Southeast Leatherfest Explained

SouthEast LeatherFest (SELF) is an annual adult fetish event for the BDSM, leather, and kink communities based in the United States' Southeast and centered in Georgia with regional and smaller related events held throughout the year.

History

SouthEast LeatherFest (SELF) was started in 1995 by Jack Stice, International Master 1995. It was concepted as a BDSM, Master/slave event to welcome all sections of the SM communities, highlighting on the Leather. Modeled after International Mister Leather and Drummer SELF added classes to this model. It began as a 2.5 day event with a bar crawl Friday evening and classes hosted on Saturday. Since 1995 has been one of the largest sex education and BDSM education events in the southeast region of the United States openly supporting underground kink, fetish, BDSM, sex-positive, Master/slave, and Dominant/submission communities.

This event for the first time in Atlanta history brought together the straight and LGBTQIA+ communities. They worked together which had not previously happened at BDSM and Master/slave events in the area. While there had been events in the region for gay men, this was the first event to have all communities present. SELF is a charitable event that has donated approximately $290,000+ to charities and scholarships over the years. Some of these charities are the Leather Archives & Museum, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Carter/Johnson Library, and many more. Jack Stice was the founder of this event and the "Jack Stice Memorial Community Service Award" was given in his honor annually.

SouthEast LeatherFest (SELF) holds classes given by nationally known educators from across the country, holds a multiple spokesperson contests, and has various other activities for that promote community and pride. SELF is held in June in Atlanta. SELF spokesperson titles are referred to as Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest, Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest, SouthEast LeatherFest boy, Southeast Bootblack, Southeast Person of Leather, and SouthEast Master/slave, and in the past it was the home of the International Master and slave contest until 2001 and a number of titles. For all titles produced at SELF historically, please see: https://secure.seleatherfest.com/contests/titleholder-history

Lady Catherine G. has worked in various capacities on the event since the 90's and produced SELF since 2004. She has led the organization to expand its educational and social offerings. SELF, as of 2023, offers 200+ educational and social opportunities over four days. SELF is attended by 850+ persons a year and growing.

SELF started mini-grant program in 2007 which is a new program to invest regional money into local groups by funding speakers and educators to be brought to local communities that might not be able to afford it otherwise. This program was closed in 2011.

SELF has been nominated for "Pantheon of Leather Large Event of the Year" in (2005 - 2007) which means that this event has stood out from the other 100 events though independent peer review to be noted as one of five events that has been providing outstanding community service.

In 2014, SELF was the first leather contest in the country where a portion of each title contest was digital voting by the weekend participants. This continues to this day.

SELF has been reviewed and has supported the Leather Archives and Museum, a library/museum/archives pertaining to Leather sub culture, fetishism, Sadomasochism, and alternative sexual practices. The geographic collection scope is worldwide and includes all sexual orientations and genders. SouthEast LeatherFest is owned and produced by Catherine Gross. It is administered by a board of volunteers annually.

Current Titleholders : 2024

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Sir Andrew
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Sabrina Hypnotica
SouthEast BootBlack -- Keriis
SouthEast Master/slave -- Master Aaron and slave jennie

Past Titleholders

2023

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- MaxInLeather
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Scarlett Rose
SouthEast BootBlack -- Apollo
SouthEast Person of Leather -- Mara
SouthEast Master/slave -- Master Varii and slave neill

2022

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- MaxInLeather
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Ms. Mia Rose
SouthEast BootBlack -- Apollo
SouthEast Master/slave -- Master Varii and slave neill

2019-2021

Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Choc Trei [stepped down on December 31, 2020]
Southeast BootBlack -- Mycalyne
SouthEast Person of Color -- Idris Dior
SouthEast Leather Fest boy -- Quazi
SouthEast Master/slave -- Sir Luke and His victor

2018

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Sir Bradford
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Choc Trei
SouthEast BootBlack -- Tidbit
SouthEast Person of Leather --
SouthEast Leather boy -- Quazi
SouthEast Master/slave -- Master Blue and slave Sheri

2017

Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Tig
SouthEast BootBlack -- Coco
SouthEast Person of Leather -- ABizzy
SouthEast Master/slave -- Master IceDog and slave Ravyn

2016

Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Tig
Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Timothy Lee
Southeast BootBlack -- Ms Tori
SouthEast Person of Leather -- ABizzy
SouthEast Master/slave -- Master Bella and slave Rooks

2015

Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Jennifer Deese
Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Timothy Lee
Southeast BootBlack -- Friday
SouthEast Person of Leather -- Autumn East

2014

Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- slave Pat
Southeast Master/slave -- Kevin & slave

2013

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Optimus
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Flossie
SE BootBlack -- Madeline Sparkles
SouthEast Leather Fest boy- boy River

2012

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- OB
SouthEast Leather Fest boy -- boy Andy

2011

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Ejay
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Angel Propps
SE BootBlack -- boy Dave
SE Master/slave -- Master Dan and slave Melissa

2010

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Phantom Blue
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Amber
SE BootBlack -- Margaret
SE Master/slave -- Master Rick and slave Gypsie

2009

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Nefarious
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Miss Rae
SE BootBlack -- Margaret
SE Master/slave -- Master Tom and slave Linda

2008

Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Henry Loyd
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Miss Bettie
SE BootBlack -- Girl Commando/boy Andy

2007

Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Solitaire
SouthEast BootBlack - Q
SouthEast Master/slave -- Sir Top and slave Bonnie

2006

International Master/slave -- Mistress Suzan and slave Ziggy
Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Solitaire
Mr SouthEast Leather Fest -- Matthew Cary

2005

SouthEast Master/slave -- Master Tom and slave Linda
SouthEast LeatherFest Boy -- Boy Tala

2004

Ms SouthEast Leather Fest -- Girl Kim
SouthEast Leather Fest Boy -- Grant Lam

2003

SouthEast Leather Sir -- Richard Gray
SouthEast Leatherboy -- Michael Waugh
Ms Leather Pride -- JD

2002

International Master/slave -- Master Scott and
Ms Leather Pride -- Chance
SouthEast Leather Sir -- John Derrek
SouthEast Leatherboy -- John Mark

2001

International Master/slave -- Master Jim and slave Marshal
SouthEast Mr Drummer -- Daryl Fox
SouthEast Drummer Boy -- Paul Ferreira
Ms Leather Pride -- Chance

2000

International Master/slave -- Steve Sampson and Kirk
SouthEast Mr Drummer -- Larry Cottrill
SouthEast Drummer Boy -- Bruce Tidwell
Ms Leather Pride -- Samantha Claar

1999

International Master/slave -- Khiki Cavannarro and Samantha
Ms Leather Pride -- Paula Smith
SouthEast Mr Drummer -- Shawn Couch
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Boy Chris

1998

Ms Leather Pride -- Sybil King
SouthEast Mr Drummer -- Tom Stice
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Gregory Kornman

1997

SouthEast Mr Drummer-- Martin Ellis
Ms Leather Pride -- Victoria Gayton (Ameritus Award)
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Boy Von Sumrall
Mr. Georgia Leather -- Joseph Blair
Ms. Georgia Leather -- Miss Patt

1996

SouthEast Mr Drummer -- Bob Jacobs Harris
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Rory Teasdale
Mr. Georgia Leather -- Leonard Sewell
Ms. Georgia Leather -- Khiki Cavannarro

1995

SouthEast Mr Drummer -- Ricardo A M Ware
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Patrick Langone

1994

SouthEast Mr Drummer -- Kevin Drewery
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Dale Calloway

1993

Mr. SouthEast Leather -- Darryl Flick
Mr. SouthEast Drummer -- Barry Bishop
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Owen Griswold

1992

Mr. SouthEast Leather -- Kevin Drewery
Mr. SouthEast Drummer -- Bart Girton
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Eric Hayes

1991

Mr. SouthEast Leather -- Wes Decker
Ms. SouthEast Leather -- MP Breslin
Mr. SouthEast Drummer -- Vance Reger

1990

Mr. SouthEast Leather -- Chuck Higgins
Ms. SouthEast Leather -- Diane Suissa
Mr. SouthEast Drummer -- Bernhard Zinkgraf
SouthEast Drummer boy -- Michael Feinstein