Leather ‘n’ latex lads ‘n’ lassies off to Black ‘n’ Blue Ball tonight
By ROCHELLE SQUIRES, STAFF REPORTER
If you’re all dressed up in your favourite leather and latex outfit with no place to go, don’t despair. The longest running pansexual fetish club in Canada is right here in Winnipeg and it’s throwing a ball tonight.
“You can wear stuff here you can’t wear in an ordinary bar,” said Master Bryan, founder of the fetish club and organizer of the increasingly popular Black and Blue Balls, held several times a year in the basement of the Osborne Village Inn.
“We have people who are timid and show up in street clothes and people who want to show it all,” he said.
In keeping with provincial health guidelines, the dress code stipulates the anus and genitals have to be covered with at least a scrap of fabric, but otherwise, anything goes.
“There are people who have everything else uncovered and are happy about it. Sometimes it’s a young 19-year-old girl, and other times it’s a 68-year-old granny,” the fetish club founder said.
Being topless is permitted at the ball as the bar is licensed for strippers.
“We have a coat check where people can check their street clothes,” said Bryan, adding he recommends ball-goers keep their street clothes or a warm overcoat on until inside the basement of the Inn. “PVC clothing doesn’t keep you very warm in the winter and it cracks in the cold.”
NON-PVC SURCHARGE
Tickets can be bought at the door or in advance at Discreet Boutique, Love Nest, Lady Godiva boutique, The Crypt and the Osborne Village Inn. There is a surcharge for those who don’t plan on stripping down to their PVC undies, G-string panty or jockstrap at the ball.
“Jeans and T-shirts is not acceptable dress, and we’ll dig you an extra $30 at the door if you don’t come in fetish wear,” he said. “But if it’s a person’s first ball, we recommend they dress in something they’ll be comfortable in, like boxer shorts or a housecoat.”
People are encouraged to “dress to express their interest” and there is always lots of handcuffs and harnesses in the crowd, he said.
“Bondage is very big. In fact, one-third of all couples have experimented with some sort of bondage,” the ball master said, noting there will be a three-way rope-bondage demonstration held at 11:30 p.m.
Certain hard-and-fast rules apply at the ball though, he warned.
“Absolutely no cameras are allowed. We have everyone from doctors, lawyers and business executives attending the ball, and one click of a camera could ruin someone’s life,” he said. “We’ve even had, from time to time, members of the government attend a ball.”
Inappropriate touching is also forbidden.
“You cannot touch someone without permission. It’s all about respect. We really keep the creeps and dirty old men in line,” he said.
