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| After the Mr. Hayes Valley 2005 Contest |
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| Gary (Marlena), Me, & Lenny Broberg (IML 1992) |
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| After the Mr. HV contest |
| The Three SF Titleholders |
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| At Magnitude after the contest |
| San Francisco Leather Titleholders |
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| Dodger Allen (Mr. SF, Mr. Powerhouse), Me, Todd Kinard (Mr. Edge) |
It is in my nature (fortified by years of academic training) to examine things
I am interested in through “research.” Whether it is a health issue
I am studying in school, or the leather world, I explore the available information, mull it over in my head (probably a scary
place!), and then decide what to do. Thus, thanks to Werner’s reading suggestions
and other information I found along the way, my involvement in the leather community in SF was a conscious one.
I had a few friends who were already pretty
well established in the leather community here in SF, and I focused upon fostering those friendships and spending time with
them in leather bars and at leather events. As I spent more time in the leather
bars and at events and not being one to stand in the background when I see things that need to be done or someone who needs
help, I began to volunteer to help out where I could at events selling raffle tickets, or working the door, etc. At the same time, Magnet was opening and becoming known in the community and the leather community was
the first to begin to support Magnet with fundraisers and other support. So I
ended up spending even more time helping out at events and fundraisers in leather spaces.
| Imperial Court Coronation, Feb. 2005 |
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| 3 Generations of Mr. HV L's: Darryl (2004), Me, and Michael (2003) |
After some time--I think largely as a result of my visibility working to support
Magnet--I was chosen by Mama to be pinned into Mama’s Family (Mama’s Fetish).
Being pinned by Mama was significant to me at the time because I have great respect for what she has done for supporting
the community and because in many ways, it said to me that I had a place in the community that I had consciously decided to
try to join—that I “belonged." I felt more comfortable in the community
and was able to use that as a place from which I could explore more.
As I spent more time in the community and became more involved in helping out
with things, I was able to meet and identify people who I could seek out to rely upon as mentors and teachers. I also have had the opportunity to become friends with several men and women who have been titleholders
in SF. As the 2004-5 contest season began, some of these titleholders began to
lobby me to run for a title myself. In particular, the guys who have held the
Mr. Hayes Valley Title encouraged me to run for their title. I was reluctant
at first, not having much of an exhibitionist streak (I’m the guy who typically doesn’t take his shirt off in
public), the physique portion of the contests scared me. But at the same time,
there had been a lot of talk in SF about a lack of good people stepping up to take on the challenge, and I was looking for
a way to expand what I did in the community beyond Magnet specifically within the leather community. So I decided to suck it up and get over my reluctance to be seen on stage in very little clothing and focus
on the other aspects of the contest that I was more comfortable with like public speaking and my commitment to the community.
In August 2004, I ran for Mr. Hayes Valley Leather 2005 and won.
After the HV contest, it was off to the Mr. SF Leather contest in September,
and there I got second runner-up. But more importantly, I gained a great new
friend in the guy who won the SF title, Dodger Allen. Being a titleholder in SF can be a whirlwind and certainly a challenge at times and having a good friend
that shares that experience with you can really help, so it’s been really nice to go through this year with a friend
like Dodger.
On Memorial Day weekend in May of 2005, I represented Marlena’s
and San
Francisco and competed for International Mr. Leather (IML). As I
look back at IML, I can say that I’m glad I decided to push myself to do the “titleholder thing.” I’ve grown and learned a lot about myself and the community, and learned a lot
about what I don’t yet know. I’ve met some amazing people both here
in SF and beyond and supported some great organizations in the community. And
I’m proud to represent a place like Marlena’s that truly supports the diversity within the larger LGBT community. Last year as Mr. HVL was a great beginning of what I hope will be a long future
for me of involvement in the community and I look forward to the adventure to come.
To view some pictures from my experience at IML, Click Here
In January of this year, I took over a new responsibility in the community.
My friend Dodger Allen and I are the new owners and Executive Producers of the Mr. San Francisco Leather Contest. Since
taking over the contest we have been working hard to seat a committee and plan for the event. The contest is Saturday
September 23, 2006, and we hope to see you all there. For more info click on our spectacular new logo below:
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 and Me)
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