April 30-May 3 The Charlotte Tradesmen’s Run—Trademark 41  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trademark-xli-tickets-1982713508477
May 2 North Carolina Leather Contest, South Carolina Leather Contest
Jun 6 Belmont NC Pride https://www.facebook.com/events/694689970372588/?ref_source=NEWS_FEED
Jun 6 The Charlotte Tradesmen Business Meeting and Bar Night/Leather Social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064857663724
Jun 27 The Leather Collective, Roundtable Discussion "The Pathway to Becoming Leather" and Social
July 10 EAGLE Asheville: CODE NIGHT  https://www.facebook.com/events/1437912867990553
July 11 The Charlotte Tradesmen Business Meeting and Bar Night/Leather Social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064857663724
July 17-19 Tarheel Leather Club’s Run—Stars and Stripes  https://www.facebook.com/TarheelLeatherClub
July 24-25 Atlanta Leather Pride
July 24-25 Atlanta Eagle Contests--Mr, Ms, Mx Atlanta Eagle and Atlanta Eagle Rubber, Judging
Aug 1 House of Mercy Annual Cookout and Celebration (by invitation)
Aug 1 The Charlotte Tradesmen Business Meeting and Bar Night/Leather Social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064857663724
Aug 9 & 12 Hanging Out Naked with Papa Jeff
Aug 15 Charlotte Pride, Honor Guard, Opening Ceremony https://charlottepride.org
Aug 16 Charlotte Pride, Honor Guard, Parade, with the NC Leather Contingency https://charlottepride.org
August 21-30 Gay Naturist International’s GNI Gathering  https://www.gaynaturists.org/
August 26-27 Poconos Eagle Leather Contest  https://www.poconoeagle.org/
Sep 5 The Charlotte Tradesmen Business Meeting and Bar Night/Leather Social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064857663724
Sep 11-13 First Coast Leather Society Run https://www.metropoliscomplex.com/firstcoastleather.html
Sep 20 & 23 Hanging Out Naked with Papa Jeff
Sept 25-27 Columbia Leather Order’s Run  https://www.facebook.com/events/3045378929000671
Oct 3 The Charlotte Tradesmen Business Meeting and Bar Night/Leather Social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064857663724
Oct 9 EAGLE Asheville Leather Social and Hanky Party https://www.facebook.com/events/2798694357198407/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D]%7D
Oct 24 The Leather Collective, Roundtable Discussion "Leather and Kink" and Social https://fetlife.com/events/2026/10/24/the-leather-collective-meet-greet-erhs7l
Nov 7 The Charlotte Tradesmen Business Meeting and Bar Night/Leather Social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064857663724
Nov 13 EAGLE Asheville: CODE NIGHT https://www.facebook.com/events/2352161531950930/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D]%7D
Nov 14 Mr SELF's Leather GayBingo Night, sponsored table https://www.gaybingoclt.org/
Nov 27 CLO's Black LEATHER Friday with Papa Jeff
Dec 1 World AIDS Day Luncheon, House of Mercy HIV/AIDS Resource Center, speaker https://www.thehouseofmercy.org/events
Dec 5 House of Mercy HIV/AIDS Resource Center Annual Holiday Party (by invitation)
Dec 5, The Charlotte Tradesmen Business Meeting and Bar Night/Leather Social https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064857663724
Dec 11 EAGLE Asheville Social and Leather Jacket Party https://www.facebook.com/events/1426758119600526/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D]%7D

accordion  May 2026 Column}

 “Thank you!” Two powerful words for me, overflowing with meaning and emotion… My experiences leading up to the weekend with SouthEast LeatherFest could not have happened without the literal army of people who walked by my side, held me up, supported and encouraged me, and loved me through it all.

This piece of my journey began way back in 2003 when Dick Gray was SouthEast Leather Sir. He modeled a titleholder serving the community, giving back, and pointing the way to the future. His influence way back then led me to say that one day I wanted to stand on the SELF stage.

Over the years, I stayed connected with my Leather club, The Charlotte Tradesmen; but much of my work in the Leather community was behind the scenes and in the shadows, watching others from the fringe. This was mostly due to working for one of my area’s most conservative employers. I could not keep my job and be a voice representing our Leather and Fetish communities. Now that I am retired and have been reconnecting with friends and Leather clubs across the Carolinas and beyond, and I have again found my voice. Last summer I was asked to stand in the gap and fill the vacant title slot for the North Carolina Leather Contest.

And this year, twenty-three years later, my dream of standing on the SELF stage became a reality. Back in December I began preparing for this year’s Mr SELF 2026 contest. The process required much self-reflection. Some things I discovered about myself needed to be improved, others were good and needed to be embraced. I’m growing and I’m changing, and I hope I never stop. I’m learning that I am enough. I’m learning that while I still have much to learn, I have much to give and to share, too.

As I continued preparing, at times I was terrified and was ready to quit. But my army stood with me and we advanced together, because we were connected. There were notes, emails, texts, calls, and personal conversations that kept me strong. Old friends and people I just met during events were constantly encouraging me and building me up. You made a difference.

That Saturday night, standing backstage with PuddlePrincess waiting for the winners to be announced, I thought how lucky to share this night (and now, this year) with my title sibling. She is amazing. And I thought how blessed I am to have so many in my corner. My head was racing and thinking of all who had helped me get to that point. When they called my name and I walked onto the stage, in my heart I was sharing that moment with every one of you.

Saying thank you seems like it is not enough to express all that is in my heart. From the first moment, I have been supported by my Leather club, The Charlotte Tradesmen. I could not have done this without them. During the contest week there was the entire SouthEast LeatherFest Staff, Board, and another army of volunteers doing so much to make this event happen—the contest staff, our judging panel who gave so much, our Den Mafia, our emcees, tally mistresses, judge liaison, technical and stage crew.

Thank you to those who donated to my seven (yes, seven) auction baskets and who donated items for the auctions, to those who bid, and to those who bought raffle tickets. Thank you for supporting our travel fund. Thank you to so many individuals who helped along the way, those who advised and mentored, my fantasy performers, and my fabulous handlers (especially Jennifer).

Thank you. From the depths of my heart, I want each of you to know how much I appreciate, value, and love you. I could not be where I am today without you.

What’s next? May 1-3 I will be connecting with friends at The Tradesmen’s Run and the North Carolina Leather Contest and the South Carolina Leather Contest. Then, I will be connecting with folks at EAGLE Asheville’s Code Night, The Tarheel Leather Club’s Run, and Atlanta Leather Pride. If you are at any of these events, please say “Hello.” I love making these connections.

Connected and together in Leather,
Papa Jeff Tanglewood

June 2026

Everyone knows it takes an army to be a successful titleholder. Indulge me while I shine the spotlight on a few of those who have made it possible for me to be your Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest 2026 (SELF). This is the first of a series of posts that will highlight the dedication and hard work of those who have made this possible for me.

Today I want to shine the spotlight on three individuals who spent months working behind the scenes to ensure I was ready to walk onto the SouthEast LeatherFest stage in Atlanta on April 11, 2026 — my contest handlers, Jennifer Orange Rensi, Cissy Cat, and Relly Prospect.

 JENNIFER ORANGE RENSI is well known throughout the SouthEast and beyond. As Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2015, Jennifer is known as rowdy, loud, in charge, and well-loved. What many don’t know is she is also ordered, detail-oriented, meticulous, patient, giving, compassionate, and solutions-focused. She is a wordsmith, helping edit my speech, introduction, and my application documents. Always moving, always thinking, always processing, she stayed many steps ahead of the tasks at hand and made my life so much easier. She advised on wardrobe choices and taught me how to organize everything ahead of time so that contest night flowed smoothly through more costume changes than a Cher concert. Through it all, she was always level-headed (even when I was not) and was right there with the exact right thing to say or do to assure me all was going to be alright. Jennifer, I was blessed to have you along for the ride, but especially to have you backstage with me. Thank you for everything. I love you, Sis.

CISSY CAT is a bastion of calm in our sea of organized chaos. Quiet, always involved, always helping, and when she spoke up, her wisdom was exactly what we needed at the moment. Working tirelessly from behind the scenes, Cissy Cat is a problem solver from the start. From her perspective as Ms. Southern Coastal Leather 2017, with every snag or snafu, she knew exactly what we needed to do to fix things. And when we were smart enough to listen, her solutions worked! Her heart overflows with peaceful compassion. Her gentle spirit brings calm and builds confidence. But don’t let her gentle side fool you, when needed she can take charge and lead with the best. She is the best! And I was blessed to have her on our team. We need more like her! Thank you, Cissy Cat, I love you!

RELLY PROSPECT was my right arm in so many ways! What an asset! If there is a need, turn it over to Relly and he will find a solution. Early on, he joined the team and he never stopped giving. Mostly working in the background and informed from his years as Mr. North Carolina Leather 2019-2024, he intuitively knew to be working on solutions before the problems were clearly identified. He listened (and listened and listened) to me as I hammered out responses to application questions and wrote speeches that were way too long. Insightful actions and edits were always forthcoming. Relly set up an early pre-contest photo shoot for me in Atlanta and loaned me several accessory items to supplement my wardrobe. (I think I’ve returned them all.) We met for three-hour coffee stops and too many long, late-night phone calls. Sharing a room during the week of the contest was more like sharing a rehearsal studio. We hammered and hammered my intro and speech late into the night until the words in my head matched the feelings in my heart. What a blessing to have someone like this on our team. Thank you, Relly! I love you, brother.

These are three of the army that helped me find success on the SouthEast LeatherFest 2026 stage. There will be more posts to follow, putting more folks In the Spotlight!

July 1, 2026.
Twelve weeks ago, I was stepping on stage in Atlanta. And now, I am stepping forth to serve our region and the people in it. One of my goals for my year as your Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest 2026 (SELF) is to travel throughout the ten-state region serving as an ambassador for SELF and for the Leather and Fetish communities. I want to connect with as many people and organizations as possible. I want to encourage, empower, strengthen, and support them. And I want to personally grow from my times with them.

Five days after SELF, I drove to Florida for my first ever cruise. On board ship that week there were three LGBTQ+ mixers; and I learned my Mr. SELF 2026 medallion was a great tool for opening the door to talk about the Contest, SELF, and Leather and Fetish life in general. One in-depth conversation with a young man might be leading to a new pledge for ONYX Carolinas.  I also repped SELF in port (and swam) on three Caribbean islands and had several interesting conversations about Leather on each of the islands.

Three weeks after the Contest at SELF, I was at the Charlotte Tradesmen’s Run, Trademark 41. Looking back, my first Leather Run was at Trademark 15, in 2000. Some of the people who were at Trademark this year I’ve seen year after year, and it was wonderful to reconnect. It was equally great to make new connections with new friends. After serving as the Leather ambassador for the North Carolina Leather Contest for the previous year, that Saturday evening I stepped aside as Mr. NC Leather 2025. And I was privileged to sash your North Carolina Person of Leather 2026, Garou. What a privilege to see the cycle continue.

The next week, on May 8, my super-active life ground to a halt as I had major abdominal surgery, and I began to truly learn the importance of self-care. Recovery was difficult and painful, and still is. I realized I had no choice but to slow down, listen to my doctors and, most importantly, listen to my body. It’s been nearly eight weeks, my surgeon is pleased, and he tells me I should be fully recovered in about six more months.

On June 6, my first social outing after the surgery was for our second annual Belmont Pride celebration here in my hometown with about 300-400 participants. No leathers, but I wore my Mr. SELF 2026 medallion. It’s always good for starting conversations. There is virtually no open Leather presence in our small town, so I chose my words wisely, focusing on the educational aspects of what we do – life skills, relational dynamics, and so on. That night I went to the Charlotte Tradesmen’s monthly Bar Night and Leather Social. It was great being surrounded by Leather family and friends.

Being with my Leather family always recharges my batteries. It’s an even better treat when it comes by accident. On July 24 I met Flossie, Ms. SouthEast LeatherFest 2013, for lunch. What a surprise when Dan and Melissa, SouthEast Master & slave 2011, come into the same restaurant. Neither of us had seen them for years. We had a mini-reunion and made plans to catch up soon.

Last Saturday, June 27, I was privileged to gather with The Leather Collective for a potluck dinner and social time, followed by a Roundtable Discussion on “The Pathway to Becoming Leather.” There was a well-rounded group of long-time traditional Leather folx who shared our stories of how we came into the Leather and Fetish communities. As we continued, every person there participated in the discussion, asking and answering questions and learning from one another – well-experienced folx and those who were relatively new to the community. This evening was absolutely delightful.

These three months have been a great start for my title year. I have been welcomed by many across our Leather and Fetish communities, from folx I have known for years. to those I was acquainted with, to new friends. And I have been pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome I have received in the broader, non-leather, gay community and in local communities at large. People have asked questions and have held conversations – true connections on every front.

As I continue to heal, I’m slowly getting back on the road. Shorter trips in the next few weeks building up to longer junkets in weeks to come. Below is a list of upcoming events, including EAGLE Asheville’s CODE Night, Atlanta Leather Pride and the contests at the Atlanta EAGLE, Gay Naturist International’s The Gathering and the Poconos EAGLE Leather Contest. If you are at any of these events, please say “Hello.” I love making these connections.

Connected and together in Leather,
Papa Jeff Tanglewood

COMING SOON…
More details included in my Calendar of Events on the SELF website.
July 10, 2026 – EAGLE Asheville: CODE Night, Asheville NC
July 11, 2026 – Tradesmen Bar Night and Leather Social, Charlotte NC
July 17-19, 2026 – Tarheel Leather Club’s Run, Greensboro NC
July 18, 2026 – Carolinas BootBlack Contest
July 24-25, 2026 – Atlanta Leather Pride and Mr, Ms, Mx, & Rubber Atlanta Eagle Contests
August 1, 2026 – House of Mercy Annual Cookout (by invitation), Belmont NC
August 1, 2026 – Tradesmen Bar Night and Leather Social, Charlotte NC
August 15, 2026 – Charlotte Pride, Opening Ceremony Honor Guard, Charlotte NC
August 16, 2026 – Charlotte Pride, Parade Honor Guard, with Tradesmen & NC Leather Contingent, Charlotte NC
August 21-30 – Gay Naturist International’s The Gathering, Stroudsburg PA
August 26-27 – Poconos Eagle Leather Contest, Stroudsburg PA

October 1, 2026
Six months ago I was stepping on stage in Atlanta—how time flies! And now I am continuing my journey to serve our region and the people in it. As I said in my last column, one of my goals for my year as your Mr. SouthEast LeatherFest 2026 (SELF) is to travel throughout our ten-state region. While serving as an ambassador for SELF and for the Leather and Fetish communities, I want to connect with as many people and organizations as possible. I want to encourage, empower, strengthen, and support them. And I want to personally grow from my times with them.

Over the last three months I have been able to travel more than earlier. I am still healing from my surgery, but the doctor says he is pleased and all is recovering well. On July 10, I was able to join the pop-up EAGLE Asheville for their CODE Night. Great group, and great connections. No phones allowed, so we had to get a quick pic before they opened the doors.  And there were at least two possible SELF contestants there that night. Quick trip up and back to be home the next day for the Tradesmen’s monthly business meeting, Leather Social and Bar Night.

The Tarheel Leather Club’s (TLC) annual run was July 17-19, and we had a delightful time. TLC are great hosts and they know how to throw a party. There was a large SELF contingency there to join in. And as a bonus, I got some quality time with Lady D. On Saturday, Willie Leatherman won the Carolinas BootBlack Contest (CBCC). The next weekend, July 23-27 was Atlanta Leather Pride and the Atlanta EAGLE contests. What an honor to be asked to be part of the judges’ panel for this fun event. Four great winners earned their place and will represent the Leather and Fetish communities well. 

August 1 brought one of the highlights of my year, the House of Mercy Cookout, sponsored by the Tradesmen and supported by this year’s 24-member Leather Contingency from across the Carolinas. Each year we host a cookout with burgers, hot dogs, all the trimmings, sides, and desserts you can imagine. Our guests of honor each year are the clients from House of Mercy and their guests, along with the staff and volunteers. We go to share love and support, but I always leave recharged, refreshed, and renewed. Later that night we had the Tradesmen’s business meeting, Leather Social and Bar Night.

Charlotte Pride was August 15 & 16. I was honored to represent SELF as the Tradesmen once again provided the Honor Guard, posting seven flags for the Opening Ceremony on Saturday. Afterwards, a group of us walked through the Pride grounds and talked with vendors and all the wonderful people there. On Sunday, for the Parade Honor Guard we added folx from Maison de Cuir (House of Leather) and The House of the Hydra and had a contingency of 14 Leather folx wearing Leather, carrying flags, and representing our community.  It was especially meaningful to share this day with Garou, North Carolina Person of Leather 2026. 

August brought another amazing experience. I was at Gay Naturist International’s (GNI) Gathering in Pennsylvania—ten days with 500 naked gay men. Such a freeing and healing time. Even after all the weight loss, I still struggle with body dysmorphia. But being totally me, totally accepted, and totally welcomed healed my heart and my soul soared.  I have been a naturist for most of my life. To be honest, as I got heavier, I pulled back from participating in nude events as much and I had missed it. Over the past couple of years, I reconnected with that part of my life. GNI’s Gathering gave me the opportunity to mix two of my favorite things, being naked and Leather. Being there brought me back to the class I taught at SELF this year: Leather—The Naked Truth where we explored that Leather is more than the gear we layer on, it is the HEART within (Honor, Empowerment, Accountability, Respect, and Trust). Two highlights for me… First, I’ve always loved the water, and I got to participate in a Merman class and learned to navigate the pool with a beautiful blue Merman tail.  Second, I was honored to judge the Mr Pocono EAGLE Leather contest. Four terrific contestants participated and we selected Tim Strannix as the Leather ambassador for the Pocono EAGLE and the GNI Naturist community. I met some amazing folx, and I’m already making plans for next summer’s trip.

September brought the Tradesmen’s meeting and Leather Social and Bar Night, two Runs, and another round of Hanging Out Naked men’s gatherings. September 11-13 was Jacksonville’s First Coast Leather Society’s Run, “K’um Get Lei’d.” It was a smaller group, but what a great opportunity for some solid fellowship and loads of fun. On both Friday and Saturday nights, as Mr SELF 2026, I hosted their Hot Ash Cigar parties and had the privilege of helping several newbies enjoy one of their first cigars. That’s always fun and rewarding. On Saturday, I hosted a cocktail party and served Papa Jeff’s Piggy Punch and the Last Shots of Summer. Two weeks later, Columbia Leather Order’s Run brought the community back together for a wonderful weekend of “Back to School” fun and fellowship. Friday night the Tradesmen hosted a cocktail party and Headmaster Father Jeff showed up trying (to no avail) to reign in the antics. Leather Runs are always so rejuvenating and energizing!

What’s next? In the next nine months I want to travel into more of our region. I would love to have the opportunity for significant interchange with the Leather and Fetish communities in each of the ten states in the region. If your group has an event coming up, let me know and we can try to connect. I’m available for teaching and demos (I’ll need to borrow a bottom), roundtable discussions, and more. I enjoy borrowing guest rooms and couches and having some quality time with my hosts.

I love making connections with my Leather and Fetish community. If you see me at events, please come say “Hello!”

Connected and Together in Leather,
Papa Jeff Tanglewood
Mr North Carolina Leather 2025
Mr SouthEast LeatherFest 2026

A Few Upcoming Calendar Highlights
More events and details are listed in my Events Calendar on the SELF website.
– October 9, EAGLE Asheville Leather Social and Hanky Party, Asheville NC
– October 24 The Leather Collective, Roundtable discussion on “Leather and Kink”, Lexington SC
– November 27 Columbia Leather Order’s Black Leather Friday with Papa Jeff (toy drive)
– December 1 World’s AIDS Day Luncheon, House of Mercy, speaker
– December 5 House of Mercy annual Holiday Party (by invitation)