On August 7, 1999, I will be attending the Imperial Court's Coronation Ball. The purpose of this message is to invite my friends and tribe to join me there. Yes, I'm a big, aggressive LeatherMaster Top - Why on earth would I want to be around "a bunch of drag queens"? Very simple - I was thrilled to be there last time, and it's a high point of my year that I will never miss attending. Here is why:

First of all, it's a much more high-class event than any other, all year long - the folks who attend this event are dressed to the utmost, no matter who they are, what they were born with, or how they turned out: EVERYONE there is being as beautiful as they can possibly be, and I can certainly dig that idea.

I know that there will be a large group of leatherfolk there, dressed in full-on Formal Leather, and we'll be shining like a spotlight among so many fine people. We are warmly welcome beyond all belief, and we will be mingling with the finest kind of people (the sort of folks who say they will do something and then actually DO it).

Most of all, it's a positive symbol of how San Diego has finally evolved as a city. As long as any community is fractured into small segments that don't like each other much, then nothing actually progresses. In the larger cities, it's commonly accepted that the leather community and the Imperial Court are solid comrades that can do good work together.

In the last year, San Diego's community has grown together in all segments to become the envy of many other cities - I've had folks from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Laguna Beach, Orange County and Minnesota tell me personally that they are using San Diego's team of leaders as a goal for their own community to aspire toward.

Our team has long included members of the Imperial Court, and I'd like to take a few paragraphs here to introduce them to you, if you haven't met them so far:

Czar Dean is running for Emperor XXVIII this year, and he has been my personal mentor for the last year - He has the finest possible character, period. The San Diego Leather Leadership Coalition's members know Dean as a true friend who has helped us over and over with our projects and fundraisers, and he has been a member since the very beginning.

I can say exactly the same things about Tiffany Daniels, who is running for Empress XXVIII this year - Tiffany has been a founding member of SDLLC as well, and she has been THE main reason why our monthly meetings have run so smoothly. She has been there at every fundraiser helping out as emcee, or doing other excellent work. When I have needed personal coaching from a true friend, she is the one I have called first.

If you know me at all, I don't throw around words like this unless I mean them. I vouch for both of my good friends, I endorse their candidacies, and I urge you personally to join me at the Coronation to cheer for two of San Diego's best leaders.

If you would like to be a part of the HUGE leather contingent at the Coronation, please contact Ricky at 619-291-5520. Expect to stand extra-tall with pride and honor, because it's that sort of event. You have my word of honor on this!