhD in Communication from Florida State University and a JD from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.
liz is a 42-year-old tomboy-femme bottom (defined as submissive, service-oriented masochist) who has spent a little over 23 years in the leather community. She is in service to Master Lynne and lives in Texas, where she is employed as an associate psychologist and is active with MAsT DFW.
Larry Manion is a former multi-term Chairperson and Presenter Coordinator of Beat Me In St. Louis. He is a charter member of St. Louis Leather & Lace, a former assistant prosecutor, an LLC, Inc. board member, a former IML judge and a Pantheon Regional Award winner.
Marj has been active in the BDSM community for over 12 years, and has been active in various leadership positions within the community. She started a BDSM club while attending college, was secretary and co-president of LASH and co-founder of DESIRE. She is a vocal advocate for submissives/bottoms in leadership roles.
Jack McGeorge is a het male Dominant with a passion for bondage and a longtime interest in the dynamics of M/s relationships. Jack heads the Order for Discipline and Service and is Master to one excellent slave. Additionally, he is a founding member of Black Rose and an emeritus member of its board of directors. Previously he served Black Rose in several capacities including chairman of the board, president, secretary and co-chair for BR10. He is an emeritus member of the LLC, Inc. board and served as its vice-chairman and treasurer as well as co-chair for LLC 2000. Jack was the first chairman of the board of NCSF.
Midori authored The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage and Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink. She travels the world presenting to universities, organizations and the media. She is known for her humanistic and humorous classes that help people to spice up their sex lives and encourage self-discovery and personal growth. She was awarded Pantheon Women of the Year in 2003. For additional information visit www.PlanetMidori.com.
Mistress Mir has judged or served as master of ceremonies for IMsL, LIL, March on Washington, Beyond Vanilla, NLA-I, LSM, Dressing for Pleasure, Oklahoma Leather, NE Leather, Mr.-Ms NJ Leather, TES and Black Beat. She currently enjoys her new adventure with the Imperial Court of New York.
Shane Morgan has been involved in leadership for the past four years and is co-chair of NLA-Columbus. He believes in the importance of creating gender-safe spaces and teaching others about acceptance and tolerance of transgender and gender-queer identified persons. He hopes his activity in GLBTQI and leather leadership will encourage others to be role models for their local communities.
Doug O’Keeffe is the 2004 Cell Block Shel-Don Leatherman and the 2007 International Mr. Saliva. Doug is the oral historian for the Leather Archives & Museum, a long-time volunteer for Vital Bridges Chicago, and a writer, lecturer and educator. He is a member of the Chicago Leather Kennel Club, an IML contestant handler and a member of the National Air Disaster Alliance. Doug is a flight purser for a major airline and resides in Chicago.
Lady Raven No biography available.
Chuck Renslow was the founder and photographer of Kris Studios in 1950, one of the earliest and most durable of the physique houses. He also was a noted photographer of the ballet, and his dance photography is now in the Newberry Library dance collection. He opened the first leather bar, the Gold Coast, in Chicago in 1958 – where he began the International Mr. Leather contest in 1979. He currently owns the Chicago Eagle. Chuck was the publisher of Triumph, Mars and Rawhide Male magazines. In 1965 he founded Second City Motorcycle Club, the first club not on the west coast. He proceeded to establish many bars and sex clubs, including MansCountry, surviving now more than 30 years. He was among the earliest members of several gay liberation organizations and movements, and was the founder of Prairie State Democratic Club in 1980 and Chicago’s famous White Party. He was the lover of Dom “Etienne” Orejudos for more than 40 years. He was involved with Cliff Raven, Chuck Arnett and Sam “Phil Andros” Steward and encouraged them in their famous work. Mr. Renslow was inducted into the City of Chicago’s Lesbian and Gay Hall of Fame in 1991 and has received numerous honors from the gay and leather communities. He is on the board of directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a US representative to the International Lesbian and Gay Association. In 1991 Chuck and Tony DeBlase created the Leather Archives & Museum, and he remains its president.
Jacob Richards has been working and volunteering with various leather, queer and youth organizations around San Francisco since moving to the city in 2002. He currently serves as board vice president of Folsom Street Events, and is on staff at the GLBT Historical Society. He also is on the steering committee for Leather Levi Weekend 2007.
Glenda Rider dates her participation in the “organized scene” back to the National Lesbian Conference held in Atlanta in 1991. Connections were made there that led to her becoming the first woman to hold an Eagle bar title as Ms Baltimore Eagle 1992. She currently serves on the board of directors of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and as coordinator of Females Investigating Sexual Terrain (FIST). She also is an emeritus board member of the Leather Leadership Conference, Inc. Glenda owns Play House Studios in Baltimore, 4500 square feet of play space (including many different fantasy spaces) decorated with her large fetish art collection. She also is the new executive producer of International Ms Leather. She currently dates a number of amazing women, several of their spouses and her very cute and collared boy Levi.
Jack Rinella has been writing about kinky sex for more than 14 years. He is the author of The Master’s Manual, The Compleat Slave, Partners in Power, Toybag Guide to Clips and Clamps, Becoming a Slave, and Philosophy In the Dungeon: The Magic of Sex & Spirit. He has been active in the leather scene since 1983, is a founding member of MAsT-Chicago, an associate member of the Chicago Hellfire Club, and serves on the national board of the Leather Leadership Conference, Inc.
SassyTongue has a Master of Public Affairs degree and 15 years of nonprofit marketing, communication and fundraising experience. She has been active in the Minnesota leather community since 1997. She is a stockholder with Minnesota Stocks, Debentures and Bonds, an associate of the Knights of Leather, and a moderator at the Minnesota Power Exchange webgroup – where she organizes the largest kinky BBQ this side of the Laurentian Divide – and started the BDSM-LegalIssues list on Yahoo!® Groups.
Rita Seagrave has worked as a professional dominatrix, sex advice columnist, adult toy salesgirl, Lusty Lady stripper and college instructor. She serves on the board of the Columbus chapter of the National Leather Association, while developing rapport with other Ohio leather and BDSM groups. Visit Rita online at kinkmogul.com.
Richard Sprott, PhD is a developmental psychologist and active member of the San Francisco leather community. He specializes in research on identity, personality and psychological well-being across adulthood. In the San Francisco community, he has been an active community organizer since 1995.
Chris Steuber is a native Georgian pup/boy who has been involved in the fetish community for the past six years. He began his leather journey in Atlanta and then headed north to Washington, DC for a short time before going to Chicago. Chris quickly became involved with the Windy City Boys Troop, which helped him meet many new friends as well as develop relationships with other clubs in the area and beyond. Currently Chris is serving as vice president of the Troop and is looking forward to great activities to come. Along with being in the Windy City Boys Troop, Chris also is active with the Windy City Bondage Club, the Chicago Hellfire Club, Chicago Leather Kennel Club as well as being an associate member of the Panther LLC of Atlanta. He is proud to be the current Illinois Leather boy for 2006.
Rick Storer is the Executive Director of the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago, IL. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a librarian/archivist. He is involved with several Chicago organizations including Chicago Leather Club and the Chicago Hellfire Club.
Justin Tanis has been involved in kink for over 20 years. He served as the operations manager for the Master/slave Conference (2005 and 2006) and is currently the editor of The Leather Times, the newsletter of the Leather Archives & Museum. Justin works as a writer and designer for a nonprofit group based in Washington, DC.
Jazz Thomas was introduced to leather in Chicago in the mid-1980s and experienced a rebirth into the lifestyle upon moving to Minneapolis in 1996. He was Mr. Olympus Leather 2000 and first runner-up for American Leatherman 2002. Jazz is a charter member of the Knights of Leather, has served six years on the Minnesota Leather Pride committee, and has served on the LLC-XI Local Organizing Committee from its inception. Jazz presents on topics including SM technique, D/s dynamics and the socio-political aspects of BDSM culture. With experience on both sides of D/s relationships, Jazz has trained men and women, and strongly believes in mentoring our brothers and sisters, both new and … not so new.
Stacey Thomas, EdD was Ms. NLA-I 1996 and 1997. She volunteers her services to many organizations focusing on issues from the personal to the political. She is a member of National Leather Association-International (NLA-I), the National Organization for Women (NOW) and PFLAG/Families of Color and Allies (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered persons).
Graylin Thornton (Thornton Grey) graduated from San Jose State University in 1985 with a BA in television/film production. After nine years in public television, he became the video producer and editor for Brush Creek Media’s GBM, International Leatherman, Foreskin Quarterly and Power Play magazines. In 2002, Graylin began Grey Rose Productions with partner Chris Meister to produce quality bear, leather, ethnic, contest and amateur videos. In 2007, Grey Rose Productions launched the all-black production line, Buck Naked, to showcase the beauty of black male erotic entertainment. Graylin is the originator of the In The Pit column in the San Diego Gay and Lesbian Times’ Rocket magazine. He writes under his scene name, sigma.
Jenn W has been active in the Minnesota scene since the fall of 2004 when she discovered kink. Shortly after, she started to help run local youth-focused kink groups. Jenn helped found Erotic Deviance, an education-based group, and volunteers with a variety of other local groups.
Mistress Amanda Wildefyre is a professional bondage practitioner and scene innovator based in Minneapolis. Since 1990, she has given workshops nationally and in Canada on women’s sexuality, bondage, BDSM clinic scenes, pony play, fire play and top/bottom dynamics, and has produced numerous performance art works on the theme of BDSM experience.
Adrian Williams began his exploration of leather in 1993. Little did he know that those rope tying skills acquired years earlier during his Boy Scout days would play such an important role in his future. In 1998, Adrian relocated from St. Louis to Chicago, and in 2002 began volunteering for IML weekend. He competed for the IML title in 2003, under the Cell Block’s auspices, and finished in the top 20. Since then Adrian has continued his involvement with leather/sex/fetish clubs, the Leather Archives & Museum, local bar contests/workshops and the Chicago Leather Kennel Club.
Chuck Windemuth began his leather journey in Chicago in 1988. He won the title of Mr. Chicago Leather 1991 and placed in the top ten at that year’s IML. In 2003, he teamed up with Touché bar owner, Chuck Rodocker, and David Boyer to co-produce the dormant Mr. Chicago Leather contest. Chuck also co-founded, with Thom Dombkowski, the Chicago Leather Kennel Club to provide support and mentoring to aspiring leather contestants and contest winners headed to national and international competitions. He is the director of the Leather Archives & Museum “Road Show” program. A native of Cumberland, MD, Chuck currently resides in Chicago and has worked the past 23 years as an international purser for a major US airline based in Chicago.
Jay Wiseman has over 30 years of experience in BDSM. As an author noted for being both exceptionally knowledgeable and an exceedingly entertaining presenter, he is highly in demand and has presented on various aspects of relationships and sexuality in more than 40 cities in the United States and Canada.
Ms Cynthia Wright volunteers and teaches within the leather community around the country. She is a coordinator emeritus with Threshold in Los Angeles, having served three years as its president/coordinator. A past board member of LLC, Inc., Cynthia served as secretary for two years and as chairman of the board for four years.
Master Z owned and operated one of the most successful special event production companies in the nation for 27 years. He has been active in the BDSM community since 1976, belonging to CDG, KBA, DNA, D&S, NCSF, Crimson Moon, and The Leather Archives & Museum. He is the co-founder and president of the Leather SINS Social Club and is the coalition partner representative to the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and serves on the NCSF board of directors. He is the event director of SINSations In Leather, Kinky Kollege and the Midwest Holiday Fetish Fair & Marketplace. He also owns and maintains an award-winning BDSM Resource Guide on the Internet at http://www.masterzchicago.com. He lives in the Chicago area with his 24/7 slave, ashley.