International LeatherSIR_® / Leatherboy_®

There's something special between a SIR and his boy!

Randal Kinnear
International LeatherSIR 2006

Randal Kinnear is the founder of Leather Cares productions and has used his talents as a performer, emcee, auctioneer and educator to raise funds for charities all over the United States. He received his Bachelors and Masters degree in Theater Performance and Communications from Oklahoma State University. He has appeared in eleven National and International Touring companies, and appeared in commercials, film and television.

In 1989, Randal was a part of the first AIDS fundraiser in the Bible Belt of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Since 1985 Randal has lost over 350 friends to the AIDS virus and has continued to raise over half a million dollars for AIDS related causes since then.

Randal served as Gulf Coast Drummer in 2000 and was named the first runner-up to the International Drummer. He was also presented the Golden Whip award from his fellow contestants.

Randal is a Past President of the Tulsa Uniform and Leather Seekers Association and served that club in various other capacities. He was a four year member and Vice-President of the Ms. World Leather organization . He serves on the Flesh and Fantasy Board of Directors in Dallas, Texas. For nine years he has been a director for the South Plains Leatherfest as their fundraiser and Community Charity Director. Through South Plains, he started the "Adopt a Bear" fundraiser for Bryan's House — a residential house for children whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS. He is a volunteer and Contestant Liaison for Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio and assists that organization in their many fundraising efforts.

He was the co-director of the Oklahoma LeatherSIR/boy contest for two years and was the director of the Oklahome Mr. Leather contest in 1999.

He has received many community service awards but is most proud of the 2003 Pantheon of Leather Man of the Year award and the 2005 Flesh and Fantasy Man of the Year award.

Randal has taught seminars and classes on many subjects but enjoys rope/bondage play and interrogation scenes.

He is a proud 'Minion', a member of Mama's Family, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, the Leather Archives and Museum and the Oklahoma Leather Guard.

Blackkat
American Leatherman 2005,
Founder and Director, Safer+Saner

Blackkat’s leather journey "officially" began eighteen years ago and he has been traveling steady on his path ever since. Today, BK is an active member of the leather community in various capacities. Most people know him as American Leatherman 2005, but he has many more irons in the fire. He is the founder and director of SAFER+SANER, a leathersex prevention, education, and outreach project; chairs the SWEAT! in the City (NYC’s Black Leather Pride Weekend) Planning Committee; and runs his own lifestyle company, FUNK!. When not working on his own projects, Blackkat is an invited speaker, presenter, and emcee at various national and international leather events. His accomplishments have earned him several awards, including two 2006 Pantheon of Leather awards, Northeast Regional and Community Choice Man of the Year; and an inaugural 2007 Sexual Freedom Award from Folsom Street East. Most recently, Blackkat received the prestigious 2007 Vi Johnson Award for his contributions to the African American leather community.

In addition to his leather activities, Blackkat volunteers his time with several community projects and has been honored for many of his efforts. And somehow, he balances all that with his obligations to his Leather family which includes his life partner and their four sons. To keep up with Blackkat, check out www.safersaner.org and www.destinationfunk.com.

Remi Collette
Mr. Leatherman Toronto 2004

Remi Collette, originally from Moncton, NB, started his early career in the St. Augustine Order. Years of dedication as a practicing, hard working monk, allowed him to experience discipline and to work at attaining a college education. At the end of five years, he realized that his calling was outside the monastic order. He worked in various positions until he obtained a position at Woody’s, a popular bar in Toronto, Canada. It was during this period that he became intrigued with the Leather lifestyle. After his first year, he was convinced that he would be able to do further good for the Community and to expand his understanding by running for the title of Mr. Woody’s Leather. After winning that title, he ran for the title of Mr. Leather Toronto 2001. At the contest he placed a close second, and was awarded Mr. Fellowship Leather Toronto by his fellow contestants due to his knowledge and helpful, friendly demeanor. This was the start of his education in Leather. He joined with Peter Theodoropoulos, MLT 2001, in creating one of the most successful years of Community involvement and fundraising in the Toronto Leather Community. They succeeded in embracing and joining the various aspects of the Gay Community at large, increasing awareness and acceptance for the Leather Community. Their fundraising efforts raised over $10,000.

During the 2001 IML contest in Chicago, he met the man that would soon be his life partner, David Kloss, IML 1979. Their courtship finalized at the MLT Leather Ball VIII in Toronto in August 2001. Since that time they have been an integral part of the Leather Community at large.

Remi moved to San Francisco in October of 2001, where he became involved with the city’s Leather Community. He participated in fundraising activities for the Constantine’s, Daddy’s Bar and SMMILE, to name a few. With SMMILE, he participated as a Super Volunteer for the Up Your Alley and Folsom Street Fairs in 2002. Both events helped SMMILE contribute over $265,000 to local charities.

In mid 2002, Remi left San Francisco with his partner David to return to Remi’s previous home of Toronto. Since that arrival, they have been involved in MLT activities, volunteering for fundraising activities for that organization and Spearhead, another of Toronto’s premier Leather organizations. In January 2003, Remi and his partner, David, were named Pantheon of Leather’s Couple of the Year. In July of 2003 they became one of the first couples to take advantage of Ontario’s new law granting marriage rights to same sex couples. They were married on July 11, 2003, and finally completed their honeymoon, touring Europe, in September 2003.

After winning Mr. Zelda’s Leather 2004 and Mr. Leatherman Toronto 2004, Remi went on to compete in Chicago for the title of International Mr. Leather (IML) 2004. He achieved the title of IML 2004 First Runner Up, earning the silver medal at the competition for Canada. He continues his involvement in both Toronto’s Leather Community and Leather Communities throughout North America, participating in Leather events, judging, Tally Master and fundraising. Recently he was instrumental in helping produce Toronto’s first Church Street Fetish Fair for the Church-Wellesley Village BIA, serving as Committee Chairman for Volunteers. He is presently working as a Manager of the Toronto Steamworks.

Mr. Marcus Hernandez
Leather Editor for the Bay Area Reporter

Celebrating his 37th year this month as the leather columnist in San Francisco's Bay Area Reporter, (Mr.) Marcus Hernandez has been covering the worldwide leather scene since October 1971. He has authored articles and submitted photos to Drummer Magazine, The Leather Journal, the annual International Mr. Leather Program, the annual International Mr. Drummer Program and many other publications. His column appears weekly in the newspaper and its web site www.Ebar.com. Partials of his column (mostly photos) are also posted each week on www.MamasFamily.org.

Marcus has been honored as the Outstanding Columnist in the public voting for San Francisco's Cable Car Awards so many times, he was taken out of contention and placed in the Hall of Fame in that category.

Marcus has received numerous other awards including two Pantheon of Leather awards, the National Emerald Award and tributes from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the Secretary of State of California and San Francisco’s Inter-Club Fund Motorcycle Awards the latest being Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

Marcus has been judging International Mr. Leather since 1980 and is now the Judge Emeritus for life on that panel. He has judged leather contests from coast to coast, in Canada and in Europe and is also the Judge Emeritus for the American Brotherhood Weekend titles. He was the Judges' Coordinator for International Mr. Drummer for some seven years and served on the board of directors of the Mr. San Francisco Leather Contest. He also produced the Mr. San Francisco Leather Contest in September 2005.

The recent mayor of San Francisco (Willie L. Brown, Jr.) honored Marcus by proclaiming the entire month of November 2000 as Mr. Marcus Month in honor of his 31st year milestone as the leather columnist in San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter.

Lauren Ide
International Ms. Leather 2007

Lauren is a queer-polyamorous-switch and has been an active participant in the Leather and BDSM tribes for 12 years. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, she now calls the desert around Phoenix, AZ her home. Lauren held the title of Southwest Ms. Leather 2006 and is the current International Ms. Leather 2007.

Lauren is a member of the Arizona Amazons, APEX, MAsT-Phoenix, and LILA-Living in Leather Arizona, a leather spirituality group. She continues to dedicate great amounts of time to her Leather life and loves traveling to and supporting many different kinds of events within the Leather and BDSM tribes from local bar contests to large pansexual weekends. She believes in "Family First" and "No Drama."

Professionally, Lauren is a Medical Massage Therapist and a Reiki Master/Teacher. She holds an Associates Degree in Massage Therapy with certifications in Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage Massage. She is a spiritual seeker who believes that everything happens for a reason. She strives to see beauty in all people and she lives with no regrets.

Michael Di Mugno
Owner, Spexter Leather

Benjamin Palmer
International Mr. Bootblack 2006

Benjamin Palmer is International Mr Bootblack 2006, and now continues his work in the fetish community after relocating to the UK to work for the world's largest fetish profile site, recon.com. He now resides in London with his partner Andrew, and his dog Tera. Benjamin has been an active player in the fetish community for about 6 years, and his main focus is bridging the gap between the generations.

His fetish interests are medical play, D/s, fisting, mummification, S/m, and puppy play just to name a few. His wide taste in play-styles and fetish gear ensures kink is always interesting for him!

Rick Storer
Executive Director, Leather Archives & Museum

Rick Storer is the Executive Director of the Leather Archives and Museum and a member of Chicago Leather Club and Chicago Hellfire Club. He also serves on the Board of Directors of CARAS (Community and Academic consortium of Research on Alternative Sexualities). He has been active in the fetish and M/s lifestyle communities for 10 years. He enjoys presenting workshops and educating others on leather history, gunge fetishism and erotic humiliation. He lives in Chicago with his husband Jeff.

Rick has the rare, but very enjoyable, opportunity to apply archival and library standards to erotic resources (e.g. porn!) and uses his experience to exchange knowledge with other archivists and librarians who might encounter sexuality materials in non-sexual collections. His research interests lie in copyright and privacy issues as related to sexuality collections in libraries and archives.

Antoin Strachan
Events Manager, Recon.com

Antoin proudly hails from London, England and is the Events Manager for Recon.

Antoin is a native of Nassau, Bahamas and found that after years of travelling and living in various countries it was time to settle down. He moved to London in 2000 and became actively involved as one of the founding members of London’s GMG (Gay Men’s Group) which is a support group for Gay men living with HIV, now currently facilitated by the Terrance Higgins Trust.

Through working for Recon he has continued to explore his fetish and is happy to have made great friends in throughout the Leather Community and is inspired by their continued struggle and efforts to not only raise funds for various charitable organizations, and causes, but also to raise political, health and lifestyle awareness throughout our worldwide community. He is pleased to be able to give his support when he can.

Prior to joining Recon, Antoin had been a professionally trained performer and spent 16 years on stage and also enjoys teaching and choreographing.

In June 2007 he was invited to be a judge for the Mr Leather Italy contest, held in Rome and is pleased to have accepted the invitation to attend and be a judge at this year’s ILSb contest.