Leather Pride — worldwide

By Anthony Lowe

Hello everybody, not just here in Sydney but also to the many wonderful men and women from around the world I met in Chicago and who read my weekly column online.

I have just spent nine days in Chicago, competing at IML 2010. What did this involve, you ask? Picture this. Fifty-two hot leathermen from around the world locked in the same room for five days! Unlike Las Vegas, what happens in Chicago is beamed around the world for everyone to see. There are thousands of photos of all 52 proud leathermen, from in the buff to full BLUF (Breeches and Leather Uniform Fanclub) leather gear.

The Congress Theater on Sunday night had a massive LED screen that showed a huge rocket ship landing in a leather galaxy far, far away. Once landed, the door opened and all 52 leathermen entered the stage one by one. I was channelling Kylie Minogue while I was doing the leatherman’s version of Light Years.

I would like to congratulate Tyler McCormick (Mr Rio Grande Leather) as IML 2010, and Lance Holman (Mr San Francisco Leather) as 1st runner-up and Jack Andrew Duke (Mr Texas Leather) as 2nd runner-up.

Sydney Mr Leather (aka me) placed sixth and Mr Leather Australia and New Zealand (Josh Burrows) placed ninth. Mr South Africa (Jaco Lourens) rounded out the Commonwealth, placing fourth.

There is not one man in that competition I would not gladly invite home for dinner. They are all remarkable, sexy, loving, caring, strong, determined men who prove that the leather communites around the world can transcend national borders and extend the hand of friendship, trust, love and respect.

Once a month I will showcase one of the IML Class of 2010 and let you know what is happening in their neck of the woods. After all, this is about Leather Pride — worldwide.

info and photos: Visit www.imrl.com