t
Read more online at www.ebar.com
for IMBB was Bootblack Beta from Oakland. All of them did a great job throughout the competition and represented us well. As always, IML/IMBB works hard to gather a selection of esteemed judges who they believe will judge contestants honestly and fairly. Judges for the IML contest this year were Patrick Smith (IML 2015), Joe Barlow, Jeff Gruenberger, Derek Harley, Jeff Henness, Penelope Jones, Steve Laviolette, John O’Brien, and Michael Shorten. Tallymasters were Don Leach and Dominion Onyx. Judges for the IMBB contest were Bamm-Bamm (IMBB 2015), Meghan (IMsBB
2016), and the Bay Area’s own Joan Norry. The contest this year was masterfully co-MC’d by the Bay Area’s Lenny Broberg and Thib Guicherd-Callin. David “Tigger” Bailey (Mr. New Jersey Leather 2016), stood atop the podium as the new International Mr. Leather. First runner-up was Todd Harris (Mr. Chicago Leather 2016) and second runner-up was Adam “Pup Vino” Henderson (Mr. Midwest Leather 2015). Based on what data I could gather, I believe Tigger is the oldest man to win IML at 51. As an older man myself, I loved seeing more mature men reflected atop the podium.
June 9-15, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 41
Erick Joseph (Alaska State Bootblack 2015) is the new International Mr. Bootblack. First runner-up was Bootblack Beta. Second runner-up was Brooklyn Davenport (Gulf Coast Community Bootblack 2013). The new International Mr. Leather and Bootblack I asked the new IML, Tigger, if he had any thoughts about what the year ahead might be like for him. “I have thoughts on where I’d like to add value and be of service, because for me this is a service commitment, but I’m trying to keep those in check,” said Tigger.
Leather Events, June 9-26, 2015 Thu 9
Mon 13
Sun 19
Red Hanky Nite @ Powerhouse
Ride Mondays @ Eros
SF Band of Brothers Beer/ Soda Bust @ SF Eagle
Fri 10
A motorcycle rider and leathermen night at Eros. Bring your helmet, AMA card, MC club card or club colors and get $3 off entry or massage. 2051 Market St. www.erossf.com
Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club
SF Ring – Box Ties with Naturalturn @ Club Eros
Bar night for men into fisting. 1347 Folsom St., 7-9pm. hellholesf.com
Officially a CMA meeting, but open to all Anonymous 12-step Fellowship members, 4058 18th St., 9:30pm. www.castrocountryclub.org
Gear Party @ 442 Natoma Gear play party (leather, rubber, harnesses, etc.) for gay men. 442 Natoma St., $15 (requires $5 membership), 10pm. www.442parties.com
Sat 11 Woof @ SF Eagle Come romp, play and socialize at the monthly pups and Handler mosh event, with mats out to pup out on and snacks to munch on. Five mats outside if the weather is clear, three inside if it rains. 398 12th St., $3 entrance, $7 for puppy pass, 2-5pm. www.SFK9Unit.org
Leather Contingent Final 2016 Meeting @ SF Eagle Discussion about parade placement, Leather Marshals, and other preparations at the last meeting of the year. 398 12th St., 2pm-3:30pm. www.sfleather.org
Leather Happy Hour and Pride Contingent Fundraiser @ Powerhouse Join the San Francisco Leather Pride Contingent at one of our favorite SOMA spots. Powerhouse hosts a Leather Happy Hour, with gear on hand to purchase for that perfect Pride outfit. 1347 Folsom St., 4-7pm. www.sfleather.org
In this class, learn and practice a few varieties of takate-kotes as well gain valuable insights into the rationales for their construction and when to use them. 2051 Market St., 7:30-9:30pm. www.sfring.org
Thu 16 Night Scenes @ Mr. S Leather Rubber play and objectification with Michael Christopher. Night Scenes is an in-store event to give customers the opportunity to see gear in use in a live ‘scene’ by experienced players. 385 8th St., 6-8pm. www.mr-s-leather.com
Fri 17 Mommy Playshop @ Center for Sex & Culture Come and participate in a uniquely feminine style of play. There will be a presentation on the kinds of Mommies and play, reasons people are drawn to this play, aspects of age play, different kinds of play from light and nurturing, to sexual and darker, and how Mommy play can include service. Bring your own tools or toys or play with ours. All women (and those whose gender self-identification is other than male) over 18 are welcome. 1349 Mission St., 8-10pm. www.theexiles.org
Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club See Fri 10
Gear Party @ 442 Natoma
Brüt @ Beatbox
See Fri 10
Express your sex-sports, leather, jocks, muscle, chubby, rubber, sleazy, freaky or whatever divulges your confidence as a sexual being at this dance party. Every headspace has a place at Brüt. 314 11th St., $10 in advance, 10pm-4am. www.brutparty.com
Sat 18
Sun 12 South Bay Bike Ride @ Renegades Bar 16th annual ride through the South Bay and the gorgeous peninsula. At the end point there will be food, drink, raffle prizes, vendors, and sexy kinky people. Registration at the start point opens at 8:30am and Kick Stands Up is 10am. The ride will arrive at the end point around 1pm. Start: Starbucks, 2370 El Camino Rd., Santa Clara. End: Renegades Bar, 501 W Taylor St., San Jose, CA. 8:30am5pm. www.renegadesbar.com
Fog City Pack Presents Beta @ 626 Jessie St. An evening of seductive sounds, steamy guys, low inhibitions and dirty deeds. Whether you’re looking to play or you just want to pound the dance floor, follow your instincts and see where the night takes you. Clothes check available with two fully stocked play spaces provided by Mr. S Leather. 626 Jessie St., $10-$15, 10pm-3am. For tickets visit www.eventbrite.com and search for “Fog City Pack.”
Men’s Play Party @ The South Bay Spot Men’s Play Party @ Spot. A men’s play party at The South Bay Spot dungeon in San Jose. Sponsored by Leather Masters, this play party is for men only. 7pm-midnight. For details, see http://goo.gl/lvWDf7. Tickets online at www.brownpapertickets. com/event/2561661 or purchase at Leather Masters’ San Jose Store (https://goo.gl/o88tNf). Questions? Contact UncleAbdul@ TheSouthBaySpot.com
Celebrate Father’s Day with the SF Band of Brothers. Bring your Daddy, bring your boy and bring $15 for the beer/soda bust and some great grub. 398 12th St., 3-6pm. sf-eagle.com
Mon 20 Ride Mondays @ Eros See Mon 13
Wed 22 Leathermen’s Discussion Group @ Mr. S Leather The Story Of You: Giving and Getting a Great Oral History with Pup Spike. 385A 8th St., 7:309:30pm. www.sfldg.org
Leather/Gear Buddies @ Blow Buddies Erotic fun for leather and gear guys, $15, 933 Harrison St., 8pm. www.blowbuddies.com
Thu 23 Locked @ SF Citadel A men’s dungeon party hosted by CastroKink. A regular men’s kinky play party at the SF Citadel, equipped with crosses, bondage tables, cages, slings, spanking benches, suspension beams, puppy mats, and more. 181 Eddy St., $20, 7pm-1am. www.sfcitadel.org
Fri 24 Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club See Fri 10
Gear Party @ 442 Natoma See Fri 10
Sat 25 GearUp Weekend’s Black is the New Pink Play Party @ Alchemy SF Men’s play party hosted by the men of GearUp Weekend. 1060 Folsom St., $20, 8pm-1am. www.gearupweekend.com
BLUF Invasion @ SF Eagle Throw on your gear and come out to the monthly BLUF night in San Francisco. 398 12th St., 9pm-2am. www.bluf.com
Sun 26 Walk with the Leather Contingent @ SF Pride Parade March with the leather contingent in the SF Pride Parade. Meeting location and exact step off times are not known yet, but will be early in the parade. Expect the 11am time to drop and expect to be somewhere close to Speare or Main Street. More information at www.sfleather.org. After the walk in the parade, visit Leather Alley at Hyde Street between McCallister and Golden Gate. See www.leatheralley.net for details.
“I can make this about me and talk about a vision, strategy and plan of action. Or I can make this about my community, however and wherever that is defined, and listen to what their needs are and then respond. It’s like giving my husband a gift. While I may want to give him Broadway tickets, he might really want a new power tool [laughs]. I want my year to be about responding to what is needed and wanted, and not just what I am prepared to give. That might mean showing up in places off the beaten path, in ways that may not be glamorous to the masses, but are important and meaningful to a few.” I also asked the new IMBB, Erick, what he thought his year ahead might be like. “My year is full of edge play. Continuous travel. Last year I traveled out of Alaska more than a dozen times as the Alaska State Bootblack. I’d like to continue with that momentum. I’m looking forward to connecting on an individual basis while reaching out to the community at large. I want to put a ‘fun’ public face to International Mr. Bootblack while additionally having some really hot scenes.” A unique new element this year
was the addition of a robust social media team who continually pushed out information about the weekend in real time via Facebook and Twitter. It gave those who could not attend, and those attending but who could not be in multiple places at one time, a running stream of news and information that was masterfully done. In the future other IML social media platforms will also be launched. IML clearly understands how vital social media is to the overall experience, and I give them a lot of credit for undertaking this new component of the weekend. Congratulations to Tyesha Nicole Best, IML Coordinator of Social Media, and her team Issa Arden, Patty, Dee, VouDou Onyx, Zach Stitch, Andrew Bertke and Aurora Lee. I hope IML sees the wisdom of continuing this great addition to the weekend. Another IML season comes to an end. I hope to see many of my friends next year in Chicago for the 39th IML weekend.t Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. You can reach him on his website, www.bannon.com.