ILSb 2011 Judging Panel
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Master Mike Zuhl
Head Judge
Master Mike Zuhl is the founder, past owner and past producer of the International LeatherSIR/boy contests, as well as the International Community Bootblack contest, the first bootblack contest open to contestants from all walks of life. During his tenure as executive producer, DCI Productions and its regional sponsors raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for national and local charities and relief organizations. In 2005, Master Mike founded the Leather Community Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, the first and only natural disaster relief fund targeted specifically for the leather community.
Master Mike is currently the Head Judge Emeritus of the ILSb contests, which have been produced by Leather Heritage LLC since 2008. Master Mike previously produced the International Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy contests from 1999 to 2001, and the Pennsylvania Mr. Drummer and Drummerboy contests from 1998 to 2001.
Master Mike's current passion is the Leather Skills Certification Council, a certification program open to all who wish to obtain different levels of skill certifications within our leather kink lifestyle. This will be an online process with peer review conducted anonymously by certified Leathermen and Leatherwomen. The LSCC is open to tops, bottoms, Masters, slaves, Sirs, boys and others who wish to be certified in their Leather Lifestyle skills.
Master Mike is a dedicated Leatherman who has been teaching his leather skills to others for the past 25 years. He won Pantheon of Leather awards for the 2002 Community Choice Man of the Year, 1999 President's Award, and 2007 Couple of the Year (with his partner Matt). He is a member of BLUF and a board member of Cleveland Leather Awareness weekend (CLAW). Master Mike is a charter member of Recon.com and hosted the Recon social parties at IML. He has judged leather contests all over North America, including International Mr. Leather 2005, Mr. Mid Atlantic Leather 2002 and Mr. Leatherman Toronto 2003. (He was the "accidental" Tally Master for M. Cuir Montreal in 2006, awarding the title to a man who went on to become International Mr. Leather.) Master Mike has mentored contestants and rallied the leather community for more than 25 years. He is the proprietor of Leather Central Bar located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Master Mike lives with his partner of 12 years, slave and boy, and has nurtured a leather family from coast to coast.
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Master Tony Palazzo
International LeatherSIR 2009
I have the honor of being awarded the titles of International LeatherSIR 2009 and Eastern Canada LeatherSIR 2009.
When I came out in the 70's, I discovered the "new sexual freedom" that I had as a gay Man. I immediately realized My Leather/BDSM sexuality and have never deviated from that. Although it was sometimes hard to find willing and experienced Men to learn from since there were no seminars or workshops to take advantage of, I learned a great deal from Mentors in a very short period of time. I believe Mentoring is still important for our community in order to share our Leather/BDSM experiences, knowledge and sexuality. This is one of the main reasons I present workshops and demos. Education is extremely important for our special play!
I have always subscribed to and maintain the creed of "Safe, Sane and Consensual" … but I believe that "Fun" weighs just as importantly in the equation. With 25 plus years experience in Leather/BDSM, I am very public in My sexuality, whether it be in the community or My work, home or private life. I am proud of who I am, what I have contributed and still have to offer.
I have the good fortune of presenting monthly demos and workshops (one demo and one workshop each month) at the Black Eagle Toronto in a public forum that allows Me to share My experience and knowledge in Leather/BDSM. With the support of the management of the Black Eagle Toronto, I am able to share, hopefully educate, and provide actual hands-on learning and experiences in a safe and controlled environment to the novice as well as the experienced and those who are just curious enough to want to find out more! The increasing numbers of Men and Women attending tells Me I am on the right path of education. I have had the privilege of presenting around North America, and am always traveling and educating. My full calendar shows there are a lot of groups and organizations with the desire to learn and enjoy Leather/BDSM!
For Me, contributing to the community does not always mean fundraising. My primary contribution to the leather community is sharing My knowledge and experience, and hopefully passing on our Leather/BDSM lifestyle and sexuality to new Men and Women in (or just starting out in) the community. Fundraising is still essential, and I run events and participate in raising money for the community. My passion, though, is education and mentoring My brothers and Sisters in the sexual aspects of Leather/BDSM!
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Brad Hill
International Leatherboy 2009
Once a kinky farm boy from rural Ontario, Brad discovered leather sex & BDSM at 18 and never looked back! A sexually adventurous exhibitionist, Brad holds the titles of Mr Black Eagle Toronto 2006, Eastern Canada Leatherboy 2009 and International Leatherboy 2009.
Heavily tattooed and sporting a 0 gauge PA, Brad is an eager 'Red & Navy Right' boy who likes to serve demanding rugged Daddy bears & Sirs. He calls Toronto home, where he lives with his two leather Dads and their boy.
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Boy Stallion
International Leatherboy 2008
Stallion found his way into the Leather community 12 years ago when a hot Leather Daddy asked "How many boys should a Sir should have? He replied, at least one more, Sir!"
He believes that Leather is not just what we wear, but also who we are and how we support our community. Stallion has served his community as International Leatherboy 2005 along with being a member of Flesh & Fantasy, Dallas boys of Leather and a member of the Leather Archives and Museum. He has been involved in many boys' workshops, as well as co-producing contests and a judge for International Mr. Leather.
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Deborah Isadora
Author and Activist
Deborah Isadora Wade is a fiery, flawed and fabulous femme. Retiring from social work and administration in 1999, she was a college instructor for University of Minnesota and The Women's Theological Institute. She was awarded a National Community Service Medal for her work in building collaborations and her 30 years of work with homeless families, domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. Deborah was a columnist for Lavender Press (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and Of A Like Mind. She is Co-Author of Partners in Change: Building Collaboration, a book on moving organizations from networking to full collaborative ventures. She has been part of the leather community for 12 years. A proud member of Alameda County Leather Corps, she is Ms. Alameda County Leather 2009. For two years she was Secretary of The Exiles: San Francisco and was ACLC's secretary in 2008. She is a member Mama's Family as Mama's Dragondancer. Deborah writes for Leatherati. She is an adoring Momma, a delicious diva, a bossy and boisterous broad and a wee masochist. Deborah loves anything that sparkles, social gatherings, bois, butches, dancing, and organizing. She may have a wee shoe fetish, umm collection.
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Luke Daniels
International Mr. Drummer 1992
International Mr. Leather 1982
Luke was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and immediately upon graduation left for Los Angeles to finish his higher education and to pursue a career as a professional dancer which he did for ten years. He resided in Los Angeles for 33 years. His highlight as a professional dancer was being selected as one of the lead dancers in Steven Spielberg's movie "1941!"
After leaving a career in dance he finished his degree in psychology and business and for the past 23 years has sold real estate in Beverly Hills and now in Washington State where he has resided since 2004. "But I left my heart in California and will return to what I will always affectionately call home!"
Having received the honor and distinction of winning both Mr. Drummer and International Mr. Leather in 1982, a mere 29 years ago, he says wistfully, "it feels like yesterday in so many ways. I had a most wonderful experience and traveled extensively on behalf of both titles." It was also this year that AIDS was officially diagnosed and the repercussions that followed affected us all in the gay community profoundly.
The second half of my year was helping to inform, educate and raise money for this deadly disease which was affecting so many of our gay brothers in and out of the leather community. It touched everyone of our lives. Looking back at this tragic time I feel so proud of the way we rallied to do everything within our power to make our voices heard throughout the land and to demand something be done immediately. I painfully remember saying my final goodbyes to so many of our gay brothers in leather. Truly, it changed all of us who lived through this crisis and it wasn?t until several years had passed that medicines became readily available to drastically change the face of the AIDS epidemic.
His motto shall always be; "Strive to be the very best that you can be, live life to the fullest, always and forever practice living in the moment, see the best in everyone, and never have any regrets!" Then you will have lived a full and meaningful life. And his favorite all time quote is; "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by those moments that take our breath away!"
As a result of this tragedy we in the leather community became closer, more responsible and it became incumbent upon all future title holders to pick up where last year's winner had left off and to keep the torch burning ever so brightly and to carry our message of unity and hope for a cure at the forefront of this ever increasing tragedy.
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Race Bannon
Author and Activist
Kinky sex has been one of Race Bannon's passions as a practitioner, organizer, educator, commentator, activist and leader since his first explorations of the leather world starting in 1973. Since that time Race has ardently explored his own sexuality and encouraged others to do the same. Race's accomplishments include founder of Kink Aware Professionals, a nonprofit service that refers people to kink-sensitive psychotherapeutic, medical and legal professionals (now hosted and managed by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom); leader of The DSM Project that led to a beneficial change in the way the psychotherapeutic profession views kink; author of the best seller Learning The Ropes: A Basic Guide to Safe and Fun SM Lovemaking (Version 2.0 available soon); founder of Daedalus Publishing Company, the first publishing company dedicated to publishing nonfiction leather/SM/fetish books; writer of many articles on sexuality; former sex advice columnist; former producer and host of Bound To Talk, the first internet talk show about kinky sex; past Board member of NLA International, NLA Los Angeles and Avatar Club Los Angeles; and member of Chicago Hellfire Club. Race sits on the Board for the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities (www.carasresearch.org) and also for the Leather Hall of Fame.
He is prominently featured in the documentaries Vice and Consent and Out of the Darkness: The Reality of S&M. Race is regularly interviewed by the press as an expert on kinky sexuality and he is a popular speaker. He was awarded the National Leather Association International's 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award and he was recently given the 2010 Mister Marcus Hernandez Lifetime Achievement Award (Man) Pantheon of Leather Community Service Award. Race can be reached through his web site at www.bannon.com where you can also read his blog.
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Queen Cougar
Alternate Judge
Ms San Francisco Leather 1993
Queen Cougar has a unique 19 year leather resume. She is a dynamic workshop presenter, leather activist, & veteran entertainer of numerous BDSM events. A top female emcee with IML, Drummer, IMSL & International Leather Sir/boy & International Community Bootblack leading numerous other leather events within her resume. She has given keynote addresses, produced BDSM events, is a respected judge, and sung various national anthems to open scene events. Featured in "Bloodsisters" she appears in, "Safe, Sane & Consensual" & "Kink Crusaders" (BDSM / Documentary Videos). In 1993 she held the titles "Ms. Headquarters Leather" & "Ms. San Francisco Leather" & 1st runner-up at International Ms. Leather. Recognized by her peers with numerous certificates she was the "Pantheon of Leather" Reader's Choice "Woman Of The Year 2000." In 2010 Ms Cougar was the female SF "Leather Pride" Grand Marshall. The Queen is an associate of C.O.M.M.A.N.D., ONYX, The Philadelphians, T.U.L.S.A and a member of the SF Imperial Court & the Exiles of SF.
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Sparky
Judge's boy
International Leatherboy 2007
Pup Sparky came into the Leather lifestyle 8 years ago. With the love and support of his Leather family he has been able to learn and grow both as a leather person and human being. Pup play, biting and duct tape are but a few of his passions. Sparky has held the titles of International Leather boy 2007, South Central Leather boy 2007 and Oklahoma Leather boy 2007. He has presented and hosted classes/seminars/talks at; Tribal Fire, Tulsa Mr. Leather, Oklahoma Mr. Leather, KCLU, Heart of America, Rio Grande Leather, Beyond Leather, Leather in the Woods, Gathering of the Clans, Southplains Leatherfest, Great Lakes Leather Alliance, Bearadise, Beyond Vanilla, Leather Camp, HalloBearfest, Thunder in the Mountains, Spring Inequity, TDS and MAL. He is part of Mama's family as Mama's pup Sparky and the newest member of the Oklahoma Leather Guard. Whenever in doubt, Sparky lets his own innate pup guide him through the mosh pit that is life. He believes that a boy's mission is service both to his Sir and community. Both should always be done with the passion and playfulness that is innate to the spirit of a boy. While finishing his culinary arts degree, Sparky has opened his own business with the help from is Sir, Master Olivier, called Sparky's Cheesecake Doghouse.
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Todd Jones
Tally Master
Todd Jones has been active in the leather lifestyle for 10 years. He's a member of three leather families, based in CA, CO, and MA. He is a member of Discipline Corps, a respected male BDSM group in Dallas, TX, where he served as Vice-President in 2005, and as membership chair from 2002 to 2008. He was the first recipient of the "Spirit of the Corp" award given for extensive club and community service to his leather brothers. Todd is also a member of Delta Brotherhood International where he recently completed a 3-year board position and served as the Membership Chair. Todd attends leather events throughout the country, including MAL, Thunder in the Mountains, Southplains Leatherfest, CHC Inferno, Delta, and regional events in Massachusetts and California. Professionally, Todd is a scientific laboratory management and automation consultant and travels extensively throughout the US and Europe (read this as "needs a Sir in every port"). While Todd's work in the leather community is primarily behind-the-scenes, he prides himself for being firstly recognized as a trustworthy and competent BDSM player. Being able to understand and improve one's self through kinky play is an opportunity that too few people in this world have experienced; he is working to change that. On a less serious but important point, Todd builds all his own BDSM equipment and furniture.
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