a&e features
BACK TO SCHOOL 2018: UMD advocates for trans inclusivity
Pronoun campaign, Trump wariness among LGBT issues


Shige Sakurai helped launch a pronoun campaign at the University of Maryland at College Park (Photo courtesy Sakurai)
While transgender representation has become more prominent in popular culture, practices for transgender and non-binary inclusion arenāt part of everyoneās daily life.
Shige Sakurai, acting director of the LGBT Equity Center at University of Maryland, College Park, hopes to change that.
Sakurai, who identifies as non-binary/a-gender, some staff members and a few students created a planning committee to kickstart a pronouns campaign on campus. The vision grew into a much bigger project that became known as #TransTerps which launched last September.
The #TransTerps campaign works towards āidentifying, disseminating and implementing good practices for trans-inclusion,ā Sakurai says.
The LGBT Equity Center was faced with the challenge of how to share information and positively impact a campus community of an estimated 50,000 people including faculty, staff and students. On a campus this large, it was important to create ways people could use tools to spread awareness in each of their departments or student groups.
One campaign initiative was to educate on the use of pronouns. Thousands of stickers, buttons and business cards with preferred pronouns were made. The LGBT Equity Office created a video that says a personās pronouns donāt always match their perceived gender.
Instructors who wish to incorporate pronoun information into the classrooms can also use sample syllabi provided by the LGBT Equity Office. Multiple versions of the syllabi are available ranging from educating on identities and others simply focus on respecting peopleās names and pronouns.
University of Maryland also started its own Pronouns Day in 2016. The LGBT Equity Office partnered with various groups locally, nationally and internationally to create the first International Pronouns Day which will be held on Oct. 17. More than 96 different organizations including dozens of campuses will participate in the day. There is a list of ideas on the pronounsdays.org website including using the #PronounsDay hashtag, posting your pronouns on social media, organizing events and more.
Other initiatives in the #TransTerps campaign are inclusive restrooms and signage and webinars. Events are offered throughout the year such as gender inclusivity in the classroom, discussion luncheons on what itās like to be a transgender student, and fun activities such as arts and crafts.
Sakurai says the campaign has been received positively on campus from people of all identities.
āWeāre definitely hearing from people that are actively sharing pronouns or asking pronouns which is new for them,ā they says. āSo I havenāt seen backlash to that because no one is really required to do any of these things. Weāre encouraging people to get involved and to adopt these good practices but by and large our campaign is not focused on things that are supposed to be mandatory. Itās focused on things that are supposed to be opportunities and people seem pretty excited about that.ā
Even though University of Maryland has been striving toward being a more welcoming environment for everyone, Sakurai says some students have been worried about the Trump Administration rolling back protections for the transgender community.
āThat has been cause for concern when we see something like Department of Justice and Department of Education retracting guidelines on trans-inclusion that causes questions even on our campus,ā Sakurai says. āPeople are saying, āOh, should I be doing something different?ā and we have to tell them, āNo, nothing has changed. The law hasnāt changed. No court decisions have changed anything. Itās just these guidances. We have our own state and campus protections.ā Itās certainly been an issue since Trump has taken office and itās caused a lot of concern. It certainly impacts our students.ā
In addition to the informational resources available through the LGBT Equity Office, students who need support for more āhigh stress situationsā about the current political climate can participate in support groups offered by the counseling center. There is both a general LGBT support group and a group specifically for students involved in advocacy who have concerns about these anti-LGBT policies.Ā
Sakuraiās dedication to helping the LGBT community doesnāt stop on campus. During Trumpās inauguration weekend, they decided to create the website mypronouns.org. The website gives information and resources on what a personās preferred pronouns are and how people can learn to respect them.
They also became the first person issued a gender-neutral driverās license in the United States. Sakurai says they had been seeking non-binary documentation for some time and after consulting with the name and gender legal clinic at Whitman-Walker and lawyers at the National Center for Transgender Equality, they were able to discuss options with the director of the DMV. The DMV had announced in 2016 it was planning on creating a gender-neutral option but with the help of Sakurai, Whitman-Walker and the National Center for Transgender Equality, the option was able to be implemented. Sakurai received their ID with a gender-neural identifier of āXā in June 2017.
Sakurai hopes that movements like this can continue on campus and beyond.
āOne thing thatās important to us is weāre trying to change the climate,ā they says. āI think that doing that requires folks that are excited and seeing how this improves the campus climate, not just for trans people, but for everyone. It suggests that we want to be in this environment and that we care about each other and that we want to be inclusive. I think that itās an opportunity for people to engage in something positive in the workplace and in their classrooms.ā
a&e features
Valentineās gifts for the queers you love
Fragrances, X-rated sweet treats, candles, and more

Put a little love in your heart. Thatās what Jackie DeShannon encouraged with her 1969 hit song of the same name, and itās never been more appropriate than in the context of our current state of affairs. Mute the vitriol this Valentineās Day and concentrate on what really matters ā those you love and who love you back.
Gucci Guilty Love Edition

Sniffies? Youāll put the site on hold after a whiff of Gucci Guilty Love Edition on the nape of his neck ā featuring captivating notes of juniper oil, orange flower absolute and aphrodisiatic Ambrofix ā which one review claims to āmake your brain sparkle like a fine Champagne.ā Cheers to that. $25-$133, FragranceNet.com
Hunky Burning Love Pillow

Sweet dreams are on the docket when you rest your head on the Hunky Burning Love faux-suede square pillow printed with illustrations of shirtless himbos pining for your affection. An exercise in fantasy more than reality, but it beats sitting alone at a bar getting no attention at all. $30, ThePillowTopShop.com
Love Deck
Whatās in the cards for your love life in 2025? Fuck around and find out with astrologist Lisa Stardustās 70-card Love Deck, a tarot set of short spells, meditations and rituals designed to conjure enough love, passion, clarity and confidence to make Potion No. 9 jealous. $13, Amazon.com
āMaking the Case for Equalityā
Weāll continue to fight the good fight over the next four years and beyond ā perhaps harder than ever ā and Lambda Legalās āMaking the Case for Equality,ā a detailed half-century history of our hard-won judicial victories, is a solid reminder of how far weāve come in the war for LGBTQ+ rights. $45, Amazon.com
Lola Blankets

Schedule an at-home streaming marathon of this yearās Best Picture noms before the big night ā thereās a lot to love in 2024ās Oscar picks ā and the coziest way to settle in is all snuggled up in the squishiest Lola blankets, reminiscent of the adorable ripples of the cutest Shar Pei. Pick up a couple for the cuddle puddle. $109-$299, LolaBlankets.com
Asa Akira x Cake Life Cookies

Cue the collaboration you didnāt see coming: Adult film star Asa Akira teams up with award-winning trans-owned bakery Cake Life Bake Shop for its sweet-and-spicy Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies, featuring Akiraās XXX-tra special curated box decorated with NFSW phrases like āCowgirl,ā āCream Pie,ā and the ever-subtle āAnalā ā that are sure to leave mouths agog at your Gaylentineās get-together. $19-$21, CakeLifeBakeShop.square.site
Mind Games Candles

Since the late 1990s, the Backstreet Boys have implored us to quit playinā games with our loversā hearts, which is probably why we play mind games instead ā and now they come in luxury scents like Jasmine Milk, Tobacco Tonka Bean and Cherry Sandalwood, so you can enjoy mood lighting with your gaslighting. $135, MindGamesFragrance.com
Delysia Chocolates

Inspired by Greek Goddess-of-Love Aphrodite, Delysia Chocolatierās 16-piece, limited-edition truffle collection includes four each of symbolic Passion (almond-honey-fig), Adoration (raspberry-rose petal-hibiscus), Unity (pomegranate-strawberry), and Love (spiced wine-berry) bite-size chocolates rich enough for savoring and abundant enough for sharing. $60, Delysia.com
DIY Whiskey Hot Sauce

Variety is the spice of life in Thoughtfully Gourmetās Whiskey-Infused DIY Hot Sauce Kit that combines your favorite cereal spirit with high-quality global ingredients, like Mexican hot peppers, to create sophisticated flavor experiences of varying Scoville heat levels, handsomely housed in fancy decanters. Recipe book, spices and seasonings included; alcohol and antacids are not. $20, Amazon.com
Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBTQ lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets around the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels.
a&e features
Boomer Banks brings beats to MAL Weekend
From porn to the DJ booth, āI’m the happiest I’ve ever beenā

If you enjoy gay adult films, there is a high likelihood you have seen or at least heard of Boomer Banks. His tattoos, muscles, masculine presence, and thick mustache have made him one of the most recognizable ā and awarded ā Latinx gay adult performers in the industry. This weekend, Banks heads to the nationās capital to partake in Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend.
As D.C. polishes its leather gay apparel for the annual MAL weekend, Banks, alongside a slew of other gay adult performers and leather lovers, is getting ready to make adult content, meet fans, buy some new leather goods, and perform in the name of sexual expression.
This year will be different for Banks compared to his past MAL weekends, though. He will still be go-go dancing as he has in years past, but this year he has a new hat on ā headlining DJ. The Blade sat down with the 44-year-old performer to discuss his sex work career, the changing industry, and his passion for DJing.
On Friday night, Banks is one of three headlining DJs for the main dance event of the night, UNCUT XL. He explained that his love for music has always been there, but since the death of his best friend, with whom he connected on a shared love of music, his sets mean more than ever to him now.
āI loved music for my whole life,ā Banks told the Blade when asked about how he got started in music. āMy proximity to legendary New York DJs has always been there. I lost my best friend and brother over two years ago, and it just caused a lot of changes [for me]. We both loved music so much … I was talking to one of my DJ friends [about this connection to music], and they were talking to me, and all of a sudden I’m at their studio, playing around with the controller and all that, and it just happened. Here we are, two years later, and now I’m headlining at MAL with some legendary DJs that I have been a fan of since I was young.ā
Banks went on to explain that this connection and newfound passion for DJing is what has made his career shift from studio porn to a solo career easier. He also said the continued support from his house music fans has made him want to work even harder on creating memorable sets.
And create memorable sets he has. Banks has headlined events all across the country over the past two years ā from Provincetown to Rehoboth Beach and even headlining Folsom, which is the biggest leather event of the year. He explained that he has one overwhelming emotion āgratitude.
āI’m really grateful that Zach [RenovatĆ©s] and everybody at Kinetic and Bunker have really taken a liking to my storytelling through music, because that’s what it is for me,ā Banks said. āI like taking people on a journey. It’s usually my journey. But I read the crowd, I read energy, and I’m always smiling, and that’s the only place that I do smile. I feel like people often categorize me as intimidating, and a lot of times that’s what I got in the porn industry. But with DJing, the people are always like, āYou’re so happy up there. You’re smiling all the time.ā And, yeah, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and it’s exciting. I love doing it, and I’m grateful and very humbled that people are seeing that this isn’t just a gimmick.ā
He went on to explain that this happiness wasnāt always at the base of his work āespecially when he was involved with the studio porn system with CockyBoys and Raging Stallion. Various factors, including race, he shared with the Blade, were why it was less than enjoyable at times. But it provided a platform in which he was able to grow and gave him an opportunity to help newcomers in the industry.
āWhen I got into porn, other brown men were not nice to me; other people of color [were not nice to me]. I thought that it would have been different. So when I was established, I made sure not to do that. I have a few little Banks boys that I nurtured into the industry, and, not to claim them, but it’s just so that they had someone to talk to because I didn’t have that.ā
Despite some structural problems within the industry, Banks felt he was able to get what he needed from the career, including a paycheck and a platform.
āPorn did work out for me,ā he said. āI was very fucking successful, and I was not white. I did the work, but I just couldn’t keep doing it any more. It wasn’t good for my mental health, and so I knew how to bow out. Who knows? It [studio porn days] might happen again. I don’t know, but I know for today, I love music. It’s my heart. I’m grateful for the platform that sex work gave me because it’s given me a heads up with the music.ā
That music has kept him going. More specifically, New York house-style music has kept him going. Banksās ability to take in the music he loves has made him a stronger DJ, he said.
ā’Iām a New York house DJ,ā he said. āThat’s the style that I bring. The craziest it gets is like tech house and maybe some early 2000s mid-2000s circuit music. It’s what I grew up with and what I love and what I like to put out there. I’m really grateful that I was not only showing up to these gigs, but I was absorbing the art that is music in a way that it seeped into my pores and my soul, that now I can share how I feel about music, and that’s exciting.ā
He touched on how although many people can be fans of DJ music, it takes more to become a successful DJ.
āThe thing about music is you can’t fake music tastes. You can learn all the knobs and the technical parts of DJing, but if you’re not playing good music, and if the room isn’t vibing, it doesn’t matter.ā
When asked about the current political climateāseeing as the host hotel for MAL weekend is a mere half mile from the Capitol buildingāBanks reflected on the importance of weekends like this for the LGBTQ community, which is increasingly facing the backlash of conservative politicians.
āWe are in uncertain times,ā he said. āThese are the weekends where we’re able to be who we are. And it’s unfortunate that we have to still have these events to express ourselves. Because a lot of these guys, they wait their whole year for this weekend to be able to express themselves. With what’s going on with the world, they’re basically being told that these are the only places they can. I know that in New York we live in a bubble. I know in D.C., we live in a bubble. But I want to show people that are coming from the middle of nowhere that they can have a good time, and even if it is for this weekend, they can rely on us. I want our community to know that I am here for them.”
You can find Boomer Banks headlining Fridayās main dance event UNCUT XL from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at REPUBLIQ Hall (2122 24th Pl NE) and go-go dancing during Saturdayās PERVERT XXL party at A.I. Warehouse (530 Penn St., N.E.) from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. as well as on X @Boomer_Banks and on Instagram @baconlvr.
For more information about MAL events visit leatherweekend.com or kineticpresents.com.


Half a mile from the Capitol building on New Jersey Avenue, the Hyatt Regency Washington is getting ready for one of the cityās biggest, gayest, and kinkiest weekends of the year ā the annual Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) Weekend.
The weekend, which has a long and fabled history that spans two different hosting Motorcycle Clubs (MC), multiple host cities, thousands of LGBTQ people dressed head to toe in leather, and as the Centaur MC website explains, all began with an hour of cocktails and a cock ring.
In 1976, members of the Links MC gathered in a room at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel to mingle and discuss shared interests (including leather and various sexual proclivities), when one of the partyās guests accidentally dropped his cock ring on the bathroom floor. The loud clang of a cock ring against the tile floor made everyone in attendance laugh. At the next party the Links MC hosted, another member intentionally dropped his cock ring on the floor too, calling back to the prior partyās fun and a tradition was established.
The event grew in popularity among LGBTQ leather lovers, moving to various East Coast cities before finding a permanent home with the Centaur MC in Washington in 1984. Since then, the city has hosted the Leather Cocktail party each year and has expanded to include an exhibitor hall, where leather makers and other kink product creators showcase their wares, the prestigious Mr. MAL Contest, and multiple high energy (and clothing optional) dance parties.

MCs comprised exclusively of queer members have been documented since at least the mid-1950s, with the Satyrs Motorcycle Club of Los Angeles being one of the earliest known examples. During the McCarthy era, when LGBTQ individuals were subjected to brutal discrimination due to unfounded fears that being queer was synonymous with being un-American or even suggested Communist leanings, the groups provided an essential refuge. While such fears were baseless, the formation of these clubs offered a vital safe space for queer people to express themselves in an environment where their identities were not just stigmatized but often criminalized. These MCs became much more than places for sexual expression ā they were havens of protection and solidarity, offering a sense of community that would have been nearly impossible to find in the hostile, post-WWII social climate.
This year’s MAL is set to be the biggest year yet with four days of kinky queer fun. It all begins on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Washington (400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.) with the Full Package/Three Day Pass Pick-Up from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Here guests who have purchased a Full Weekend Package can collect their wristbands.
On Thursday from 9 p.m.-3 a.m., the MAL kick-off Kinetic BOOTCAMP dance party will whip you into shape as international DJs Alex Lo and Dan Slater start off the weekend right. The venue has not been named yet, but Kinetic Events, which oversees this yearās official MAL dance parties have said the space will soon be announced and will ābe complete with play zone designed for maximum seduction.ā

After beginning MAL weekend on the dance floor, Friday is full of events to keep the kinky vibes going. From 3-10 p.m., guests who have not picked up their Full Package Pass on Thursday can continue to collect them in Capital Room A on the lobby level (located behind the north tower elevators) of the Hyatt Regency Washington. If you haven’t purchased a pass, no worries, both day and weekend passes for MAL hotel events are available for purchase online or at the hotelās entrance from 3-10 p.m.
The passes vary in price depending on what day(s) you attend. The 3-day pass is $45 plus processing fees and provides access to the Hotel and Exhibitor Hall for the entire weekend, as well as the Mr. MAL Contest on Sunday. The Single Day Pass is $20 plus processing fees and allows access to the Hotel and Exhibitor Hall on either Friday or Saturday. The Sunday Day Pass is $30 plus processing fees and includes access to the Hotel and Exhibitor Hall on Sunday, along with entry to the Mr. MAL Contest. To purchase your pass online visit at sickening.events/e/mal-weekend-2025/tickets or at the hotel’s entrance.Ā
To get in an elevator up to a hotel room a staff member will check for a hotel room wristband. Non-registered guests can only access host hotel rooms if they are escorted by a registered guest with a valid wristband. Registered guests are permitted to escort only one non-registered guest at a time. Non-registered guests with a wristband who are already in the hotel before 10 p.m. may remain until midnight. However, non-registered guests without a wristband will not be admitted after registration closes.

The Exhibit Hall is located on the ballroom level below the lobby. This year is slated to have 29 exhibitors selling leather and kink goods that range from harnesses to jockstraps and everything in between. The Exhibit Hall will be open on Friday from 4-10 p.m., on Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Back by popular demand, DC Health is partnering with Nasty Pig to provide preventative health services including MPox vaccines, Doxy PEP, HIV Testing, Narcan kits, and Fentanyl test strips. Their booth with these services will be available on Friday from 3-10 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Capital Room B (located behind the north tower elevators next to Room A).
Also on Friday, the Centaur MC is holding its Welcome Reception from 6-8 p.m. on the ballroom floor. After the Centaurās Welcome Reception, there will be an International Mister Rubber (IMR) Social from 8-11 p.m. in Congressional Room A.
Friday nightās dance party KINETIC UNCUT XL will be at REPUBLIQ Hall (2122 24th Place, N.E.) and has been billed as ālargest and most debaucherous MAL event yetā with a ālabyrinth of play zonesā and two dance floors. DJ and adult film creator James Anthony kicks off the night and then allows for you to choose where to dance ā either in room 1 with DJ Alex Ramos playing tribal beats or room 2 with DJ and adult creator Boomer Banks playing a tech house set. The dance party goes from 10-4 a.m. so make sure those boots are shined and ready to move.
On Saturday MAL will host its annual Puppy Mosh in Regency Ballroom C from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. During the Mosh, pups and their handlers can enjoy a playful puppy playdate while immersing themselves in pup culture. There are strict rules surrounding the Puppy Mosh. The Mosh Monitor has final say and has the right to eject anyone from the Puppy Park for violating the rules. For the full set of Puppy Mosh rules visit leatherweekend.com/puppy-park-rules/.Ā
Immediately following the Puppy Mosh the Super Hero Meet-Up will be held in Capital Room A from 1:30- 3 p.m., where cosplayers and comic book enthusiasts can gather for an erotic meetup celebrating a rendezvous of capes, curves, and vibrant spandex.
From 2-6 p.m. on Saturday, the Onyx Fashion Show will take place in Congressional Rooms A & B for people of color to highlight Black brilliance in leather.
The Leather Cocktail Party that started it all will be held 7-10 p.m. in the Regency Ballroom. Only those with the Full Package Pass can attend and are encouraged to show off their leather and kink fantasy.
The Leather Cocktail Party isnāt the only cocktail party happening on Saturday; from 9-11 p.m., the MAL Cocktail Party will be in Congressional Room B for other MAL attendees to mingle and get a drink.
The last event of Saturday is the KINETIC and MatinĆ©e Groupās PERVERT XXL dance party. Beginning at 10 p.m., this will mark the first time that a dance party on MAL Weekendās Saturday night is an official MAL event. The dance is at A.I. Warehouse in Northeast (address TBA) and has a slew of talent for the celebration. Gigi Goode from āRuPaulās Drag Raceā will āwhip the crowd into submissionā as DJs from around the world, including Erik Vilar (Brazil), Eliad Cohen (Israel), and Paulo (Los Angeles) play non-stop beats all night long (or at least until 4 a.m. when the party ends). In addition to drag royalty and internationally acclaimed DJs, the dance is held in a multi-level warehouse in Northeast D.C. complete with immersive lights, lasers, and play zones.
On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Mr. MAL Contest will be held in the Regency Ballroom. This highly sought after title gives one man the power to become the Mid-Atlantic Leather man of the year. The sash and title come with some requirements though: 1. You must be male, 2. You must be a resident of North America, 3. Must be at least 21 years of age, and 4. You must self-identify as gay. Additionally, if you enter, you must be prepared to represent the title as a contestant in the International Mr. Leather (IML) Contest in Chicago on Memorial Day Weekend 2025. Currently the list of applicants has hit its limit but if you are interested and can meet the criteria you can email [email protected] to be put on a standby list.
From 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday, MAL will hold its Game Night in Capital Rooms A & B.
Last, but certainly not least, the final event and dance party of the weekend is the KINETIC LUST party, the perfectly sensual and sexy way to end MAL 2025. The party goes from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. as Grammy-nominated Abel and DJ Sam Blacky will end your weekend right with ādark, sexy beats and pulse-pounding rhythmsā as erotic porn star performances and exclusive play zones are explored.
Each day of MAL a Recovery Meeting will be held in the Yosemite Room (located on the conference level/ second floor) from 10-11 p.m. with an additional session on Saturday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. to provide a safe space for anyone who is struggling with addiction or for anyone who needs to take a sober step away from the weekend’s events.
All weekend there will also be a Bootblack station where MAL attendees can get any leather goods cleaned and polished. The money donated to the Bootblacks for their work helps raise money for a local charity (that changes each year) and to cover the Mr. MAL travel fund. Donāt forget to tip.

Even though the weekend is called the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend, leather is not required. There are some rules regarding outfits though. All expressions of kink are encouraged. Attendees in years past have worn everything from leather to rubber, to furries and even regular street clothes. Just make sure that they abide by the hotelās dress code rules ā in publicly accessible spaces (lobby, hallways, ballrooms, exhibit halls), nudity is not allowed. Men may walk around the hotel shirtless, in a jock, or in chaps with a jock. Women are not permitted to be shirtless or have their nipples exposed. If you are dining, your buttocks must be covered, and at least a vest must be worn.
Please note that all events are 21+ and require an ID check, including every day of events at the Hyatt Regency host hotel. Please make sure you bring your photo ID. Also note that all MAL āFull Weekend Packageā pass holders have access to the LUST Sunday Closing Party.
For any additional information on official MAL weekend events and policies, please visit leatherweekend.com or kineticpresents.com.Ā
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