Fridae

Inner-Sydney was ablaze last week with workshops, art exhibitions and plenty of partying for those with a passion for animal hide - or those interested in fuelling a growing curiosity!

The week began a little slowly with the Forbes Street Fair being cancelled due to bad weather. However, reports say that the main activity of the day - drooling over all the new goods on display and over all the trade to be cruised - was simply shifted to two popular Sydney venues. With the Oxford and Head Quarters reporting a good turnover of business - this year's TWI (Trade Weighted Index) rated highly by all accounts, and enjoyed a noticeable presence of younger guys and girls.

To add to the bad news, Sunday's art exhibition opening was also postponed. Thankfully, the rest of the week went through smoothly.

With the opening of the TAP Gallery Art Exhibition and announcement of Greg Bloye as the fifth annual Leather Person of the Year. He was recognised for his contribution to leather pride, as well as his efforts to demystify BDSM and leatherwear through his education workshops and his private club Submit.

The rest of the week included an array of activities focused around partying and education, with the Women's Play Party gaining high praise. "It was fantastic, women are so not shy when it comes to expressing their kink," said Sandy, who spoke to the author while sitting in an Oxford Street coffee shop in the wee hours of Anzac Day, a day typically reserved in Australia for remembrance of fallen comrades during active military duty.

But for Leather Pride Week (although many ex-Viet-cons took time out to have a drink for those they lost). It was a day of true celebration, with the Harbour City Bears hosting a party for Leather Pride, where members of both clubs came together for an evening of uniforms, medals and a great time.

Anzac Day also saw a key address for the week with guest speakers from all over leading the community in debating about- "Let's break away from the USA." Possibly not much was resolved, but rather a great deal of thought provoking ideas where stimulated for years of thought.

The week concluded with the Leather History Walking Tour through parts of Sydney's sordid leather past - including a guided tour of some of the Harbour City's famed (or infamous) sex on premises venues - headed by the Sisters of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence. And the piece-de-la-resistance was the much-acclaimed ninth annual Inquisition party.