Time Line 1997

Time Line 1997 (Time Line 1996) -- (Main Index) -- (Time Line 1998)

Books Published

• "Between the Cracks": The Daedalus Anthology of Kinky Verse, edited by Gavin Geoffrey Dillard.
• "Bound To Be Free": The SM Experience, by Charles Moser and JJ Madeson.
• "Of Men, Ropes and Remembrance", stories from Bound & Gagged magazine, by Larry Townsend.
• "Master of Masters" by Larry Townsend
• "The Leatherman's Handbook", Silver Jubilee Edition by Larry Townsend.
• "Rainbow County" and other stories by Jack Fritscher
• "HorseMen, Leathersex" Short Fiction edited by Joseph Bean
• "Rasslers, Wranglers & Rough Guys", The Erotic Art of Matt, Edited by Joseph W. Bean

1997 July 18 - 20

Genelle Moore of Lincoln NB is named International Ms. Leather. Her late brother Ron Moore was International Mr. Leather in 1984.

1997

Paul Thomas Anderson's movie "Boogie Nights" is released to critical acclaim. The story line is set in the porno movie industry in Southern California in the 1970's and 80's.

1997

A theme restaurant, La Nouvelle Justine, opens in Manhattan. The theme is SM, Along with the French cuisine, the staff of Top identified waitpersons and bottom identified supporting staff, both male and female, appropriately attired in leather and paraphernalia, will provide spankings, boot licking and other services. Prices are on the menu! Most guests sit at the tables, some eat out of a bowl on the floor.

1997

Tom Trading, Inc. begins marketing a line of designer clothing for men based upon the the clothing worn by men in the art of Tom of Finland.

1997

The US Supreme Court rules that the Communications Decency Act, which sought to censor cyberspace, is unconstitutional interference of free speech.

1997

US Television news programs shock the nation by broadcasting clips from home videos made in 1991 and 1993 showing US Marines enthusiastically pounding the sharp metal backs of awards pins into the bloodied chests of young paratroopers. Apparently the hazing ritual has been going on for years. Military officials expressed "shock" and "dismay".

1997

Pat Boone, pop singing star of the 1950's and 60's tarnished his squeaky clean Christian image by appearing on the American Music Awards telecast wearing a leather vest, dog collar, studded wristbands and flashing his 62 year old bare chest with temporary tattoos. Trinity Broadcast Network quickly canceled Boone's weekly gospel music show. On ABC's Good Morning America Boone later said, “God is into leather. The first clothes he made for anybody on this planet, he made them out of leather."

1997

Jim Raymond is named American Leatherman, Leslie Anderson is named American Leatherwoman, and Max Steiner is named American Leatherboy..

1997

Patrick Richardson is named International Mr. Deaf Leather and Cool Cat is selected to continue as a second year with the title of International Ms Deaf Lather.

1997

Ariq Robinson named International Mr. Fantasy 1997.

1997

Rich Villagarcia is named Mr. Vulcan Rubber 1997, The third man to hold this title, the first since 1994, and apparently, the last to hold it.

1997, Jan.

Margo Frasier begins her term as Sherrif of Travid County, Texas. She is the first out lesbian to be elected sheriff in the US.

1997, Jan.

New York S/M Activists formed. by Leonard Dworkin and Susan Wright. [LW]

1997, Jan.

Mike Seimer is named Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather >97

1997, Feb.

The European Court of Human Rights upholds the original ruling in the British "Operation Spanner" case. [wd]

1997, Feb.

The Black Guard of Minneapolis hosts their 20th Black Frost run.

1997, Feb.

Mylez Edward and Dauphine Sowell are named Mr. and Ms Olympus Leather at the contest in New Orleans.

1997, Feb.

The Pantheon of Leather Awards are held in New Orleans, winners are: Man and Woman of the Year to Mark Frazier and Pat Baillie; Reader's Choice Awards to Jack Stice and David WW Walker (tie) and to Sarah Humble; Lifetime Achievement to Frank Puckett; Publisher's award to Jay Allen and Gary Chichester; Forebearer Award to Tony DeBlase; Club of the Year to Sandia Leather; Non Profit Organization of the Year to the Leather Archives & Museum; Club event of the Year 25th Anniv of The Eulenspiegel Society; Business of the Year to Leather Rack, DC; Business Person of the Year to Audrey Joseph; International Award to George Cameron. Regional Awards: Southeast to Darryl Flick; Rocky Mountain to Daniel Sonnenfeld; Midwest to Cara Hanes; Northeast to Michael Horowitz; Mid-Atlantic to Suzette Danick and Joe Morris; Canadian Regional to Trevor Jacques. The Local Community Service award to Wes Randall.

1997, April

Ellen DeGeneres' character, Ellen Morgan, comes out on TV, seen by 42 million viewers.

1997, April

National Coalition for Sexual Freedom was started in NYC under the New York SM Activists.

1997, April 7

Death of Jack Stice, International Master 1995. and leather activist in Atlanta, the southeast, and the nation. [LJ 93]

1997, April 19

The first annual Leather Leadership Conference is held in New York City. [LW]

1997, May

The Internet SM group Datenschlag and the AG S&M Oeffen-tlichkeit produce the first map of heterosexual SM groups in Germany. At this time there are 53 known groups in 45 cities. [wd]

1997, May

David Cronenberg's film "Crash" is awarded a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival "for originality, daring and audacity". Based upon J. G. Ballard's 1973 novel the film centers on a group of people who are erotically attracted to car crashes.

1997, May

Gene Harrawood from Bloomington IL is named Mr. Bear Pride 1997 in Chicago.

1997, May 12

The Internet newsgroup soc.subculture.bondage-bdsm is formed. [wd]

1997, May

Details magazine's "1997 College Sex Survey" reports that 27% of the college men they asked had done bondage with a partner, 23% more had fantasized about it. 26% of the women had done bondage with a partner and 25% more had fantasized about it. This is more than 50% of all college students who have at least fantasized about bondage! The same questions about SM got identical percentages from men and women 6% had done it, 11% more had fantasized

1997, May 23 -26,

The International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago names Kevin Cwayna as IML 1997.

1997, May 25

Driller is named as International Boot Black during the IML contest in Chicago.

1997, June

The American film parody, "Preaching to the Perverted", opens in the USA. [wd]

1997, June

Mid America Conference names Rob Ridinger of Trident Windy City to the newly created post of MAC Historian. [RR]

1997, June

German art publisher Taschen publishes a three volume boxed set of the complete run of Bob Mizer's "Physique Pictorial". (Note: this is a complete run of issues still extant, there are no surviving copies of a few.}

1997, June 4

A full page ad is place in several American newspapers by the Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, American Family Association, Southern Babtist Convention, Focus on the Family and Coral Ridge Ministries, condemning American Arlines for pro-homosexual business practices such as fair treatment of its gay and lesbian employees and its sponsorship of national and community based gay and AIDS service organizations.

1997, June 28

Master Roger and slave bill are named International Master and Slave 1997 at the contest in Denver, CO.

1997, July

[www.UtahPowerEXchange.org|Utah Power Exchange (UPEX)] based on precepts of Arizona Power Exchange (APEX)

1997, July 4

The Eulenspiegel Society's Equestrian Club is founded. [LW]

1997, 4th of July weekend

Kyle Brandon, International Mr. Drummer 1996-97 hosts A Gathering of Eagles at a private estate in Philadelphia. An all expense paid party for the country's "Leather A List" served as the setting at which $1000 checks were passed out to seven worthy recipiants from around the country. The Leather Archives and Museum was one of the recipiants.

1997, July 26,

Joseph W. Bean arrives in Chicago to become the first Executive Director of The Leather Archives & Museum.

1997, Aug 16-17

The Orange County Leather Assembly hosts its fourth annual Meet a Master Weekend, this year featuring Guy Baldwin, M.S.

1997, Sept.

Atons of Minneapolis celebrate their 25th Anniversary. [RR]

1997, Sept.4 - 10

Chicago Hellfire Club hosts Inferno 26 in Douglas Michigan. Mel Austin receives the Caligula award and Tom Pscheit the J. Paul Eaton award.

1997

Sept. Leather Pride Week in San Francisco.

1997

Sept. 25 -29

Jeffery Adler of Miami FL is named International Mr. Drummer and also receives the "Golden Whip Award" (bestowed by the contestants) the first time any man has received both of these titles. dan hughes is named International Drummerboy.

1997, October

In the United Kingdom, Home Office minister Mike O'Brien announced that same-sex partners were eligible for British residency, based on a 4 year relationship akin to marriage.

1997, Oct. 3-5

Leather University's Dungeon 201, again brings instructors from all over North America to offer both basic and advanced courses to leather men and women in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

1997, Oct.

Living in Leather XII is held in Portland. Under bylaws revisions Mark Frasier becomes President and Jan Hall becomes vice president and president elect.

1997, Oct. 17-19

The Tom of Finland Foundation's Erotic Art Fair, featuring hundreds of pieces of erotic are in all media by numerous artists from around the world. Los Angeles, CA.

1997, Oct. 24 - Nov. 2

Amsterdam Leather Pride Celebration.

1997, Oct. 27

The first version of Time Line of Sadomasochism is created by the Internet group Datenschlag in Germany. (Selected items indicated by "[wd]": are included in the current Leather History Timeline.)

1997, Oct. 31

Mr. Drummer Europe contest.

1997, Nov.

Formation of The Red Chair, a pansexual group created to promote Safe Sane and Consensual BDSM in north central Alabama.

1997, Nov. 1

Women's Studies Conference at State University of New York, New Platz includes coverage of SM and leather topics that enrage members of the SUNY board of trustees, and the George Pataki, Governor of the state of New York.

1997, Nov. 8

Mr. International Rubber 1998, Christoff Lehner, selected at a contest at the Cellblock in Chicago.

1997, Nov. 9

Mr. World Rubber 1998, Ketith Waltrip, selected at a contest at Man's Country and sponsored by International Mr. Leather.

1997, Nov. 14 - 16

Black Rose X, the tenth anniversary celebration of Black Rose is held in Washington DC.

1997, December

Annise Parker is elected as an at-large member of the Houston City Council alongside mayoral candidate Lee P. Brown.

1997, December

The US Supreme Court hears Joseph Oncale's sexual harassment case against Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc. Oncale was harassed by his supervisor and other workers on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Lower courts had ruled that sexual harrasment laws required the predator and victim to be of different genders. In 1998 the Supreme Court rules in Oncale's favor, extending sexual harassment law to same sex encounters.

1997, Dec. 25

Death of erotic artist Olaf Odegaard (born Dec 15, 1938)

1997, Dec. 27

Newsweek includes an article entitled "Lick Me, Flog Me, Buy Me!" on the mainstreaming of SM.

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