South Plains LeatherFest [Edit]
About Us:
South Plains Leatherfest-International Master/slave Weekend began over 10 years ago as an event where experienced members of the community could find something different from the “SM 101” classes that filled the schedules of most other events and clubs. Since that time, we have expanded our mission, so now at South Plains you’ll not only find cutting edge, advanced classes on SM technique, but also specifically “queer friendly” space and a home for the Master/slave community.
What you won’t find at South Plains is a lot of political correctness. We embrace the raw edges of Leather and the “edgeliving” of M/s relationships. We support separate space and time for the whole community to gather. We remember our past and celebrate our future.
We are South Plains Leatherfest – come join us!
We Will Not Forget:
Back in 2002, slave marsha – who is a lover of language – decided there needed to be a short and sweet way to describe the heart of South Plains Leatherfest-International Master/slave Weekend. After a great deal of thought, she hit on four words that she felt captured the event’s essence. With that, the theme of South Plains became “We Will Not Forget.”
In 2012 we incorporated the phrase “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” to our long-held theme. At South Plains, we honor our yesterdays by remembering that the only reason an event like this can exist is because of the people who risked everything to gather in those first SM parties, clubs and events. We will not forget that what we call the “leather community” today was born from the tribe of leathermen. We will not forget the years of exile that leatherwomen have experienced from the broader women’s movement. We will not forget that too often, our own community at best misunderstands, and at worst rejects, those who identify as Masters and slaves.
And what about today? The struggles and risks taken by the American Fetish community, leathermen, leatherwomen, And Masters and slaves of the past have helped pave the way for the leather, BDSM, and kink communities of today. We invite today’s leathermen to join us in celebration. We replace the years of exile for leather women by offering them a home. As for the misunderstanding and rejection that surrounds those who practice M/s, we offer a Master/slave track of seminars and the International Master/slave Contest to make a place for those who hear the call to Mastery and slavery. Lastly, we welcome with open arms today’s growing pansexual, transgender, TNG, and kink communities. There is a place for everyone at South Plains and we want every one of you to feel at home at South Plains.
As for tomorrow, we know our community will continue to grow and change. At South Plains, we promise to grow with the community, while never forgetting the history that brought us here in the first place.
Begin your weekend early at Thursday evening’s Meet and Greet sponsored by NLA-Dallas. On Friday night come to the South Plains Cruise where the setting will recall bar gatherings of the past and we’ll kick off the weekend. On Saturday, have lunch at the South Plains Café and support the IM/s travel fund. On Saturday evening, watch the contestant pairs compete for the title of International Master/slave. Complete your journey at Sunday Brunch. And all weekend, you can spend time with your South Plains family in the South Plains Living Room. But whatever you do, do not forget those who walked before us.
The International Master/slave Contest
International Master/slave is a title with deep roots in the Leather community that go back to 1990 when the first Master/slave title, then owned and produced by Luke Owen, was won by Mark Bowers and Bob Farrell. In 1992 the name of the title was changed to International Master/slave and that title was won by K.T. Chase & Susie Shepherd. IM/s, considered until 1999 as a traditional leather bar title, has developed a unique mission for today. The International Master/slave titleholders represent and educate on a kind of relationship that is often misunderstood, even by those familiar with Leather/SM. The International Master/slave Contest celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2014 and will celebrate its 30th in 2019.
As always, the goal of the International Master/slave Contest is to provide the Leather/SM and Master/slave communities with an International Master and an International slave who will represent the M/s lifestyle with integrity and competence. International Master and slave do not represent the “one true way” of M/s – rather, the titleholders simply offer the community an example of one kind of healthy M/s relationship, and serve as spokespersons for M/s relationships – in their many forms — as a healthy way for people to choose to live their lives. Unlike many titleholders, it is expected that International Master and slave will take every opportunity to educate the Leather/SM and M/s communities on Master/slave relationships, and will actively seek out venues that will allow them to speak on Master/slave issues, whether that be through speeches, seminar presentations, participation on panel discussions, writing articles, etc. As a result of the expectations, one of the most important attributes of the titleholders is the ability to clearly and effectively communicate what it means to them to live and identify as Master and slave.
Contestants at the International Master/slave Contest have competed at and won one of the five Regional Feeder Contests (Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast and Great Lakes), or if the contestants are from outside of the U.S., have petitioned and been accepted to compete at International. Contestants for International Master and slave must be 21 years of age, self identify as Master/slave or Owner/property, and have been in a M/s or O/p relationship with each other for at least one year. Contestants run as a pair. No particular “look,” dress, body type, gender or sexual orientation is required to run, nor is there a required set of protocols that International Master and slave are expected to follow. In the end, International Master/slave simply is all about the titleholders living the truth of their lives and relationship.
Current and Former Titleholders:
2024: Master Retro Bella and slave boydrake
2023: Master Penguin and slave ginna
2022: Beast and echo
2021: The 2021 International Master/slave Contest was not held due to COVID-19. The following members from the IM/s Titleholder Family held the title and represented our community in 2021:
Master David and slave Brynn, Mister Blue and BlueFrost, Sir DaddyDaun and slavegirl j, Ms Rhonda and Tomo, Master Michael and slave angie, slave Jonathan Arnowitz Taylor, Master Dan and slave Melissa, Liza and her slave Jody, Sir Stephen and slave Catherine, Master Jim and slave marsha
2020: Master Rook and slave Rook
2019: Master David and slave Brynn
2018: Mr. Blue and Bluefrost
2017: Sir DaddyDaun and slavegirl j
2016: Ms Rhonda and tomo
2015: Master Kevin and slave feyrie
2014: Master Michael and slave angie
2013: Master Morris and slave jonathan
2012: Master Dan and slave Melissa
2011: Liza and her slave Jody
2010: Master Obsidian & slave namaste
2009: Daddy Ken & slaveboy tim
2008: Master Rick & slave tina
2007: Master Larry & slave barb
2006: Mistress Suzan & slave ziggy
2005: Sir Stephen & slave catherine
2004: Master Z & slaveboy tony
2003: Master Bert Cutler & slave nadine
2002: Master Scott & slavette
2001: Master Jim & slave marsha
2000: Master Steve & slave kirk
1999: Miss Khiki & slave Samantha
1998: Roger Curtman & bill
1997: Roger Curtman & bill
1996: Morganna & michael
1995: Jack & tom Stice
1994: John Birch & Beau Lee James
1993: Tammerlayn von Hohenzollern & Kit Terkel
1992: K.T. Chase & Susie Shepherd
Southern California Master/slave
1991: Race Bannon and Mike Pierce
1990: Mark Bowers and Bob Farrell