The movement of Calgary Pride to September has left a weekend open in early June that, this year, the Alberta Leather Scene has claimed as their own.“In past years, part of Pride Weekend was a Military Ball at the Eagle and there’s never really been a Leather Pride weekend in this city, and we thought people are looking for something to do that weekend,” says Jim Heaton, Manager of Priape Calgary which is behind the event in cooperation with the Calgary Eagle.So certainly mark off Friday June 5th and Saturday June 6th as an eventful weekend of fetish and fantasy. Friday night will be a meet and greet for the leather contestants, and a fetish auction to raise money for the travel funds of the contest winners, alongside the main fare of the Mr. Rubber Calgary competition.“It’s a contest for people who are rubber enthusiasts, or latex enthusiasts…where they are judged on their originality, gear, stage presence, and a private interview they have with the judges,” explains Heaton.Saturday promises to be equally lively, starting with a Leather Flea Market in the afternoon. “We’re inviting people to bring down their slightly used or worn gear – things that don’t fit them anymore or that they don’t have an interest in wearing any more. Because there are a lot of people out there who can’t afford $300 to $400 for a pair of leather pants, but might be able to afford $70 or $80 for a slightly used pair.”In the evening will be the Western Canada LeatherSir and Leatherboy contest, which Heaton tells us, will be centered on a locker room theme for fantasy performances. This promises to be dangerously sexy!This weekend is nothing to scoff at, with the promise of 4 international title holders coming out, and as such Heaton expects this will be quite a draw for the Alberta leather community. On the celebrity roster are International LeatherSir, Raul Mendez; International Leatherboy, Bill Hoeppner; International Community Bootblack, Black-Jack Pearce; International Mr. Rubber, Stéphane Donaldson; and Mr. Leather Toronto, Matt Pavelich.“For the judges we have all the international title holders. We invited Christine Baker to be a judge as well. Boy Alex from Toronto is coming out for the weekend and will also be a judge.”Mr. Rubber, and Mr. LeatherSir/Leatherboy competition winners receive around $1000 worth of fetish clothing from InSeam, Priape Leather, and Nasty Pig; but also win the honor of representing Western Canada in International competitions. While LeatherSir and Leatherboy contestants will compete separately for their titles here in Calgary, they will function as a duo in the International contest.Proceeds from the fetish auction, and a percentage of sales from the Leather Flea Market go toward the travel fund for contestants, to ensure that the costs are covered for them to represent our region.Heaton says contest winners can also represent and rally the leather/fetish community locally. “There’s hope that they’ll help out at fetish weekends…make sure that they support the events locally. Help with ticket sales, door prizing, things like that.”Those wishing to compete in either competition are asked to sign up either in person at the Calgary Eagle or Priape Store, or online at the Priape website (details below).You don’t have to be part of the scene to come out and enjoy these events. The Leather Pride Weekend will be a great opportunity to see what the leather/fetish community is about, mingle with some interesting people, and even score some gear of your own.