Uniting Diversity

Well, yesterday was the final day of Pride.  I've gotten to the point where Gay Pride doesn't mean that much to me anymore.  Yeah, it's great that our rights are now recognized throughout the USA. Now no one can stop those who wish to join in a marriage union.

Yes, our country has moved a big step forward. I hope the next hurdle, which will takes years to overcome, is to rid society of bigotry. I know this won't ever happen in my lifetime. With knowing how much many individuals were brainwashed from those who influenced us throughout our lives. Growing up with hatred for others due to their religion, nationality or their difference from yourself. It wasn't until I joined the Army when I finally got to meet a wide variety of individuals who I was taught to hate - but instead, I liked them for the person I know.

From the time I was a child, I was taught to hate those who were not like the rest of my biological family. I learned it was okay to like those who believed in a christian religion and everyone who was the same ethnicity. From my parents and brothers it was pounded into my head that those who were not of the same race, those who were not of christian faith, those who had a disability of any sort and those who were not of the same orientation as the rest of my family; were undesirables, outcasts and should be shunned or belittled.

From being in the Army, I'm grateful for meeting some of the most interesting individuals who taught me a new perspective on people. I've learned to be a whole different person, understanding of those who I don't know and not to judge individuals I know nothing about. I'm happy to have a wide variety of friends.

If it wasn't for taking the initiative to better myself, I would have been stuck in the backwards thought process which was imbedded in my mind. Every year as Pride comes and goes, everyone can see the various of individuals which come together to share the celebration in unity.  The diversity of everyone brings us all together, uniting individuals as one.  We are all people with the same common goal, to be accepted as the individuals we are, recognize to be and have become. Hopefully society as a whole can learn from the Pride celebration every year. It doesn't matter what religion, political views, ethnicity, one's differences or how one looks; we are all people and want to be accepted for the person we are, not for what one sees or has been taught about others who are different from yourself.

Camp Hard Wood's Leather Days Event 2015

I had an awesome time working on the Camp Hard Wood's Leather Days Event.  Once the entire event was done - I was so pooped, I slept for a whole day. I've really pleased with the amount of hours we had worked on organizing, distribution of fliers and posters, marketing and coordinating the sponsors, demonstrators and spokesman; the event was a great success.

I had such a great feeling once the weekend was finally over. Knowing that all the organizing, coordinating and delegating paid off.  Seeing as this was our first event as Camp Hard Wood, all of us who are on the board need to better organize ourselves so not all aspects of the event fall one a few person's shoulders and carrying the burden of a majority tasks.

Now with our first Leather Days Event is over, it's time to start working on assorted demonstrators, vendors and sponsors for the 2016 Leather Days Event. Time never sits still! I've been working on assorted things for Camp Hard Wood's Sex Gaymes Event August 27 - 30. There are a few guys already signed up for Sex Gaymes and I hope we have as good or a better turn out than the Leather Days Event.

I was very pleased with one of the volunteers from Leather Days - Eric Adams. He is a hobbyist photographer.  I'm glad we were able to add him onto our list of volunteers to help with each one of Camp Hard Wood's events for the remainder of this year and for years to come. His talents are well appreciated by everyone.  You can see his work at Camp Hard Wood's Leather Days 2015 on camphardwood.com.

The Leather Days Event wouldn't have been a success if it wasn't for the help from Joshua Conrade. If it wasn't for him and all his efforts, Leather Days wouldn't have been so successful.