Announcing: Mr. Minnesota Leather Contest 1997

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #34, September 13, 1996)

PHOTO: Mr. Minnesota Leather 1996 Michael deLeon

The Mr. Minnesota Leather 1997 Contest, to be held October 4 and 5 at the Gay 90’s, will see Mr. Minnesota Leather 1996 Michael deLeon ending his title year by helping to choose his successor. It will also feature a guest appearance by Joe Gallagher, International Mr. Leather 1996.

The event kicks off with a reception Friday night (October 4) for deLeon, who will be serving as head judge at this year’s contest. deLeon has represented the Minnesota leather community throughout the year at contests, fundraisers, and other events locally and throughout the U.S. and Europe. This event will also be a chance to meet this year’s contestants and judges. The reception starts at 9 pm in the Men’s Room Bar at the Gay 90’s (dress code will be in effect for the evening). Admission is $5 and there will be free beer, soft drinks and food for those attending.

On Saturday morning the judges will interview the contestants in a private session. The contest and show will be held Saturday afternoon (October 5) starting at 4 pm in the Gay 90’s Dance Annex (admission $10). Contestants will be judged on their interviews, speeches, leather image, fantasy (erotic skit) presentation and on their stage and physical presence. The winner, Mr. Minnesota Leather 1997, receives his title sash and $750 in cash and travel expenses to allow him to serve as our representative at the International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago during Memorial Day Weekend of 1997. A cash prize of $250 will be awarded to the first runner-up.

This year’s Master of Ceremonies is Colin Spriestersbach, the contest organizer and the new Mr. Northwoods 1996-97. Individuals wishing to enter the contest should call Spriestersbach for additional information and contest application forms.

IML ’96 Joe Gallagher to appear at Mr. Minnesota Leather Contest

PHOTO: International Mr. Leather 1996 Joe Gallagher

Joe Gallagher, International Mr. Leather 1996, will be traveling all the way from New York City to be a judge at this year’s Mr. Minnesota Leather Contest. He will also be promoting one of his current projects called“Get Linked.”

When not acting as International Mr. Leather 1996, Gallagher works as a publishing specialist and World Wide WebMaster in New York City. He became International Mr. Leather after just three weeks as Mr. Leather New York. His sponsor is AmFAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research).

Gallagher is a board member of Gay Male S/M Activists (GMSMA) and has produced several GMSMA programs on topics ranging from “S/M On-Line” to “Hitting, Punching and Bruising.” He is a contributing member of the New York Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center and the Empire State Pride agenda. He shares his life with his lover of six years, Joel Geraci, their dog (canine, not human) and their real boy, ‘boy doug.’ If you would like to see more, check out the Zeus video “Brute Force” or visit Gallagher’s web page at http://www.nycnet.com/Gallagher for a list of appearances throughout the coming year.

“Get Linked” is an effort to construct a physical chain made from individual links, each contributed by members of the Leather/SM community. According to Gallagher, “Its very size will create a symbolic, but very powerful, tangible display of how large and diverse our community is.” The entire chain will be displayed at the International Mr. Leather 1997 contest, after which it will be turned over to the Leather Archive and Museum. More information will be available the weekend of the Mr. Minnesota Leather 1997 Contest; information about “Get Linked” is also available on Gallagher’s web page (address above). In the meantime, get those chain links ready!