Philadelphia Lambda Club of the Deaf (PLCD) has been running since 1995. It celebrates quietly for its 12th anniversary.

In 1994, Ron Lord, the late owner of the Bike Stop in Philadelphia, planned to set up Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather 1994 Contest. The contest was sponsored by the Bike Stop. Ron requested Dennis Hart to help him by advertising to the Deaf Gay Community. Ron appointed one of his employees, Terry Versailles as the Executive Producer and Dennis as Assistant Producer.

The first Mr. Philadelphia Leather 1994 was held at the Bike Stop on November 1994. There was a big crowd attending. William Conley won the first title of Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather 1994. He also received his sash custom-made by the Bike Stop and trophy.

In 1995, Philadelphia Lambda Contests of the Deaf (PLCD) was founded by Dennis Hart. PLCD is a social organization for the diversity of deaf and hearing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered who identifies themselves as gay, lesbian, drag queen, leather, leatherboy, bear and cub in the region of metropolitan Philadelphia, surrounding counties around Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. Since the Bike Stop did not sponsor Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather contest any more, PLCD set up sponsoring Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather 1995 Contest in November 1995. Unfortunately, there were no contestants at the contest so that it was cancelled.

In 1996, PLCD expanded the Board when Carl Way and John Maxwell joined. Dennis Hart became the Executive Director, John Maxwell was appointed Secretary/Treasurer and Carl Way also was appointed Public Relations Chair. The board decided to change the deaf leather contest from annual to biannual.

The contest committee worked for the Leather Festival II contest held at the Bike Stop in November 1997. Rob Shanahan, of Washington, DC, won Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather 1998-99. PLCD had a new "carry-down" sash designed and created by Rob Shanahan.

During the year 1998, PLCD again expanded the Board as well as two new contests added. David Rink joined and was appointed Assistant Director. The new contest, Miss Philadelphia Deaf 1998-2000, was held at the Bike Stop in April 1998. David Rink won the first title of Miss Philadelphia Deaf 1998-2000. Later in May, David won the first title of Miss RER 1998-2000 at the Rainbow Eastern Region (RER) Conference in Baltimore, MD. So Carl Way, the first runner up to the Philadelphia deaf drag queen contest, received the tiara and title of Miss Philadelphia Deaf 1998-2000.

In November 1998, the first gay deaf contest was held at the Bike Stop. James Waters, of Rochester, NY, won the first title of Mr. Philadelphia Deaf 1999-2000.

In 1999, PLCD joined Rainbow Eastern Region as a new RER member chapter. PLCD added the biannual bear contest with the biannual leather contest. PLCD hosted the Leather and Bear III Contest at the gay community center called William Way Community Center in November. Mikey Krajnak, of Rhode Island, won the first title of Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Bear 2000-01. Dennis Hart won the title of Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather 2000-01. The attendance at the contest broke the record.

PLCD requested Carl Way if he would accept holding his title of Miss Philadelphia Deaf 1998-2000 for another two years as Miss Philadelphia Deaf 2000-02 because there were no contestants for the Miss Philadelphia Deaf 2000-02 Contest which was planned until the deadline and then was cancelled.

Dennis Hart was elected Lt. Governor and David Rink was appointed Secretary at RER 2000 Conference in Washington, DC in May 2000. RER was renamed Gay and Lesbian Association of the Deaf-East (GLAD-E).

During the year 2000, PLCD Bylaws was adopted. PLCD web site with Deaf Vision web host was set up to be built under construction. PLCD presented the first picnic held at Franklin D. Roosevelt Park in August. Also, the Dingo game was held at William Way Community Center. PLCD hosted the first bar night at the Bike Stop.

In 2001, David Rink won Miss RAD 2001-03 at the biannual Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD) Conference in Seattle. So PLCD had the bar night at the Bike Stop in July honoring for PLCD's new Miss RAD. In November, the Leather & Bear IV Contest was held at William Way Community Center. Nate Kern, of New Jersey, won the leather title and Ricky LaChance, of New Jersey, won the bear title.

The first gay pride marching group with a new banner was set up in June 2002. The group rented a flashy yellow convertible car which Miss RAD 2001-03 and Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Bear 2002-03 sat on the top of the rear seat. PLCD won the Most Marching Group-No Music trophy. David Rink gave his speech on the stage at the Pride Festival as Miss RAD.

In 2003, PLCD still held some bar nights at the Bike Stop. The Leather & Bear V Contest returned back at the Bike Stop in November. David Rink won the title of Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather 2004-05. Allan Arble won the title of Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Bear 2004-05. The attendance record broke again. Liberty Bears supported PLCD by providing some food at the contest.

During the year 2004, PLCD members voted to rename the organization as Philadelphia Lambda Club of the Deaf. PLCD Membership has been growing. PLCD's the current leather and bear titleholders provided their performances on the stage at the Pride Festival. PLCD had another new banner for the marching group.

PLCD brought a GLAD-E 2006 Conference site bid at the GLAD-E 2004 Conference in Atlanta, GA in June 2004. The only and one bid from PLCD was automatically elected as same time as the PLCD delegate, David Rink, was automatically elected President according to the GLAD-E Bylaws. So PLCD will host the GLAD-E 2006 Conference in Philadelphia since the regional conference was held in May 1986 hosted by Philadelphia Rainbow Deaf Alliance (PRDA).

PLCD began bar-hopping to host some bar nights inside and outside Philadelphia. PLCD held the first out-of-town bar night called Jail and Bail Out Night at Double L Bar in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in August 2004. It also held some events at Woody's in October and December 2004.

The events were held at 12th Air Command in March and May 2005. The second annual Jail and Bail Out Night was held at Double L Bar in August 2005. The Leather & Bear Festival VI Contest was held at the Bike Stop in November 2005. James Messineo won the title of Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Leather 2006-07. Lenny Stanton won the first Mr. Philadelphia Deaf Cub 2006-07.

PLCD members voted in favor for joining RAD as a new member chapter in 2006. PLCD hosted GLAD-E 2006 Conference on July 6-9, 2006. Robert DeMayo, PLCD member, won Mr. GLAD-E 2006. David Rink was elected GLAD-E President, Dennis Hart was elected GLAD-E Vice-President and Ed Carrigan was elected GLAD-E Treasurer. PLCD sponsored the third annual Jail and Bail Out Night at Double L Bar Night in August 2006 and contributed the fund to the newly IDL 2008 Committee-Philadelphia.

The fourth annual Jail & Bail Night was held at Double L Bar in August 2007. PLCD donated the fund to the IDL 2008 Committee-Philadelphia.

The International Deaf Leather 2008 Contest Weekend events were held at William Way Community Center, the Bike Stop, Club Body Center, and Lolita's Restaurant on Thursday, July 17, 2008 to Sunday, July 20, 2008. The 18th annual contest was held at WWCC. Our member, Allan Arble alias boy taz, won the title of International Deaf Leatherboy 2008 along with Sir Marc "Y" Burton, the newly International Mr. Deaf Leather 2008.

You would like to visit by clicking the PLCD's Firsts and Titleholders.