International Mr. Leather 2003—Silver Anniversary

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #210, June 13, 2003)

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the International Mr. Leather (IML) sash is taking a trip to London. John Pendal, sponsored by The Hoist bar in London, United Kingdom, was chosen International Mr. Leather 2003 from a field of 58 contestants. Here are some photos of the silver-anniversary IML weekend that started Thursday, May 22 and continued through the evening of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26.

Photos #P5240159, P5240158, P5240157: The lobby of the host hotel, Chicago’s Palmer House Hilton, for the weekend became the world’s largest leather bar—and the most crowded.

Photo #P5240005.JPG: There was something to please everyone at the Leather Market, which occupied two floors of the Palmer House.

Photos #P5240153, P5240016, P5240014, P5240012, P5240010: Some photos from Saturday night’s “Pecs & Personality” prejudging, which was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer House.

Photo #P5240002: Minneapolis Eagle owner Ed Hopkins, left, and Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2003 Gregg White, right, at Saturday afternoon’s Minnesota Party.

Photo #P5240151: IML Founder Chuck Renslow, left, is presented by Lenny Broberg, International Mr. Leather 1992, with a certificate of recognition from the California State Legislature declaring Sunday, May 25 “International Mr. Leather Day” in the State of California. Throughout the weekend Renslow and the IML organization also received awards and commendations from the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, the city of Chicago, and both San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and the San Francisco city/county board of commissioners.

Photo #P5250009: Many previous International Mr. Leather (IML) titleholders were on hand for the anniversary weekend. Shown here are IML 1996 Joe Gallagher, left, and IML 2000 Mike Taylor, right.

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Photo #P5250088: The International Mr. Bootblack contest is always held concurrently with the International Mr. Leather contest. Here International Mr. Bootblack 2003 Richie Chameroy (sponsored by Daddy’s Bar/Powerhouse Bar of San Francisco) is presented with his trophy by last year’s International Mr. Bootblack Mike Lanzini.

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Photo #P5250087: The International Mr. Bootblack contest is always held concurrently with the International Mr. Leather contest. Here International Ms Bootblack 2002 Kari LaVecchia puts the winner’s medal around the neck of International Mr. Bootblack 2003 Richie Chameroy (sponsored by Daddy’s Bar/Powerhouse Bar of San Francisco) as last year’s International Mr. Bootblack Mike Lanzini looks on.

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Photo #P5252134: The International Mr. Bootblack contest is always held concurrently with the International Mr. Leather contest. Here the new International Mr. Bootblack 2003, Richie Chameroy (sponsored by Daddy’s Bar/Powerhouse Bar of San Francisco), poses with his trophy.

Photos #P5252076, P5252075, P5252074, P5252073, P5250063, P5250062, P5250061, P5250059, P5250039, P5250034, P5250032, P5250031: Some photos of the contestants onstage during Sunday night’s contest and show at the Congress Theater in Chicago.

Photo #P5250051: This year’s judges and tallymasters. Left to right: judges Peter Fiske of San Francisco; Joe Harnett of Sallinis, Ireland; Chris Holmgren of Toronto; Michael Horowitz of Forest Hills, N.Y.; Bob Maddox of Chicago; Andy Mangels of Portland, Ore.; Larry Manion of St. Louis; International Ms Leather 1987 Judy Tallwing-McCarthy of Forks, Wash.; and International Mr. Leather 2002 Stephen Weber of Washington, D.C.; tallymasters Phyllis Darcy of Thornton, Colo. and Jim Dohr of Chicago.

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Photo #P5250049: This year’s judges. Left to right: Peter Fiske of San Francisco; Joe Harnett of Sallinis, Ireland; Chris Holmgren of Toronto; Michael Horowitz of Forest Hills, N.Y.; Bob Maddox of Chicago; Andy Mangels of Portland, Ore.; Larry Manion of St. Louis; International Ms Leather 1987 Judy Tallwing-McCarthy of Forks, Wash.; and International Mr. Leather 2002 Stephen Weber of Washington, D.C.

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Photo #P5220011: This year’s judges. Left to right: International Mr. Leather 2002 Stephen Weber of Washington, D.C.; International Ms Leather 1987 Judy Tallwing-McCarthy of Forks, Wash.; Larry Manion of St. Louis; Andy Mangels of Portland, Ore.; Bob Maddox of Chicago; Michael Horowitz of Forest Hills, N.Y.; Chris Holmgren of Toronto; Joe Harnett of Sallinis, Ireland; and Peter Fiske of San Francisco.

Photo #P5252081: The International Mr. Leather weekend was packed with entertainment. Opening Thursday’s contestant introduction ceremony was the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus singing a medley of the national anthems of all countries represented in the contest. Disco legend Linda Clifford performed Saturday night in the lobby of the Palmer House. Sunday’s contest and show featured entertainment by singer/commedienne Sharon McKnight (“Songs to Offend Just About Everybody”) and, shown above, an amazing performance by acrobats of The Midnight Circus.

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Photos #P5250090, P5250091, P5250092, P5250093, P5250094: The International Mr. Leather weekend was packed with entertainment. Opening Thursday’s contestant introduction ceremony was the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus singing a medley of the national anthems of all countries represented in the contest. Disco legend Linda Clifford performed Saturday night in the lobby of the Palmer House. Sunday’s contest and show featured an amazing performance by acrobats of The Midnight Circus and, shown above, entertainment by singer/commedienne Sharon McKnight, who sang “Songs to Offend Just About Everybody.”

Photos #P5252108, P5252113: The International Mr. Leather 2003 team. Left to right: Second runner-up Stephen Blackwell, Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2003 (sponsored by the Los Angeles Leather Coalition); International Mr. Leather 2003 John Pendal, Mr. Hoist 2003 (sponsored by The Hoist London); and first runner-up Donald Dotson, Mr. Suncoast Eagle 2003 (sponsored by Suncoast Resort Hotel of St. Petersburg, Fla. and the Tampa Bay Leather Co.)