A Touch Of Gay

A Touch Of Gay #63: Sobriety During Pride Month, Remembering Regina

We remember dear friend Regina Wells (Regina Gazelle), navigating Pride Month sober, and July’s Up Your Alley event in San Francisco. Daily Inspiration: Accept no one’s definition of your life, define yourself – Harvey Fierstein * We were all programmed to some level by family and society to fit a mold * Parents, church, friends, work, school and media all tell us who we should be * Unsubscribe from all of that Check In: * Crazy season events * New high quality microphones Social: Remembering Regina * Regina Gazelle/Wells Health: Sobriety during Pride Month * Social pressure to be elevated * Pride doesn’t have to be about bars and clubs * Seek out sober friends, groups, and events. * If you’re in nightlife while in recovery: * Be honest about your triggers. * Go slowly. * Find ways to be useful instead of just there. * Keep a drink in your hand—it reduces pressure more than you’d think. * Sobriety doesn’t have to mean never going out again but it does mean learning when to leave. Event: Up Your Alley Fair – San Francisco – July 26th, 2026 * Dore Alley is a heavily authentic, sex-positive environment featuring rubber, sportswear, heavy leather, and BDSM gear. Legal nudity is permitted within the event footprint. * Streets are lined with dozens of adult vendors, multiple sound stages with live DJs, go-go dancers, and kink performance areas. * The main Sunday fair is accompanied by a massive weekend of related LGBTQ+ nightlife parties, leather events, and club takeovers running from Friday through Monday. * https://www.folsomstreet.org/up-your-alley [https://www.folsomstreet.org/up-your-alley] Please drop your comments on YouTube or email them to daddysam@atouchofgay.com [daddysam@atouchofgay.com] * Website: atouchofgay.com * Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky: atouchofgaypod * Audio Podcast drops on all major platforms every Sunday * YouTube Podcast drops a day early on Saturday * Our Podcast plays on GayPHX.com streaming radio every Monday at 10:00am This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com [https://atouchofgay.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

A Touch Of Gay #62: Pride That Fucks Shit Up

Sparkling takes on Pride month including wisdom from Brian Hettler, upcoming Atlanta Leather Pride weekend in July. Daily Inspiration: Pride is good * Definition: Pride is a primary emotion characterized by a sense of security with one’s identity, performance, and/or accomplishments. * It is sometimes considered the opposite of shame. * Depending on the context, pride may be viewed as either a virtue or a vice. * Typically, pride arises from praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging. Check In: Weathering the shit show * Disassociating from the white noise of social wars, trying to focus on what’s in front of me. The Pride That Fucks Shit Up – Brian Hettler Happy Pride. Not the corporate Pride. Not the sanitized Pride. Not the Pride that fits neatly into a sponsorship deck or sits politely on a panel discussion while everyone nods at each other and pretends they aren’t terrified of being disliked. I mean loud Pride. The inconvenient Pride. The Pride that shows up wearing six pounds of leather, glitter in places glitter was never meant to go, and enough confidence to make a room full of strangers uncomfortable. The Pride that fucks shits up. Wear the thing. Sing the song. Dance badly. Start the fundraiser. Ask for the five dollars. Get on the microphone. Wave the flag. Make the sign. Thrown the party. Build the organization. Join the board. Volunteer for the shift. Tell the truth. Love your people loudly. Be embarrassingly enthusiastic about making the world better. Instagram @midasheart [https://www.instagram.com/midasheart/] Event: Atlanta Leather Pride – July 24-25 – Atlanta Eagle * Traditional leather contest weekend at historic Atlanta Eagle. * Applications are currently open for those interested in entering * A a focused celebration of leather culture and community standards. * https://atlantaeagle.com/events/atlanta-leather-pride-2026/ [https://atlantaeagle.com/events/atlanta-leather-pride-2026/] Please drop your comments on YouTube or email them to daddysam@atouchofgay.com [daddysam@atouchofgay.com] * Website: atouchofgay.com * Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky: atouchofgaypod * Audio Podcast drops on all major platforms every Sunday * YouTube Podcast drops a day early on Saturday * Our Podcast plays on GayPHX.com streaming radio every Monday at 10:00am This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com [https://atouchofgay.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

A Touch Of Gay #61: IMLBB Wrap Up, Pride Month Begins

We congratulate winners of IMLBB 2026, encourage support of local pride celebrations, and more! Daily Inspiration: Brotherhood has no dress code * There is no hard code to be included in the leather or any LGBTQ+ community * Communities are a living, breathing, and evolving body that is never constant * Change happens whether you participation in it or not – doesn’t need your permission Check In: After IMLBB 2026 * Event drop from elation, sexual energy, and inspiration * Bringing spirit and inspiration of event to daily life * No title needed to support your communities Congratulations to IMLBB Winners * Honey Davenport – Mr. Palm Springs Leather * Sgt Alex – Mr Cincinatti Leather * Denzel Belin - Mr. Twin Cities Leather 2026 * Atlas Rose - Route 66 Bootblack 2025 * Jimmy Basset - Northeast Drummer Bootblack 2017 * Pup Verde - Texas Bootblack Pride Month: Support your local community * June is Pride Month across the nation * Pride events and organizations struggling * Support events wherever possible * Pride events calendar on our website: https://atouchofgay.com/events/ [https://atouchofgay.com/events/] Event: Big Bear Romp – August 13-16 – Big Bear, CA * Mountains of Men & Mischief at Big Bear Lake, CA * The Lodge at Big Bear Lake * Thursday to Sunday with events, pools, parties, contests and vendors * Passes available and hotel reservations open now * https://www.bigbearromp.com/ [https://www.bigbearromp.com/] Please drop your comments on YouTube or email them to daddysam@atouchofgay.com [daddysam@atouchofgay.com] * Website: atouchofgay.com * Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky: atouchofgaypod * Audio Podcast drops on all major platforms every Sunday * YouTube Podcast drops a day early on Saturday * Our Podcast plays on GayPHX.com streaming radio every Monday at 10:00am This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com [https://atouchofgay.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

A Touch Of Gay #60: Top 10 Survival Tips For IMLBB

Years of lived experience bring Top 10 strategies for a best possible experience at International Mr. Leather & Boot Black in Chicago - and any other large scale leather, fetish, and kink event. Top 10 Tips For The Best Experience at IMLBB (and other big LFK events) Stay at the headquarters hotel * Best proximity and convenience to events, people, the action * Often costs more but saves time and money on transportation Research the local area * Public transportation * Local restaurants and stores * Pharmacy and medical Have your normal diet of water, coffee, snacks for your room * Hit the grocery store after your arrive for daily staples * Your normal foods will better regulate your digestive system * Save expense of restaurants, bodegas, and gift shops Pack medications, grooming supplies, and sex stuff * Your normal daily medications, supplements * Incidentals like pain killers, digestive response, lip balm * Shaving, nail filing, hand sanitizer Plan your lube and sexual supplies strategy * Bring what you can travel with on a plane * Vendor mart can assist with some items like lube, brown bottles, and more * Clean out supplies like douche products and shower nozzles Pack a variety of clothing and gear items * Plan for both cold and warm weather * Plan for a variety of occasions and events * Plan budget for vendor mart Be open minded to new experiences or kinks * Allow yourself to experience new things and learn new ideas * Take in event workshops / educational opportunities * Don’t yuck anyone’s yum Plan your itinerary menu but be open to changing it up * You cannot do it all, so choose events honestly to what you will best enjoy * Let go of FOMO and enjoy the present moments * Leave the cruising apps turned off and cruise face to face * Allow new opportunities to lead you Relax and allow yourself a nap or rest * Remove yourself from the high energy environment occasionally * Make time for a nap, quiet time or meditations * Leave the premises and get off the treadmill to decompress Avoid over indulging with alcohol or drugs * Pace yourself and avoid overdoing it with alcohol * Avoid hard drugs all together * Recovery meetings on site Please drop your comments on YouTube or email them to daddysam@atouchofgay.com [daddysam@atouchofgay.com] * Website: atouchofgay.com * Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky: atouchofgaypod * Audio Podcast drops on all major platforms every Sunday * YouTube Podcast drops a day early on Saturday * Our Podcast plays on GayPHX.com streaming radio every Monday at 10:00am This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com [https://atouchofgay.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

A Touch Of Gay #59: USA Travel Advisory For LGBTQ+ People

A Touch Of Gay Podcast 59 – 05/17/26 Protecting yourself when entering USA, new LFK podcast, IMLBB live broadcast. Daily Inspiration: It’s our duty to pass our history and culture to our next generations * They don’t teach LGBTQ+ history or culture in schools. * Learn, read, experience – be a story teller. * Leather Archives and Museum [https://leatherarchives.org/]: Chigago * The GLBT Historical Society Museum [https://www.glbthistory.org/museum-about-visitor-info]: San Francisco * The American LGBTQ+ Museum [https://americanlgbtqmuseum.org/]: New-York * Lesbian Herstory Archives [https://www.lesbianherstoryarchives.org/]: Brooklyn Check In: Family Business, Getting Ready For IMLBB * Palm Springs Discrimination Controversy – last week’s podcast and social media buzz. * Finishing leather vests and armbands. * Leather contestant send off parties. Travel: USA Travel Advisory For IMLBB Visitors * TSA can and will search your phone for data that can give them cause to block entry. * They are looking for ways to allege of sex trafficking, prostitution, or other illegal acts. * Do not pack contraband or items you aren’t comfortable explaining in your luggage. * Travel with a clean phone devoid of questionable apps, pictures, history, or connections. Media: LFK Podcast with Chad ONYX and Darth ONYX * Leather Fetish Kink (LFK), a podcast for the leather and kink communities, welcoming all while centering storytelling from a people-of-color perspective. Expect real talk, shared experiences, a little shade, a lot of laughs, and conversations that celebrate diversity, visibility, and connection. * Hosted by Chad ONYX and Darth ONYX, LFK brings candid conversations and authentic voices to the mic. * Find them on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music * Instagram: @lfkpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/lfkpodcast/] Leather Event: IMLBB Live Broadcast Presented By RECON - Friday 5/22 and Sunday 5/24 * Be part of the action from anywhere in the world with IMLBB Live Presented by RECON, our exclusive pay-per-view broadcast of the International Mr. Leather Contest. * Live broadcast of the IMLBB Contest Friday and Sunday Nights. * Hosted by Ralph Bruneau (IML 2017), Girl Complex (IMsL 2017), and Ryan Carpenter (IMBB 2017) * PPV Only Interviews and Behind the Scenes Content * Price: $50 for individual * Local watch parties * https://www.recon.com/en/events/calendar/event/1160 [https://www.recon.com/en/events/calendar/event/1160] Please drop your comments on YouTube or email them to daddysam@atouchofgay.com [daddysam@atouchofgay.com] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atouchofgay.substack.com [https://atouchofgay.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]