(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #59, August 29, 1997)
Part 3 of the Lavender Interview with Kevin Cwayna
You went to IML and “made the cut”—you were one of the top 20 leathermen. Now you were going to compete in the jockwalk and speech segments of the contest. How did it feel once you got out on stage and started working the crowd?
It felt great. With both the jockwalk and the speech, as soon as I knew the light was turned on me and it was my turn, I always felt great. All the audience is doing is waiting for somebody to come out and be a little bit fun. They were an easy crowd to play with because they're waiting for it, that's what they're there for. So under those circumstances there was no intimidation factor.
What was it like to hear your name announced as the winner?
It was an incredible emotional orgasm. It was a huge vote of confidence. It was like yeah, I did plan this right, I did think about this right, it did work, and I do know what I'm doing. It was all that, it hit me all at once.
What did you do the rest of that evening, after the crowd left?
I could have stood on that stage after the contest for two more hours, I don't think people left me alone. But then they said we have a limo, and we have places to go, and we went to the Victory Party at the House of Blues.
Earlier in the evening, backstage, I had seen the comedian, Scott Thompson [the contest’s headline entertainer, of “Kids in the Hall” fame] standing all alone, looking nervous. So I went up to him and said, “I think you're great, I like what you do.” And he said, “Oh, thank you.” Well, at the party at House of Blues I saw him again, and I said “I was the guy who came up to you, and, uh, by the way, I won.” And he said, “Oh, you know, I was going to tell them to vote for you when I got out there on stage.” He was going to use that as a joke: “Vote for contestant number 39, he just sucked up to me.”
What do you want to accomplish by the time you step down?
I want to raise the leather community's pride by giving them tangible, clear things to be proud of—so they can really grasp onto things and say, “This is why I love this community.” I also want to bring that outside of the commmunity, so that there is a greater respect for leather outside the leather community. I think there's a power in being respected. I want the gay community to say, “Wow, the leather community's really interesting, there's a lot to learn there.” I would love that to be in the consciousness of the mainstream gay community, because there's so much wisdom and inspiration that's lost within our community because we're marginalized.
To take just one aspect: I think there's incredible wisdom, creativity and courageousness in the leather community about the creation of families. Parts of the mainstream gay culture are caught up in assimilation and in modeling after the straight community. The leather community says, “Why don't we create what we want instead of chasing after something somebody else has?” I think that's a much more dignified, respectable, intelligent approach. And that's just one example of the kinds of things I think the leather community has to offer.
The leather community is one of the least ageist communities around, and they also know how to talk about sex better than anyone I know. And they also are the only community I know that admits sex is about power. I think these are invaluable, brilliant, hopeful, and inspiring things about the leather community, and I'm going to get those messages out wherever I can.
International Mr. Fantasy ’97
PICTURE: From left: Steve Waldren; Eric Robinson; Michael deLeon.
Eric Robinson of Michigan captured the sash in the 1997 International Mr. Fantasy contest, held August 16 in Omaha. Our own Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1997 Michael deLeon was first runner-up and Mr. Texas Fantasy 1997 Steve Waldren was second runner-up.
In this third year for Fantasy Weekend as a contest, the contestants and staff produced a fast-paced and entertaining evening show. Next year marks Fantasy Weekend’s tenth anniversary, and in addition to the contest an “old-style” Fantasy show will be presented: present and former titleholders raising money for charity by presenting fantasies and other entertainment in a noncompetitive atmosphere. Mark your calendars now: August 21-23, 1998. It will be spectacular.
Upcoming Leather Events
“Work Your Fetish, Belabor Your Kinks”
Sunday, August 31, 6-10 pm, The Saloon
The Atons present a Labor Day Weekend event. Featuring drink specials, free food from 6-9 pm, door prizes and your last chance to win an Atons 25 Run Package. $5 at the door.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Sunday, September 14: WOOF, a party welcoming the Sober Leather Organization to the Twin Cities leather community.
September 26-28: The Atons 25th Anniversary Run. For a registration form call e-mail AtonsMpls@aol.com, or visit their web site: www.starbase21.com/ATONS.
Friday, August 29, 1997
Friday, August 15, 1997
International Mr. Leather: Making the Cut
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #58, August 15, 1997)
Part 2 of the Lavender Interview with Kevin Cwayna
“I looked around and said, I know I can make the top 20, so I’m gonna go for it.”
PHOTOS: Kevin Cwayna
You competed in the International Mr. Leather contest as Mr. Minnesota Leather. What provoked you to enter the Mr. Minnesota Leather contest?
Well, I'd been down to the International Mr. Leather contest for a few years, and I thought, wow, first of all what a beautiful group of men, and second of all it would be really exciting to be part of that. I didn't know if I was of the caliber that would ever be able to make it as a contestant, but I thought you could really get to know a lot of beautiful, interesting people if you could get into that contest. I also entered because I thought being in a contest might expose me to some people who don't go out as much. It might give me another point of connection with the community other than showing up in a bar once in a while.
What was going through your mind as they announced you had won Mr. Minnesota Leather?
I was very proud. It was a big confidence booster—I can connect with an audience, I can be real on stage. It felt good. It almost felt as big as IML—I think because it was the first one, and it was the riskiest. Once you've won contests, it's like, okay, I know I can do these things. But that was the first test: can I really impress a panel of judges and an audience?
I felt a lot of community support, which gave me a lot of confidence. The community had a belief in me that I did not have at all. People would take me aside and say, “You know you're going to do really well at this—do you realize that?" And I was like, "No, I don't, and I don't believe you, but thanks for telling me."
What did you do to prepare for the IML contest?
Most of the preparation was mental. I mean, I knew that visually you had to look as good as you could onstage, so I grew my goatee, worked on my body, got tanned, and did all that stuff. But really, it was a mental game that went on the whole weekend of the contest. I took care of myself over the weekend. There were a lot of contestants who didn't know if they wanted to win, and they wanted to have a good time, too, so they stayed up all night. I was as clean and dry and well-rested as any of the contestants could be, and I knew that was the secret to doing well on stage.
Did you go into it saying, "I want to win"?
I was a little scared as to what winning would mean. I thought, I don't know the beginnings of the depths of this commitment. But I realized that it was more than a beauty contest—I knew they were looking for some qualities that I really respected. So, when I got down there and looked around—you know, the first thing you want to do is check out the competition and say, do I have a chance, and then base your effort on whether you think you have a chance or not—I looked around and said, I know I can make the top 20, so I'm gonna go for it.
What kinds of questions did the judges ask you in your interview?
One of the judges wanted to really know that I really wanted to win. So he said, "Look me in the eye and tell me that you want to win." And I didn't say yes—I said, "I really hope you decide that I'm the winner." That let them know that I wanted to win, but it also let them know that I wanted to win if they wanted me to win. It was like saying, “I want to win with you as a team. It's not just I want to win.”
What was it like backstage during the first part of the contest?
Everyone was kind of nervous but we were all supportive of each other. It wasn't catty like I had imagined it would be. Out of the nine people in my dressing room, I was the only one who made the cut [the top 20 semifinalists]. That was a hard moment when I had to go back to the dressing room, because if you didn’t make the cut you were supposed to immediately get all your stuff, pack it up, and leave. And that's what was going on when I got back to the room. People were obviously bummed out and quiet. A few people who figured out that I'd made the cut wished me luck. Nobody was nasty to me.
How did you feel when you made the cut?
I was ecstatic. I was pretty mad that they waited until #19 to call my name, because it really messed with me. I was very sure that I had made the cut.
PHOTO: Michael deLeon
Good luck and best wishes this weekend to Michael deLeon, Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1997, as he competes in the International Mr. Fantasy contest in Omaha.
Part 2 of the Lavender Interview with Kevin Cwayna
“I looked around and said, I know I can make the top 20, so I’m gonna go for it.”
PHOTOS: Kevin Cwayna
You competed in the International Mr. Leather contest as Mr. Minnesota Leather. What provoked you to enter the Mr. Minnesota Leather contest?
Well, I'd been down to the International Mr. Leather contest for a few years, and I thought, wow, first of all what a beautiful group of men, and second of all it would be really exciting to be part of that. I didn't know if I was of the caliber that would ever be able to make it as a contestant, but I thought you could really get to know a lot of beautiful, interesting people if you could get into that contest. I also entered because I thought being in a contest might expose me to some people who don't go out as much. It might give me another point of connection with the community other than showing up in a bar once in a while.
What was going through your mind as they announced you had won Mr. Minnesota Leather?
I was very proud. It was a big confidence booster—I can connect with an audience, I can be real on stage. It felt good. It almost felt as big as IML—I think because it was the first one, and it was the riskiest. Once you've won contests, it's like, okay, I know I can do these things. But that was the first test: can I really impress a panel of judges and an audience?
I felt a lot of community support, which gave me a lot of confidence. The community had a belief in me that I did not have at all. People would take me aside and say, “You know you're going to do really well at this—do you realize that?" And I was like, "No, I don't, and I don't believe you, but thanks for telling me."
What did you do to prepare for the IML contest?
Most of the preparation was mental. I mean, I knew that visually you had to look as good as you could onstage, so I grew my goatee, worked on my body, got tanned, and did all that stuff. But really, it was a mental game that went on the whole weekend of the contest. I took care of myself over the weekend. There were a lot of contestants who didn't know if they wanted to win, and they wanted to have a good time, too, so they stayed up all night. I was as clean and dry and well-rested as any of the contestants could be, and I knew that was the secret to doing well on stage.
Did you go into it saying, "I want to win"?
I was a little scared as to what winning would mean. I thought, I don't know the beginnings of the depths of this commitment. But I realized that it was more than a beauty contest—I knew they were looking for some qualities that I really respected. So, when I got down there and looked around—you know, the first thing you want to do is check out the competition and say, do I have a chance, and then base your effort on whether you think you have a chance or not—I looked around and said, I know I can make the top 20, so I'm gonna go for it.
What kinds of questions did the judges ask you in your interview?
One of the judges wanted to really know that I really wanted to win. So he said, "Look me in the eye and tell me that you want to win." And I didn't say yes—I said, "I really hope you decide that I'm the winner." That let them know that I wanted to win, but it also let them know that I wanted to win if they wanted me to win. It was like saying, “I want to win with you as a team. It's not just I want to win.”
What was it like backstage during the first part of the contest?
Everyone was kind of nervous but we were all supportive of each other. It wasn't catty like I had imagined it would be. Out of the nine people in my dressing room, I was the only one who made the cut [the top 20 semifinalists]. That was a hard moment when I had to go back to the dressing room, because if you didn’t make the cut you were supposed to immediately get all your stuff, pack it up, and leave. And that's what was going on when I got back to the room. People were obviously bummed out and quiet. A few people who figured out that I'd made the cut wished me luck. Nobody was nasty to me.
How did you feel when you made the cut?
I was ecstatic. I was pretty mad that they waited until #19 to call my name, because it really messed with me. I was very sure that I had made the cut.
-----
PHOTO: Michael deLeon
Good luck and best wishes this weekend to Michael deLeon, Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1997, as he competes in the International Mr. Fantasy contest in Omaha.
Friday, August 1, 1997
International Mr. Leather: The Formative Years
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #57, August 1, 1997)
Part 1 of the Lavender Interview with Kevin Cwayna
PHOTO: Kevin Cwayna, International Mr. Leather 1997
Stepping into Kevin Cwayna’s living room, the first thing you see is a cluster of three vintage Philco Predicta televisions by the door. There are more vintage televisions in every corner of the living room, dining room, and office. ("And there are 50 more in the basement," Cwayna confides.) In the dining room, his International Mr. Leather sash hangs on a black-draped department-store mannequin. Collectible kitchen appliances are spotted among the TVs.
I settle into a blond wood rocker with arms like tailfins, while Cwayna relaxes on the dark green mohair sofa, and the interview begins.
Let's go back to your formative years. . .
Oh dear. . .
What was it that led to 50 TVs in the basement and the IML sash on a mannequin?
My, I'm not sure if I can explain any of that. I was definitely a gay teenager. I knew I was interested in boys as early as twelve or thirteen. I knew that my sexual interests were about love, but they were also about wrestling and playing around with each other and power games. But I didn't really know what to call that stuff.
Do you think life would have been different if there had been things like District 202 when you were growing up?
Definitely. I grew up in a very homophobic world, and I was desperate for information about anything gay. I remember going to libraries, going to the gay section, pulling out a book, running to the other side of the library, and pretending to read something else while I read it. Then I wouldn't have the courage to turn it in or check it out, so I would just hide it.
Do you remember any of those books?
One of them was "Young, Gay and Proud." It actually went into detail about sex between men. But there wasn't the kind of information that I wanted, which was statistics on how common it is, and something that let me know that maybe life as a gay adult would be okay. I remember a gay article in Time or Newsweek that mentioned Hennepin Avenue and Loring Park. It said, "This is where the gay people go in Minneapolis," so I was always dying to get to Hennepin Avenue and Loring Park. But I was a young kid from Edina, and I didn't have the know-how or resources to get there.
I felt very isolated and scared about what it meant if I continued to fall in love with boys. I thought it was probably going to lead to disaster, and I had different dates that I thought, "Well, if I'm still like this at 18 I better kill myself, because life won't be any good as an adult like this. But I'll give it until 18 to go away." And then at 18 I thought,"Well, maybe we'll wait a little bit longer." And then at 19, when I met my first boyfriend, who I was with for three years, I thought, "Well, this is actually okay. In fact, this could be good, and I'm not going to hate myself anymore."
(. . . to be continued next issue.)
Maynard and Zeller win Mr. MN Drummer/Drummerboy
PHOTO: Jack Maynard, Mr. Minnesota Drummer 1997; Stephen Zeller, Minnesota drummerboy 1997
On Saturday night, July 19, at the Club Metro Underground in St. Paul, Jack Maynard captured the title of Mr. Minnesota Drummer 1997, with runner-up honors going to Michael Zambori. Stephen Zeller was named Minnesota Drummerboy 1997. Maynard and Zeller are proud members of the recently-formed Sober Leather group, and many other sober leatherfolk were in the audience cheering them on.
The judges were current International Mr. Drummer Kyle Brandon, current Great Lakes Mr. Drummer (and International Mr. Drummer runner-up) Jerry Leigh, Mr. Iowa Leather ’97 Kevin Kirgis, Mr. Cellblock Leather-Chicago ’97 Brian-Mark Conover, and Mr. Charlie’s Leather-Chicago ’97 David Ritchie. In an unusual turn of events, there was no local representation on the judging panel.
Maynard’s next competition will be in Columbus, Ohio on August 23 for the Great Lakes Mr. Drummer title. Zeller will go directly to the drummerboy competition at the International Mr. Drummer contest, held August 30 in San Francisco.
Masters/slaves: Let’s Be Careful Out There
Of all the types of relationships in the leather/SM community, the Master/slave relationship is among the most intense. The relationship can only be considered safe, sane and consensual if both Master and slave are familiar with themselves, their partner, and the unique dynamics of this type of relationship. It’s certainly not for everyone. At its best, it can fulfill both partners in a way nothing else can. At its worst, it can be horrifyingly—and criminally—abusive.
It was not long ago that a man in Duluth decided he wanted to be a master and have a slave. He picked someone up, brought him home, drugged him, and locked him in a closet, thinking this would be a peachy way to break the man’s will and turn him into a slave. After two days, he checked on his slave and found him dead. This is an extreme example of the tragic consequences of someone trying to play master without knowing the first thing about it.
The Master/slave relationship is about love and fulfillment, not exploitation and abuse. A Master’s main responsibility is to do everything within His power to help his slave grow and develop. A Master is responsible for every aspect of his slave’s well-being, including his physical and emotional safety. (In the era of AIDS, this is an especially important consideration.) That can become an awesome responsibility that very few are able to shoulder.
A slave’s primary function is to please and serve his or her Master. A slave’s primary function is not to serve as a whipping-boy upon which the Master takes out his frustrations. (And a Master’s function is not to punish a slave who, because of feelings of low self-esteem, feels a need to be tortured or humiliated.) A slave also has a responsibility to communicate to his Master what he needs to take care of himself—if he doesn’t take care of himself, what will he have left to offer his Master? (Again, this is especially important if the slave is HIV-positive or has AIDS.)
Neither Master nor slave should enter into their relationship lightly. A novice Master can inflict horrible abuse on his unwitting slave; a novice slave, who has no knowledge of what makes a good Master, can be taken advantage of and and suffer gross mistreatment at the hands of a Master who is only in it to get his own jollies and who doesn’t take proper care of his slave. When this happens, it makes the institution of Master/slave relationships look bad, and gives a black eye to the entire leather/SM community as well.
Remember, Master/slave relationships still fall under the leather/SM community’s rallying cry of “Safe, Sane, Consensual.” If it doesn’t meet all three of those criteria, it constitutes abuse.
For more on safe/sane/consensual Master/slave relationships, including an excellent essay entitled “When Your slave Has AIDS,” visit the Masters And slaves Together web page at www.m-a-s-t.com.
Upcoming Leather Events
The Atons present Sweaty, Sleazy Sunday at the Saloon
Sunday, August 3, 6-10 pm, The Saloon
Featuring drink specials and a best butt/best chest contest. $5 at the door.
August 15-17: International Mr. Fantasy weekend, Omaha, Nebraska. Come cheer for Mr. Minnesota Fantasy ’97 Michael deLeon. Weekend package is $35. FFI: Fantasy Productions, Inc., Omaha NE. Host hotel is Radisson-Redick, 1504 Harney St., Omaha NE.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
It looks like we have a conflict here. It’s worth noting that the Atons had these dates first; the Folsom Street Fair folks created the conflict by changing their dates.
September 26-28, Minneapolis: The Atons 25th Anniversary Run. The theme is “A Renaissance—Renewing the Ties That Bind,” and in keeping with that theme there will be a trip to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival on Saturday. Other attractions: a Saturday banquet and a variety of play parties both Friday and Saturday night. An event like this only happens once every twenty-five years; if you haven’t already registered, what are you waiting for? For a registration form call, e-mail AtonsMpls@aol.com, or visit their web site: www.starbase21.com/ATONS.
September 22-28, San Francisco: Leather Pride Week, including the Fetish & Fantasy Ball on Friday, Sept. 26; the 19th annual International Mr. Drummer contest on Saturday, Sept. 27; and the 14th annual Folsom Street Fair on Sunday, Sept. 28. Contest tickets are $65 for VIP seating or $25 for general admission; reserve by calling the box office (have your credit card ready). Drummer’s e-mail address is DrummHQ@slip.net. No official host hotel; the San Francisco Hotel Reservation Hotline is 1-800-677-1500 (or www.hotelres.com).
Part 1 of the Lavender Interview with Kevin Cwayna
PHOTO: Kevin Cwayna, International Mr. Leather 1997
Stepping into Kevin Cwayna’s living room, the first thing you see is a cluster of three vintage Philco Predicta televisions by the door. There are more vintage televisions in every corner of the living room, dining room, and office. ("And there are 50 more in the basement," Cwayna confides.) In the dining room, his International Mr. Leather sash hangs on a black-draped department-store mannequin. Collectible kitchen appliances are spotted among the TVs.
I settle into a blond wood rocker with arms like tailfins, while Cwayna relaxes on the dark green mohair sofa, and the interview begins.
Let's go back to your formative years. . .
Oh dear. . .
What was it that led to 50 TVs in the basement and the IML sash on a mannequin?
My, I'm not sure if I can explain any of that. I was definitely a gay teenager. I knew I was interested in boys as early as twelve or thirteen. I knew that my sexual interests were about love, but they were also about wrestling and playing around with each other and power games. But I didn't really know what to call that stuff.
Do you think life would have been different if there had been things like District 202 when you were growing up?
Definitely. I grew up in a very homophobic world, and I was desperate for information about anything gay. I remember going to libraries, going to the gay section, pulling out a book, running to the other side of the library, and pretending to read something else while I read it. Then I wouldn't have the courage to turn it in or check it out, so I would just hide it.
Do you remember any of those books?
One of them was "Young, Gay and Proud." It actually went into detail about sex between men. But there wasn't the kind of information that I wanted, which was statistics on how common it is, and something that let me know that maybe life as a gay adult would be okay. I remember a gay article in Time or Newsweek that mentioned Hennepin Avenue and Loring Park. It said, "This is where the gay people go in Minneapolis," so I was always dying to get to Hennepin Avenue and Loring Park. But I was a young kid from Edina, and I didn't have the know-how or resources to get there.
I felt very isolated and scared about what it meant if I continued to fall in love with boys. I thought it was probably going to lead to disaster, and I had different dates that I thought, "Well, if I'm still like this at 18 I better kill myself, because life won't be any good as an adult like this. But I'll give it until 18 to go away." And then at 18 I thought,"Well, maybe we'll wait a little bit longer." And then at 19, when I met my first boyfriend, who I was with for three years, I thought, "Well, this is actually okay. In fact, this could be good, and I'm not going to hate myself anymore."
(. . . to be continued next issue.)
Maynard and Zeller win Mr. MN Drummer/Drummerboy
PHOTO: Jack Maynard, Mr. Minnesota Drummer 1997; Stephen Zeller, Minnesota drummerboy 1997
On Saturday night, July 19, at the Club Metro Underground in St. Paul, Jack Maynard captured the title of Mr. Minnesota Drummer 1997, with runner-up honors going to Michael Zambori. Stephen Zeller was named Minnesota Drummerboy 1997. Maynard and Zeller are proud members of the recently-formed Sober Leather group, and many other sober leatherfolk were in the audience cheering them on.
The judges were current International Mr. Drummer Kyle Brandon, current Great Lakes Mr. Drummer (and International Mr. Drummer runner-up) Jerry Leigh, Mr. Iowa Leather ’97 Kevin Kirgis, Mr. Cellblock Leather-Chicago ’97 Brian-Mark Conover, and Mr. Charlie’s Leather-Chicago ’97 David Ritchie. In an unusual turn of events, there was no local representation on the judging panel.
Maynard’s next competition will be in Columbus, Ohio on August 23 for the Great Lakes Mr. Drummer title. Zeller will go directly to the drummerboy competition at the International Mr. Drummer contest, held August 30 in San Francisco.
Masters/slaves: Let’s Be Careful Out There
Of all the types of relationships in the leather/SM community, the Master/slave relationship is among the most intense. The relationship can only be considered safe, sane and consensual if both Master and slave are familiar with themselves, their partner, and the unique dynamics of this type of relationship. It’s certainly not for everyone. At its best, it can fulfill both partners in a way nothing else can. At its worst, it can be horrifyingly—and criminally—abusive.
It was not long ago that a man in Duluth decided he wanted to be a master and have a slave. He picked someone up, brought him home, drugged him, and locked him in a closet, thinking this would be a peachy way to break the man’s will and turn him into a slave. After two days, he checked on his slave and found him dead. This is an extreme example of the tragic consequences of someone trying to play master without knowing the first thing about it.
The Master/slave relationship is about love and fulfillment, not exploitation and abuse. A Master’s main responsibility is to do everything within His power to help his slave grow and develop. A Master is responsible for every aspect of his slave’s well-being, including his physical and emotional safety. (In the era of AIDS, this is an especially important consideration.) That can become an awesome responsibility that very few are able to shoulder.
A slave’s primary function is to please and serve his or her Master. A slave’s primary function is not to serve as a whipping-boy upon which the Master takes out his frustrations. (And a Master’s function is not to punish a slave who, because of feelings of low self-esteem, feels a need to be tortured or humiliated.) A slave also has a responsibility to communicate to his Master what he needs to take care of himself—if he doesn’t take care of himself, what will he have left to offer his Master? (Again, this is especially important if the slave is HIV-positive or has AIDS.)
Neither Master nor slave should enter into their relationship lightly. A novice Master can inflict horrible abuse on his unwitting slave; a novice slave, who has no knowledge of what makes a good Master, can be taken advantage of and and suffer gross mistreatment at the hands of a Master who is only in it to get his own jollies and who doesn’t take proper care of his slave. When this happens, it makes the institution of Master/slave relationships look bad, and gives a black eye to the entire leather/SM community as well.
Remember, Master/slave relationships still fall under the leather/SM community’s rallying cry of “Safe, Sane, Consensual.” If it doesn’t meet all three of those criteria, it constitutes abuse.
For more on safe/sane/consensual Master/slave relationships, including an excellent essay entitled “When Your slave Has AIDS,” visit the Masters And slaves Together web page at www.m-a-s-t.com.
Upcoming Leather Events
The Atons present Sweaty, Sleazy Sunday at the Saloon
Sunday, August 3, 6-10 pm, The Saloon
Featuring drink specials and a best butt/best chest contest. $5 at the door.
August 15-17: International Mr. Fantasy weekend, Omaha, Nebraska. Come cheer for Mr. Minnesota Fantasy ’97 Michael deLeon. Weekend package is $35. FFI: Fantasy Productions, Inc., Omaha NE. Host hotel is Radisson-Redick, 1504 Harney St., Omaha NE.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
It looks like we have a conflict here. It’s worth noting that the Atons had these dates first; the Folsom Street Fair folks created the conflict by changing their dates.
September 26-28, Minneapolis: The Atons 25th Anniversary Run. The theme is “A Renaissance—Renewing the Ties That Bind,” and in keeping with that theme there will be a trip to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival on Saturday. Other attractions: a Saturday banquet and a variety of play parties both Friday and Saturday night. An event like this only happens once every twenty-five years; if you haven’t already registered, what are you waiting for? For a registration form call, e-mail AtonsMpls@aol.com, or visit their web site: www.starbase21.com/ATONS.
September 22-28, San Francisco: Leather Pride Week, including the Fetish & Fantasy Ball on Friday, Sept. 26; the 19th annual International Mr. Drummer contest on Saturday, Sept. 27; and the 14th annual Folsom Street Fair on Sunday, Sept. 28. Contest tickets are $65 for VIP seating or $25 for general admission; reserve by calling the box office (have your credit card ready). Drummer’s e-mail address is DrummHQ@slip.net. No official host hotel; the San Francisco Hotel Reservation Hotline is 1-800-677-1500 (or www.hotelres.com).
Friday, July 18, 1997
Lots of Leather at the Pride Parade
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #56, July 18, 1997)
The Minnesota leather community turned out in force for the 1997 Twin Cities Pride Parade — this years’s parade featured more leather-related contingents than ever before. The parade started, of course, with the ever-popular Dykes on Bikes, and the rest of the leatherfolk weren’t far behind.
International Mr. Leather 1997 Kevin Cwayna was on hand, riding in a black Camaro convertible. Cwayna was followed by about 25 members of the local leather community riding on the Leather Pride float (provided again this year by Transcorp owners Rand Haglund, John Audette, and family). Next in the parade were about 15 members of the recently-formed Sober Leather group, including Roger Gregg, who will be a candidate for Mr. Minnesota Leather this fall, and Steven Zeller, who will be a candidate for Mr. Minnesota Drummerboy this very weekend. (More about this group later in the column.)
After the Lavender Magazine car (the only local publication featuring leather coverage in every issue) came leatherman and boot aficionado Bob Jansen representing the newly-reopened Main Club in Superior, Wisconsin, where you’ll often find members of Duluth/Superior’s leather community. Jansen was followed by the folks who wear brown leather, the North Star Gay Rodeo Association, and by the leather community’s hirsute cousins, the MNBears.
Later in the parade was the final leather installment: the Wolf Productions float, featuring several leathermen including Mr. Minnesota Fantasy ’97 Michael deLeon. Easily the tallest leather-related parade unit, it featured some formidable-looking metal cages and live demonstrations of the heavy-duty bondage gear for which Wolf Productions is fast becoming famous.
After the parade, the annual Twin Cities Leather Pride celebration was held at the Gay 90’s. Presented by the Atons, Black Guard, Knights of Leather, North Star Gay Rodeo Association, and MNBears, the event featured a roll-call of past and present titleholders. The last name to be called was IML ’97 Kevin Cwayna, who presented a short keynote address (and said a few of the things he didn’t get a chance to say at the IML contest in Chicago). Country line-dance group Borderline performed several numbers, and fund-raising activities throughout the evening raised more than $1,000 for the Adult Foster Care Coalition, an AIDS-service organization.
Sober Leather Group Forms
After being talked about for the last few years, a Sober Leather club has recently been formed in the Twin Cities. Please note that this is not a leather twelve-step recovery group, and participation in recovery is not a membership requirement. This is a group of men and women who have come together to promote the idea of safe, sane, consensual, sober leather sex, free of alcohol and chemical use. This non-profit organization plans to hold alcohol- and chemical-free social events and educational seminars about sober leather which are open to the entire leather community. The club also plans to become part of a network of sober leatherfolk and clubs around the world. Currently engaged in start-up fundraising and organizing, the Sober Leather club welcomes input from new and prospective members and the community at large. A web page is currently under construction; for now, the best way to contact the club is to write: Sober Leather, Minneapolis MN.
Upcoming Leather Events
PHOTO: Kyle Brandon, International Mr. Drummer 1996
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Drummerboy Trash Party
Friday, July 18, 9 pm, Club Metro Underground
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Drummerboy Contest
Saturday, July 19, Doors open at 7 pm, Club Metro Underground
On Friday night you can meet the contestants, judges, and special guest International Mr. Drummer ’96 Kyle Brandon. Admission $5. Saturday night’s contest features Drummer-style men, boys and fantasy performances. Contest admission is $10 if you buy your ticket Friday night or $15 at the door Saturday. Door prizes and raffles both nights; net proceeds to charity. Hosted by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Ice Castle and the Black Guard in conjunction with Minnesota Leather Productions.
Main Club Grand Opening Celebration
Friday/Saturday, July 25-26 (open until 2:30 am)
The New Main Club, 1217 Tower Avenue, Superior, Wisconsin
They’re back, and Twice As Big! For more information call (715) 392-1756.
Mr. Minnesota Fantasy Send-Off Party
Sunday, July 27, 5-10 pm, The Saloon
About a year ago, Michael deLeon, as Mr. Minnesota Leather, presented an IML send-off party that was one of the most spectacular fundraisers I’ve ever experienced. He’s doing it again (this time as Mr. Minnesota Fantasy), and you won’t want to miss it. $6 at the door, portion donated to an AIDS-related charity.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
August 15-17: International Mr. Fantasy weekend, Omaha, Nebraska. Come cheer for Mr. Minnesota Fantasy ’97 Michael deLeon. Weekend package $30 ($35 after August 1). FFI: Fantasy Productions, Inc., Omaha NE. Host hotel is Radisson-Redick, 1504 Harney St., Omaha NE.
The Minnesota leather community turned out in force for the 1997 Twin Cities Pride Parade — this years’s parade featured more leather-related contingents than ever before. The parade started, of course, with the ever-popular Dykes on Bikes, and the rest of the leatherfolk weren’t far behind.
International Mr. Leather 1997 Kevin Cwayna was on hand, riding in a black Camaro convertible. Cwayna was followed by about 25 members of the local leather community riding on the Leather Pride float (provided again this year by Transcorp owners Rand Haglund, John Audette, and family). Next in the parade were about 15 members of the recently-formed Sober Leather group, including Roger Gregg, who will be a candidate for Mr. Minnesota Leather this fall, and Steven Zeller, who will be a candidate for Mr. Minnesota Drummerboy this very weekend. (More about this group later in the column.)
After the Lavender Magazine car (the only local publication featuring leather coverage in every issue) came leatherman and boot aficionado Bob Jansen representing the newly-reopened Main Club in Superior, Wisconsin, where you’ll often find members of Duluth/Superior’s leather community. Jansen was followed by the folks who wear brown leather, the North Star Gay Rodeo Association, and by the leather community’s hirsute cousins, the MNBears.
Later in the parade was the final leather installment: the Wolf Productions float, featuring several leathermen including Mr. Minnesota Fantasy ’97 Michael deLeon. Easily the tallest leather-related parade unit, it featured some formidable-looking metal cages and live demonstrations of the heavy-duty bondage gear for which Wolf Productions is fast becoming famous.
After the parade, the annual Twin Cities Leather Pride celebration was held at the Gay 90’s. Presented by the Atons, Black Guard, Knights of Leather, North Star Gay Rodeo Association, and MNBears, the event featured a roll-call of past and present titleholders. The last name to be called was IML ’97 Kevin Cwayna, who presented a short keynote address (and said a few of the things he didn’t get a chance to say at the IML contest in Chicago). Country line-dance group Borderline performed several numbers, and fund-raising activities throughout the evening raised more than $1,000 for the Adult Foster Care Coalition, an AIDS-service organization.
Sober Leather Group Forms
After being talked about for the last few years, a Sober Leather club has recently been formed in the Twin Cities. Please note that this is not a leather twelve-step recovery group, and participation in recovery is not a membership requirement. This is a group of men and women who have come together to promote the idea of safe, sane, consensual, sober leather sex, free of alcohol and chemical use. This non-profit organization plans to hold alcohol- and chemical-free social events and educational seminars about sober leather which are open to the entire leather community. The club also plans to become part of a network of sober leatherfolk and clubs around the world. Currently engaged in start-up fundraising and organizing, the Sober Leather club welcomes input from new and prospective members and the community at large. A web page is currently under construction; for now, the best way to contact the club is to write: Sober Leather, Minneapolis MN.
Upcoming Leather Events
PHOTO: Kyle Brandon, International Mr. Drummer 1996
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Drummerboy Trash Party
Friday, July 18, 9 pm, Club Metro Underground
Mr. Minnesota Drummer/Drummerboy Contest
Saturday, July 19, Doors open at 7 pm, Club Metro Underground
On Friday night you can meet the contestants, judges, and special guest International Mr. Drummer ’96 Kyle Brandon. Admission $5. Saturday night’s contest features Drummer-style men, boys and fantasy performances. Contest admission is $10 if you buy your ticket Friday night or $15 at the door Saturday. Door prizes and raffles both nights; net proceeds to charity. Hosted by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Ice Castle and the Black Guard in conjunction with Minnesota Leather Productions.
Main Club Grand Opening Celebration
Friday/Saturday, July 25-26 (open until 2:30 am)
The New Main Club, 1217 Tower Avenue, Superior, Wisconsin
They’re back, and Twice As Big! For more information call (715) 392-1756.
Mr. Minnesota Fantasy Send-Off Party
Sunday, July 27, 5-10 pm, The Saloon
About a year ago, Michael deLeon, as Mr. Minnesota Leather, presented an IML send-off party that was one of the most spectacular fundraisers I’ve ever experienced. He’s doing it again (this time as Mr. Minnesota Fantasy), and you won’t want to miss it. $6 at the door, portion donated to an AIDS-related charity.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
August 15-17: International Mr. Fantasy weekend, Omaha, Nebraska. Come cheer for Mr. Minnesota Fantasy ’97 Michael deLeon. Weekend package $30 ($35 after August 1). FFI: Fantasy Productions, Inc., Omaha NE. Host hotel is Radisson-Redick, 1504 Harney St., Omaha NE.
Friday, July 4, 1997
Pride and Privilege
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #55, July 4, 1997)
During the past couple months I’ve been on a Pride binge. I think it started at the International Mr. Leather contest; this year’s gathering of the tribe had an even more profound impact on me than usual. I felt proud to be among these people and privileged to be at this event. When Savage Aural Hotbed played and when the new International Mr. Leather was announced I was extremely proud to be from Minnesota. Those feelings continued through Capital City Pride, the Twin Cities Pride Festival, the Pride Parade, and the Leather Pride celebration. I was proud to be there; I felt lucky to be there.
Now it’s Fourth of July weekend, which I’ve come to think of as “USA Pride.” This is the weekend when the (non-GLBT) rest of the country finally gets to engage in the kind of celebratory activity that we GLBT and leather types have recently been enjoying. And isn’t it grand that we get to enjoy the fireworks right along with them? We are, after all, just as much a part of this country as anyone else. And although our country, our politics, and our society are far from perfect, I feel proud and privileged to be a citizen of the USA.
Many people today see patriotism and civic pride as maudlin anachronisms. Many others see them as the property of the religious right, and therefore want nothing to do with them. We in the leather community, on the other hand, have our own style of patriotism and civic pride. We appreciate the good things about our society and this country. We also recognize our society’s problems and are committed to making them better by getting involved. That fosters a realistic, practical patriotism, as opposed to a starry-eyed, my-country-right-or-wrong view of things. To anyone who doubts the American leather community’s pride in their country: I wish you could have heard the assembled leather crowd’s stirring and heartfelt rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the start of the introduction ceremony for this year’s International Mr. Leather contestants. If the Promise Keepers could have heard it, they would have been mightily impressed.
So I have three flags on my figurative flagpole: the Stars & Stripes, the Rainbow, and the Leather Pride flag. And I’m proud of all of ’em.
* * * * *
Daddy’s Day a hit: The recent Daddy’s Day celebration presented by the Atons at The Saloon was well-attended and quite enjoyable. The Daddy-Boy contest, done like an episode of the old “Newlywed Game,” was a crowd-pleaser. International Mr. Leather 1997 (and ultimate Daddy) Kevin Cwayna was given a rousing welcome-back ceremony. I spent much of the evening on the Saloon’s patio, where the atmosphere is very close to that of the San Francisco Eagle’s patio (one of my all-time favorite leatherspaces). The Tank was so tightly packed that the bouncers were pressed into service as human ramp-meters, letting one person in for each person who left. (If this keeps up, we’re gonna need more space.) The Saloon continues to prove that it can be as leathery as it wants to be.
One final note: This was the first weekend I saw men wearing a clever visual pun, tank-tops with local leather artist Damon Thrift’s “Tank” logo on them; I guess that makes them “Tank tanks.”
Upcoming Leather Events
North Star Gay Rodeo Association presents The Great Northern Shindig
July 11-13, Radisson St. Paul and Washington County Fairgrounds, Lake Elmo
Check out the 20-page souvenir Rodeo program (prepared in large part by your humble leather columnist) in the current issue of—dare I say it?—Q Monthly. Then get your Shindig Weekend packets at Town House Country and Rainbow Road; events are also priced individually. (Both black and brown leather are apropos.) For further information, call the Shindig Hotline or check out the NSGRA web site: www.primenet.com/~garfield/nsgra.html.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer and Drummerboy Contest at the Club Metro Underground. Special guest appearance by current International Mr. Drummer Kyle Brandon. Still room for more contestants; if you want to compete, call Colin Spriestersbach.
July 25-26: Grand Opening Celebration at the new Main Club in Superior, WI (which opened for business June 5).
August 15-17: International Mr. Fantasy weekend, Omaha, Nebraska. Always a hot and fun weekend, and easy to get to. Come cheer for Mr. Minnesota Fantasy ’97 Michael deLeon. Weekend event package is $30 ($35 after August 1). FFI: Fantasy Productions, Inc., Omaha NE. Host hotel is Radisson-Redick, 1504 Harney St., Omaha NE 68102.
Friday, June 20, 1997
Love! Valour! Compassion! Pride!
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #54, June 20, 1997)
If you haven’t yet seen the film version of Terrance McNally’s “Love! Valour! Compassion!” may I suggest that you make it part of your Gay Pride experience this year. Gay Pride is, after all, what made a film like this possible. I saw it shortly before writing this column, and I felt the same way watching it as I felt watching the coming-out episodes of “Ellen”: What was on the screen seemed so — normal, so true-to-life. I’ve lived that movie; I’ve known people like that and spent weekends like the ones depicted in the film. It’s about time we got to see ourselves portrayed in mainstream entertainment not as the funny uncle, not as the comic relief, not as the villain, but just as — us.
I couldn’t help drawing comparisons with another film that involved eight gay friends: “The Boys in the Band.” In 1968, when the play was staged (the movie version came along in 1970), it was history-making because it was one of the first-ever unflinching, unapologetic portrayals on stage or film of gay men. But they were all caught in a tragic web of self-loathing whose manifestations ranged from alcoholism and drug abuse to devastating bitchiness.
Toward the end of the screenplay was this uplifting line of dialogue, spoken between wrenching sobs by a character named Michael: “If we could just not hate ourselves so much. (More sobs) That’s it, you know. If we could just learn not to hate ourselves quite so very much.” Another character, trying to comfort him, replies: “Yeah, I know.”
“The Boys in the Band” was then. “Love! Valour! Compassion!” is now. And Gay Pride is what made the difference — starting with the Stonewall rebellion (which happened a year after “The Boys in the Band”) and continuing with Gay Pride celebrations across the country and around the world.
Hats off to everyone responsible for “Love! Valour! Compassion!” Now how long will it be before we see a film that treats leather culture with the same kind of respect?
Leather and SM are occasionally seen on the big screen, but Hollywood has yet to do our community any favors. Here’s what Blockbuster’s Guide to Movies and Videos has to say about 1980’s “Cruising”: “Dishonest, offensive thriller with [Al] Pacino as homophobic undercover cop decked out in chains and leather to attract killer of homosexuals. Fails on all levels, regardless of viewers’ politics.” Two years later Hollywood tried the same formula again with “Partners.” From Blockbuster: “Straight cop [Ryan] O’Neal pretending to be gay in undercover murder investigation takes pointers from homosexual partner [John] Hurt. Witless.”
Don’t even get me started on The Village People’s “Can’t Stop The Music” from 1980. That one I did see, unfortunately. Even the SM scene in “Love! Valour! Compassion!” was (for me, anyway) a throwback to the bitchy and hurtful mind games of “Boys in the Band.” So I guess it’s not our time yet.
Maybe after a few more years of Leather Pride celebrations, some director (who might also happen to be a member of the leather community) will get a major Hollywood studio to green-light a film that treats our community with sensitivity and integrity. That will be a great day.
Upcoming Leather Events
Twin Cities Festival of Pride Parade
Sunday, June 29, intersection of Spruce Place and Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis. Parade steps off at Noon sharp, so be there by 11:45 a.m.
Remember, the parade route is different from years past, which necessitates different line-up procedures. Start at Spruce Place and Hennepin and follow the parade back until you find the leather contingent’s position (all positions will be clearly marked along the staging area). For more information and a map of the parade route, see page 63 of this year’s Pride Guide.
Minnesota Leather Pride Celebration
Sunday, June 29, 4-9 pm, Gay 90’s Dance Annex and Men’s Room
Free keg beer, sodas and food; door prizes and boot black. Help welcome home International Mr. Leather 1997, our own Kevin Cwayna. Admission $7, or $5 with 1997 Pride button. A collaborative effort of the Atons, Black Guard, MNBears, Knights of Leather and North Star Gay Rodeo Association.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
July 11-13: Great Northern Shindig and North Star Regional (Gay) Rodeo. Pride Special: Order your Rodeo package by Pride and save $3..
July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer and Drummerboy Contest at the Club Metro Underground. If you want to compete, call Colin Spriestersbach.
July 25-26: Grand Opening Celebration at the new Main Club in Superior, WI (which opened for business June 5).
Friday, June 6, 1997
He Did It! Kevin Cwayna Brings IML Sash Home To Minnesota
(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #53, June 6, 1997)
PHOTO: Kevin Cwayna, International Mr. Leather ’97
PHOTO CREDIT): Photo by Ken Binder
On Sunday, May 25, at the Congress Theater in Chicago, Mr. Minnesota Leather Kevin Cwayna became Minnesota’s first-ever international leather titleholder as he was named International Mr. Leather 1997. For those who, like me, doubted it would ever happen here — it just did. The adventure begins.
This year’s contest was the nineteenth and the biggest in the event’s history — more attendees (an estimated 5,000), more hotel rooms (in a record seven hotels), more vendors at the Leather Market. This year’s Internet simulcast added video streaming; web-surfers and news reporters from 26 countries connected and were able to converse live with judges, celebrities, and IML personnel. The British Broadcasting Corporation even sent a camera crew to cover the event for their “Gaytime” series. (Just for good measure, they also talked to two other groups that were spending the weekend in Chicago: the Bears and the conservative-Christian men’s group known as the Promise Keepers.)
The weekend’s events started Friday night with the introduction of judges, dignitaries, and 53 contestants from four countries and 24 states. It was your humble columnist’s perception that, when he was introduced, Cwayna received perhaps the best audience reaction of the evening — in much the same way that Joe Gallagher, International Mr. Leather 1996, seemed to be the audience favorite last year. I chalked it up to wishful thinking on my part. Everybody knows that the winners of these contests are usually from the East or West Coasts, and have the support of large sponsoring organizations who maneuver behind the scenes to make sure their guy wins. We have no such “grooming” organization in Minnesota, so we haven’t got a chance, right?
Wrong. Contestants are first judged on the basis of a private interview with the judges, and Cwayna evidently had a strong interview — strong enough that he was one of twenty finalists selected from the field of 53 contestants to advance to the next level of competition: speech, leather image, and the ever-popular “jock walk.”
At the contest on Sunday night the crowd roared its approval as Cwayna appeared in the “jock walk” portion of the contest. His speech connected with the audience better than any other contestant’s. Unfortunately, audience applause made his speech run over the 90-second time limit; the microphone was turned off and he didn’t get a chance to finish.
While the judges’ scores were being tabulated, comic Scott Thompson (as “Kids in the Hall” character Buddy Cole) entertained the crowd with musings on Gay Pride, relationships and AIDS testing. The best line of the evening was this bittersweet comeback directed at people (like the Promise Keepers, perhaps?) who would prefer to see gay people eradicated: “Let ’em try. After 15 years of AIDS, we’re tougher than cockroaches!”
(On the subject of entertainment: Earlier in the evening, Minnesota’s own Savage Aural Hotbed stunned the audience with their trademark brand of sparks-flying, drum-thumping, bass-booming music. When they finished, the audience sat a moment in incredulous silence before breaking into wild applause.)
It was time to announce the winners. Third place: Paul Zinser, sponsored by The L.U.R.E. Bar of New York City. Second place: an overjoyed Mr. Pistons Leather Mark Malan of Long Beach, California (who found out he would be competing three days before the contest!)
Then Cwayna was announced as the new International Mr. Leather, and the stage was engulfed in pandemonium. All three winners were besieged by a swarm of reporters, photographers and well-wishers. Cwayna’s beaming smile could probably be seen by ships on Lake Michigan. A BBC reporter respectfully shoved a microphone in his face and asked for his reaction, which was simply: “I’m truly surprised.”
You may get to see that historic moment, and lots of others, if and when PBS picks up the “Gaytime” series from the BBC. If you don’t want to wait that long, check out the contest’s web site: www.imrl.com. It may or may not have video clips available, but it certainly will feature some hot photos.
Sashless in Chicago
When the time came for IML ’96 Joe Gallagher to “pass the sash” to the new IML, there was one problem: nobody backstage knew where the sash was. Gallagher put the IML medal around Cwayna’s neck instead, and the festivities continued. (The sash has since been found.)
The lost sash was only one of many nasty little problems that seemed to plague the weekend. Gallagher’s last hurrah, Saturday night’s “Hometown Party,” was scheduled for 9:00 pm at a bar called “Fusion” (the former “Vortex”). At 11:00 pm, Gallagher himself finally announced that the microphones weren’t working properly and the event would therefore happen back in the lobby of the Congress Hotel. It was after midnight before the crowd had reassembled at the hotel and the roast got underway.
Other problems ranged from inadequate shuttle-bus service to 12-step recovery meetings that didn’t happen as scheduled. Don’t get me wrong: It was still a spectacular weekend and an impressive achievement for the organizers and volunteers who made it happen. The problems were more irritating than catastrophic. Some of them even struck me as humorous — but then, I wasn’t one of the people backstage frantically trying to find that sash.
The point is this: the weekend hasn’t had these kinds of problems before, or at least not as many. IML has generally run pretty smoothly. Some attendees were heard wondering if the contest has grown too big to be manageable. Let’s hope that’s not the case, and that next year’s 20th-anniversary contest is even bigger and has even fewer problems.
What Does It All Mean?
For Kevin Cwayna, it means a busy year ahead, and it means more frequent flier miles than he’ll know what to do with. Beyond that, it’s his choice. Cwayna has just been handed an international title; he must now figure out what he wants to do with it.
The same can be said for Minnesota’s leather community. In a sense, we’ve been handed a great opportunity for increased exposure and visibility. For the next year, the rest of the leather world will be focusing a certain amount of attention on Cwayna, and by extension on the rest of us here in Minnesota. We, as a community, need to figure out how we want to use this year, what we want to accomplish and how to make it happen.
What does it mean for the rest of us? Whatever we want it to mean. Think about that and, in the words of Mr. Cwayna, “Get proactive about what you want.”
Upcoming Leather Events
The Atons present “Daddy’s Day”
Sunday, June 15, 6-10 pm, The Saloon
Bring your daddy, bring your boy, bring your bear or cub! $6 cover includes free keg beer & sodas. Live appearance by porn star Logan Reed. Picnic lunch on the patio. And — for one time only, at this event — sign up for the Atons’ 25th-anniversary run and receive a $10 discount. For further information call the Atons.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Sunday, June 29: Leather Pride celebration at the Gay 90’s. Complete details next issue. BE THERE!
July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer and Drummerboy Contest at the Club Metro Underground. If you want to compete, call Colin Spriestersbach.
PHOTO: Kevin Cwayna, International Mr. Leather ’97
PHOTO CREDIT): Photo by Ken Binder
On Sunday, May 25, at the Congress Theater in Chicago, Mr. Minnesota Leather Kevin Cwayna became Minnesota’s first-ever international leather titleholder as he was named International Mr. Leather 1997. For those who, like me, doubted it would ever happen here — it just did. The adventure begins.
This year’s contest was the nineteenth and the biggest in the event’s history — more attendees (an estimated 5,000), more hotel rooms (in a record seven hotels), more vendors at the Leather Market. This year’s Internet simulcast added video streaming; web-surfers and news reporters from 26 countries connected and were able to converse live with judges, celebrities, and IML personnel. The British Broadcasting Corporation even sent a camera crew to cover the event for their “Gaytime” series. (Just for good measure, they also talked to two other groups that were spending the weekend in Chicago: the Bears and the conservative-Christian men’s group known as the Promise Keepers.)
The weekend’s events started Friday night with the introduction of judges, dignitaries, and 53 contestants from four countries and 24 states. It was your humble columnist’s perception that, when he was introduced, Cwayna received perhaps the best audience reaction of the evening — in much the same way that Joe Gallagher, International Mr. Leather 1996, seemed to be the audience favorite last year. I chalked it up to wishful thinking on my part. Everybody knows that the winners of these contests are usually from the East or West Coasts, and have the support of large sponsoring organizations who maneuver behind the scenes to make sure their guy wins. We have no such “grooming” organization in Minnesota, so we haven’t got a chance, right?
Wrong. Contestants are first judged on the basis of a private interview with the judges, and Cwayna evidently had a strong interview — strong enough that he was one of twenty finalists selected from the field of 53 contestants to advance to the next level of competition: speech, leather image, and the ever-popular “jock walk.”
At the contest on Sunday night the crowd roared its approval as Cwayna appeared in the “jock walk” portion of the contest. His speech connected with the audience better than any other contestant’s. Unfortunately, audience applause made his speech run over the 90-second time limit; the microphone was turned off and he didn’t get a chance to finish.
While the judges’ scores were being tabulated, comic Scott Thompson (as “Kids in the Hall” character Buddy Cole) entertained the crowd with musings on Gay Pride, relationships and AIDS testing. The best line of the evening was this bittersweet comeback directed at people (like the Promise Keepers, perhaps?) who would prefer to see gay people eradicated: “Let ’em try. After 15 years of AIDS, we’re tougher than cockroaches!”
(On the subject of entertainment: Earlier in the evening, Minnesota’s own Savage Aural Hotbed stunned the audience with their trademark brand of sparks-flying, drum-thumping, bass-booming music. When they finished, the audience sat a moment in incredulous silence before breaking into wild applause.)
It was time to announce the winners. Third place: Paul Zinser, sponsored by The L.U.R.E. Bar of New York City. Second place: an overjoyed Mr. Pistons Leather Mark Malan of Long Beach, California (who found out he would be competing three days before the contest!)
Then Cwayna was announced as the new International Mr. Leather, and the stage was engulfed in pandemonium. All three winners were besieged by a swarm of reporters, photographers and well-wishers. Cwayna’s beaming smile could probably be seen by ships on Lake Michigan. A BBC reporter respectfully shoved a microphone in his face and asked for his reaction, which was simply: “I’m truly surprised.”
You may get to see that historic moment, and lots of others, if and when PBS picks up the “Gaytime” series from the BBC. If you don’t want to wait that long, check out the contest’s web site: www.imrl.com. It may or may not have video clips available, but it certainly will feature some hot photos.
Sashless in Chicago
When the time came for IML ’96 Joe Gallagher to “pass the sash” to the new IML, there was one problem: nobody backstage knew where the sash was. Gallagher put the IML medal around Cwayna’s neck instead, and the festivities continued. (The sash has since been found.)
The lost sash was only one of many nasty little problems that seemed to plague the weekend. Gallagher’s last hurrah, Saturday night’s “Hometown Party,” was scheduled for 9:00 pm at a bar called “Fusion” (the former “Vortex”). At 11:00 pm, Gallagher himself finally announced that the microphones weren’t working properly and the event would therefore happen back in the lobby of the Congress Hotel. It was after midnight before the crowd had reassembled at the hotel and the roast got underway.
Other problems ranged from inadequate shuttle-bus service to 12-step recovery meetings that didn’t happen as scheduled. Don’t get me wrong: It was still a spectacular weekend and an impressive achievement for the organizers and volunteers who made it happen. The problems were more irritating than catastrophic. Some of them even struck me as humorous — but then, I wasn’t one of the people backstage frantically trying to find that sash.
The point is this: the weekend hasn’t had these kinds of problems before, or at least not as many. IML has generally run pretty smoothly. Some attendees were heard wondering if the contest has grown too big to be manageable. Let’s hope that’s not the case, and that next year’s 20th-anniversary contest is even bigger and has even fewer problems.
What Does It All Mean?
For Kevin Cwayna, it means a busy year ahead, and it means more frequent flier miles than he’ll know what to do with. Beyond that, it’s his choice. Cwayna has just been handed an international title; he must now figure out what he wants to do with it.
The same can be said for Minnesota’s leather community. In a sense, we’ve been handed a great opportunity for increased exposure and visibility. For the next year, the rest of the leather world will be focusing a certain amount of attention on Cwayna, and by extension on the rest of us here in Minnesota. We, as a community, need to figure out how we want to use this year, what we want to accomplish and how to make it happen.
What does it mean for the rest of us? Whatever we want it to mean. Think about that and, in the words of Mr. Cwayna, “Get proactive about what you want.”
Upcoming Leather Events
The Atons present “Daddy’s Day”
Sunday, June 15, 6-10 pm, The Saloon
Bring your daddy, bring your boy, bring your bear or cub! $6 cover includes free keg beer & sodas. Live appearance by porn star Logan Reed. Picnic lunch on the patio. And — for one time only, at this event — sign up for the Atons’ 25th-anniversary run and receive a $10 discount. For further information call the Atons.
Mark Your Calendar . . .
Sunday, June 29: Leather Pride celebration at the Gay 90’s. Complete details next issue. BE THERE!
July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer and Drummerboy Contest at the Club Metro Underground. If you want to compete, call Colin Spriestersbach.
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