On Sunday, May 19th leaders of the area’s leather community and members of area leather clubs gathered at the District Chophouse and Brewery in downtown Washington, DC, to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the Highwaymen TNT. The intimate dinner party was held on the lower level of the bustling restaurant in a space that was once the original vault of the Second National Bank. The Highwaymen TNT club was founded in our nation’s capital in May 1978 with eight founding members and a platform of diversity and fun. Some of the founding members had been members of other leather clubs but wanted to start a new club that was a better fit for them. Not wanting to identify as a motorcycle club (MC) as many of the leather clubs had done, they called their club Highwaymen TNT with the “TNT” standing for “trash ’n’ travel.” They describe their group as a “trashy and fun bunch who love to travel.”
After a cocktail hour, Highwaymen TNT President Nelson Bennett welcomed the group and thanked everyone for coming out in full formal leather on what turned out to be the hottest day so far this year. Prior to dinner, he presented a few awards, including an award to ONYX Mid-Atlantic (which was recognized for its continued support of the Highwaymen TNT) and an honorary “Trash of the Year 2018” award to my dear friend and ONYX member Derrick Otter Starr. The Highwaymen TNT Member of the Year Award, the club’s highest honor, was presented to longtime club member Adrian Medina.
As they have for many years, the Highwaymen TNT call the DC Eagle their home bar and can be found behind the club bar every second Thursday of the month starting at 9 pm for their popular jockstrap night. Be sure to stick around until 11:30 for the Hot Jock Contest. The club is also well-known for their Impact Heroes Fetish Ball held each January on the Friday night of Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend. Learn more about the Highwaymen TNT by going to their website at Highwaymentnt.com or follow them on Facebook at: Highwaymen TNT of Washington, DC. Thank you, Highwaymen TNT, for 41 years of trashy fun!
The Highwaymen TNT’s anniversary was the third anniversary celebration I’ve attended in two months, but I’m already looking forward to another milestone celebration. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in Baltimore’s leather community without the annual 12 Days of Christmas extravaganza show put on by Hooker and Boys. This Baltimore-based club of hardworking leather folks will celebrate 20 years of service on Sunday, August 25th at 1 pm at the Clifton Pleasure Club (2803 Grindon Avenue, Baltimore). Hooker and Boys promises an afternoon of “food, fun, frolic, and fundraising.” I wouldn’t think of missing the 12 Days of Christmas show and there is no way I’m going to miss out on toasting 20 years of Hooker and Boys. The event is being held as part of the popular Mid-Atlantic Leather Woman and Leather Woman Bootblack Weekend. I’m sure it will be another historic gathering of the area’s leather community.
Author Profile
- Rodney is originally from Hagerstown, Maryland and for many years has lived in Baltimore. In April 2017, Rodney was sworn in for his 10th year as the President of the ShipMates Club of Baltimore. He has been involved in the leather community for many years, but often denies that he sold Jell-O shots at The Last Supper. He has been writing THE LEATHER LINE for the BALTIMORE OUTLOUD newspaper (Baltimoreoutloud.com.) for over fourteen years. He has produced the Mr. & Ms. Baltimore Eagle Contest and the Maryland LeatherSIR/Leatherboy Contest. In 2001 he was proud to serve as Maryland Mr. Drummer 2001. Rodney also does stand-up comedy and in 2013 was thrilled to perform at Philadelphia Leather Pride Night. He has been nominated multiple times for a Pantheon of Leather Award, was selected Leather Man of the Year in 2013 by COMMAND M.C. and by the Baltimore Leather Association of the Deaf in 2006. The 11th annual 12 Days of Christmas benefit show was dedicated to Rodney and his partner Sir Steve. He has been twice selected as ShipMate of the Year. He has judged Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2015, Atlantic States LeatherSIR / Leatherboy and recently judged Mr. Eagle NYC 2018. He is delighted to be able to bring news of his beloved leather community to his readers every issue.
