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).

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.

Big Minnesota Presence at IML ’97

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #52, May 23, 1997)

PHOTO: Kevin Cwayna, Mr. Minnesota Leather ’97

PHOTO: Spriestersbach, Mr. Northwoods Leather ’96-’97

PHOTO: Thomas Smith, Mr. Kentucky Leather ’97
PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Volanti, Jr.


The International Mr. Leather contest happens this weekend in Chicago, and Minnesota will be represented as never before. This year’s show will see a record three contestants who live in the Twin Cities. In addition, Savage Aural Hotbed, the Twin Cities group whose music is a cross between percussion and power tools, will be a prominent part of the show’s entertainment. They’re inventive, they’re showy, they’re LOUD! And this weekend, Minnesota gets to share them with the entire leather world.

There are more than 50 contestants this year from all across the United States and Canada, and from Italy, France and England. Minnesota can lay claim to three: Mr. Minnesota Leather ’97 Kevin Cwayna, Mr. Northwoods Leather ’96-’97 Colin Spriestersbach, and (surprise!) Mr. Kentucky Leather ’97 Thomas Smith (who divides his time between Minneapolis and Elizabethtown, Kentucky). Incidentally, both Spriestersbach and Smith are members of the same leather club: the Black Guard.

The International Mr. Leather contest is now in its 19th year, and this year’s is by far the biggest yet. According to Bruce Barnes, IML’s logistics coordinator, the host hotel (the Congress) sold out in January; a record six overflow hotels have also sold out since then. The number of vendors in the Leather Mart has doubled from last year. (One of those vendors will be another Minnesota original, Wolf Productions, sellings “stocks and bondage” to the masses.) Expected attendance for the weekend is between 5,000 and 6,000.

In recent years other groups, most notably the Bears with their Bear Pride celebration, have met in Chicago concurrent with IML and there has been a certain amount of crossover. This year, while the leather community takes over the Congress Hotel and the Congress Theater, up to 125,000 members of the evangelical-fundamentalist Christian men’s group known as the Promise Keepers will be taking over Soldiers Field. (Various feminist groups will also be in town to picket and protest against the Promise Keepers.) There probably won’t be a lot of crossover happening here, but if it happens it will definitely be interesting.

* * * * *

Bravo Eros: An arousing time was had by all at the Atons’ recent “Eros: The Rites of Spring” party. If you weren’t there you missed a great time; if you were there, you’re probably looking forward eagerly to the Atons’ Halloween party. (Only five months to go!)

* * * * *

Non-competition Clause: W.I.L.L.O.W. Productions regretfully announces that, due to illness, Ms. Minnesota Leather ’97 Aalan Cameron will not be competing in the upcoming International Ms. Leather contest. According to the announcement, “All proceeds which have been raised will be donated to a charitable organization within the community.”

* * * * *

PHOTO: Milo Smith (19XX photo)

Passing: Milo Smith, formerly of the Twin Cities, died April 13, 1997 in Warsaw, Missouri due to complications of AIDS. Smith was an active member of the community: Black Swan Prince of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Ice Castle, a founder of the Cavern Dwellers Association, member of the Atons and Minnesota Leather Encounter, and a volunteer with the Leather Pride Committee. He was also a former member of MAFIA (Mid-America Fists In Action), Chicago. He is survived by his lover of 13 years, Greg Speak.

Upcoming Leather Events

The Atons present “In The Navy”
Sunday, May 25, 5-9 pm, Gay 90’s Men’s Room Bar



In honor of Memorial Day weekend. $8 admission ($5 with military attire) includes beer and sodas; “Bargain American Lunch” for an additional $2. Announced entertainment feature: “War Games.”

Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament Nine
Friday, May 30-Sunday, June 1



Uniforms are the theme of this year’s Tournament, and registrations are still being accepted. For more information: write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis MN.

Mark Your Calendar . . .

Sunday, June 15: Atons Daddy’s Day celebration at The Saloon.

Sunday, June 29: Leather Pride celebration at the Gay 90’s.

July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer and Drummerboy Contest at the Club Metro Underground. If you want to compete, call Colin Spriestersbach.

Respectful Rebellion

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #51, May 9, 1997)

The recent Lavender Forum session dealing with SM attracted people from many different, and often overlapping, communities: leather and non-leather, BD/SM and non-BD/SM, transsexual, bisexual, feminist. Such a diverse group representing so many points of view could have made for a contentious evening, but for the most part the atmosphere around the table was respectful and educational instead of confrontational.

Consciousness was raised on several BD/SM community issues, one of which had to do with consensuality and boundaries. Negotiating a scene is more than the bottom telling the top, “I want you to do this, and you may do this, but you may not do that.” Sometimes it’s assumed that the top will do anything the bottom wants done; if not, s/he is a bad top. The point was made (and I think it bears repeating in this space) that tops are also allowed to set boundaries of their own. If a top doesn’t feel comfortable doing something, it is perfectly within his/her rights to speak up about it.

The discussion also took the concept of consent and boundaries to a society-wide level: specifically, what issues are involved when BD/SM and non-BD/SM people share public spaces? The assertion was made that some people outside the BD/SM community are offended by representations of BD/SM culture, and that a few people in the BD/SM community seem to take delight in offending people outside the community. On the other hand, leather/BD/SM is by definition a rebellion against some aspects of “normal” society’s sexual codes. When are members of the BD/SM community just being themselves, and when do they cross the line and become inappropriate? Who has the privilege of defining what “inappropriate” means?

The response of several people in leather was that our community is for the most part self-policing; if a community member is acting inappropriately, other community members will generally take them aside and tell them to clean up their act. The respect around which SM revolves should extend to the larger non/SM community (even if that respect is sometimes not reciprocated).

In closing, here’s a very respectful “thank-you” to everyone who attended the forum.

* * * * *

Larry Everett suffers burns in house fire

PHOTO: Larry Everett, International Mr. Leather ’95

International Mr. Leather ’95 Larry Everett, of Oklahoma City, recently suffered second- and third-degree burns in a recent early-morning electrical fire that also destroyed most of his home and personal possessions. At this writing I have been unable to contact him personally for more information, but according to The Leather Journal he will be unable to work for a considerable period of time. At the time of the fire he had no home or medical insurance.

In true leather-community fashion, across the country a massive ad hoc fundraising campaign started almost overnight; to date, several thousand dollars have been raised. (Contributions—of whatever size—can be sent to Larry.) To Larry Everett, who did a great job as IML ’95 and continues to be active in the community: best wishes from this columnist for a speedy recovery!

Upcoming Leather Events

May 30-June 1: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament Nine. This year’s theme: uniforms! The site, a private camp within a 16,000 acre wooded state park, includes cabins with military bunks. Weekend events include opening ceremonies, presentation of colors, workshops, demonstrations, fantasies and a “uniform banquet fit for officers.” Dungeon space is available all weekend. For more information: write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis MN.

July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer and Drummerboy Contest at the Club Metro Underground. Current International Mr. Drummer Kyle Brandon will be here as well as management from Drummer Magazine in San Francisco. If you want to compete, call, Colin Spriestersbach.

Lavender Forum—SM: It’s About Respect, Not Abuse

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #50, April 25, 1997)

Is SM: A) a sexual orientation, or is it B) a system of internalized violence?

The answer is: C) Neither of the above.

Is SM a sexual orientation? No, at least not in the way the words “sexual orientation” are generally used these days. The SM community refers to itself as “pansexual” because it is made up of members of every sexual orientation: lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, queer, and straight. (It is worth pointing out, however, that just because the community is pansexual doesn’t necessarily mean an individual member is pansexual.)

To understand why SM is not a “system of internalized violence” requires a closer look at SM is about—and what it isn’t. Imagine three groups of three people each. In each group, one person is being flogged by the other two. A person unacquainted with the dynamics involved in SM situations might see exactly the same thing happening in all three groups. Yet one of the groups is involved in SM, and the other two are not. What’s the difference?

The motivating forces behind the SM group’s actions are respect, trust, and love. The person being flogged asked the other two people to flog him because she or he respects them, trusts them and knows it will be pleasurable to be flogged by them. The floggers, in turn, love and respect the person they are flogging and are pleased that they can help this person achieve pleasure.

Notice that everyone in this group is being motivated by the same forces: respect, trust and love. There is no conflict here. This mutuality is the reason why SM scenes can be so powerful and so pleasurable for all concerned. This is how and why SM sex can be described by the SM community’s mantra: “Safe, sane, and consensual.” Because of the respect and love every group member feels for each other and for themselves, none of them would want to do something unsafe or insane which might endanger anyone. Because every group member trusts the other members and trusts themself, consensuality is possible.

Now let’s look at the second group, where the picture isn’t quite the same. Here, instead of unity of purpose, there is conflict. The two people doing the flogging are motivated by anger, hatred, and vengeance. They want to damage the person they’re flogging. The person being flogged did not ask for the flogging and does not want to be injured. This person is feeling threatened and fearful. Attacker does not respect victim, victim does not trust attacker. This is violence. This is abusive. This is not SM.

In the third group, the person being flogged asked for it. But he asked for it because his self-image is so poor he feels he deserves to be abused. While he may or may not respect the people he asked to flog him, he doesn’t respect himself. This, then, is internalized violence, but it’s not about SM. This is about martyrdom.

Some people may find SM offensive because they have been on the receiving end of abusive or violent behavior, and they may mistakenly associate SM with what they endured. They might be surprised to find that many members of the leather/SM community are also survivors of sexual abuse, childhood abuse, or domestic violence. These community members have found SM to be helpful in learning to trust again, and in reclaiming their personal power and self-respect.

The hallmark of SM is respect for oneself and others. But respect, or the lack thereof, is not easy for a casual onlooker to judge. Therefore, casual onlookers who think SM is degenerate and who therefore want to avoid it (and its practitioners) may try to find a more visible marker. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work very well. The big butch stud dressed head-to-toe in leather may not be into SM at all. Not all leatherfolk are into SM, and not all SM players are into leather. Just as you can’t always tell who’s gay and who’s straight by looking, you can’t always tell who’s kinky and who’s not by looking. You can’t always judge a sexual situation by looking, either.

Saying that SM “represents a system of internalized violence” is the same as Outpost saying that gay sex is a sin, a perversion and an abomination in the eyes of God. In each case, the person casting disapproval on certain sexual practices may be trying to deal with their own fears by projecting them onto others. If you think SM sex is violent and therefore people in leather make you fearful, ask yourself why—it may be your own capacity for violence you really fear.

deLeon is Mr. MN Fantasy ’97

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #50, April 25, 1997)

PHOTO: Michael deLeon and Philip Oakes

In a very close contest Michael deLeon won his second leather title at the Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1997 contest held Sunday, April 13 at The Saloon; Philip Oakes was runner-up.

Current International Mr. Fantasy Kevin Watson and his partner Thom Sloan traveled all the way from Albuquerque for this event, for which Sloan served as tallymaster and Watson as a judge. In addition, Watson and troy (Minnesota Drummerboy 1994, Great Lakes Drummerboy 1995) presented a fantasy featuring sleight-of-hand, or more correctly sleight-of-fist. Contest producer and Master of ceremonies Dale Willman (Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1995) jazzed up the door prize drawings by turning them into an episode of “Let’s Make a Deal.”

There were only two contestants this year, but they were two great contestants. That made for an consistently entertaining evening—and some very tough decisions for the judging panel. Oakes was a strong competitor with good stage presence. His men’s room fantasy was simply but powerfully staged and was charged with erotic energy—the kind of erotic energy which should be on display in his upcoming Catalina video (he goes before the cameras in May). This may have been his first leather contest, but I certainly hope it’s not his last.

Michael deLeon is a founding member of Ballet of the Dolls and an owner of Wolf Productions, makers of heavy-metal bondage and fetish equipment. His spectacular industrial-strength fantasy brought all these elements together with impressive results. deLeon, who is also Mr. Minnesota Leather 1996, now goes on to compete in the International Mr. Fantasy contest in Omaha in mid-August. (Hello to my readers in Nebraska! Of course I’m planning to make the trek to Omaha for Fantasy Weekend. See you then!)

* * * * *

I always enjoy it when the Twin Cities Gay Mens Chorus does leather-themed material. Their recent concert opened with a suite from Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”; this is music around which some wonderful leather fantasy performances have been built. Then, in Out Loud’s segment, we were treated to some hot Latin dance moves—including Tom Lehrer’s “Masochism Tango”! (To the gentleman in the harness: You wear it very well. If you wanted to wear it more often, we wouldn’t mind at all.)

* * * * *

Elsewhere in this magazine is a feature called Lavender Forum. Every issue a topic of community debate is presented, with various people discussing the issue in print. The Monday after the magazine comes out a group discussion is held at a local coffeeshop.

I wrote one of the viewpoints for this issue’s Lavender Forum topic: “Is SM a sexual orientation, or is it an internalized system of violence?” I invite you to read this issue’s Lavender Forum. Then I invite you to show up at Anodyne@43rd, 4301 Nicollet Ave. S., on Monday, April 28 at 7:00 pm and participate in the community forum.

I have a fantasy regarding this event. In my fantasy, so many people show up in leather that we can’t all fit in the coffeeshop. Furthermore, everyone gets a turn at the microphone so they can say why they were attracted to leather and/or SM in the first place, and what it means to them now.

The point of this fantasy is not necessarily to change the minds of the people on the other side of the issue. I think it’s to our benefit to think about why we value this lifestyle and this community, and it’s to our benefit to have a forum where we can share our thoughts. If we spend a little time in contemplation, some of us may feel a certain amount of pride in who we are and what we’ve become, and some of us may find ourselves feeling grateful we’re in leather. Pride and gratitude are good things to feel.

Upcoming Leather Events

Lavender Forum Public Discussion
Monday, April 28, 7 pm, Anodyne@43rd (4301 Nicollet Ave.S.)
See this column for more details.

Other Upcoming Events

May 30-June 1: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament Nine. This year’s theme: uniforms! The site, a private camp within a 16,000 acre wooded state park, includes cabins with military bunks. Weekend events include opening ceremonies, presentation of colors, workshops, demonstrations, fantasies and a “uniform banquet fit for officers.” Dungeon space is available all weekend. For more information: write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis MN.

July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer and Drummerboy Contest at the Club Metro Underground. Current International Mr. Drummer Kyle Brandon will be here as well as management from Drummer Magazine in San Francisco.

Donnie Russo: In His Own Words, Part 2

(Published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #49, April 11, 1997)

PHOTO: Donnie Russo

Photo by Ken Binder

Here’s more of our conversation with adult-video megastar Donnie Russo, continued from last issue.

His films: I don’t know how many movies I’ve made, probably about 300 now. The movies I’ve done for my own company—those were my fantasies, basically, and I love people coming into my world. And you call me sick, degenerate, kinky, however people label it—it’s just that I know how to express myself, and I have no qualms about it, no reservations. I don’t look at sex as being dirty or perverted. Even bondage, watersports, or even scat—if you’re into it, you’re into it, and that’s your prerogative, you know, and you have a choice. I was able to employ my emotions and my fantasies and then allow people to view them. And that’s where I did very well, because my realism came across.

Even in my normal life off the screen it’s no different. It’s not that every guy I come home with I piss on, or he pisses on me, or we get into a bondage scene or leather or uniforms. Sometimes it’s just about making love. It’s trial and error. Some people don’t like spitting—I do, I get off on it. You gotta try it before you knock it. I hate it when people say, “Omigod, how can you do that?” Have you ever tried it? If not, then you’re not an authority to even speak on it.

Work ethic: When I’m in front of the camera I give my all. Like I always tell every guy I film: It’s up to you how you want to come across. If you go out drinking and getting stoned the night before a shoot, it’s gonna show the next day. That’s not fair to the people who you’re gonna be with or to the people who watch the films. If you’re just doing it for the money, just go out in the street—it’s easier. Seriously.

Safe sex: I always fuck with a rubber now. I believe we’ve all been exposed to HIV and the AIDS virus, and it’s just how the body responds to it. I mean, I’m not old, but I’ve been sexually active probably for at least 24 years. In 24 years, especially coming out in 1977 and 1978, and fucking around in the early 80’s until it was really brought to our attention—I just feel we’ve all been exposed, there’s not one of us that hasn’t. I’m negative, but I always act like I’m positive. You have to—each and every one of us has to. Just because your statistics show negative, that doesn’t mean nuthin.’

Longevity: I’ve lasted a long time in the porn industry, and I’ve lasted a longer time in the community. You figure I’ve been at least a good 17 years working in the clubs in New York. Last summer a kid stopped me on the street and said, “Hey Dinosaur!” So I said to him, “Excuse me??” And he said, “Hey Dinosaur!” And I said, “I beg your pardon, who the fuck are you callin’ Dinosaur?” He said, “You, because you are one. Don’t take it wrong, I’m a dinosaur too.” He says, “You know, you’ve lasted, you’re around. I remember you as a kid, man, and that’s why I call you a dinosaur. I don’t remember too many people ’round here, ’cause they ain’t around no more to remember.”

And all of a sudden reality comes into play, and it’s like, wow. Seventeen years later, man, and I remember. I got pictures of me, sixteen, seventeen years old on the corner of Christopher Street. And I’m still here.

Aging and change: I got pictures of me at home, and people go “Who’s that?” And I tell them that’s me, and they fuckin’ fall over! I mean, I looked totally different. My hair was halfway down my back, my waist was 24 inches. You would not recognize me. Age came into play and grabbed me. It’s so weird to think of all the people who coached me all these years and said “Oh, don’t worry, wait until you hit this age, you’re going to start gaining weight.” And all of a sudden, I did. I grew out of my boyhood and went into my manhood. And I often reflect on that when I see myself on the films. You’re caught in time. And people, if they never bought another film and they have a film from six years ago, they’re going to fantasize about him. They’re fantasizing about that guy on the screen, and if they meet me now, it’s like two different people.

Even today at the signing (at Rainbow Road), I was looking at all these old videos, and it’s such a throwback. You’re immortalized, you’re totally immortalized. Why me? I would never dream of this ten years ago. I would have been like, “Yeah, sure.” It’s so spooky.

Personal philosophy: I have my own ethics and my own way of life, and I look at life totally different than most people. I see death every day of my life, and I understand how short life is, because I walk downstairs in the funeral home (as was explained last issue, Donnie and his family are in the funeral business, and he lives above the funeral home) and I see babies, children, adults, middle-aged, elderly, and so forth. So my perception of life is that it can be over quick, just like that. So enjoy it, keep it simple, be yourself, have fun. You’re dead longer than you’re alive.

Upcoming Leather Events

Mr. Minnesota Fantasy Weekend ’97:

Leather Meet & Greet
Saturday, April 12, 9 pm-1 am, Gay 90’s Men’s Room Bar


Contest and Show
Sunday, April 13, 6-10 pm, The Saloon
Meet the contestants and current International Mr. Fantasy Kevin Watson on Saturday night. On Sunday, this year’s contestants put it all on the line—who will be judged the hottest man with the hottest fantasy? (And who will win the weekend packages to the International Mr. Leather and International Mr. Fantasy weekends which are being given away?) Come and see.

Community Fundraiser
Sunday, April 20, 4-9 pm, The Saloon
Hosted by Mr. Northwoods ’97 Colin Spriestersbach; proceeds benefit Queer Street Patrol and B.D. Chambers’ participation in the Minneapolis-to-Chicago AIDS Ride. Community organization booths, artist exhibits, 10 cards, raffles, prizes.

Other Upcoming Events

May 22-26: International Mr. Leather Weekend, Chicago. It’ll be here before you know it. For information, or to charge tickets, call 1-800-545-6753 or e-mail to info@IMrL.com. Visit their comprehensive web site at www.IMrL.com, featuring everything you ever wanted to know about the contest. While you’re there check out the pix of this year’s contestants, including our own Mr. Minnesota Leather ’97 Kevin Cwayna.

May 30-June 1: The Knights of Leather present Knights Tournament Nine. This year’s theme: uniforms! For more information, write Knights of Leather, Minneapolis MN.

July 18-19: Mr. Minnesota Drummer Contest. Details next issue.