International Leather Sir, Leatherboy and Community Bootblack 2015 winners were announced at the Crowne Plaza Dallas Market Center on Saturday, September 5 in Dallas, TX with Sir Tug Whitehead from the South Central Region taking the Sir sash, Tim from the Great Lakes Region the boy title and Briar Wood from the South Central Region the Bootblack medallion.
Leather Sir runner-up was Sir Jim, Leatherboy runner-up was Louie and the Bootblack runner-up was Cherielle. There were five Leather Sir contestants, three Leatherboy contestants and two Bootblack contestants.
The contest with the theme, Ties That Shine and Bind, had staged segments and contestant interviews.
Billed as "the players title," contestants performed fantasies on Thursday night in a non-judged presentation and it was hot. No humor, no mock play or anything simulated, it was was raw action.
The Leather Sir and Leatherboy judges were headed by Dr. Larry with Dave Rhodes, George Saltzman, Doug Mezzacapo, Gator, Don Leach and Sir Merrill on the panel.
The Community Bootblack judges were Bootblack Paul, Christopher, Dara, Gabriel Majors and Randall Kinnear. The Bootblack competition was 100 percent judged with no ballots collected.
The emcee was Thib Guicherd-Callin and the ASL interpreters were Sir Robert and Alex.
Awards that were voted on by the contestants were Golden Flogger to Sir Michael and Golden Paddle to Boy Tater and Golden Brush to Cherielle.
The late Thursday night roast of International Leather Sir 2014 Mark Eddy, International Leatherboy 2014 boy Paul and International Community Bootblack 2014 boy ed at the Dallas Eagle was emceed by Thib Guicherd-Callin and it was mercilessly brutal. Guest speakers were as rough. No one was spared, including people who were not even there.
A nice air conditioned bus carried Leatherfolk between the Crowne Plaza and the Dallas Eagle all weekend. Parties at the Dallas Eagle included the Roast, Uniform Party followed by a Cigar Social on Friday night, Victory Party on Saturday night, and a Leather Family Barbecue and Trash Disco on Sunday.
Parties at the Crowne Plaza included a Puppy Park and Mosh on Friday and Saturday, a Pool Party and Cards Against Humanity on Friday, and International Community Bootblack Contestant Bootblacking followed by Kinky Bingo on Saturday.
Not surprising, Dallas was an oven all weekend, including at night. On Wednesday afternoon a water main that serviced the area burst. This caused the hotel to not have any running water until later in the day on Thursday and it caused the air conditioning system which was water-cooled to not work.
As well as the United States, there were guests from Canada and the United Kingdom.
The Jeffrey Payne Lifetime Achievement Award which had been presented at International Mr. Leather for several years was presented Miss Kendra from Indianapolis, IN by Jeffrey Payne, Dr. Lawrence Burden aka Dr. Larry and Bob Weber.
For more information check out http://www.ilsb-icbb.com/index.html
New Press Release for Drummer North America:
https://www.facebook.com/DNAcontests/posts/1637230469891280
Press Release
For immediate release
August 14, 2015
It’s Vegas, baby! Drummer North America relocates to ‘Sin City’
DNA fetish weekend 2016 moves to Alexis Park resort to accommodate future growth
Las Vegas, Nevada — Organizers of Drummer North America (DNA) fetish weekend today announced the 2016 weekend dates for and the relocation of the fetish weekend to Las Vegas, Nevada. The move stems from the successful sold-out inaugural event last year and the need to find a larger fetish friendly hotel for future growth.
DNA fetish weekend 2016 will take place Thursday, January 28 through Sunday, January 31, 2016 at the Alexis Park all suites resort in Las Vegas — a gay/fetish friendly hotel home to the infamous Las Vegas Smokeout weekend.
“After the successful launch of DNA weekend last year, our priority was to find a gay and fetish friendly hotel resort in an exciting, vibrant destination easily accessible by air from points across North America,” says Tina Landi, Executive Producer of DNA weekend. “The Alexis Park’s reputation hosting Smokeout each year, dozens of daily affordable flights by all major airlines, and being the entertainment capital of the world, made Las Vegas the ideal new home for DNA fetish weekend.”
The Alexis Park is a premium all-suite non-gaming resort with close proximity to The Strip that offers a range of accommodations from standard to large suites. Lush courtyard gardens and winding pathways lead you to a heated swimming pool. Entertainment showrooms and afitness center are onsite. The reception area, bars and restaurants provide free WiFi. The hotel shuttle service offered will allow you to see the city during non-event hours.
Room prices for DNA fetish weekend 2016 are $109 for a standard room (larger lofts and suites are more), with a minimum three-night stay. To receive the special DNA weekend rate attendees are required to pre-purchase a DNA weekend package prior to making their reservation. Weekend packages are $79; a hotel registration code required to make your room reservation will be issued upon purchase of your package. Purchase your weekend packages at http://www.eventbrite.com/o/drummer-north-america-754067681…
Highlights of DNA fetish weekend will include a playfulMeet & Greet featuring contestant demos, the Top Men’sCigar, Bourbon & Scotch Social, hospitality suites, the Top Men’s Club educational series of interactive workshops, both men’s and queer play spaces, open shine bootblacking stations, Women of Drummer social events, the HypnotiXXX comedy hypnosis show. All events are included in the weekend pass.
The inaugural DNA fetish weekend held in February 2015 in St Petersburg, Florida, drew more than 180 weekend pass holders to the sold-out host hotel — forcing an 30 additional rooms booked into the overflow hotel across the street. Day passes and local residents attending DNA signature parties and onsite DNA bar events helped double total weekend attendance to more than 350. The weekend attracted at least 16 international attendees from outside the United States.
Joining the established roster of men’s, women’s and pansexual contest weekends, DNA weekend will feature three fetish contests for gay men: Drummer, Drummerboy and Drummer Bootblack. The contests will be open to gay-identified, biological and trans men in the fetish/kink communities, who are residents of Canada, United States and Mexico.
“DNA weekend rekindles the Drummer tradition of self-identified masculinity. The weekend is a celebration of gay masculinity, whether it is expressed in leather or sports gear or fetishes, at a joyful family reunion where history is honored and diversity respected,” says Master Mike Zuhl, co-owner of DNA.
“It’s important that as DNA weekend moves forward, we build on our past instead of being stuck in it. Today, we have boys who are bootblacks, bootblacks who are puppies, gay men equally comfortable in rubber as they are in leather, and generations of gay kinksters who are equally comfortable exploring power dynamics at both ends of the spectrum, and fetishists that migrate across a wide range of gear and play,” says Master Brandon Matheson, co-owner of DNA.
“In the spirit of our community’s history, the DNA titles will celebrate the range of fetish and kink identities of gay men. It will be fun and exciting to watch contestants as they celebrate rubber, leather, sports kit, military, and more — and to see who the judges pick as this year’s DNA titleholders,” says Matheson.
Drummer North America was launched in October 2014 and is the first US-based fetish organization and contest weekend to have owners from two countries. From the US, Master Mike Zuhl is the former owner and producer of the Drummer International contests, founder of the International LeatherSIR/Leatherboy and International Community Bootblack contests, and owner of Leather Central bar in Pittsburgh. From Canada, Master Brandon Matheson is a former president of Mr Leatherman Toronto, a founder of the Church Street Fetish Fair, creator and co-producer of the popular Rough House dungeon parties in Toronto, and a former regional producer and board member of International LeatherSIR/Leatherboy and International Community Bootblack.
For more information and updates on the contest weekend, visit www.DrummerNA.com.
Follow us social media at Facebook.com/DNAcontests and Twitter.com/DNAcontests.
For more information, please email Executive Producer Tina Landi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Equus International Pony and Trainer Contest was held last weekend in Los Angeles, CA at Sanctuary Studios LAX. Produced by Submissann aka Beauty, the weekend long event included classes, a formal dinner and play date event, and in addition to the International Pony and Trainer contest the weekend included a Human Pony Show for the community at large complete with Dressage, obstacle course, blindfold obstacle course, and reigning events and Pony performances.
The International Pony and Trainer contest had two tough teams which included one pony and trainer team Dame Nobel and Ebony Midnight back for their sophomore showing and a freshman competitor Daisiy Dawl a appaloosa circus pony out of Portland, Oregon. After an intense day of interviews, presentations and performances Dame Nobel and her pony Ebony Midnight won by a 2pt margin (at over what I believe was almost an 90% score) over the infectious Daisiy Dawl.
Best in show went to Pony Caddie and her handler Doug, who’s enthusiasm for pony play was evident each time she was able to shake her tail.
Congratulations to Ann on a well planned and hard worked success.
This weekend in Dallas During Women in Leather Legacy Weekend, Penelope Jones, Karida, and Deborah Wade, competed for the title of Women’s International Leather Legacy 2015. The title exists to capture women’s leather history, serving their year interviewing those women willing to be interviewed, and preparing those interviews for the Womens Leather History Project at the Leather Archives and Museum.
Saturday night after interviews, auctions and presentations had been made, a legacy sash was presented to each of the former WILL’s (with the exception of one of the Angels who was unable to make the event) and then to 2015 Women in Leather Legacy Penelope Jones.
Penelope will join us in the next week or so, she’s just trying to get her feet under her as she assumes her responsibilities but did want to extend her thanks to a few people through a Facebook conversation with me she said " I want to thank Linda "Bootpig" Hall, Michelle Sigler, Tracy Hunt, Lynn and Deb Starnes, Kitty and Jodi from Paddle Your Drawers (I want to thank Sir Bill as well. He's the reason I ran!), Tulsa girls of Leather, House of Phoenix, Gail and slave courtney, Tony Mayes, Bettie Crocker, Lady Faye, Blayn and Parker, Ian and Jerri All the Judges and staff, Jody the contestant liaison I think that covers everyone that either came specifically to support me or those that helped me along the way! XoXo I just need a moment to cry and be overly emotional. Lol I'll be better tomorrow!"
When the dust settled at the Harris Theater in Chicago, IL on Sunday night, May 24 Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2015 Patrick Smith was chosen to be International Mr. Leather 2015 from a field of 52 contestants and Bamm Bamm was best of six competitors in becoming International Mr. Bootblack 2015.
IML 2015 first runner-up was Mr. Ireland Leather Kevin Murphy and second runner-up was Mr. Tri-State Leather Brian Donner. IMBB first runner-up was Bootblack Zach from Cleveland, OH and second runner-up was Brooklyn from Dallas, TX. The contestants chose 13 from Queensland, Australia to receive the Brotherhood Award.
To see the IML 2015 Photo Gallery scroll down and then click on the link.
The Congress Hotel, site of IML for several years during the 1990s, was the host hotel with several others handling the overflow. While some loved the hotel because a lot of sleaze play could go on, its near-proximity to cultural attractions and the beautiful park in front with Lake Michigan in the background, many others were not amused at being stuck in defunct elevators or waiting for them as well as cold water for showers. They changed the curtains and painted a few walls since the 1990s - so it appeared. Their computerized technology was up to speed and we never heard one kvetch about WiFi.
For only the second time in the 37-year history of IML a collection from the audience was raised, this time for the Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian non-profit organization which rescues GLBT people from countries and situations where their lives are in danger. At least $4,200 was collected. The other time was to help pay for the down payment on the Leather Archives and Museum.
International Mr. Leather 2014 Ramien Pierre's step down speech. Photo by Dave Rhodes
International Mr. Leather 1992 Lenny Broberg was the emcee for IML 2015 and was he ever smooth. It does not seem that there was even one glitch in the three nights of the contest that caused a delay. All three shows, Opening Ceremonies on Friday and Pecs and Personality on Saturday at Park West, and the Contest on Sunday, moved at lightening speed. The Voice of IML or "voice of God" was Jamie Krohn. International Mr. Leather 2014 Ramien Pierre gave his rousing stpe down speech during the Opening Ceremonies.
As with IML tradition, the contest evening started with an address to the crowd by IML founder and Executive Producer Chuck Renslow. Their was no featured entertainers and no one we came across complained. The contest itself provided enough of that. With technology of today, tally masters Danny Tamez and Don Leach had the scores added up pronto.
All 52 contestants were introduced on stage then the judges were presented before the Top 20 Finalists were announced by past IML titleholders Joe Gallagher, Larry Everett and Mike Gerle. The tension mounted as it came to naming the 20th man to advance to the Finals and the announcer paused to ad to the suspense. The last one named was Mr. Palm Springs Leather Clifton Tatum.
It was down to business as the 90-second Speech and Physique categories proceeded. The speeches, almost all of them, were top notch with two garnering long standing ovations. Mr. Ireland Leather hit the first home run with the audience when he proposed to his partner Robert on stage. Only the day before, the people passed same sex marriage by popular vote, becoming the first nation to do so by popular vote. Robert said "yes."
The second and perhaps the longest ovation was for Mr. Phoenix Leather Pup Tugger. He reveled in his feminine nature and stood up to the notion that all Leathermen have to be masculine. He was loud and proud and people ate it up. It seemed that every segment of the community was on their feet wildly cheering. If there was a dry eye in the house it would have been hard to find. There was some loud booing from some who disapproved of Tugger's presentation.
Not receiving a standing ovation, but who did receive strong applause, was Mr. SA Learther Herman Groenewald. His humor was great during his speech and question om Sunday and also during Pecs and personality. His wit, warmth and sexy accent made him a charmer. He is the oldest man to ever compete at International Mr. Leather and finished among the Top 20 Finalists.
Three contestants had their mothers in attendance. The winner, International Mr. Leather 2015 Patrick Smith, had his mother and sisters accompany him on stage after he won. IML is becoming a family affair.
During his address for the Leather Archives and Museum, Rick Storer noted that four protesters carrying hate signs in front on Friday were met by locals who basically ran them off. One woman with a baby in a stroller really told the protesters off. This was the first time that the Leather Archives had ever been picketed by protesters.
IML 2015 Top 20 Finalists
International Mr. Leather 2015
Patrick Smith - Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2015, Los Angeles, CA
First Runner-up
Kevin Murphy - Mr. Leather Ireland 2015, Geared Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
Second Runner-up
Brian Donner - Mr. TriState Leather 2014, Cincinnati, OH
4. Greg Bearskin - Mr. Leather UK, London, United Kingdom
5. Pup Tugger - Mr. Phoenix Leather 2015, Phoenix, AZ
6. Dan Ronneberg - Mr. DC Eagle 2015, Washington, DC
7. Trevor Black - Mr. San Francisco Leather 2015, San Francisco, CA
8. Clifton Tatum - Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2015, Palm Springs, CA
9. Matthew Birkhoff - Mr. Big Easy Leather 2015, New Orleans, LA
10. Bas Stronks - Mr. Hoist 2015, London, United Kingdom
11. Andreas Moore - Bavarian Mister Leather 2015, Munich, Germany
12. Brett Murden - Mr. Leatherman Toronto 2015, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
13. Ren Rushold - Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2015, Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis, MN
14. Daniel DeLage - Mr. Powerhouse Leather 2015, San Francisco, CA
15. Herman Groenewald - Mr. SA Leather 2015, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
16. Rob Kreisinger Denk - Mr. Iowa Leather 2015, Des Moines, IA
17. Luis Tipantasig - Mr. Chicago Leather 2015, Chicago, IL Chicago, IL
18. Greg King - Mr. Maryland Leather 2015, Baltimore, MD
19. Arnaud Amsterdam - Mr. Leather Europe 2014, Amsterdam, North-Holland, The Netherlands
20. Alex Ruiz - Mr. Leather Chile 2014, Santiago, Chile
The judges who made the decisions were International Mr. Leather 2014 Ramien Pierre; Mr. Cellblock Phoenix Leather 2008 Kenneth Anthony; Secretary of ECMC Daniel Dumont from Brussels, Belgium; owner of Northbound Leather George Giaouris, Toronto, Canada; Chairman of Mid Atlantic Leather Patrick Grady; teacher and activist Midori; Mr. North Florida Drummer 2000 Master Bruce Ross; Great Lakes Bootblack 2007 Riley Johnson and Mr. Chicago Leather 2005 Jeff Willoughby.
International Mr. Bootblack 2015 contestants
1. Bamm Bamm - Phoenix, AZ
2. Bootblack Zach - Cleveland, OH
3. Astro - Louisville, KY
4. Brooklyn - Dallas, TX
5. 13 - Queensland, Australia
6. Fuzzybuns - Cathedral City, CA
The judges for the 23rd International Mr. Bootblack Competition were International Mr. Bootblack 2014 Scout, International Ms Bootblack 2015 slave tabitha arie and Daddy Tony.
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An introductory slide show gave a brief view of ICBB contests from the past and contest founder Harry Shattuck was recognized. ICBB producer Bootdog Johnson announced the winners.
2015 International Mr. Leather Contestants
1. Laney Ballard - Mr. Eagle NYC 2015
2. Pup Tank - Mr. Alamo City Leather 2015
3. Rob Kreisinger Denk - Mr. Iowa Leather 2015
4. Steve Bianchi - Mr. Ohio Leather 2014
5. Clifton Tatum - Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2015
6. Will Boyd‐Bohaczek - Mr. Wisconsin Leather 2015
7. Ren Rushold - Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2015
8. Keven Allen - Mr. Leather Ottawa 2015
9. Erik Taylo - Washington State Mr. Leather 2014
10. Jeffrey Donnell Williams - Mr. SECC Leather 2015
11. Dalton Flint II - Mr. New England Leather 2015
12. Andreas Moore - Bavarian Mister Leather 2015
13. Woodie Barnes‐McWhirter - Mr. CODE Florida 2014
14. Arnaud Amsterdam - Mr. Leather Europe 2014
15. William Nabors - Mr. Camp Mars Leather 2015
16. Brian Donner - Mr. TriState Leather 2014
17. Herman Groenewald - Mr. SA Leather 2015
18. Greg King - Mr. Maryland Leather 2015
19. Scott "Big Red" MacLaren
20. Al Parso‐York - Mr. Alameda County Leather 2014
21. Dennis Woods - Mr. CMEN Leather
22. Daddy Dave - Mr. Mid‐Atlantic Leather 2015
23. Woody Stiner - Mr. Prime Choice 2014
24. Daniel DeLage - Mr. Powerhouse Leather 2015
25. Matthew Birkhoff - Mr. Big Easy Leather 2015
26. Michael Pacas - Mr. Leather 64TEN Chicago
27. Bas Stronks - Mr. Hoist 2015
28. Josh Fortuna - Mr. Michigan Leather 2015
29. Thomas Fincannon - Mr. New Jersey Leather 2015
30. Doug Dick - Mr. Long Beach Leather 2014
31. Steven Patton - Mr. Twin Cities Leather 2015
32. Jay Johnson - Mr. Midwest Leather 2014
33. Jason Ashford - Mr. Louisiana Leather 2015
34. Alex Ruiz - Mr. Leather Chile 2014
35. Luis Tipantasig - Mr. Chicago Leather 2015
36. Greg Bearskin - Mr. Leather UK
37. John Skopoes - Mr. GNI Leather 2014
38. Richard Ziese - Oklahoma Mr. Leather 2015
39. Patrick Smith - Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2015
41 Miles "Milo" McDonald - Mr. 501 Eagle 2015
42 Mark "BigDaddy" Hurte - Mr. Bluegrass Leather 2015
43 Trevor Black - Mr. San Francisco Leather 2015
44 Mister Sir Steven - Mr. Oregon State Leather 2014
45 Frank O'Brien - Mr. Quench Leather FL
46 Pup Tugger - Mr. Phoenix Leather 2015
47 Brett Murden - Mr. Leatherman Toronto 2015
48 Eli Correa - Mr. San Diego Leather 2013
49 Dan Ronneberg - Mr. DC Eagle 2015
50 Russell McDaris - Mr. Heartland Leather 2015
51 Max Mackenzie - Mr. Queensland Leather 2014
52 Andy Struckhoff - Mr. Missouri Leather 2015
In the early hours of Monday morning word went around with the news that Sir Greg Slaven had committed suicide after arriving home from International Mr. Leather. Slave held the International Mr. Olympus Leather 2012 and Mr. 501 Eagle 2014 titles. Sir Greg was at IML and so many people remembered seeing him only a few hours earlier. The news was doubly hard on the IML Class of 2014 because another contestant from then, Mr. Ottawa Leather Jon Nizzy, took his life last year.
A roast for International Mr. Leather 2014 Ramien Pierre and International Mr. Bootblack Scout was held on Thursday night, May 21 archives and Museum. The roast was emceed by International Ms Leather 2014 Patty.
The IML Leather Market covered two floors of the Congress hotel and several rooms. Approximately 17,000 people made their way through Friday through Monday. There was approximately 50 vendors ranging from an Authors' Table to Leather Werks of Fort Lauderdale.
Large sponsored parties at the Congress Hotel were the San Francisco Party on Friday night and the ONYX Party on Saturday night. There was exactly no room to move in the close quarters each party had and many did not get in and enjoyed the music in the hall nearby. The music was loud enough in the hall and no one appeared disappointed - they just had fun until the last drink was served.
The Chicago Hellfire Club held their cocktail party on Saturday and hosted several play parties at their clubhouse during the weekend. The Centaur Motorcycle Club had their party on Sunday morning where member Patrick Grady was pinned into Mama's Family as Mama's Leather Centaur by Dave Rhodes.
Touche', the Jackhammer and Leather 64TEN Chicago were busy all weekend including Monday up north not far from the Leather Archives and Museum. The Leather 64TEN Chicago store was open all hours for several days.
We could go on and on about the many parties and socials. There are far more kinksters who attend IML events without going to the contest. It's been that way since the early years at the Congress Hotel.
Play parties held at the Congress Hotel included Woof Camp Full Circle for pups and handlers which was a winner.
The Leather Archives and Museum President's reception at the Congress Hotel and a CLAW Nation Silent Auction benefit gave the Leather Archives high visibility. The Leather Archives also had a huge exhibit in the IML Leather Market.
The big dance-style parties, the IML Victory Celebration at the House of Blues on Sunday night following the contest and the Black and Blue Ball at Sound Bar on Monday night, drew their usual huge crowds. The IML 2015 winners were introduced on stage at the House of Blues on Sunday night.
IML 2015 weekend was full of the usual debauchery including official and unofficial parties, a roast of the outgoing titleholders, social and cocktail parties, play parties, auctions as fundraisers, circuit parties, bar nights, a 12-Step program, church services and the huge International Mr. Leather Leather Market.
Ottawa Leather Fest XI will take place from July 31 to August 2 and the theme is The Pillars of Hercules. The honored guests will be CC from Florida who is Chair of Leather Leadership Conference and Master T’Hayla Ferguson who is coleader of MAsT: Toronto and recipient of the Heart of the Flag Federation’s 2013 Woman of the Year award.
There will be a Friday night Meet and Greet, with a screening of the documentary Kink. Saturday will feature seminars including Master Class: Life Lessons from Respected Masters. Saturday evening will be dedicated to the Kinky Cabaret and
Central Canada Olympus Leather contest.
This year’s judges are head judge CC, former Central Canada Olympus Leather titleholders, Ottawa Bondage and Bad Schoolgirl, permanent trans judge Zelda Marshall and Ms Capital Leather Pride 2014 Shade Nyx. The tally master will be former Mr. Central Canada Olympus Leather Count Jeff.
More information will be posted on www.fetlife.com and http://www.mloh2002.lynnsplace.ca
The weekend of February 28, at Sin in the City, Southwest Person of Leather Papa Bear of Las Vegas, Nevada, became the first International Person of Leather. Highlights of the contest were Papa Bear’s Leather bar fantasy and each contestant’s very moving speeches about diversity and acceptance. The runner-up is Heartland Person of Leather 2014 Master Bill Keith.
The International Person of Leather Contest was founded by Executive Producers Mr. Andrew Love, Master Tallen, and slave Jazz to celebrate an individual in the Leather community who promotes diversity and strengthens Leather culture as a
mentor/educator/individual and spokesperson throughout that person’s title year. Persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations compete against each other for one title, with the stress of this contest being on dedication to one’s community above and beyond any external categorization.
What are the plans for the first International Person of Leather? To quote International Person of Leather 2015 Papa Bear, “I look forward to the opportunity to travel and represent this title. I want to touch as many communities as possible. I'm humbled by those who are already reaching out with opportunities to teach and speak about Person of Leather and its pillars.” When asked why this title is important to him he responded, "What's important to me? It's important that we as a community ensure that everybody feels they have a voice. Making sure that those that feel lost, start feeling like they have a place and know they're not alone. This title is about blurring lines. It's about celebrating diversity in the leather and alternative sex communities. We are all one community I want to bring that message to as many as I can."
Mr. Andrew Love, Cofounder of the International Person of Leather Contest said, “I was really moved by the speeches, it was clear to me that the contestants really understood the vision and intent we the Cofounders set forth in establishing this new contest. I was also touched by the support of the audience and their personal comments on what it means to them to see Person of Leather come to be.”
The Executive Producer of Sin in the City Master Konraad was moved by the contest, stating, “"Sin in the City was honored to host the brand new International Person of Leather Contest and give our attendees the chance to witness a new page of Leather history and a contest that addresses the needs of our current community."
Cofounder of the International Person of Leather Contest, slave Jazz, was excited by the diversity reflected in all aspects of the contest and production, "We were tickled and touched to have such a distinguished panel of judges in our first year, each a producer or titleholder of one of the major international Leather titles. The contest and its contestants were truly inspirational, and I am honored to have been a part of it."
To contact Papa Bear, International Person of Leather 2015, E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Next up for Person of Leather? Check out the first ever SouthEast Person of Leather competition held in conjunction with SouthEast LeatherFest by Regional Producer, Lady Catherine Gross in June 11-14, 2015 in Atlanta, GA. Rocky Mountain
Rebellion, Beyond Vanilla, and Behind Closed Doors will also be holding regional Person of Leather contests this year.
Those interested in producing one of the International Person of Leather regions, please visit http://www.personofleather.com
About International Person of Leather (InterPOL)
The International Person of Leather Contest is a celebration of the diversity in the Leather community. The title of Person of Leather exists to promote that diversity.
International Person of Leather is a community service title. Its producers see that the Leather community consists of extremely diverse people with a common thread throughout, that thread being Leather culture.
Each year, a single International Person of Leather will be selected not based on gender-identity, sexual-orientation, race, physical appearance, age, or disability, but rather on their ability to articulate their views, passions, and dedications and to make an impact in their communities. We will expect these People of Leather to act as mentors, educators, role models and spokespeople throughout their title year.
The goal of the International Person of Leather is to promote and celebrate the diversity of Leather Culture both regionally and internationally throughout the alternative sex-positive community on behalf of the International Person of Leather Contest.
FETISH PRIDE AND MR. LEATHER BELGIUM
Apparently, smaller people are supposedly more ambitious, and if it’s true with many big names in film and music, than perhaps it goes for countries and fetish, too! And it would certainly be the case for Belgium’s Fetish Pride. Taking place every year in mid-February, the Leather Pride there in Antwerp has grown steadily since it first started five years ago, now earning its place as one of the most successful fetish events in Europe. In fact, according to information released by the BLUF webmaster, this year in 2015 there were more registered visitors to Antwerp than to any other European fetish event after Easter Week and Folsom in Berlin. And once you’ve been there, it’s no surprise that you’ll want to go back.
What makes the Fetish Pride Belgium in Antwerp so unique and so very popular is its set up. Located in a huge hangar at the waterfront in Antwerp harbor, 11 – 16 February 2015, the whole Fetish Pride takes place comfortably under one roof. It’s called the Darklands, and there you can find everything for your fetish heart’s content: Shops, lounges, barbers, workshops, masseurs, photographers, bars, nightclubs and darkrooms. There’s even a first-class restaurant situated inside, so in other words, once you’re in there, all sexed up in your fetish gear, there’s actually no reason to want to leave it! Should you lose your way in the Darklands, have a good look at the map or use the opportunity to strike up a little chat with one of the thousands of guys and few gals wandering around inside. If you’re in a hurry to get from A to B, you can jump on a ‘horse’ drawn chariot or a dog-sleigh and be transported while checking out the fantastic things on offer. And if the variety of live sex shows on stage or other entertainment inserts get you hot and bothered, you can join other fetish guys getting some fresh air as they stroll along the romantic water front, or visit some of Antwerp’s many breathtakingly beautiful sights.
One of the things that impressed me personally very much about my weekend in Antwerp was as I was standing one night in front of the main station dressed from head to toe in leather, waiting for a friend who needed his sweet time to arrive: I stood there on the street at a major tram stop as throngs of young people were on their way out for a weekend night in town. Looking like I’d just stepped out of a Tom of Finland book, I expected to hear at least one comment about my attire – the way that people often do, not always in an unfriendly tone, but sometimes even just to impress their friends with a little drunken humor – but nope, there was nothing. Not a comment, not a strange look, absolutely no reaction at all. That’s what the Belgian mentality is about: Eat chocolate and be sweet! So even if you want to walk around Antwerp in the middle of the afternoon in your Wesco’s and breeches, go ahead, nobody cares! Otherwise, the event organizers there have cleverly put together shuttle bus services between the major hotels, the Boots (Antwerp’s oldest leather bar spread over five floors) and the Darklands. The guys in Belgium prove time after time that they know how to look after and spoil their international guests. In fact, in all honesty, I have never seen yet an event that is so professionally planned and executed as far as technology and Technik, as we say in German, is concerned! It’s amazing what goes on there behind the scenes that makes the whole weekend such a complete and amazing success.
One of the many great highlights at Belgium’s Leather Pride is the contest Mr. Leather Belgium which takes place on Saturday evening. As popular as the event is, it’s a magnet for the European titleholders too, who all go to see which hot-pot is going to win in Belgium this year! I don’t know how they do it, but the Belgians are renowned for providing Europe’s hottest contestants for their national Mister title, and it was no different this year, either! Headed by Daniel Dumont, ECMC Secretary and an IML judge this year, the jury made up of several Misters, including Mr. Leather Europe, Mr. Leather Italy, Mr. Leather Ireland, Mr. Leather Bavaria and others questioned the three candidates alone before they went on stage to present themselves and their message to the fetish public, who also had a chance to vote for their favorite contestant. Then all the votes were collected and the winner was determined according to a very meticulous and extremely fair mathematical calculation. There were three of us tally-masters, and during the first calculations we were practically shaking with excitement: Between the first two candidates, as far as the jury votes were concerned, there was hardly a difference of even 1%. We knew therefore it was going to be the decision of the public to choose the winner. It was up to them and they made their choice: Ives Blondeel, a 42 year old salesman from Antwerp, was the guy they wanted to see wearing the Mr. Leather Belgium sash in 2015. With a body that looks like it was chiseled last week from marble and a smile to melt butter, I’d personally like to see Ives wearing the sash with nothing underneath it, but for now he wants to show the world that leather is not only for sex, but moreover fits into an everyday lifestyle.
In a moving stage ceremony, we said goodbye to our good friend, Nordine, who had done Belgium proud as their national Mister in 2014, who placed his sash over Ives’ shoulders so that we could gather around and congratulate him. I will stay in contact with Nordine, but I’m also looking forward to getting to know Ives better too and hope there’s a way for us to work together, promoting our strong community across borders in Europe.
Of course, it goes without saying that I’m already looking forward to next year. Leather Pride Belgium is an event definitely worth visiting …
Tyrone Rontganger
German Mr. Leather 2013 & 2014
The Leather Journal was founded in May, 1987. The Leather community was hungry for news magazine that covered clubs, organizations and events. TLJ has successfully met that need for 34 years. We have adapted to change more than once and when the Internet came about we were there by adding www.TheLeatherJournal.com
