Last Year’s Dyke Invasion at MAL — Photo by Kristin Horgen
“Left, left, left, right, left.”
It’s time to join the Dyke Army, it’s time to lay siege to the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend (MAL). The Dyke Army will march through the doors of the Hyatt Regency on January 17, led by the great Sir Jackie Thompson (also known as the “General”), where you will be ordered to shake what your momma gave you and tear up that dance floor. Last year over 30 recruits attended this weekend of fun, and now even more are being asked to come out and take over the Highwaymen TNT’s ‘GEAR UP!’ party. The organizers want to see you in your best attire whether that means a sexy school girl outfit, a dynamite leather catsuit, a wrestling singlet, or a military uniform, whatever makes you sizzle!
I know what you’re thinking, “What the heck is the Dyke Army?” According to the General, the Dyke Army is, “Fun. Kinky. Dyke. Lesbian.” It is her attempt at creating a lesbian leather community in Washington, D.C. After starting one group for women and trans folk, Sir Jackie decided that it just was not as social as she would like it to be. So, with a little push from her girlfriend, General Babygirl, the Dyke Army was born. Overall, Sir Jackie just wanted to help create a space and community for the leather dykes and femmes because currently there is not such a space for them within the LGBT community.
The Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend Reunion is not the only plans that the Dyke Army has in store for this year. Sir Jackie also hopes to get more activities off the ground including a barbeque, shows at Wolf Trap, poker nights, and even a few paintball games. The goal is to have more women’s nights at the newly relocated DC Eagle.
So how do you join this Dyke Army? It’s easy, anyone can be a private by attending any of the Dyke Army events, but getting your dog tags and ranking up is a bit more difficult. In order to be a First Sargent you have to work tirelessly in the Dyke Army helping at the events and promoting them too. To become a Corporal, you have one of two ways to help get those tags around your neck. You can either tell a story to the group, but this isn’t your run of the mill story; this is one that turns everybody on and gets their motors running. You need to set the scene, describe the characters, and the whole nine yards. So far only one person has been that good.
Do you think you have what it takes? You can also participate in-person where you and one other person perform a show that makes everyone hot and bothered. It could be dirty dancing, it could be a strip tease—you name it!
Whichever way you choose to get those tags, the decision is made by a committee and it’s a fun way to bring everyone together.
You’ve got your marching orders ladies! It’s time to enlist in the Dyke Army and have a rip-roaring good time at MAL. Let’s see if you can earn those dog tags.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1393753804210987/.
