Members of the North Star Kennel Club were happy to participate in last weekend’s Twin Cities Leather contest at The Saloon. The public mosh we hosted as part of the Titans of the Midwest’s Kink U was one of the best attended we have held in some time. We were also proud when Pup Buster, the Club’s Vice Chair, won the title of Mr. Twin Cities Leather 2018. He will join another member of our Lead Pack, Randy Ingram-Lile, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2018, in representing the Twin Cities at the International Mister Leather competition in Chicago this coming May.
Our celebration this weekend became tinged with concern when the owners of Twin Cities Leather & Latte, the producers of the Twin Cities Leather Weekend, informed the community that their business has fallen on hard times. Their public statement on the situation can be found here.
In its five years of operation, Twin Cities Leather & Latte has become a community institution. Part coffee shop, part kink and leather goods store, part ad hoc community center, it has been incredibly supportive of the Twin Cities kink and leather community. This support goes well beyond the material support they have provided local and national organizations, including the Kennel Club. Their support of individual members of our community is just as strong, whether it be in providing a safe, sober space, or in providing donated clothing and personal items to those less fortunate.
In short, they exemplify their motto of “Community First”.
In a time where our community finds itself under increasing attack, it is important that we stay strong and united. Twin Cities Leather & Latte is one of our community’s strengths. The North Star Kennel Club is proud to stand with them as they work through their difficulties and toward a better future for themselves and our community.
We encourage our members to consider sharing the link for and/or making a contribution to the GoFundMe campaign that has been established in support of TCL&L.
