After being postponed twice in 2010, Melbourne Leather Pride (MLP) opens today and is set to excite Melbourne from 8 to 26 April with both barrels blazing. MLP is Australia’s premier Leather festival, celebrating and showcasing the culture and diversity of Australia’s leather and fetish communities.

2011 Festival Highlights

The jewels in the Melbourne Leather Pride program are it’s premier events Mr Leather Australia and New Zealand competition (Saturday 9 April, Fitzroy Town Hall), the Leather Fair (Sunday 17 April, Laird Hotel) and it’s latest exciting addition Leather MUFF (10-24 April, various locations); a series of special film screenings curated by Richard Wolstencroft, director of the Melbourne Underground Film Festival.

Check out our coverage of the2009 Mr Leather Australia and New Zealand and Fetish Fair

Those who think Melbourne Leather Pride is all whips and chains, can thing again. It’s arts and cultural program is huge, showcasing the talents of some of the states finest artists. Look out for the incredible sculptures of Brad Gunn (Wednesday 13 April, Hares and Hyenas), the paintings of Paul Anthony Wallis (Monday 18 April, Eagle Leather), and the unmistakably sexy photographs by the crew at Trough (Monday 18 April, Eagle Leather).

Aside from the Leather Fair, which is an excellent opportunity to learn and explore your sexuality, this year’s Health and Sexuality program includes workshops and seminars hosted by two amazing visiting festival guests; International author and leather expert Janet Hardy, and professional dancer, choreographer and conceptual artist Felix Ruckert are both in town to share their unique perspectives.

MLP’s program also bursts with fun social opportunities too including an S&M speed dating event hosted by comedian Dean Acuri (Tuesday 19 April, The Owl & Pussycat) and the social Melbourne Leather Dinner (Thursday 21 April, Glasshouse Hotel)*, adding to the already popular events like Spit & Polish and Melbourne Leather Men gatherings.

The party scene gets a good look-in too, with Woofclub celebrating it’s 6th Birthday during the festival (Saturday 23 April, Goodhead Bar) and notorious fetish club Hellfire also featuring. Those feeling naughtier can participate in the bevy of ‘play’ events happening around Melbourne, including one that celebrates 10 years of Melbourne Sauna, Wet On Wellington.

MLP organizer Alex Schoeffel says he credits the City of Yarra in being key to making the festival a reality by offering genuine support.

“Government agencies, councils… they can be quite tokenistic with their support. That’s definitely not the case with the City of Yarra who have really come on board to support Melbourne Leather Pride. They don’t just talk the talk. Those involved in putting together the festival, really believe that they are invested in Community development and diversity.” He said.

“The community is at a point where we realize that a co-operative and supportive approach from everyone will help build a stronger community and a greater profile. People working together, having fun, celebrating sexuality, learning and exploring… doing what they love. It’s what MLP is about…” he continued.

The MLP History and Controversy

Melbourne Leather Pride (MLP), officially began in 2008 and was one of the most exciting new festivals to debut on Melbourne’s queer events calendar. It established itself as Australia’s premier leather festival and managed to unite the various splinters of the leather and fetish community.
MLP boasted a leather fair, a rich program of arts and cultural events and it revived the tradition of the Mr Leather competition, which saw the winning competitor sent over to the US to compete for the international title of International Mr Leather.

In 2009, the event built on its strengths and made improvements, launching a bigger and better program expanded by new inclusions. But it was also the year of the GFC, which put stress on the festival and the businesses supporting it.

In 2009 the winner of Mr Leather Australia and New Zealand was left to find his own way to the International Mr Leather competition after a MLP sponsorship deal fell through. Luckily he was rescued at the last minute by two local leather businesses who saw him compete overseas getting to a top ten spot in the international competition. It put some big questions marks on the festival and the way it was run, that dogged MLP well into 2010.

MLP 2010 was scheduled to run in August last year but was postponed till November, and then again postponed till April 2011. The reasons given from organisers included financial stresses of the GFC, as well as requiring more organization and lead up time, and a desire to better reposition the festival in a more favourable season.

It’s now April 2011 and Melbourne Leather Pride opens today and is set to run as planned in Melbourne from 8 to 26 April. A lot has been learned and the changes are both evident and positive. One of the big changes include the fundamental structure of the way the festival is run.

“There were concerns about the way the festival was run under it’s previous structure. That is why we have changed to a board structure…” explained Schoeffel,

“Leather Pride is no longer just managed by one individual, but a strong team. It’s a board made up of people who are highly respected and skilled within the leather community. The workload of putting together the festival is shared amongst these individual whose collective expertise and energy will ensure the festivals continuity and it’s smooth running well into the future.”

Once again in 2011 MLP isn’t without some controversy, with some event organizers claiming that they were not in fact officially contacted about their participation in Melbourne Leather Pride despite being advertised in the guide.

“It was never our intention to cause offense or upset anyone when listing events. Our intention was to give more publicity to appropriate events that are publically listed, that happened during our festival. For those who feel they didn’t want to be listed within our guides, their listings have been respectfully removed.

“We’re proud of this year’s program. There is a lot that the community can be proud of, celebrate, and enjoy in this year’s program.” Schoeffel said.

Melbourne Leather Pride runs from 8 – 26 April 2011. Click here for full details on the 2011 MLP Program

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