Mid Atlantic Leather Weekend in Washington D.C. is without doubt, a must attend event for anyone in the leather/fetish community every year. The ongoing vibe of community, seeing old friends (and making new ones) and attending the various events is always the best way to kick off a New Year, as the event is held annually in January on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. While the events this year were memorable and plenty of memories and moments were shared, there is one occurrence that the community as a whole is mourning.
(Art Courtesy of Washington Blade/Michael Key)
On Sunday January 19th, an attendee of the MAL events passed away after suffering a heart attack. The attendee was pronounced dead at the scene, which was his room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. His identity has not been revealed at this time.
Art Courtesy of Washington Blade/Adam Hall
Rumors did abound that the man’s unfortunate passing at MAL was under more ominous circumstances (including one unverified story to the Washington Blade via email from a leather enthusiast in Florida who said he had found out through “social media” channels that four people associated with MAL events may have been arrested over the weekend and that the death was being “swept under the rug).” Fortunately, D.C. Police Lt. Brett Parson acknowledged that “there were no arrests related to anything involving MAL this weekend,” Parson said. “I am absolutely certain of that”.
Art Courtesy of Washington Blade (credits noted)