International Mr. Leather

Last updated
International Mr. Leather
International-Mr-Leather-logo.jpg
IML Wingman logo
International Mr Leather 29-Chicago Theater-01.jpg
IML 29 at the Chicago Theatre (2007)
NicknameIML
StatusActive
Genre
FrequencyAnnually, Memorial Day weekend
Location(s) Chicago, Illinois
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1979 (1979)
Organised byInternational Mr. Leather Inc.
Website www.imrl.com

International Mr. Leather(IML) is a multi-day conference and competition celebrating the leather, kink, fetish, and BDSM communities. Established in 1979, IML is held annually in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, drawing thousands of contestants and spectators from around the world. [1] As of 2024, over 2,100 contestants from 27 countries have competed.

Contents

Events include speakers, socials, themed dance parties and a leather market. IML contestants qualify for the competition either by winning a feeder competition of a bar and/or local or regional leather contest, or by being sponsored by a leather-related bar, business, club, or organization.

IML organizers also produce the International Mr. Bootblack competition.

History

IML is regarded as the world's oldest continuously operating international leather and fetish event, [2] leading to the nickname "the granddaddy of all leather events." [3] The forerunner of the competition was the 1970s "Mr. Gold Coast" contest held at Chicago's Gold Coast leather bar, owned by Chuck Renslow and Dom Orejudos. [4] The "Mr. Gold Coast" contest became one of the bar's most popular promotions causing the need to locate the competition to a larger venue in 1979, upon which the title was changed to International Mr. Leather. [4]

The inaugural IML competition took place May 18-20, 1979. [5] The event was advertised as "a weekend you won't want to miss" featuring "some of the world's hottest men, representing leather bars and clubs across America and Europe" competing to win prizes worth $5,000 ($20,990 in 2023), including a motorcycle. [5] Spectators could purchase a weekend package for $25 ($105.00 in 2023) that included a shirt designed Etienne (Orejudos), tickets to parties and events, and coupons for local shops and bathhouses. [5] Standalone tickets to the contest were priced at $10. [5] David Kloss won the first contest; Durk Dehner and Jesse Capello were first and second runners-up. [6] Tom of Finland volunteered to judge the contest, but had to drop out for health reasons (he later judged the 1983 contest). [6]

Orejudos designed the contest's "wingman logo" as well as much of its promotional materials. [6] [7]

Advertisement for inaugural IML contest (1979) International Mr Leather 1979.jpg
Advertisement for inaugural IML contest (1979)

In 1980, IML introduced the Black and Blue Ball. [6] By 1984, attendance had increased from 300 to 1,500. [6]

The leather pride flag was designed by Tony DeBlase, and he first presented the design at IML 11 on May 28, 1989. [8] The flag was incorporated into the design of the sash awarded to contest winners. [6]

The International Bootblack Competition was added to the IML program in 1993. In 1998, the coed competition was spun off into two separate competitions: International Mr. Bootblack (IMrBB), produced by IML, and International Ms. Bootblack (IMsBB), produced by International Ms. Leather. [9]

Since 2009, IML proceeds have been placed in a trust to benefit the Leather Archives and Museum (LA&M). [10] LA&M, which Renslow and Deblase co-founded, is the custodian of IML records and artwork. [11] [12]

In 2009, prior to the widespread availability of PrEP, IML forbade from its vendor market "any entity which promotes barebacking or distributes/sells any merchandise tending to promote or advocate barebacking." [13] However, IML did not consistently enforce the policy and in 2019 announced that it would repeal it. [14]

The Congress Plaza Hotel has hosted IML guests and festivities every year since 2015, but the contest itself has often been hosted at offsite venues such as the Auditorium Theater. [15] [16]

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant shutdowns and cancellations of large gatherings throughout the world, in-person IML events in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled. [17] [18] IML resumed in May 2022. [19]

Rules and requirements

Eligibility

As of 2024, to qualify for IML, prospective contestants must:

Contest Criteria

Preliminary round

Contest finalists are selected following:

  1. A preliminary interview with each of the nine judges, up to 8 minutes in length, are held in private (60% of the preliminary score).
  2. Stage presence and personality at a Saturday "Pecs and Personality" event (40% of the preliminary score).

The judge's highest and lowest scores for each contestant on each criterion are dropped, and the contestant's remaining seven scores are tallied to determine the 20 contestants with the highest combined scores to proceed as finalists at the Sunday IML contest event. The only time that the dropped scores are included in the tally is when there is a tie for the 20th place; the contestants in question have their dropped scores included in the tally but if the stalemate continues then each of the nine judges must vote for only one of the two contestants. Preliminary judging scores are not carried forward. There are also two tally masters.

Final round

Each of the 20 finalists is judged at the Sunday IML contest on a scale from 0 to 100 in the following order:

  1. Leather image (up to 40 points).
  2. Presentation skills that include a contestant speech (up to 40 points).
  3. Physical appearance (up to 20 points).

The highest and lowest scores for each finalist are dropped, the remaining seven scores are added together, and the top three scores designate the second runner-up, first runner-up, and winner, International Mr. Leather. A tie for the title is resolved by adding to the tally the dropped scores of the two contestants; if the stalemate continues then each of the nine judges must vote for only one of the contestants in question.


Winners

As of 2024, 44 contestants representing eight countries have won IML: United States (36), Germany (2), Australia (1), Belgium (1), Canada (1), France (1), Netherlands (1), and United Kingdom (1).

The following is a table of IML contest winners. Note that winner's city as used in the table variously refers to the preliminary title host city or winner's city of residence.

YearClassWinnerPreliminary Contest / Primary SponsorWinner's cityNumber of contestantsCountries and U.S. StatesContest Location & Host HotelRef.
19791David KlossMr. Leather Brig San Francisco, California 12United States (6 U.S. states)Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel [21] [22]
19802Patrick BrookesMr. Leather Australia Sydney, Australia 18Australia and the United States, (including 7 U.S. states)Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel [21] [23]
19813Marty KikerSponsored by The Brig & The PhoenixSan Francisco, California363 countries (including 11 U.S. states) Park West [21]
19824Luke DanielMr. Drummer San Francisco, California46Canada and the United States (including 13 U.S. states)Park West [21] [24]
19835Coulter ThomasMr. Texas Leather Houston, Texas 44Canada and the United States (including 15 U.S. states)Park West & Allerton Hotel [21]
19846Ron MooreMr. Leather Colorado Denver, Colorado 30Australia and the United States (including 14 U.S. states)Park West & Allerton Hotel [21]
19857Patrick TonerMr. Chaps San FranciscoSan Francisco, California273 countries (including 14 U.S. states)Park West & Allerton Hotel [21]
19868Scott TuckerMr. Philadelphia Leather Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 28United States (14 U.S. states)Park West & Lake Shore Hotel [21]
19879Thomas Karasch Mr. Leather Europe Hamburg, Germany 313 countries (including 14 U.S. states)Park West & Days Inn [21] [25]
198810Michael PereyraMr. Leather San Diego San Diego, California 423 countries (including 20 states)Clubland at The Vic Theatre & Executive House Hotel [21]
198911 Guy Baldwin Mr. National Leather Association Los Angeles, California 48Canada and the United States (including 22 states)Clubland at The Vic Theatre & Executive House Hotel [21]
199012Mark RyanMr. Boston Leather Boston, Massachusetts 484 countries (including 22 U.S. states)Clubland at The Vic Theatre [21]
199113D CannonMr. CC (of Palm Springs)Los Angeles , California503 countries (including 24 U.S. states)Clubland at The Vic Theatre & Executive House Hotel [21]
199214Lenny BrobergMr. San Francisco LeatherSan Francisco, California56Canada and the U.S. (including 22 U.S. states) Aragon Ballroom & Executive House Hotel [21] [26]
199315Henri ten HaveSponsored by Motor Sportclub Amsterdam (MSA) Amsterdam, Netherlands 515 countries (including 23 U.S. states)Aragon Ballroom & Congress Plaza Hotel [21]
199416Jeff TuckerMr. San Jose Leather San Jose, California 435 countries (including 21 U.S. states) Congress Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [21]
199517Larry EverettMr. Oklahoma Leather Collinsville, Oklahoma 506 countries (including 26 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Hyatt Regency Chicago [21]
199618 Joe Gallagher Mr. Leather New York New York, New York 495 countries (inlcuding 26 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [21]
199719Kevin CwaynaMr. Minnesota Leather Minneapolis, Minnesota 534 countries (including 25 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [21]
199820 Tony Mills Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Washington, D.C. 626 countries (including 25 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [21]
199921Bruce ChopnikMr. Rocky Mountain LeatherDenver, Colorado525 countries (including 23 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [21]
200022Mike TaylorMr. Heartland Leather Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio 607 countries (including 25 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [21]
200123Stefan MüllerBavarian Mr. Leather Munich, Germany 637 countries (including 27 U.S. states)Congress Theater & The Palmer House Hilton [21]
200224Stephen WeberMr. Texas Leather Dallas, Texas 667 countries (including 28 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Hyatt Regency Chicago [21] [27]
200325John PendalMr. Hoist London, United Kingdom 585 countries (including 25 U.S. states)Congress Theater & The Palmer House Hilton [21] [28]
200426Jason Hendrix Mr. D.C. Eagle 2004 Washington, D.C.576 countries (including 23 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Hyatt Regency Chicago [29]
200527Michael Egdes Mr. Ramrod Fort Lauderdale, Florida 526 countries (including 25 U.S. states) Navy Pier Skyline Stage & Hyatt Regency Chicago [30] [31]
200628Bo LadashevskaMr. Leather Montreal 2006 Montreal, Quebec, Canada 525 countries (including 18 U.S. states) Chicago Theatre & The Palmer House Hilton Hotel [32]
200729Mikel GerleMr. Los Angeles Leather 2007Los Angeles, California535 countries (including 23 U.S. states)Chicago Theatre & The Palmer House Hilton [33] [34]
200830Gary IrizaMr. Palm Springs Leather 2008 Palm Springs, California 516 countries (including 21 U.S. states)Hyatt Regency Chicago [35] [36] [37]
200931Jeffrey PayneMr. Texas Leather 2009Dallas, Texas547 countries (including 26 U.S. states) Hilton Chicago [38] [39]
201032Tyler McCormickMr. Rio Grande Leather 2010 Albuquerque, New Mexico 5210 countries (including 22 U.S. states)Congress Theater & Hyatt Regency Chicago [40] [41] [42]
201133Eric GuttierezMr. Leather Europe 2011 Paris, France 537 countries Harris Theater & Hyatt Regency Chicago [43] [44] [45]
201234Woody WoodruffMr. Michigan Leather 2012 Waterford, Michigan 49 ?Harris Theater & Hyatt Regency Chicago [46]
201335Andy CrossMr. San Francisco Leather 2013San Francisco, California516 countries (including 25 U.S. states)Harris Theater & Marriott Michigan Ave. Chicago [47] [48] [49] [50]
201436Ramien Pierre Mr. D.C. Eagle 2014 Washington, D.C.465 countriesHarris Theater & Marriott Michigan Ave. Chicago [51] [52] [53] [54]
201537Patrick SmithMr. Los Angeles Leather 2015Los Angeles, California529 countries (including 23 U.S. states)Park West and Harris Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [55] [56] [57]
201638David "Tigger" BaileyMr. New Jersey Leather 2016 Howell, New Jersey 598 countries (including 25 U.S. states)Park West and Harris Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [58] [59]
201739Ralph BruneauMr. GNI (Gay Naturists International) Leather 2016Los Angeles, California6312 countries (including 24 U.S. states) Auditorium Theatre & Congress Plaza Hotel [60]
201840James LeeMr. Kentucky Leather 2017 Lexington, Kentucky 7114 countries (including 26 U.S. states)Auditorium Theatre & Congress Plaza Hotel [61] [62]
201941Jack ThompsonLeatherman of Color 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 6813 countries (including 24 U.S. states and Puerto Rico)Auditorium Theatre & Congress Plaza Hotel [25] [63]
202042Contest cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic [17]
202143 [18]
202244Gael Leung Chong WoMr. Leather Belgium 2020/2021 Ghent, Belgium 6011 countries (including 23 U.S. states) Arie Crown Theater & Congress Plaza Hotel [64] [65]
202345Marcus BarelaEagle LA Mr. Leather 2023Los Angeles, California5410 countries (including 21 U.S. states)Auditorium Theatre & Congress Plaza Hotel [66] [67] [68]
202446Jamal "Alpha Pup Savage" Herrera-O'Malley San Francisco Eagle Leather Pup 2024San Francisco, California599 countries (including 21 U.S. states)Venue SIX10 at Spertus Institute, McCormick Place, & Congress Plaza Hotel [69]


Milestones

In 1984 Ron Moore became the first black man to win International Mr. Leather. [70] In 1997, his sister Genelle Moore won International Ms. Leather, which made them the first siblings to hold international leather titles. [71] [72]

In 2010, Tyler McCormick became the first openly transgender man, the first wheelchair user, and the first person from New Mexico to win International Mr. Leather. [40] [73]

The 2012 contest featured two weddings as well as the contest's first pair of married contestants competing against each other. [2]

In 2019, Jack Thompson became the first openly transgender person of color to win International Mr. Leather. [25] His win also marked the first time black men won consecutive International Mr. Leather titles. [74]

International Mr. Bootblack

IMrBB logo International Mr. Bootblack Logo.jpg
IMrBB logo

The International Mr. Bootblack (IMrBB) Competition runs throughout the IML weekend. Contestants are given a location in the IML Leather Market at which they perform bootblacking services. Weekend ticket package holders (as well as judges, contestants, and vendors) are each provided with a bootblack ballot which is redeemable for one shine by the bootblack of the voter's choice. Bootblacks are free to shine the boots of any person, regardless of whether that person has a ballot, although it is made clear that the ballots are the means by which the winner will be determined. Tipping is not required, but is quite common.

The bootblack contestants work during the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of IML during the time that the Leather Market is open, a total of approximately 20 hours over three days. In previous years, the bootblacks were allowed to shine boots and collect tickets at all times during the weekend. Since 2001, the bootblack contestants have established a gentlemen's agreement at the start of the weekend that they will not shine boots or accept ballots except during the established competition hours. This agreement was conceived to give the contestants the freedom to take time to enjoy the weekend without feeling the pressure to always be bootblacking.

At its inception in 1993, the competition was called the International Bootblack Competition, and both men and women were allowed to compete. In 1998, it was announced that the competition would be changed to the International Mr. Bootblack Competition and that a separate competition solely for women would be held at International Ms. Leather. This change was made largely because it was commonly held that women had a significant disadvantage competing for ballots from IML's predominantly gay male attendees, who may favor bootblacks who they find attractive. Since 1999, competitors for IMrBB are restricted to persons over the age of 21 who present as male.

The winner of the International Mr. Bootblack Competition is announced (along with the first and second runners-up and the winner of the Brotherhood Award, on which the IMrBB competitors vote and which is roughly analogous to the Miss Congeniality Award from various traditional beauty contests) at the Sunday contest, immediately following the announcement of the top 20 IML finalists.

In recent years, largely because of coordination of the contest by David Hawks, International Mr. Bootblack 2000, the Bootblack Competition has begun to develop adjunct activities. An IMrBB party is held in a hotel function room on Saturday night, offering food, music, and a silent auction, the proceeds of which go to the travel fund of the winner. Likewise, during the competition hours in the Leather Market, volunteers man a table to answer questions and sell IMrBB Travel Fund pins, which also adds to the travel fund. These sources of revenue have provided the various contestants with significantly more money to aid their travel to distant events during their title years. The money is controlled by the contest coordinator, and any access to the funds must be accompanied by proof of the travel outlay.

Starting in 2013, the IMrBB contest has implemented a judging system to select the winner. Contestants are evaluated by a panel of judges on the basis of their technical bootblacking skills, how they present themselves on stage and in public and what they say in an interview with the judges. Ballot voting still makes up a percentage of the contestant's total score.

IMrBB winners

The following is a table of IMrBB contest winners:

YearWinnerWinner's preliminary title or sponsorWinner's cityContestants
1993David Morgan DC Eagle Washington, D.C.  ?
1994William Shields, Jr.Chicago Eagle & Chicago Hellfire Club Chicago, Illinois  ?
1995Tim Cousins DC Eagle Washington, D.C. ?
1996Todd Nelson The Cuff Seattle, Washington  ?
1997DrillerSF Eagle & Daddy's Bar San Francisco, California  ?
1998Matthew DuncanCentaur MCWashington, D.C. ?
1999Robert Ehrlich DC Eagle Washington, D.C. ?
2000David HawksMid-Atlantic Bootblack 2000 (Centaur MC)Washington, D.C. ?
2001Paksen BurrellMid-Atlantic Bootblack 2001 (Centaur MC)Washington, D.C. ?
2002Michael LanziniThe Lure New York City, New York  ?
2003Richie ChameroyDaddy's Bar & Powerhouse BarSan Francisco, California ?
2004Alan TunstallThe Barracks Bar & Avatar Club Los Angeles, California 8
2005BooBooGreat Lakes Leather Alliance & Laws Leather Cleveland, Ohio 9
2006Benjamin PalmerPumpJack Pub & Priape Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 5
2007SpotGreat Lakes Leather Alliance Lansing, Michigan 5
2008BootdogAlameda County Leather Corps Oakland, California 5
2009McGBootblack Toronto 2009 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 6
2010Tim StarkeyBoston Ramrod Boston, Massachusetts 5
2011Jim DeuderNYC Bootblack Roundtable, The Leather Man NYC & the Eagle NYCNew York City, New York6
2012Nick ElliottOregon State Bootblack, 2011 Portland, Oregon 2
2013Sammy SkloverOregon State Bootblack, 2012Portland, Oregon3
2014ScoutEros SF & the San Francisco EagleOakland, California7
2015Bamm-BammInternational Leatherboy 2012, SF EagleSan Francisco, California6
2016Erick JosephAlaska State Bootblack Anchorage, Alaska  ?
2017Ryan "Pawlish" Garner-CarpenterIndependent Candidate Cincinnati, Ohio 3
2018Lucky RebelMr. Oregon State Leather 2016Portland, Oregon ?
2019Kriszly de HondMr. Puppy EU 2015, XXXLeather's House Bootblack Zaandam, Netherlands 4
2020Contest cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022Alistair LeatherHiraethBootblack Europe 2020 Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom 3
2023Contest cancelled due to staff resignation [75]
2024

Cultural impact & legacy

The Leather Archives & Museum is the custodian of IML records and recipient of IML proceeds. Leather Archives & Museum entrance.jpg
The Leather Archives & Museum is the custodian of IML records and recipient of IML proceeds.

According to the Chicago Reader , "IML has endured as an institution that serves the LGBTQ+ community by fundraising for grassroots groups as well as providing opportunities to gather and exchange goods, information, and kinship." [76] IML has also improved the visibility and popularity of leather culture; [77] [78] past IML contestants and attendees have founded leather organizations, competitions, and businesses around the world, including National Leather Association International. [79] [80] [81]

Recognition

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Bean, Joseph W. (2004). International Mr. Leather: 25 Years of Champions. International Mr. Leather, Inc. and The Leather Archives and Museum (1st ed.). Las Vegas: Nazca Plains. ISBN   1-887895-38-8.
  2. ^ Davolt, Robert (2003). Painfully Obvious: An Irreverent & Unauthorized Manual for Leather/SM. cover design by Steve Diet Goedde. Los Angeles: Daedalus Publishing. p. 212. ISBN   1-881943-19-4.
  3. ^ International Mr. Leather, Inc. "Contestant Application" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-03-24. Retrieved 2005-12-21.
  4. ^ "Leather Archives & Museum Announcement". Twitter. 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  5. ^ "IML Makes History". Will Clark World. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  6. ^ International Mr. Leather, Inc. "Official IML Scoring Procedure". Archived from the original on 2005-12-22. Retrieved 2005-12-21.
  7. ^ International Mr. Leather, Inc. "IML 2004". Archived from the original on 2006-03-24. Retrieved 2005-12-18.
  8. ^ International Mr. Leather, Inc. (2005-05-30). Michael Egdes Named International Mr. Leather 2005 Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago. (Microsoft Word). Press release. Archived from the original on 2005-12-23. Retrieved 2005-12-19.
  9. ^ "International Mr. Leather – Bootblack Contest". Archived from the original on 2006-03-24. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  10. ^ "International Mr. Leather – Past Bootblack Winners". Archived from the original on 2006-03-24. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  11. ^ International Mr. Leather, Inc. (2007-05-27). Mikel Gerle Named International Mr. Leather 2007. (Microsoft Word). Press release. Archived from the original on 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
  12. ^ "International Mr. Bootblack 2013 Press Release" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  13. ^ Source for 1979 to 2003: Bean, Joseph W. (2004). International Mr. Leather: 25 Years of Champions. International Mr. Leather, Inc. and The Leather Archives and Museum (1st ed.). Las Vegas: Nazca Plains. ISBN   1-887895-38-8.
  14. ^ Source for 2004 to 2008: "International Mr. Leather - History". Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-03-15.

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The D.C. Eagle was a gay leather bar in Washington, D.C., operating from 1971 to 2020. It was relocated several times, with its most recent location at 3701 Benning Rd. NE since 2014. It was one of several unrelated leather bars carrying the name "The Eagle".

References

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