Hurricane Katrina news and resources (including leather, gay, and GLBT resources) for leatherfolk, leathermen, leatherwomen, leatherdykes, BDSM folk, fetish folk, bears, cubs, and the leather community.

Older relief efforts, now over:

Ongoing, to October 14: The newly formed Cleveland-Midwest Leather Coalition is "asking for donations of used leather clothing, accessories, toys, etc. . . . This includes used or new clothing (leather vests, pants, harnesses, arm and wrist bands, military clothing, etc) toys, lube, condoms, cockrings, and other BDSM accessories, etc. . . . Donations can be dropped off at The Leather Stallion Saloon, Laws Leather Shop, Daddy's Akron, Rockies-Cleveland or mailed to Tina MackKay, 2331 Weymouth Rd, Hinckley, Ohio 44233." Beneficiaries: Crescent City Outlaws, Knights d'Orleans, and Lords of Leather.

Ongoing, to October 20: New Orleans Relief Contest, sponsored by Catherine Gross (of Fetish Auctioneer), Ms. Victoria, and Viola Johnson. "The fundraiser will be in the form of a contest, which will be open to clubs, events and e-mail lists.  The group contributing the largest donation will win a basket from Fetish Auctioneer, valued at $250.00." For details, see the Website. Beneficiaries: Lords of Leather Mardi Gras Krewe and NOBLE, two New Orleans clubs. (See site's warning page.)

Ongoing, to October 20: Relief fundraiser sponsored by Panther Leather/Levi, Inc. of Atlanta. Write to Panther president Barry S. for information. Beneficiary: Crescent City Outlaws of New Orleans.

Ongoing, to the end of October: Project to collect phone cards for "our brothers and sisters in New Orleans and Alabama." Sponsored by Bound By Leather and Chains. (See site's warning page.)

September 2, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Relief fundraiser at the San Diego Eagle, coordinated by Daddy Don, San Diego Leather Daddy 2005, and boy joe, San Diego Leather boy 2005. Featuring a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, jail cell, side shows, and food and drink specials. Monetary and non-monetary donations accepted, both at the fundraiser and through boy joe.

September 2-8: Clothing donations for relief accepted at a drop box at the New York Eagle; contact the Eagle for details. At the September 4 Beer Blast, donors receive a free drink.

September 4, 4-9 p.m.: Relief fundraiser at the DC Eagle. Monetary and non-monetary donations accepted. Raffle prizes, an all-you-can-eat BBQ, a beer blast, and an auction for baskets and gift certificates.

September 5, 3-7 p.m.: Western Decadence relief benefit at The Edge bar in the Castro, 4149 18th Street (18th and Collingwood), San Francisco. Hosted by the Krewe de Kinque. Features an optional $8 Beer/Soda Bust, barbecue, entertainment, and raffle. Donations can be mailed to Krewe de Kinque at 156 Hancock Street #4, San Francisco, CA 94114, and will be forwarded to the Red Cross. To volunteer or donate prizes to the event, call Gary Virginia at (415) 626-5004. Beneficiary: American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

September 6 and 13, 8 p.m.: Collection box for hurricane victims at Black Rose educational meetings in Washington, D.C. See the group's Calendar of Events for information on the location.

September 9-11: Leather Relief: fundraiser at the Atlanta Eagle for the Phoenix bar of New Orleans, sponsored by Primal Threshold, a gay leather magazine. Bootblacks, barbers, Jell-o shooters, autographed photos, and raffle prizes. Several of the Phoenix staff will be present. Beneficiaries: the Phoenix bar staff.

September 11: H.O.T. Bear Beer Bust at the Chain Drive bar in Austin, sponsored by the Heart of Texas Bears. A raffle and fifty-cent draft beer. "All proceeds from both the raffle and the bear beer tips will be donated to help our brothers and sisters in and around New Orleans." See the Heart of Texas Bears Website for a map of the bar's location.

September 16-18: KC Cares: Leather and Bears, sponsored by six Kansas City leather and bear groups. A weekend of benefit gatherings for the gay and lesbian community in New Orleans, held at DB and Bootleggers. See Website for details. (See site's warning page.)

September 17, 3 p.m.: A Day of Decadence to benefit leather/kink community Katrina survivors, sponsored by Mistress Cyan of Sanctuary and The Palatial Mansion. Casino games, slave auction, and play party. At Palatial Mansion in
Placentia, California. Beneficiary: Leather Tribe Based Relief Fund.

September 17, 7 p.m.: Benefit show by Third Coast Family at Keys West bar in Houston. Beneficiary: Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

September 17, 9 p.m.: Donations of large-sized clothing will be accepted at the Uniform Night of the Bayou Grizzlies in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Uniform Night is held at George's Bar, located at 860 St. Louis Street. Bring 2XL, 3XL and 4XL clothing to donate. The Bayou Grizzlies will also be holding a 50/50 raffle. "Winner gets 50% of the proceeds and  the Bayou Grizzlies will be donating the remaining 50% to local charities in support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina."

September 18, 3-8 p.m.: Hurricane Relief Fundraiser at Pistons Bar, Long Beach, California. Sponsored by Avatar Club. Raffles, live auctions, and prizes of leather items. Beneficiary: Leather Tribe Based Relief Fund.

September 23-25: Relief fundraiser at the Chute bar in Nashville, Tennessee, sponsored by the Conductors L/L Club (Nashville) and Panther L/L, Inc. (Atlanta). Sept. 23: Bar night at the Chute with 50/50 drawing, bootblack, etc. Sept. 24, 7-9:30: Fundraiser Show at the Chute. Sept. 25 not yet scheduled. For hotel information and directions, contact Panther president Barry S. Beneficiary: Crescent City Outlaws of New Orleans.

Postponed due to Hurricane Rita. September 24, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Jail and Bail Fundraiser at a play party at Club Resurrection in honor of Vi Johnson's visit to Houston, Texas, sponsored by Just Us Women in Kink, Eros 1207, and the Violet Society. "For an arrest fee of you can get someone 'arrested' for various offenses. The offender will be held over in our specially prepared jail cell until someone bails him or her out. Offenses include everything from, 'sammy sub', to 'caught you wrapping your flog', to 'I need you out of my hair!' and of course you can make one up!"

September 24, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.: Katrina Fundraiser and Play Party, sponsored by Threshold and other Los Angeles area leather and BDSM groups. Featuring raffles and an auction. At Threshold Clubhouse in North Hollywood, California.

September 24, 9 p.m. to closing: Decadence in Exile – New Orleans Benefit at the Minneapolis Eagle/Bolt in Minneapolis. Sponsored by a number of leather and non-leather organizations. Strippers, fetish demonstrations, raffles, prizes, jail and bail, Miss Richfield 1981. Beneficiaries: Belle Reve, the Rainbow World Fund, and the Mid-America Conference of Clubs.

September 30: Katrina Fundraiser at the Tool Shed bar in Palm Springs, California. Sponsored by the Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert (PSLOD) and Edward Espindola, Mr.
Palm Springs Daddy Bear. For more information, contact PSLOD.

September 30, 10 p.m.: WOOLF Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser. sponsored by the Wichita Organization of Leather Fetishes, Inc. A 2-4-1 Jail-n-Bail held at WOOLF's Fantasy Complex at 3201 S. Hillside Street, Wichita, Kansas. Beneficiary: Leather Tribe Based Relief Fund.

October 1, 7 p.m.: Bring Back the BIG Easy, a gala benefit sponsored by Arizona leather clubs. "A night of formal and fetish fashion, live entertainment from local Drag Queens, Drag Kings and others, auctions, raffles and special surprises." Beneficiary: NOBLE of New Orleans (pansexual BDSM club). (See site's warning page.)

October 7: Titleholders Celebrity Mardi Gras Auction at the International LeatherSIR and Leatherboy Contest Weekend in Atlanta. The organization is currently seeking volunteers and donations (monetary and non-monetary).

October 15: Benefit Bar Night at the Leather Stallion Saloon in Cleveland, Ohio, sponsored by the Cleveland-Midwest Leather Coalition. "Our Benefit Bar Night will be held to help cover the shipping expenses [for donations received earlier in the month] – the left-over money from this event, after shipping expenses, will also be sent down south as a donation to the club members to help with their day-to-day expenses." Beneficiaries:  Crescent City Outlaws, Knights d'Orleans, and Lords of Leather.

October 29: First Post Katrina Beer Bust at Café Lafitte in Exile in New Orleans, sponsored by the Cavaliers Motorcycle Club. "Come join us as we celebrate the rebirth and rebuilding of our great city as only New Orleans can on Halloween Weekend. We will have Ice Cold Beer, Hot Motorcycles and the Friendliest Folks in the world, right here at home in the French Quarter." Beneficiaries: "Local charities providing direct assistance to members of our community recovering and rebuilding New Orleans."

RELIEF FUNDRAISERS IN THE GLBT COMMUNITY

September 19, 8 p.m.: Hands Across the Gulf: A Benefit for the Gay Community Along the Gulf., held at Elements bar. Among those in attendance will be James Sands (Mr. Elements Leather 2005) and Michael Egdes (International Mr. Leather 2005).

GENERAL RELIEF FUNDRAISERS
 

September 16: Online Katrina Charity Auction sponsored by the adult industry Internet radio YNOT Radio. Items include banners, webmaster contest and services, domain names, e-mail accounts, ski trips, deep sea fishing trips, tickets to see the Lakers, and dinner with various models. This non-leather event includes leather participants. BDSM author Jamie Joy Gatto is tentatively scheduled to speak. Beneficiary: American Red Cross.

The Leather Pride / Katrina Aid logo designed by Caro and by Stephen Bloom shows a red hurricane symbol superimposed on a modified version of the Leather Pride Flag. The hurricane symbol is a circle with curved arms at the top and bottom to indicate the swirling winds within a circular hurricane. The hurricane symbol resembles a printed 6 and 9 on top of each other and shows the counterclockwise rotation of hurricanes in the northern hemisphere.

The Leather Pride Flag was originally designed under the supervision of Tony DeBlase. In this version, there are alternating, horizontal black and blue stripes, with a white stripe in the middle.

Underneath the logo are the words "Hurricane Relief Fund, August 2005."