Queer n There	Queer n There Archive

Pittsburgh-- Same-sex sex is all about sameness, right? Wrong. Sex loves variety, and gay sex readily indulges its predilections to cross lines. "Race" is a meaningless category in any deep sense, but culturally, it's packed with all kinds of significance. If crossing Race Street turns you on, then join the 25th annual convention of Black and White Men Together, July 6th to 9th in Pittsburgh, at the Best Western Parkway Center. There BWMT will do some collective navel-gazing about its first 25 years, show a documentary about the clashing semiotics of the Confederate flag, and have a meeting with Pittsburgh's gay youth groups to foster intergenerational dialogue on the theme of "Building Bridges while Deconstructing Racism." Bring your Jacques Derrida! And did we mention the Liberty Belle Riverboat Dinner-Dance Cruise? Registration is $149 for members before June 15th ($159 for non-members), and to see if space is available after that date, call 800-624-2968. Browse to www.nationalconvention.info for more info, or e-mail: nabwmt@mindspring.com. NABWMT's main web site is www.nabwmt.com.

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Chicago-- It's the season for conventioneering. The world's hottest leathermen will come together to compete for the title of International Mr. Leather 2005, as IML celebrates its 27th anniversary. It happens Thursday, May 26th through Monday, May 30th (Memorial Day Weekend) in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency (151 East Wacker Drive), the official host hotel.

About 400 gay leathermen gathered in Chicago in 1979 for the first International Mr. Leather contest. Today, the event has grown to be an annual tradition for thousands in the leather community-- drawing contestants and spectators from around the globe. Once an event for "hardcore" leathermen, IML has expanded in recent years to include a more diverse crowd, from the experienced to the curious. For the complete weekend events listings see www.imrl.com.