Pride... In Leather
Jul. 24th, 2006 12:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wheelieterpLast night was the Oregon Leather Sir/boy contest in which my boy, Dominic, was runnning. To say that he won would be an understatement.. He did me, the whole family (and indeed, boyhood itself) proud. His interview was great, his speech was heartfelt and awesome and the fantasy (Co-starring yours truly) got a standing ovation.
As many of you know, he also made me proud by vocally objecting to the anti-transmen rule and was successful in getting the rule thrown out at our local level contest. In his speech, he diplomatically touched on his desire to use a title to further the cause of inclusivity in the leather community. He never used the word "Trans-inclusivity", but the message was clear to those that needed to hear it. Specifically, some higher-ups in the Leather Sir/boy hiearchy.
Following the intermission, our current American Leather Man, Rusty, who was a judge, gave a speech specifically about trans-inclusivity and the mean-spiritedness and wrongness of exclusion. It was an awesome speech. At the time, he was unaware that the rule in our contest had just been thrown out. After dom-boy won, I made sure Rusty knew about how Dom-boy had made them change it.
I am ever hopeful, perhaps too optimistically so, that pressure will come to bear on those that refuse to budge. I know that there are those who will never change their ways. But as more and more people hear from men of all ilks, trans and non-trans alike, that we will not be told by others what defines our manhood, perhaps their obstinance will at least cost them standing in the community.
The Oregon contingent is going on to the Northwest Regional contest, where it seems to me, they will be proud and vocal to their objection to injustice and thier desire to change it from within. They will be going, with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
uniformscout, our new Columbia Boot Black and out Transman (Whose permission I specifically asked for, and was given, to describe him here as such), who won the competition by receiving 68 points above the "Maximum" possible points. They will be going as a family of men who never even thought to question the validity of the manhood of their bootblack. Their easy, automatic and silent acceptance of Scout as one of our own will speak volumes loudly. And if that is not loud enough, I can count on my boy to SHOUT it from the stage.
I stick by my decision to take the path of protest, refusing to enter the contest (Even though I was specifically asked to). But I have also learned, by Dominic's actions, that change from within is possible. I love that sometimes, it takes a boy to teach a lesson.
I am so damn proud, I can barely stand it.
As many of you know, he also made me proud by vocally objecting to the anti-transmen rule and was successful in getting the rule thrown out at our local level contest. In his speech, he diplomatically touched on his desire to use a title to further the cause of inclusivity in the leather community. He never used the word "Trans-inclusivity", but the message was clear to those that needed to hear it. Specifically, some higher-ups in the Leather Sir/boy hiearchy.
Following the intermission, our current American Leather Man, Rusty, who was a judge, gave a speech specifically about trans-inclusivity and the mean-spiritedness and wrongness of exclusion. It was an awesome speech. At the time, he was unaware that the rule in our contest had just been thrown out. After dom-boy won, I made sure Rusty knew about how Dom-boy had made them change it.
I am ever hopeful, perhaps too optimistically so, that pressure will come to bear on those that refuse to budge. I know that there are those who will never change their ways. But as more and more people hear from men of all ilks, trans and non-trans alike, that we will not be told by others what defines our manhood, perhaps their obstinance will at least cost them standing in the community.
The Oregon contingent is going on to the Northwest Regional contest, where it seems to me, they will be proud and vocal to their objection to injustice and thier desire to change it from within. They will be going, with
uniformscout, our new Columbia Boot Black and out Transman (Whose permission I specifically asked for, and was given, to describe him here as such), who won the competition by receiving 68 points above the "Maximum" possible points. They will be going as a family of men who never even thought to question the validity of the manhood of their bootblack. Their easy, automatic and silent acceptance of Scout as one of our own will speak volumes loudly. And if that is not loud enough, I can count on my boy to SHOUT it from the stage.I stick by my decision to take the path of protest, refusing to enter the contest (Even though I was specifically asked to). But I have also learned, by Dominic's actions, that change from within is possible. I love that sometimes, it takes a boy to teach a lesson.
I am so damn proud, I can barely stand it.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 09:43 am (UTC)Right fine family ye' have there! W00t, I say!
Change from within. Wow. Thought that was dead.
How did
This entry made me smile. BIg.
Thanks.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 04:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 01:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 02:15 pm (UTC)*does happy dance for Truth Justice and The Oregonian Way!!*
no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 02:57 pm (UTC)(Ahem - how is it possible that you have not recruited Dom to the Cult of LJ?)
no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 03:50 pm (UTC)I also want him to get on the Title Holder's List.
I did, however, email him a link to this unfiltered entry..
no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 04:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 04:20 pm (UTC)My own little victory, in a related matter, is that I've gotten the band booked at a totally swanky club near Jack London Square on August 30th - and I've brought in Lipstick Conspiracy with us! Have you seen or heard them? They're absolutely fabulous and I'm beside myself excited! Really tight chick-rock band with attitude and great musicianship. Oh yeah - and they're all Trans. I'll post the show here soon - it's up on Tribe and the band site.
Rock the system!
Pixie
Your blog post
Date: 2006-07-24 06:09 pm (UTC)OK, your speech last night made us all cry and you are attempting to do it again:)
Thank you so much for taking such an active interest in my leather journey and for your continued support. You should be aware that you have been an inspiration for me as well. Your passion for your beliefs gives me motivation and a strong desire to make a difference in our community.
Your help during the competition kept me going and I can not accurately state in words how much love I feel for you, my Family and my friends. You are all truly amazing people and I am so proud to be a part of your lives!
I firmly believe that divisiveness within our community is nothing but destructive and counter-productive. I will do my best to facilitate change and foster awareness and understanding for the Trans community. I know they deserve our support and equal standing in all aspects of the queer community. I have a lot of work ahead of me but this year is truly going to be a great one!
Re: Your blog post
Date: 2006-07-24 10:14 pm (UTC)You make us all proud, boy... You are as much an inspritation to me as you say I am to you....And yes, you have a long year a head of you, but you know that we, as your Family, will be standing behind you.... Or sometimes maybe on top of you... Yeah.. Standing on you sounds fun.... In boots...MMMMMMMMMMM.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 06:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-25 12:54 am (UTC)