The Leather Agenda 2009

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #368, July 3, 2009)

Contestant Speeches at International Mr. Leather

Every year at the International Mr. Leather contest, each of the top 20 semifinalists presents a 90-second speech on a topic of their choosing. The topics of these speeches can be viewed as a statement of the leather community’s current agenda.

This year’s topics included activism, safe sex and HIV, and uniting Old Guard/New Guard and other factions of the leather/BDSM/fetish community. Several contestants spoke about being proud and visible. Donal Heath (Mr. Eagle London 2008/2009) quoted a line from Star Trek character Captain Jean-Luc Picard: “If we are to be damned, let us be damned for who we really are.”

Appropriate for an international contest, Ken Hearst (Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2009) called out to “our brothers and sisters” in Egypt, Iran, Russia, and other places where sexual freedom and diversity are not celebrated: ”Their day of sexual freedom is coming, and they are not alone in this journey.”

Mike Lunter (Mr. Missouri Leather 2009) spoke of his own aging process and encouraged the crowd to “celebrate every age.” Brendon McGovern (Mr. Leather Ottawa 2009), one of this year’s younger contestants who went on to be named first runner-up, thanked those who “have been fighting for years, for decades, for the rights of our community. And I want you to teach me and others how we can be better fighters” for those rights.

But the most talked-about issue this year was the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Brandon Clark (Mr. San Francisco Leather 2009), whose military career was affected by the policy, said that since the policy’s implementation “over 12,000 gays and lesbians have been discharged, making it the only law in the United States that mandates firing based solely on sexual orientation.” Ammar Houssamo (Mr. Chicago Leather 2009), who served in the army in his native Syria, is now partnered with a man who was discharged from the U.S. Army for being gay. Rick Russell (Mr. Bolt Leather 2009), a 20-year military man, ended his speech by saying, “President Barack Obama, we must, today, repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

Jeffrey Payne (Mr. Texas Leather 2009), who became the new International Mr. Leather, told how important leather-community support had been as he survived Hurricane Katrina four years ago; as he discovered he was HIV-positive one year ago; and, three weeks before the IML contest, as he was told that his ability to hear the spoken word would cease to exist in a few years. “This news has only reaffirmed my understanding of our leather culture—because we do not listen to our journeys with our ears. We listen to our journey with our hearts, and I will always be able to hear you.”

International Mr. Leather 2009

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #367, June 19, 2009)

First, the statistics: Over 15,000 people partied in Chicago at the 31st annual International Mr. Leather (IML) contest Memorial Day weekend (Thursday, May 22-Monday, May 26). The competition included 54 contestants from 26 states and six countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom and United States). Contestants ranged in age from 20-something to 60-something. The IML Leather Market featured 120 vendors.

Now, the photos:

(1) Thursday’s contestant introduction ceremony opened with a procession of contestants’ national and state flags. Shown here is David Gevaert, Mr. Fetish Boots Belgium, waving the Belgian flag.

(2) Some of this year’s IML contestants during the introduction ceremonies.

(3) Host hotel for the weekend was The Chicago Hilton, which for the weekend became the world’s largest leather bar.

(4) Also part of the weekend was the 17th annual International Mr. Bootblack competition. Six bootblacks competed for the title. Shown here shining boots is Greg McDowell (aka “McG”), who competed as Bootblack Toronto. McDowell went on to win the International Mr. Bootblack 2009 title.

(5) This year, for the first time, the Pantheon of Leather Community Service Awards were presented during IML weekend. 34 awards were presented to winners chosen from 343 nominees.

(6) A group of contestants wearing as little as possible during Saturday evening’s “Pecs & Personality” Physique Prejudging event.

(7) Entertainment at Sunday night’s Contest and Show was provided by legendary singer/songwriter/diva Linda Clifford. Also featured was “Madame with an E,” another legendary diva.

(8, 9, 10) The top 20 IML semifinalists strutted their stuff. Shown here: Ken Hearst, Mr. L.A. Leather 2009; Mike Lunter, Mr. Missouri Leather 2009; and Alan Penrod, Mr. Atlanta Eagle 2009.

(11) And the winners are: from left, IML second runner-up, Alan Penrod, Mr. Atlanta Eagle 2009; the new International Mr. Leather 2009 Jeffrey Payne, who competed as Mr. Texas Leather 2009; and IML first runner-up Brendan McGovern, Mr. Leather Ottawa (Canada) 2009.

(For many more photos of IML 2009 visit <gallery.me.com/leatherlife>.)

PHOTO CREDIT INFORMATION:

Photos 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10: Marric Photography

Photos 2, 3(vert), 3alt(horiz), 5, 6, 11: Steve Lenius

Minnesota Leather Pride 2009: “United Colors of Leather”

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #366, June 5, 2009)

GRAPHIC: “United Colors of Leather” dogtag

“United Colors of Leather” is the theme of Minnesota Leather Pride 2009. A full schedule of Minnesota Leather Pride events starts June 13 and continues up to the Twin Cities GLBT Pride Festival on June 27 and 28.

The 2009 collectible “United Colors of Leather” Leather Pride dog tag gets you discounts at some of this year’s Minnesota Leather Pride events. Get yours for $5 (until June 26) at participating businesses (listed at <www.MNLeatherPride.org>). Or buy your dog tag from members of the Minnesota Leather Pride committee at upcoming club meetings and munches and at all 2009 Minnesota Leather Pride events. After June 26, dog tags will be available for $7 at the Minnesota Leather Pride booth in Loring Park during the Pride Festival—if they haven’t sold out by then.

Organizational sponsors for this year’s Minnesota Leather Pride celebration are Atons of Minneapolis, Confidential Croquet Club, D/s Minnesota, Knights of Leather, Masters And slaves Together (MAsT)-Twin Cities, MinKY (Minnesota Kinky Youth), Minnesota Storm Patrol, MPX (Minnesota Power Exchange), MSDB (Minnesota Stocks, Debentures & Bonds), PEPRMNT (People Exchanging Power Respectfully in Minnesota Together) and TIES (Tremendously Intense Erotic Situations).

Information listed below is subject to change (and at my early deadline some of the details were still pending). For complete and updated event information visit <www.MNLeatherPride.org>.

Saturday, June 13

• Minnesota Storm Patrol Beer Bust at The Minneapolis Eagle, 5-8 P.M. Free admission, $5 for beer/soda bust.

• Atons Leather/Levi Dinner at The Strip Club, 378 Maria Ave., St. Paul. 6:30 P.M. Reservations strongly encouraged—reserve online at <eventbrite.com> (search for “Atons”—or find a link at <atons.net>).

Thursday, June 18

• PEPRMNT Munch/Discussion. Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, 2801 N. Snelling Ave., Roseville. Dinner 6:30 P.M. (order off the menu), followed by a spirited discussion 8-9 P.M. (topic to be announced).

Friday, June 19

• Leather Titles Workshop. Are you interested in competing for the soon-to-be-revived Mr. or Ms Minnesota Leather title, or another leather/fetish title? Or maybe you’re just curious about the world of leather contests, titles and sashes. Several current and former titleholders, and even a few contest judges, will be there to explain what’s involved in competing in a leather contest and holding a leather title. (Location and time still pending.)

Sunday, June 21

• Workshop: “Black and Blue and Red all over” (spanking and impact play). Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S., Minneapolis. 1-3 P.M. Admission charge at door, discount with 2009 MN Leather Pride dog tag.

Monday, June 23

• BDSM Creative Collective 2009 (2nd annual) Anthology of Poetry, Art and Short Fiction. A reading and art show at Smitten Kitten, 3010 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis. 7 P.M. Free admission.

Thursday, June 25

• Smoke Out. Cigar/pipe social on the patio of The Minneapolis Eagle, Bolt and Bolt Underground. 9 P.M.-midnight. Free admission.

Friday, June 26

• Floggapalooza. It’s become a tradition. Minneapolis Eagle, Bolt and Bolt Underground, 8 P.M. Free admission.

Saturday, June 27

• GLBT Pride Festival in Loring Park. Visit, or hang out at, the Leather Pride booth. 10 A.M.-6 P.M. Free admission. Buy your dog tag at the booth if you don’t have one yet ($7).

Sunday, June 28

• Rainbow Flag Decommissioning/Initiation Ceremony. Not strictly a leather event—but if you saw (or participated in) last year’s Leather Pride flag decommissioning/initiation ceremony, you’ll want to see this year’s ceremony for the old and new rainbow flags. Parade Grandstand, 8th and Hennepin (time still pending).

• Pride Parade. Help carry the giant Leather Pride flag up Hennepin Avenue and to Loring Park. Gather at 3rd St. and Hennepin Ave. starting at 10:30 A.M. (or after the Rainbow Flag ceremony)—parade steps off at 11 A.M. Then spend the day in Loring Park, and be sure to drop by the Leather Pride booth (10 A.M.-6 P.M.).

MinKY (Minnesota Kinky Youth) Munch (details still pending).

Also during Pride Weekend, The Minneapolis Eagle will be presenting Scorch Fireball X. (For more information about the events below, visit <www.MinneapolisEagle.com>.)

• Ignition (Friday): The parking lot opens Friday afternoon and stays open all weekend until closing time Sunday night. Friday evening, experience Floggapalooza in the Bolt Underground (see above).

• Blaze (Saturday): Colt models, live and in person Saturday evening, turn up the heat.

• Afterburn (Sunday): Live music by Boogie Wonderland in the Bolt Underground.

2009 Minnesota Leather Pride dog tag (front)

2009 Minnesota Leather Pride dog tag (back)

The Leather Life Interview:/Rick Burgess, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2009

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #365, May 22, 2009)

PHOTO

Rick Burgess has made several appearances in this column recently. He was mentioned as first runner-up in my coverage of the Mr. Minneapolis Eagle contest in 2007. More recently, as a guest “Leather Life” columnist, he wrote about his experiences as a pledge, or provisional member, of The Atons of Minneapolis.

Now, after competing for the title a second time, Burgess is Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2009. That means he will be competing in this year’s International Mr. Leather contest, Memorial Day weekend in Chicago (the same weekend this edition of Lavender hits the streets.) In order to get this interview into the magazine before this year’s IML contest, I had to interview Burgess by telephone from Connecticut:

What are you doing in Connecticut? I work for a medical device company, and we have a facility here in New England.

What do you do for the medical device company? I’m a microbiologist. That sounds impressive. How and why did you become a microbiologist? Purely by accident. I went to college and got a degree in poultry science, and worked in the poultry industry for a number of years. Then I decided I absolutely hated chickens, I hated chicken farms, and I wanted out. I had an opportunity to go to work for a medical device company in Texas, and that was my leap into the private medical device sector. Since then I’ve worked for medical device companies as a microbiologist in Indiana and Minnesota.

Where did you get your degree in chicken farming? Texas A&M University. What were you doing in Texas? I was born and raised in the Corpus Christi area. I moved away for college and somehow never quite made it back there, and have definitely learned to appreciate the beach a lot more now that I don’t live there.

Tell me about coming out, first as GLBT and then as leather. I came out to basically everyone except for my family in about 2000. It was one of those situations where being from a small town in Texas was not necessarily easy, and once I moved away from my hometown it got much easier to recreate an identity—to actually be myself and not worry too much about suddenly losing every friend I ever had.

I came out to my family in about 2002, and it was a very odd situation. I told my mother, and she said, “Well, do you think your brother and I are stupid?” From there, if you get the PFLAG handbook of all the different stages of grieving, she went through every stage. Then, after not a horribly long time, she came to accept it. My father’s response was, “Don’t guess you’ll ever get married.”

Coming out as leather was a little later. It was after I’d moved to Minnesota, so it probably would have been about 2006. That was a little bit more precarious, I thought—hearing the horror stories of the past, of people having lost their job as a result of coming out as leather and leading a kinky lifestyle. And then in 2007 I just finally said, “You know what? This is who I am, I don’t really care who knows, and if someone has an issue with it, then they can take that up with me.” So I kinda completely kicked the door down at that point.

How long have you and your partner Mark been together? Almost two years. How do you two define your relationship? Fill in the blank: Mark is your—what? Mark is my—a lot of things. I think, first and foremost, he’s my partner. He’s my best friend. And beyond that, he’s my boy.

You were in the Mr. Minneapolis Eagle contest two years ago before competing again this year. What was different the second time around? Probably the biggest thing was the self-confidence that came with having been out as a leatherman for a few years, and really having gotten to know myself as a leatherman, and getting to know more of the community as well.

Are you ready for IML? Is there anything you still feel you need to do, or could you go tomorrow? I think if I went tomorrow I would be fairly well prepared. I still have a few things to do, such as doing some more research on the judges. It’s a very diverse panel of judges, many of whom have experiences and interests that are different from mine. I’m just trying to figure out a little bit more about them, and trying to do that second-guessing of what kinds of questions they’re going to be asking.

Other than researching the judges, how else have you been preparing? I’ve been doing a fair amount of reading. There are facets of the lifestyle that, for me, are still waiting to be discovered—and, you know, there’s always something new to try.

What do you expect to gain from IML as a contestant? I think the IML experience is more than just going there to win. It’s about getting to know members of the leather family from across the globe and, hopefully, making some lasting friendships out of it.

The Cockpit Project, Version 2.0

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #364, May 8, 2009)

The Cockpit Project, the Minneapolis retailer of “luxury leather & latex” goods, has new ownership. Opened in June, 2001, ownership was transferred on March 1, 2009, to a company (Minneapolis Hardware Company, LLC) of which Scott Larson is the CEO.

In addition to new ownership, The Cockpit Project has a new address: 2321 Hennepin Ave. S., not too far away from the store’s previous location. (A grand opening party in the new space was held April 30.) Your humble columnist always thought the store’s previous space had a sleek European atmosphere. The new store is different—ceilings are higher, lighting is more dramatic, music is playing (not too loudly), store fixtures are taller and hold more merchandise, and several video screens are visible from anywhere in the store.

And yet, you still know you’re in The Cockpit Project.

I recently spoke with Larson about the changes going on at The Cockpit Project. He told me he wanted the new space to have an approachable, relaxed, fun vibe that encourages shoppers to take their time and feel comfortable: “We’ve put park benches out in front of the windows, so people can actually mingle, hang out and enjoy the summer. There’s lots of traffic on Hennepin Avenue, lots of people going by on bikes and skateboards, getting stopped at the stoplight and they kinda cruise. My staff loves it.” The dressing rooms resemble jail cells, and Larson says people have come in and had their pictures taken in them.

The new space holds a renewed and expanded merchandise mix with more options. The amount of leather and fetishwear has been expanded, and the new store also carries jeans, t-shirts, and other clothing items. New labels, brands and merchandise lines have been added, including Tom of Finland clothing (check out their zip-up-the-back jeans), OxBallsUSA, Colt, Doc Martens, and a line of underwear called Dirty Fukker. Items that aren’t in the store can be special-ordered and received quickly.

Larson is always on the lookout for new items to add to the store’s offerings. “There’s no limit to where the store could go, but I don’t intend to become a fashion store. So you’re not going to see me carrying Tommy Hilfiger or Polo, unless they get into leather, unless they come up with something really unique and fun that fits the image—then we’ll think about it.”

The Cockpit Project is expanding its own line of signature merchandise, including t-shirts, tank tops and vests, and is creating its own line of watches, jewelry, accessories and sunglasses. A new line of Cockpit Project jocks and underwear will be manufactured in New York. According to Larson, “The manufacturing is done by people with disabilities, namely HIV/AIDS. So it may be a little bit more pricey, but you’ll know the money is going where it needs to go, giving an opportunity to people who need it.”

The store plans to start offering custom work in the form of a three-hour “Build Your Own Harness” program: First, choose from many different styles of straps, rings, snaps, buckles and other hardware. Come back an hour later for a fitting and rough assembly, then come back two hours later and the harness will be ready to go. Major alterations on other merchandise will be handled by Shoe-A-New, conveniently located in the same block of Hennepin Avenue.

Larson was born and raised in Minnesota and is no stranger to retailing, having worked at Dayton’s “many, many years ago.” He has been involved with the leather scene in Houston, Atlanta and San Francisco, working as a bartender, bar manager and restaurant manager.

Does Larson have plans for expanding The Cockpit Project to other locations, perhaps to other cities? Although he didn’t want to say too much about this, he did mention a few expansion possibilities, including Phoenix, San Diego, Chicago and Denver.

One thing Larson has expanded right away is The Cockpit Project’s hours. The store now is open 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 P.M. on Sunday. While the store technically is closed on Monday, it offers by-appointment shopping—reserve a time and pay a deposit toward your purchases, and for 90 minutes you will have the complete devotion of The Cockpit Project’s friendly and helpful staff.

PHOTO: Scott Larson, standing in The Cockpit Project’s new store on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis.

The Tenth Edition: Mr. Minneapolis Eagle Contest

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #363, April 24, 2009)

Old, stereotypical joke: What do big, butch, tough leathermen talk about at the leather bar? They exchange recipes.

In that spirit, here’s a recipe for a particularly tasty concoction: the tenth edition of the Mr. Minneapolis Eagle contest, held Saturday night, April 11, in the Bolt Underground.

1. Take six diverse contestants (Robert Ashpole, Bradley Gavin, Bill Devine, Jon Plemons, Rick Burgess, and Jay Kurvers). Place in front of four judges (Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2007 Dan Beach, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2003 Gregg White, Sam Carlisle, and your humble columnist). Grill mercilessly.

2. Add a large, enthusiastic audience and a well-seasoned master of ceremonies (Brian Anderson—this was his fifth time emceeing the contest). Turn heat to high as contestants compete onstage in Keg Walk, Speech/Q&A and Truth-or-Dare contest segments.

3. Finish by adding one combination contest producer/tallymaster (Minneapolis Eagle owner Ed Hopkins) to add up the judges’ scores.

Yield: One second runner-up (Plemons); one first runner-up (Ashpole); one new Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2009 (Burgess); and one hot, entertaining evening for all present.

(Burgess now goes on to compete at the 2009 International Mr. Leather contest, Memorial Day weekend in Chicago—details at <www.imrl.com>.)

7 photos

DSC_3700 / Credit: Marric Photography / Robert Ashpole

DSC_3704 / Credit: Marric Photography / Bradley Gavin

P4112426 / Credit: Steve Lenius / Bill Devine

DSC_3711 / Credit: Marric Photography / Jon Plemons

DSC_3715 / Credit: Marric Photography / Rick Burgess

DSC_3723 / Credit: Marric Photography / Jay Kurvers

DSC_3854 / Credit: Marric Photography

DSC_3858 / Credit: Marric Photography

P4122531 / Credit: Steve Lenius

Rick Burgess, the new Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2009.

The Leather Life Interview, Part 2: Gary Iriza, International Mr. Leather 2008

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #362, April 10, 2009)

(The interview continues from the previous issue of Lavender.)

So you won the Mr. Palm Springs Leather competition and made it to Chicago. What are your memories of the IML competition? We don’t have time—I could tell you every minute of it. Thursday night, at the contestant introduction, I saw Guy Baldwin [International Mr. Leather 1989], who is my idol, I learned so much from his books. I just had to introduce myself—I’m Gary, Mr. Palm Springs, you’ve been my inspiration. And he saw that I was so moved that the friend who was with him came back later and said, you know, you made Guy cry.

Then, during the contestant number draw I picked number 47. I go backstage and there’s Guy Baldwin. And he goes, “Um, kid, I just wanted to mention something to you that you might not know—I was number 47.” That, for me, set the record straight, and I said, I am winning this. I’m not letting down Guy, I’m not letting down myself, and I’m going for it.

And then, when Chuck Renslow was saying my name as the winner, I couldn’t understand him—my last name is so difficult to pronounce—so it was like, “And the new International Mr. Leather is, Gary—whatever.” I just stood there. And CJ, he’s right next to me, he goes, “Bitch, you won!” I started crying.

Current leather community politics—what do you feel strongly about? I’m concerned that the leather community has become a preachy church that nobody wants to go to anymore. Put a dollar in the box, we have to raise money for the community, for kids, for breast cancer, for AIDS—money money money. Where is the fun?

I wanna see the leather community where it was in the beginning. People used to get together in bars. They’d socialize. Yes, they worked for the community, but they took time outside of our Friday and Saturday nights, or whenever we got together, outside that time frame, to do the social work. But when you bring the social work to the bar, when there’s somebody selling raffles all night, and pushing “Give me your money”—what happens? The real players, the ones who want to go out and have fun, have built an underground culture, and they don’t leave the dungeons because they don’t wanna go to a bar to keep putting money in a box. Nothing against helping the community—nothing against helping charity.

There wasn’t a lot of that at the Mr. Iowa Leather contest last night, was there? And I loved it. How fun was that event last night? Who was asking for a penny? No one. Did you have fun? Everybody had fun. See the difference? You can contribute. You can have a special night—you know, we’re working tonight to help whatever, whoever you wanna help. And I’ll be the first one to strip down and sell my jock straps to help the community. But we need to turn it down, because we’re here to have fun with each other, and I don’t want that to be lost.

And if we’re gonna help somebody, we wanna help our own community. Let’s help a leather event to not die. Let’s help within. Once we’re strong, and we are helping each other, and we have all the structure that we need, and then we can go out and help others. I know this is gonna be touchy, but it is the truth.

Tell me about porn— What’s up with porn? You did some? Yes, before I won IML. I haven’t done it for a year. And I think that’s the end of the conversation. I was just wondering how it came about that you did the ones that you did? I think I am the first IML who has had a porn career before the title. It was like four years before I won IML. Did you look for it, or did somebody see you and say, hey, you’d be good onscreen? I needed to pay my bills, and I had a boyfriend at the time who was into it, so we started doing it together. And then the thing grew and grew and grew and everybody started calling me. Have there been people who have looked down on this? There’s been a few brothers who competed with me that kinda wrote in blogs and stuff—oh, he’s just a, you know, beauty queen, porn actor, personal trainer, probably doesn’t have anything in his brain, the only thing he knows is how to fuck. I don’t hold resentments—they’re always gonna find you as a target and they’re always gonna have bullets, and they’re gonna shoot. The bigger the titleholder, the thicker the skin.

Have you thought about what you’re going to do after you step aside in May? I wanna stick around. I’m the first Hispanic IML, and I think I can bring a lot to the Latino community. I’m gonna take a couple months off to, you know, breathe in, breathe out, and then come back.

(Check out Iriza’s blog at <imlgary.blogspot.com>.)

PHOTO: P5251137.tif

Gary Iriza, International Mr. Leather 2008.