Hardy Haberman
Long time LGBT activist and member of the leather community since the mid 1970’s, Hardy is still an enthusiastic participant in the leather scene. He is the author of several books on kink-related subjects including The Family Jewels: A Guide to Male Genital Play and Torment published by Greenery Press, and Soul of a Second Skin: The Journey of a Gay Christian Leatherman and Shouts in the Wilderness, Daily Meditations for Leatherfolk.
His awards include the “Leather Leadership Award” from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, “Man of the Year” and “Lifetime Achievement” Awards from NLA-I, the “Leatherman’s Heart Award” from Southwest Leatherfest, and most recently the “Jack Stice Memorial Award” at South Planes Leatherfest. Most recently he was awarded the Marcus Hernandez Lifetime Achievement Award at Pantheon on Leather.
Hardy is a columnist for the Dallas Voice and is currently the Chairperson on the Board of Directors of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation in Washington, DC. He lives in Dallas where he and his boy celebrated 27 years together as partners in play and life.
Master Paledine
Master Paledine known as JT by most, heads The House of Paledine. He has been involved in the BDSM lifestyle since 1980. The House of Paledine is a Gorean Philosophy and Principle-based household.
JT started teaching in 1984 with his first class in Erotic Pressure Points and has since included courses for: Real Time vs. Internet, BDSM Myths, Body Scarification, Branding, Cell Popping, Mind Control, 24/7 Fact or fiction, Protection 101, Protocol for Gorean, Negotiations, Gorean Fantasy vs. Reality, Living Single in a Group World, Sub vs. Slave and Dom vs. Master, Internet Privacy, Safe Call Networks, and Industrial Rope Bondage for the Bedroom.
Amongst his skills, he is certified to teach Fire Arms and Unarmed Self Defense. JT and his kajiras presently educate and vend their leather crafts “Paledine Treasure’s” within the four-state area.
JT’s passion for the lifestyle over the past 41 years has allowed him to become involved in many groups where he has held offices relating to education and training. In 1994, JT started his first underground group WACK (Wicked and Crazy Kinksters) in Sacramento, California. In 2008 the RACK (Regional Arkansas Consensual Kink) group was started, where local lifestylers could learn and communicate with one another. This group became inactive after brea’s passing and the members have gone on to create other groups. This was also the time of the creation of the well-known safety protocol RACK (Risk Aware Conventual Kink by brea, raggazza, and I. This was part of a school project for brea. RIP brea.
Sir Mark Athens (He/Him)
Mark is a Queer leatherman who leads a poly Master\slave household that focuses on personal growth, exploration, and service. Being born and raised in Kansas City, he is passionate about bar-bq, Chiefs football, and midwestern hospitality. He has been a part of the community at large since 2015 and has found a passion for engaging his local community as both a teacher and an erotic instigator. By flagging black left, and coining the term, “Why the Fuck Not?!?”, Mark gives people permission to explore their most deviant sexual desires. He’s often seen in his home dungeon, The Black Dog, telling dad jokes, cruising for pick-up play, and being highly energetic. Of course, this is balanced by his sadistic smile and devilishly sinful play style.
Mark has served his local community and the community at large by serving on boards such as the Kansas City Pride Parade, Consent Kansas City, and acting as a leather liaison with the Kansas City Ballroom Community. He is also a founding member of the Kansas City Bloodline Leather chapter where he served for seven years on their Leadership Council. By being a member of local groups such as Alternative Human Sexuality (AHS) and many more, Mark forges bonds and inroads into his community, both in Leather and far beyond. Mark’s passion to engage with and support the people around him increases the community’s strength, by increasing its diversity.
Mark regularly presents workshops on a wide range of topics that center around edgeplay and its practical application. He is most often sought out to teach workshops on fire play, unique deprivation, and edge play. Often mixing his classes with hands-on experience, stories, and a wicked sense of humor, he leaves his students with a very unique experience that is both engaging and fun.
Mistress Elliot, boy Anders & slave Hagen
This female-led, M/s Triad spends much of its time on the road in service to the kink & leather communities. With ten years together, a handful of Leather titles, and years serving as educators, entertainers & iconoclasts they roam the BDSM universe teaching & lecturing on too many topics to list. They are known for playing on the razor’s edge they push the boundaries of pleasure and pain while emphasizing the transformative power of radical sexuality and a life in Leather. Mistress Elliot works as an alt-sex life coach and PE / CNM relationship consultant while Anders and Hagen work to smash the stereotype of the “subby” male, proving that strong and powerful men can find dignity & honor in service. At home in Kansas City, the trio are dynamic community advocates, organizers, and the proud owners of a community BDSM dungeon, The Black Dog.
Bloodline Leather 