No matter what town you’re in, no matter what event, there’s always that person or persons looking to bitch about the accomplishments of others.

As soon as the winner of the Ms San Diego Leather contest was announced, people seemed to come out of the woodwork like cockroaches from the kitchen of a local fine-dining establishment to ruin the otherwise emotionally jovial mood of Leather Pride. It’s called “Leather Pride,” people!

LEATHER PRIDE! Try having some. Try showing some! Try, for once in your miserable, pathetic little lives, to enjoy the hard work of others! And, if that’s too much to ask, go back to the bin of trash you crawled out from under and let the rest of us enjoy “Leather Pride.”

For those of you who don’t know, Ms San Diego Leather was discontinued in 2005 because the sponsors, LeatherWoman Productions, were tired and burned out from producing a contest that got little support and made no money for their travel fund, charities etc. This year, for the first time, the Ms San Diego Leather Contest joined Leather Pride and was brought back to life.

The producers, Annie and Adam, worked extremely hard from July to the following March to re-establish the contest, and it was awesome! Annie, Adam and the committee – we could not be more proud of you! The gutless cockroaches that sit in the background and bitch about your accomplishments are just that, bitches – no matter what gender they are! They have no Leather Pride!

Leather Pride is a group of committee volunteers who work through their differences for nine months so that others can experience the true meaning of Leather Pride.

Leather Pride is those who face personal tragedy and loss but still do their part because they know – that you know – that they can be depended upon.

Leather Pride is the young woman who shaves her head and donates the money back to the Leather Pride charities so that she can experience personal growth and be a part of Leather Pride.

Leather Pride is the two women who stood on stage and said, “Yes, I want to be a part of the new generation of Ms San Diego Leathers.”

Leather Pride is Roadkill, who offers his home to men and women so they may learn about Leather Pride.

Leather Pride is the group of men who are following the examples of Leather Pride set by Buster, Dutch, Adam, Sam, Tom and others.

Leather Pride is the judges, tally masters and MCs who give their time so that we may have representatives of Leather Pride.

Leather Pride is the artists and businesses that we count on year after year so that we can have Leather Pride.

Leather Pride is the volunteers who work the door, set up, tear down, videotape, carry heavy stuff, arrange various activities and produce Leather Pride.

Leather Pride is the people who come out to support Leather Pride.

Leather Pride is Ms San Diego Leather 2007, Alissa Mae, whose goal is to rebuild the San Diego women’s community by producing an organized activity each month.

Leather Pride is Mr. San Diego Leather 2007, Lee Butler, who dreams big and has big plans for our community.

Congratulations to both of you and to those who competed with you. You are Leather Pride! These are the individuals, groups and businesses that made Leather Pride 2007 a moment in time to be proud of, and I am proud to be a part of your community.

Anyone who wants to know the true meaning of Leather Pride is welcome to join us. Anyone who would rather sit back and bitch, please join the other cockroaches. They’ll lead you to the next bin of trash.

Next up, L.A. Leather Week March 30 to April1.

You can write if you have comments or want to chat, but if you want to bitch – don’t bother! I don’t speak cockroach. inthepitsd@aol.com.