IML 2019

Jack Thompson

Jack is biracial. He’s gay. He’s transgender. He’s extremely kinky, depending on what scale you use to measure such things.

Jack is also utterly transparent about all that he is, to a disarming degree. His speech at the IML competition (“You are enough.”) laid bare all of his identities and became an instant viral meme.

Over breakfast at his favorite diner in his newly adopted home city of Baltimore, Jack discussed coming out (as many things), sex, drugs, HIV — and his reaction to a transphobic social media post by a leather community leader that nearly eclipsed the drama of Jack’s win at IML.

Here is our conversation, edited for length and clarity.

Mark S. King: You spend a lot of time here, at Valentino’s Restaurant?

Jack Thompson: Oh yeah, they’re open 24/7. I can have breakfast any time of the day.

You’re running around already as Mr. IML. Just this weekend, you were in DC for Pride, then up to Philly, and then back here for an event at The Eagle in Baltimore.

Yeah, after IML there isn’t much of a break. You run right in to Pride. And being on the east coast you can get to so many different places for events.

Your husband, Geoff Millard, was 1^st Runner Up for Mr. Bootblack at IML this year.

His was 1^st Runner Up for Mr. IML in 2017, too. He’s the first person to place in both events.

I’m ignorant. I think Mr. IML is for the big dominant guys, and Mr. Bootblack is for the submissive ones.

Unless you are running for a “Boy” title or a “Master” title, you can identify as anything you want. I identify as a submissive. My husband identifies as a Daddy. But a lot of people have that idea, that you compete for IML and put on that leather cap, and you are the domest dom in all of dom town.

I went to IML once, more than a decade ago, but only because I was living off the remnants of my muscle boy body and I wanted to strut around in a harness.

That’s 90% of the people who go to IML.

Yeah, but I also never left the hotel. I stayed in my room shooting up crystal meth and having sex. For five days without sleep.  I have so much shame and regret about it. Do you see much of that? Does it concern you?

It’s a community problem. I’ve seen it for years, and seen friends’ lives destroyed for periods of time. And there’s people who just assume you do drugs because you go to these events. Actually, there are more and more spaces for sober people there.

There’s been an explosion of trans awareness over the last few years. My trans activist friends would point out that this has been a long, hard road, though.

I came out as trans when I was 15 (living in the Bay area). That was 18 years ago. And it was exploding because there were a lot of hate crimes going on.

I know several trans men who were lesbians first, who thought they must be, before they realized they were trans. And gay. It’s a perfect example of the difference between gender and sexuality.

I didn’t even start dating men until I met my husband. I still am attracted to women. It gets very deep very fast between us, with women. I just got out of a long relationship with a woman about a year ago.

IML 2018

James Lee

The New Face of Leather Hopes To Make Things A Whole Lot Friendlier

Mr. Kentucky 2017 James Lee (center) named International Mr. Leather 2018 with first runner up Mr Leather Belgium 2017 Sandro Cossero (left) and second runner up Mr. Friendly SF 2018 Stephan Ferris (right). Photo courtesy of IML

As the new International Mr. Leather, the Kentucky kinkster already has some plans for the scene. BY MIKELLE STREETJUNE 01 2018 12:32 PM EDT

A year ago, James Lee was having a pretty bad time at International Mr. Leather. As with every Memorial Day weekend for the past four decades, leatherfolk had descended on the city of Chicago for what continues to be one of the largest and most important leather events in the world. Lee, then Mr. Crossings Leather 2017 of Kentucky, was fresh off a break up with a partner of nine and a half years and in town for his first-ever IML. “It was the most horrible experience I ever had,” Lee told OUT in an interview this week. “I had just broke up with my partner and I saw him there with his Sir, a guy that we both had thought was attractive. It felt like he left me to be with someone else and I had to see them there the entire weekend.”

“So I was dreading IML this year,” he continued. “But low and behold, I end up becoming International Mr. Leather.” The title makes Lee the highest ranking holder in the leather world, on a year that’s particularly important for the competition.

This year was the 40th anniversary of IML. What started originally as a photoshoot organized by Chuck Renslow, an iconic leatherman, eventually morphed into the Mr. Gold Coast contest named after the leather bar he owned. The success of that contest saw it outgrow that bar, and thus its name, becoming IML.ADVERTISING

For 38 years Renslow was intimately involved in the contest, placing the sash on its winners and giving his “State of Leather” addresses every year from the IML podium. Last year, for the first time, he was not at the event as he was sick making Ralph Bruneau, IML 39, the first to ever be announced by someone other than Renslow. A month later he passed, a street in Chicago later being named after him as a testament to his influence and impact, making Lee the first titleholder in a post-Renslow leatherworld.

“I never got to meet Chuck face-to-face but the biggest thing for me this weekend that really hit hard is that you can do something so small [like a photoshoot] and it can turn out to be one of the most impactful things most of us value about our community,” Lee said.

Kentucky-based leatherman James Lee competing at IML 40 in Chicago. Photo courtesy of IML, Inc.

Lee got his start in the leather community back in 2012 though he says he’s been a kinkster all of his life. “When I was in middle school and high school I was always into being in the locker rooms with the jocks and doing odd things like smelling jocks and wrestling naked,” he said. “I thought it was all great and didn’t know at the time that those things were kinks and fetishes.”

But after an encounter with two daddies in Louisville, Kentucky he was exposed to his first leather bar: the now-shuttered Barracks. Dressed in chains and a jockstrap he was able to see “all of these great crazy people living their erotic fantasies in public.” The experience spurred Lee’s curiosity which would see him educate himself on the community and join it wholeheartedly.

On March 22, 2017, Lee ran for and won Mr. Crossings Leather 2017, his local bar title with plans on beefing up the local leather happenings. The win wouldn’t be his first title as back in 2011 he was Mr. Gay Houston USofA in the male entertainer version of the Miss Gay USofA drag pageant circuit. But this new leather title would set him on a track that would find him running for and winning Mr. Kentucky Leather 2017 before going up against 70 other men for the international slot. IML 40 would boost the largest competing class in the event’s history.

“I ran for [Mr. Kentucky Leather] as a thank you,” Lee, who is also a coach and a choreographer, explained. “It was a thank you to the community who helped me after my break up and told me I needed to continue to share with the world. I wanted to share with the world that through this community, you’ll always have a family.” That thank you has morphed into a year-long reign that will see the lifelong performer traveling across Europe and the Americas representing his leather family.

It is customary for each IML to have a cause. Last year, Bruneau’s was “Born Perfect” a campaign to outlaw conversion therapy for minors in all 50 states. At Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend in April he announced that he had raised $10,000 for the effort and legislative victories surrounding the campaign have recently been announced with Maryland recently passing their own bill to outlaw the anti-gay therapy.

While Lee is still deciding what causes he wants to take up, he does have a legacy in mind. “No one left behind,” he said. “By that I mean I really want to figure out a way to teach the community how to reach out to people who are coming to leather bars, or contests for the first time and seeing these radical sexualities being put on display, I want to teach the community how to incorporate these new people and make them feel in included.” It’s something that he’s already been doing on the state level with the Kentucky Leather Brotherhood.

International Mr. Leather 2018 James Lee and International Mr. Bootblack 2018 Lucky Rebel. Photo courtesy of IML, Inc.

But Lee’s win is also historic. He and his sash partner International Mr. Bootblack 2018 Lucky Rebel represent the first time in the contests’ history that both positions were filled by members of ONYX. ONYX is a leather club that hopes to educate, advocate for, and represent people of color in the community. This year will also be the second year that both IML and IMBB identify as people of color, the first being in 2014 when Ramien Pierre and Scout the Bootblack won.

“You know a lot of people are saying, ‘wow, there are ONYX members that are the IML and IMBB, are they going to turn it black or are they going to turn it all people of color?” Lee said. “No! We are there so that more people step out into the community and feel represented. We are there so our leather community grows and is not stifled.”

Sounds like a pretty good legacy from where we sit.

IML 2015

Patrick Smith

Early Life and Education

Smith was born on March 14, 1986 in Winnipeg, Canada. He is the only child of Judy Eastman, a real estate appraiser, and David Smith, a real estate broker. Smith graduated from Kelvin High School in 2004.

Smith enrolled at the University of Manitoba following high school, where he earned his Bachelor of Science. Upon leaving school, he moved to Ottawa, Ontario and accepted a job in federal politics as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister. He later accepted a job as Director of Strategic Planning for the provincial Conservative party in his home town.

At age 25, Smith moved to Los Angeles to pursue his MBA at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he met his husband Michael. He graduated in 2013 on the Dean’s List of Honor Students.

In the Leather Community

While a regular at leather community events such as the Folsom Street Fair since 2012, Smith did not consider running for a leather title until he was urged by a friend in 2015.

In 2015, Smith competed in a class of 6 contestants and became Eagle LA Mr. Leather. Two months later, he competed against the nine other Los Angeles-area titleholders to become Mr. Los Angeles Leather.

Over the next six weeks, Smith trained for International Mr. Leather with a team including Charlie Matula and Hunter Fox, producers of the Eagle LA Mr. Leather and Mr. LA Leather contests, Mike Gerle, International Mr. Leather 2007, and Lou Romano, former Mr. Oil Can Harry’s Leather and handler to Gerle at IML.

In May 2015, Smith competed among a class of 52 and won the International Mr. Leather title.

International Mr. Leather

Smith traveled over 106,000 miles during his title year, and was gone from Los Angeles for 37 of the 52 weekends.

Smith’s stated mission as IML was to broaden the reach of the leather community beyond its core following. As part of this, he spoke at non-leather related forums including at the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, and hosted events such as the official pool party at Gay Days Anaheim.

International Activism

In September 2015, Smith traveled alone to Uganda to meet with gay rights activists, to learn about the experience of sexual minorities in African countries with repressive laws against homosexuality. He followed up his trip with visits to other countries considered hostile to sexual minorities, including Ukraine, Egypt, Morocco and Trinidad and Tobago. Upon the conclusion of his travels, Smith returned home to raise money and awareness for sexual minorities in countries in which they are persecuted.

In March 2016, Smith was featured on the cover of The Fight Magazine under the headline, “They Kill Gays, Don’t They?” He received a certificate of recognition from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, for his “dedicated efforts and untiring advocacy on behalf of disadvantaged LGBT domestic and global communities.”

In his IML step-down speech, Smith announced he would be continuing his international advocacy work with the Harvey Milk Foundation.

Buzzfeed

In May of 2016, Smith was the subject of a Buzzfeed documentary about leather contests. The video was viewed more than 500,000 times within the first week of its release.

The Leatherpedia Project

In April 2017, Smith launched the Leatherpedia Project, which is aimed at digitally memorializing the leather community in an encyclopedic format.

Career and Personal Life

Smith is Director of Business Development for Marvel Entertainment, where he has been employed since 2013. He lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles with his husband Michael Malenitza.

Awards and Honors

Certificate of Recognition – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (2016)

Harvey Milk Civil Rights Award – The San Diego Nicky Awards (2017)

George Wong Person of the Year Award, Southland Honors (2016)

Marcus Hernandez Leather Leadership Award (2016)

IML - 2014

Ramien Pierre

Left to right: IML first runner-up Steve Dupont; International Mr. Leather 2014 Ramien Pierre; International Mr. Bootblack 2014 Scout; and IML second runner-up Cody Troy. Photo by Steve Lenius

The 36th edition of the International Mr. Leather (IML) contest weekend was held May 22-26, 2014, in Chicago. This was the 21st time your humble columnist has attended. In those 21 years I have seen many changes to the event. Yet the basics—masculine men in masculine attire, who also happen to be great guys with noble hearts—have remained the same. No wonder I keep coming back every year. The following is my impressionistic take on the 2014 IML weekend’s events.

Thursday Evening
It’s the unofficial kickoff to the International Mr. Leather weekend: a “roast” of Andy Cross and Oil Tan Sam, the outgoing International Mr. Leather 2013 and International Mr. Bootblack 2013 titleholders. The roast is held in the auditorium of the Leather Archives & Museum.

When the IML first and second runners-up are two of the people doing the roasting, fireworks are almost assured, and the evening does not disappoint. The knives are out and the claws are sharpened. Sacred cows are gored, secrets are betrayed, and canonical leather beliefs are blasphemed.

No one escapes unscathed—the titleholders being roasted, the people on stage doing the roasting, some people in the audience, and even a few people who weren’t even in attendance. But it’s all in good fun and all for a good cause (the event benefits the Leather Archives & Museum). Along with the bitchiness, there is an awful lot of love on that stage.

Friday Evening
All 46 of this year’s contenders for the International Mr. Leather title are introduced at the official IML opening ceremonies. Then it’s time to party. The entire fourth floor of the hotel has been turned into Leather Central for the evening. While a silent auction benefiting the Leather Archives & Museum goes on in the hall, three ballrooms are filled with revelers at the San Francisco Party and Gear Blast. Approaching one of the ballrooms, I’m hit by blasts of both body heat and thumping sound waves.

Inside I see men in unitards, latex, leather aprons, sports gear, plush-headed cartoon costumes, kilts, harnesses, jocks, fatigues, spandex, cowboy gear, superhero suits, adult “boys” and human “pups” on leashes. The tribe is enjoying itself. I see all ages and all body types, and everyone seems to respect everyone else—it’s all good.

The music is not as loud as it has been in years past, so conversation is possible. I meet some men from Minneapolis and ask them if they have been to the Leather Market yet. They reply, “Only for necessities.”

I work my way down to the hotel lobby to see what’s going on there. The elevators are slow and infrequent and crowded with their own kind of (hot and sweaty) fun. The lobby is crowded, too. A table holds printed promotional flyers for vendors and events, but the table is half the size it has been in years past—perhaps more promotion is being done online? Next to the table is a cardboard box the size of a 55-gallon drum, and it is half-filled with condoms. (Tomorrow I will see two men refilling the box to the brim.)

Saturday, Leather Market
I run into a gentleman who is attending IML for the first time, and he is blown away by the size of the Leather Market. “I was expecting maybe a dozen vendors set up in the lobby,” he says. Instead he found a Leather Market filling two hotel ballrooms on the fifth and seventh floors of the host hotel (with an express escalator between the two floors). The Market is filled with 120 vendors selling all manner of leather and fetish goods. There is the expected (leather apparel, boots, paddles) and the unexpected (impressive iron dungeon beds and slings made from truck tires). The Leather Market welcomes 6,000 visitors each day it is open.

Saturday Afternoon
History is made as IML founder and Executive Producer Chuck Renslow officiates at the first legal same-sex wedding ever held at IML.

Sunday
This year’s IML Contest and Show is held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The 46 contestants are introduced and then, based on preliminary judging, the top 20 finalists are announced. Each of the finalists shows his serious side by making a 90-second speech while dressed in formal leather. Each contestant also shows his playful side by getting a chance to own the stage and seduce the audience while wearing as little leather as possible.

While the judges’ scores are being tallied, the IML audience is entertained by—a string quartet? Yes, but the group, Well Strung, is not just any string quartet. Dressed in leather and displaying impressive physiques, these four classically trained musicians sing four-part boy-band harmonies while accompanying themselves on two violins, a cello, and a viola. The audience absolutely loves them—I even hear many audience members singing along.

At last, the winners are announced. Second runner-up is Cody Troy, Mr. Midwest Leather 2013; first runner-up is Steve Dupont, Mr. New England Leather 2014; and the new International Mr. Leather 2014 is Ramien Pierre, Mr. DC Eagle 2014.

In the theater lobby after the contest, and on the bus back to the hotel, I see people tapping out the news of the contest results on their jungle drums (also known as mobile phones). Once again, the tribe has a new leader for the year. Let the party continue.

IML - 2012

Woody Woodruff

Woody Woodruff is a Chicago-based titleholder and community leader. He is International Mr. Leather 2012.

Early Life and Education

Woodruff was born on June 29, 1979 and grew up in a small town in Michigan on a farm. He spent his early years raising beef cattle, sheep, pigs, and a horse that he rode in local barrel racing competitions from the age of 7 through high school. Woodruff graduated from Beaverton High School, and from Central Michigan University in 2004 with a degree in Spanish, International Relations and Latin American studies.

In the Leather Community

Woodruff had his first leather experience at the Ramrod Bar in Fort Lauderdale during spring break of his senior year of college, where he won their weekly Battle of the Bulge contest.

The first organized leather event Woodruff attended was CLAW 2007. There, he met James Finley, Mr. Detroit Eagle 2008, who welcomed him and encouraged Woodruff to become a leatherman in his example.

As a Titleholder

Woodruff ran for and won his first title in 2010 – Mr. Campit Cub. In 2011 he became Mr. Liberty Leather and in 2012 he became Mr. Michigan Leather, which feeds into the International Mr. Leather contest.

In 2012, Woodruff competed for and won the International Mr. Leather title. During his title year, he traveled over 78,000 miles to 50 events in six countries. He had the pleasure being asked to sing at many of these, as he is an experienced vocalist.

Current Activity

Woodruff has continued his involvement in the leather community by emceeing, producing and singing at various contests. He is the host of the annual IML contestant roundtable at CLAW. Woodruff is a member of the Michigan Band of Brothers, the Chicago Band of Brothers, and Titans of the Midwest. He also works within organizations as an educator on a wide array of topics such as BSDM, alternative relationships, and HIV Awareness.

Personal Life

Woodruff lives in Chicago with his partner and cub, Jim. He is a strong believer in polyamory. Professionally, Woodruff manages hospitality relationships for Groupon.

Awards & Honors

Mr. Wisconsin Leather Community Impact Award 2015
Nominee – Pantheon of Leather Man of the Year 2012
Nominee – Pantheon of Leather Couple of the Year 2012

IML - 2011

Eric Guttierez

IML - 2010

Tyler McCormick

Tyler McCormick competed in the 2010 International Mr. Leather (IML) contest as Mr. Rio Grande Leather. When he won, he made history three ways: first transgender IML, first IML to use a wheelchair, and first IML from New Mexico.

You are a transman. Do you also consider yourself gay? The trans thing is sort of thrown in there, but if I have an identity it’s as a gay man.

So you are both a G and a T in the GLBT equation. At one time I thought I was a lesbian. It was short-lived. I took a year out in the middle of college because I was not understanding whether I was a boy or a girl, and I was trying to figure out who to be. I contemplated it for a year and finally decided I’m really a guy. By the end of college I was on hormones and had had some surgery, and I was good.

When did leather and kink enter the picture? At 12 and 13 I remember fantasizing about things that were non-vanilla. And even younger than that I remember watching cartoons going, woo-hoo, the cowboy’s tying up the Indian. I entered into my first contract when I was 19.

What is your disability? I have cerebral palsy. There’s a disconnect between my brain and muscles, primarily in my legs. The muscles in my legs don’t know when to turn themselves off, so they like to just stay on all the time, fighting with each other.

And is “disability” the word you prefer? As long as you’re not intending malice, I don’t really care what words you end up using. I personally choose the words “gimp” and “cripple.” I find that if I use those words with people, they get over it a lot faster.

How did you prepare for IML? My partner, Aaron, basically said, “Honey, you have a shot to do anything you want to do in this world, and don’t say anything different.” Everyone else on my entire coaching staff was like, “Tyler, you have no chance in frozen hell of winning. So, have a good time, you’ll learn something, and you’ll be a better person for having done this. And if you represent New Mexico well, you will have accomplished all of your goals.” I was thoroughly convinced that there was no chance I was going to win, that I was just there to have fun, and if I made the top 20, that would be awesome and I would be done.

What did you think when you were announced as one of the Top 20 finalists? I was totally happy — like, yay, all of my goals have been achieved.

How were you able to walk out on stage to give your speech during the contest? I walk a lot of my life, and my vision in my head was that I was going to walk for the entire competition. And the people who were supporting me for IML sat me down and said, “You have more energy when you’re in your chair, you’re more competent, we would prefer that you stay in the chair.” And I was like, okay, but my speech talks about facing your fears, so if I stay in my chair then I’m staying safe, and that’s the opposite of what I’m trying to accomplish with my speech.

I wrote that when you walked offstage after your speech you got the biggest ovation of the night, by far. I was blown away, personally. And I was just like, woo-hoo, I didn’t fall.

What did you think when they called your name as the new International Mr. Leather? As soon as my brain clicked over that it was me, this whole process went through my head — my partner would like to become a minister, and right before my contestant interview I had asked him if he’d like to say a prayer. And his prayer was not let him win, let him lose — it was, let Tyler be the man that he is and put him on the path that he needs to be on. So now I was like, wait a second, this is the path the universe thinks I should be on. I was just so humbled.

I hang onto three moments in that weekend — the prayer that Aaron said over me, and then all my classmates piling on top of me after my name was announced. And then, less than 24 hours after that, my husband gets down on one knee and proposes to me. He had said he was going to marry me after I stepped down from Mr. Rio Grande Leather in October. So when I won IML I was like, oh, no, he said he wasn’t gonna marry me until after I stepped down. I was a little freaked out. So when he proposed I knew everything was gonna be okay.

When are you getting married? On New Year’s Day.

What’s your title year been like so far? Are people accommodating of the wheelchair? It’s been amazing. People have made accessibility better because they knew I was going to be there, and I hope they continue to keep the accessibility after I roll away.

What about the trans angle? I hear from other people that people have issues, but I haven’t run into any problems because of it. I figure if I show up and I’m genuinely and authentically Tyler, then that gets people to genuinely and authentically be themselves, and we’ll all get along just fine.

I have never written a column on disabilities — when I write that column, what should I include? Everybody’s got some sort of limitation — takes some medication, wears glasses — and if we go from the perspective that some of these limitations are just more obvious than others, then everyone gets a lot less afraid.

Anybody who walks up to me and is genuine and honest and has questions, I am more than willing to answer. I would much rather have them come up and ask me than assume that I can or can’t do something.

IML 2009

Jeffrey Payne

GET YOUR LEATHER ON!
Jeffrey Payne, International Mr. Leather 2009, will see you in Chicago!

“The Windy City”? Whatever… This Memorial Day Weekend, Chicago will be the hottest city in the world as thousands of leathermen, leatherwomen, and their admirers from all over the globe convene for International Mr. Leather 2010.   It’s an extra long weekend– and every leather-clad minute of it promises to be packed.  IML 2010 kicks off with The IML Pre-Party on Thursday, May 27, and the grand finale is The Black and Blue Ball at Chicago’s Excalibur Nightclub on Monday night.  In between, there are educational seminars, meet and greets, merchandise marts, silent auctions, and many, many parties to represent a wide range of our community’s assorted fetishes and lifestyles. (Rubber, Uniform, BDSM, and more…). The climactic Contest to select the 32nd man to represent the worldwide Leather community will be on Sunday the 30th, from 5PM to 9PM at The Congress Theater, followed by all-night Victory Party at The House of Blues.

Mr. International Leather, considered to be Big Daddy of all the Leather events in the word, is all about leather awareness and education, unity in the leather and GBLT communities, and… celebration!   Now, a little bit of history: IML’s forerunner was the 1970’s “Mr. Gold Coast” bar contest held at Chicago’s Gold Coast leather bar, owned by Chuck Renslow and his then-partner, Dom Orejudos.  As the “Mr. Gold Coast” contest became one of the bar’s most popular events, it expanded to a larger venue in 1979.  Along with the change of venue came a change in name to “International Mr. Leather”, and what was born as an annual bar contest gradually became the major happening it is
today.   IML has expanded from 12 contestants its first year to approximately 50 or 60 today, with Contestants from a number of countries who encompass all races, genders and kinks.  This year, International Mr. Leather has secured the prestigious Hyatt Regency Chicago to host the event.  All IML Contestants are either the Winner of a bar, local  regional leather contest, or have been sponsored by a leather bar, business, club, or organization.

Jeffrey Payne is Mr. Dallas Eagle 2009, Mr. Texas Leather 2009, and International Mr. Leather 2009.  To state the obvious, this Texan has had quite a busy year– traveling to five continents, 14 countries, 34 cities and 47 events over the last year representing the Leather community.  At this year’s IML, Payne is one of nine envied Judges for the selection of IML 2010, as well as the Host of “The Texas Party: Deep in the Heart of Leather” with Jack Duke, Mr. Texas Leather 2010 on Saturday night, May 29.  The party will be a fundraiser for Hearing from the Heart, a project of Payne’s Sharon St. Cyr (SCC) Fund to help people in our community with hearing aids who can’t afford them and offer grants to events to provide sign interpreters for hearing impaired and deaf individuals.  Originally from Maine, Jeffrey Payne relocated to Louisiana at the young age of 3 after the death of his mother, Sharon St. Cyr.  He grew up in a Louisiana orphanage, going on to attend Louisiana Tech University and settling down in New Orleans.  Circumstances (a.k.a. Hurricane Katrina) relocated Jeffrey to  Dallas, Texas.  With a BA from Texas A&M University, until recently Jeffrey worked as a Human Resource Director for a Fortune 500 company.  Upon being selected International Mr. Leather 2009, Mr. Payne now devotes his time to living his dream of serving as a full-time Ambassador for the Leather Community.   He works night and day through the SCC Fund to create awareness and raise money for the many charitable organizations that his SSC Fund supports.   Jeffrey is married to David Roy, who co-founded The SCC Fund.  Together they share their home in Dallas with their boy, adam, and their four children: miniature dachshunds Isabella & Lucy, and miniature poodles Korbin & Konner.  Payne appeared at Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW) in April 2009.  During CLAW’s International Leather Family Dinner, Payne spoke to the crowd about his experiences as a role model in our community.  It couldn’t be easy to bring an entire ballroom of leathermen and leatherwomen to complete silence.  Jeffrey did just that, with his empowering yet affable persona, as well as his provocative story about his friendship with a very smart, HIV-positive, 8-year old boy who is currently living in an orphanage.  

Jeffrey Payne is every bit as charismatic and, shall we say… “easy on the eyes” in person as he is in those eye-popping, fund-raising calendar photos you can see on his official site.   Before heading off to Chicago, Payne spoke with Jed Ryan about his reign as International Mr. Leather, the state of the Leather community, and his post IML plans:

JR: Hi, Jeffrey!  It was great meeting you at CLAW.  So, first off, what was the greatest thing about holding the Title of International Mr. Leather 2009?
JP:  I have been asked that question quite a bit lately as my title year comes to an end.  I still have the hardest time answering it, though.  This entire year has been an incredible opportunity, and on so many levels the term “greatest” can be used.  The smaller events, the larger events, the fundraisers, the parades – how could I possibly select “the”
greatest thing?  So I’ll choose to answer your question in this manner:  The greatest thing about holding the title of  International Mr. Leather has been the fact that I began the title year with my husband, David, and I am ending it with my husband, David.  But what makes it so great is the fact we not only are ending the title year together, we are ending it with a stronger commitment and devotion to one another.

JR: On the flipside, what was the most challenging or most difficult aspect about it?
JP:  Time zones.  It was extremely difficult to keep up with the time zones I was in and to maintain some type of  schedule.  The worst was over a ten-day span of time in which I had been in so many different time zones, I didn’t  know if it was morning or evening without looking outside to see if it was dark or light outside.  The difference in hours
was an adjustment of 14 hours back and forth between time zones.  I would show up to an event ready for breakfast and it was dinnertime, or vice-versa.  (Laughing)  Seriously, though, I felt that at each event I needed to give them all of who I was and deliver a speech or judge a contest with the clearest mind possible and my being tired was not an
acceptable excuse in my book.  I felt the community needed to know I was fully committed to their event.  So my ability to take care of myself and my health and getting the appropriate amount of sleep was a challenge.

JR: No doubt!  In your opinion, where does the Leather lifestyle stand now?  A lot of guys have speculated that a new generation is discovering the scene, and we’re due for a renaissance.  Do you think that’s true? 
JP: There is always another generation discovering the scene and that will never change.  I remember years ago when I was “the new generation.”  I’m not sure I would say we were due for a renaissance, however.  I think it just comes down to “change.”  Change is inevitable.  We just have to work together to ensure that whatever change we experience as a community is change in a positive and progressive manner.  Change just for the sake of changing isn’t necessarily good.  We have to actively guide the direction of change, with open minds and open hearts.

JR: What can all of us do in the Leather community do, on a day-to-day basis, to keep the lifestyle thriving?
JP: Communicate face-to-face.  Wait, I’ll take it one step further and say, “effectively communicate face-to-face.” I  believe with the onset of blogs, websites, text messaging and instant media communication, we have virtually lost our ability to effectively communicate face-to-face.  That is why I enjoy traveling to so many communities and meeting the people who make up our community face-to-face.  There is that human element to communicating that is missing more and more these days with so much technology taking over.  Don’t get me wrong, I blog, I have a website and I use email like there is no tomorrow; however, I still make it a point to communicate with people face-to-face.  With the written word, we may sometimes lose the essence of what a person is saying because we have lost the facial and body expressions of how they are saying something and we loss the inflection of a person’s voice when they make a point or show passion for a topic.  So on a day-to-day basis, I would say we should work on getting out in the community more and effectively communicating with one another, face-to-face.

JR: One of the events at IML is to benefit the Hearing from the Heart project of the SCC Fund, to help people in our community pay for their hearing aids.  How has this become one of your chosen causes?
JP: Let me start by saying, I am fortunate to be a part of this community.  They have simply embraced this cause wholeheartedly with such vigor and support.  My husband and I began the Sharon St. Cyr Fund (SSC Fund) after we purchased my own hearing aids.  They cost $5,000.  I remember hitting the floor in amazement over the cost.   Then it was a double whammy when I found out my insurance would not cover them.  David and I are fortunate in that we are able to afford them; however, there are too many people in our community who need hearing aids and simply cannot afford them.  So David and I decided we would do what we could to change this by creating the SSC Fund.  We also supplement the cost of having sign interpreters at events to ensure the deaf community is able to participate and enjoy events as well.

JR: You were certainly one of the most admired men at CLAW this year!  What was your most memorable moment from the weekend?
JP: CLAW was very exciting this year.  I had a great time.  I have to admit the most memorable moment was when I spoke at the dinner.  To approach the stage and have the very men and women I admire in our community stand up and applaud for me before I uttered a word was humbling and very surreal, to say the least.  I have spent years with so many of these people, admiring them, hoping to emulate them in some form or fashion, and they were standing for me!  That was a moment I will never forget.  Then to share my story about what had transpired that day, speaking about being HIV positive, my eight-year-old friend Darrell at the Children’s Home, and our community and how all of these things share this incredibly beautiful bond.  To convey to everyone how each of those things affects the others, how they affect our individual journey and our journey as a community. That was truly a moment I will always remember.

JR: A lot of guys look at Leathermen as the epitome of masculinity and sex appeal.  As a bona fide expert on the subject, what makes a guy sexy?
JP:  You can ask a million guys that same question and you will receive a million different answers.  So I can’t speak for everyone on that subject, only for myself.  If you want to know what I believe makes a guy sexy, just look at my husband – intelligent, giving, supportive, humorous and he also “gets” my humor.  The fact that all of this is rolled up into a drop-dead gorgeous man, just makes it even better!  But with anyone, I find a man hot as long as he is true to himself, respectful of others and understands what being “real” is all about.  Therein lies the true essence of sexiness to me – knowing what being “real” is all about.

JR: In your speech at CLAW you were very open about being HIV positive.  As a role model for our community, what’s the most important piece of advice you have for those who are living with the virus?  
JP: Keep living and keep moving forward!  My HIV status does not define me as a man.  How I live my life, how I treat other people, how I strive to live by example each day are what will define me in the long run, not my HIV status.  Honestly, there are days in which I struggle with the medical issues of being HIV positive; that is to be expected.
However, the manner in which I handle those issues and overcome those obstacles are what is important.  But that is the same scenario with all issues and obstacles I face.  Face it head on, deal with it and keep moving.

JR: I agree!  Finally, what are your plans for the rest of the year, after the new IML is crowned?!
JP: I will be doing the same thing I have always done:  Working within our community, attending events across our globe, building bridges, working with the deaf and hearing communities to ensure we continue to move forward and continuing to work with the SSC Fund to ensure the mission of the Fund is reached each and every single day.  And I
definitely will be spending some much needed time with my husband and family.

It’s not to late to go to International Mr. Leather!  Visit the official IML site at  www.IMRL.com.

IML - 2008

Gary Iriza

Over this past Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, Gary Iriza of Palm Springs, California was chosen as International Mister Leather 2008. A native of Venezuela who moved to America in 1999, Gary ran for the title of Mr. Palm Springs Leather this past November and won, which he went on to compete at the International Mister Leather XXX contest with fifty other contestants.

He works as a personal fitness trainer and has volunteered for local community organizations such as Well in the Desert, an organization serving the homeless, as well as hosting Palm Springs’ “Fetish Ball” fundraiser for the Gay Associate Youth organization. He is a member of the Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert and the Desert Pride Community Center. He also spins as a DJ when he has the time.

Gary is making two appearances in Philadelphia this month. Back on the July 4th weekend he was a judge at the Mid-Atlantic Leather Sir/boy contest, which was his first time judging a leather contest. He will be returning to our city this weekend to judge the International Deaf Leather 2008 contest as well. Shortly after Mid-Atlantic Gary was gracious to let me interview him for PhillyGayCalendar.com.

I start off the interview by asking him would he describe his recent trip to Philadelphia to judge the Mid-Atlantic Leather Sir/boy contest. I also ask him what did he think was the best part of that visit, and if that was his first time in Philly?

“No, it wasn’t my first trip to Philly, and more time I realize why it’s called the City of the Brotherly Love. Judging Mid-Atlantic Leather Sir/boy was quite an experience; it was my first time judging a leather contest, and it made me realize that it is more nerve racking to judge than be judged, because the responsibility of to choose the best candidates to represent our community is in your hands, so you can imagine how difficult it can be… especially with all the great contestants that were competing; what can I say without sounding cliché? They all deserve the title; after all it was a very rewarding experience.”

How did you get into leather? Was there a certain event that triggered it, or was it a more gradual process?

“It was two years ago I had tickets to go and see Madonna in concert, that Sunday I received a phone call: “What are you doing boy?” It was a deep masculine voice of a man (Daddy) I had met three weeks before, at the Barracks bar in Palm Springs, and the only thing I could think of was ‘Gee this hot man is calling me.’ His beard and striking looks made me forget about my (at the moment–well still is) idol. He kept talking meanwhile I was mute, and I remember he said he wanted to show me a piece of furniture…Once at his place the piece of furniture was a torture table which I immediately jumped on, and next thing I knew I was tight up being milked, tortured and touched by leather. I kept playing with this Daddy for a while he eventually became my partner and I will always be grateful of what she showed me and the way he mentored me.”

Since Gary lives in Palm Springs, California, I ask him to give a description of the leather/S&M community there.

“Palm springs is HOT, beautiful, and a fun place to live in, and the best part of all is that you can show your ass all the time at the bars, because it is so hot there,” he laughs. “We have a very well organized leather community, that work non-stop for the whole entire Coachella Valley in general; we are respected, recognized, and above all loving people. We celebrate each year our leather pride weekend in November; we have the Mr. Palm Springs Leather contest and this year we are growing with it was a one day trial project last year “the street fair” now it will be a two day long celebration, it was such a hit last year, and the best part I will be there,” which trails off into more laughter.

With your winning the title of IML, do you feel that you have a lot to prove now?

“Not at all, the only thing I need to do is to follow my heart and contribute to this wonderful community of ours in every way possible.”

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the leather community today?

“There is not such an issue and with the same token the issues that we have are not only leather; they are global as well–drugs, STD’s and Republicans, are projects that we never should stop working to eliminate. We all need to stand together for what is right for this world of ours.”

How do feel about the dialogue between the gay leather community and the larger mainstream gay community?

Once again I see the big picture here, and if us, as leather people play the part we either build either a gap or a bridge, let me explain; If we consider ourselves different type of gay people, what is going to happen is that the rest of the gay people will see us as different; however if we act and include ourselves and keep doing our job and contribute to this society, who would care what we do close doors or what we wear??? This isn’t difficult, just do your job, do it right and all will come back to you, like the Kabbalah principle…and if however there are people feeling funny about us, just keep doing good and make sure you do, to let them know we are as normal as the rest of the human species, we are not ashamed of who we are, we don’t need to be perfect, we need to be good and do good! That’s it. It is our duty vanilla and leather to make it work. None of us is more or less we are all equals so the rule applies to both, and we have to respect each other.”

Any advice for someone who’s starting to get into leather?

“Gear up, have fun and support, play safe and learn the history. It is very interesting, and beautiful.”

You’ve mentioned your love of music in your bio. What kind of music do you spin when you DJ? And what is your favorite song that came out this year so far?

“I play house, tribal, and progressive house, I DJ everywhere I can, I have too many favorites’ songs though…”

You will be back in Philadelphia to judge the International Deaf Leather Contest. Do you have any words for the people in Philly?

“Philadelphia Weather Report: Hurricane Gary it’s hitting again get ready here it comes!” Gary says with a laugh.

Any final comments?

“I just can’t wait to go there [IDL 2008] and support them. The deaf community goes every hearing event there is; so it is only fair for them for us to be there in their events. They have all my support; I love them.”

IML - 2007

Mikel Gerle

IML - 2006

Bo Ladashevska

IML - 2005

Michael Egdes

IML - 2004

Michael Egdes