Southeast Leatherfest (SELF) is an annual adult fetish event for the BDSM, leather and kink communities based in the United States' Southeast and centered in Georgia with regional and smaller related events held throughout the year.
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History
SELF was started in 1995 by Jack Stice, International Master 1995. It was concepted as a BDSM, Master/slave event to welcome all sections of the SM communities, highlighting on the Leather. Modeled after International Mister Leather and Drummer (now International Leather Sir and boy) SELF added classes to this model. Since 1995 has been one of the largest sex education and BDSM education events in the south east region of the United States openly supporting underground kink, fetish, Master/slave and Dominant/submission communities. Southeast Leatherfest(SELF)holds classes given by nationally known educators from across the country, holds a spokesperson contest, and has various other activities for that promote community and pride. SELF was held during the second weekend in June every year until its eighteenth year. The event now occurs on the third weekend in June. SELF spokesperson titles are referred to as Mr. Southeast Leatherfest, Ms. Southeast Leatherfest, Southeast Leatherfest boy, Southeast Bootblack, and SouthEast Master/slave, and in the past it was the home of the International Master and slave contest until 2001.
This event for the first time in Atlanta history brought together the straight, gay and lesbian communities. They worked together which had not previously happened at BDSM and Master/slave events in the area. While there had been events in the region for gay men, this was the first event to have all communities present. SELF is a charitable event that has donated approximately $80,000 to charities over the years. Some of these charities are the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and many more. Jack Stice was the founder of this event and the "Jack Stice Memorial Community Service Award" was given in his honor annually.
SELF started mini-grant program in 2007 which is a new program to invest regional money into local groups by funding speakers and educators to be brought to local communities that might not be able to afford it otherwise. This program was closed in 2011.
SELF has been nominated for "Pantheon of Leather Large Event of the Year" in (2005 - 2007) which means that this event has stood out from the other 100 events though independent peer review to be noted as one of five events that has been providing outstanding community service.
In 2014, SELF was the first leather contest in the country where a portion of each title contest was digital voting by the weekend participants.
SELF has been reviewed and has supported the Leather Archives and Museum, a library, museum and archives pertaining to Leather sub culture, fetishism, Sadomasochism, and alternative sexual practices. The geographic collection scope is worldwide and includes all sexual orientations and genders. SouthEast LeatherFest is owned and produced by Catherine Gross. It is administered by a board of volunteers annually.