Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on LGBT Discrimination in the Workplace On October 8, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in what promises to be a landmark case that determines whether LGBT employees can be legally fired simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Three cases from New York, Georgia, and Michigan—Altitude Express, Inc. vs. Zarda, Bostock vs. Clayton County, Georgia, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. vs. Equal Employment Opportunity Commis-
sion—have been working their way through the federal court system and form the nucleus of the oral arguments the Court will hear in October. At issue is Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on sex. Bostock, a social worker, was fired after his employer learned he had joined a gay softball league. Aimee Stephens, an embalmer in Michigan, was fired for being transgender. Zarda,
a skydiving instructor in New York, also fired for being gay, has since died. Court observers are divided in their predictions of how the Court will rule. Since the departure of Justice Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts has become the bench’s centrist. Trump’s two appointments to the Court—Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh—have tilted the Court to the right with conservatives enjoying a 5—4 majority. The Trump adminis-
tration has previously argued Title VII doesn’t cover anti-LGBT discrimination and has filed a “Friend-of-the-Court” brief arguing employers have a right to discriminate against LGBT employees. According to the Washington Blade, “the ruling will affect all federal laws barring discrimination on the basis of sex, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Fair Housing Act.”
Lords of Leather Decadence 2019 Events The Lords of Leather once again have a full weekend of activities planned for visitors to Southern Decadence. On Friday night August 30 the Lords will take their turn pouring beer from the beer truck at the Phoenix Block Party from 10 pm until 1 am. All for just a $5.00 buy-in with $1.00 refills and all the eye-candy you can handle!! Woof! The Lords’ annual “Decadent Behavior” Party takes place on Saturday August 31 from 1 pm until 4 pm at the
Phoenix. This exercise in debauchery includes three hours of daytime fun in the newly remodeled upstairs area with open bar (domestic beer and well drinks), a complimentary “coat” check and the sexy bartender staff of the Phoenix! Get tickets now as this party will sell out! Advance tickets are $50, tickets at the door will be $60 if available. Saturday night August 31 a new Mr. Louisiana Leather 2020 will be sashed. The annual Lords of Leather sponsored Gulf Coast Area contest will
take place at Siberia Lounge at 2227 St. Claude Avenue at 7 pm. The winner will advance to the International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago in May of 2020. Come out to see these hot leathermen compete for the title while being scored by a “who’s who in the leather community” panel of judges, including the current Mr. International Leather winner Jack Thompson of Baltimore! Other judges will be Kinky (Kupcake) of New Orleans, Pup Tag! From Houston , James the “Otown Kinkster” of Orlando and our reigning Mr. Louisiana
Leather Sir Eric Michael, now of Chicago. VIP reserved tickets are $25 and general admission $15. Tickets for the Decadent Behavior Party and Mr. Louisiana Leather Contest are available from ticketleap at https://mystic-krewe-of-lords-of-leather.ticketleap.com/lords-of-leather-decadent-behavior-party/ and https://mystic-krewe-of-lords-of-leather.ticketleap. com/mr-louisiana-leather-2020-contest/
Jack Thompson, IML winner 2019 to judge local contest The Mystic Krewe of Lords of Leather is pleased to announce that Jack Thompson, International Mr. Leather 2019 will be headlining the judging panel at the Mr. Louisiana Leather 2020 Contest on August 31. Besides winning the coveted title in Chicago in May, Jack, also known as Exile ONYX is a widely respected leather craftsman, performer and wolf. He has been active in the leather community for 15 years being one of the founding fathers of ONYX Northwest and a current member of ONYX Mid-Atlantic. He also founded the Rebel Kings drag king troupe of Baltimore. Jack is a member of Alameda Leather Corp. and served as board secretary of Queer Sphere in San Francisco. In 2018, jack represented Mr. May in the Bare Chest calendar and became 2019 Leatherman of Color. A proud biracial, transgender, HIV-positive leatherman, Jack lives in Baltimore with his husband, IMBB 2019 and IML 1st runner-up Geoff Millard. His company, Exiled Leather, specializes in leather accessories such as hanky wallets, harnesses and suspenders. He flags black and navy on the right, light pink and Kelly green on the left and houndstooth down the middle. Our other judges Kinky (Kupcake) is a Mississippi raised Southern girl who now calls Louisiana home. She is the Alpha slave/ girl of her Master /Daddy Mr. Cannibal. She travels nationally and represents the Kink/Leather groups as alterna-
tive lifestyle organizations. Currently the President of New Orleans Girls of Leather Kupcake is a dedicated family member of the Edgewalkers tribe. A New Orleans native and Houston transplant, Pup Tag! Is the South’s resident good boy and current reigning SouthernMost Puppy. Before his move he was Vice-President of New Orleans Pups and Handlers and is in the process of joining the Bayou City Pups in Houston. James the “Otown Kinkster” is proudly serving as Mr. Florida Rubber 2019. He is also the founder and current president of Orlando Kinksters and the contest coordinator for Mr. GayDays leather. A fulltime teacher and the Artistic Director of the Orlando Gay Chorus, James is a proud member of the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago and an avid supporter of OnePulse Foundation. Sir Eric Michael, originally from Massachusetts by way of Washington state and Florida, Sir Eric was Mr. Roundup (Pensacola) 2019 and Mr. Louisiana Leather 2019. Within the leather community he promotes a platform of acceptance, diversity and belonging for all participants. His outreach includes monthly Bear, Pup, Levi and Leather parties where inclusion is the main focus, allowing more women and pups to be involved. He hosts fundraisers for a local non-profit providing testing and education, and serves the Lords of Leather on a variety of community and charity projects. The Mr. Louisiana Leather 2020
contest will be held Saturday August 31 at 7 pm at the Siberia Lounge 2227
St. Claude Ave New Orleans, LA. Admission is $15 at the door.
www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · August 27 - September 9, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 9