International LeatherSIR / Leatherboy

and Community Bootblack

International LeatherSir 2005 Dexter Edmond on Leather Pantheon Weekend

Date:	Mar 20, 2006
From:	International LeatherSIR 2005 Dexter Edmond

Saturday	Page  1  |  2  |  3

After waking from our slumber and partaking of some of the motel’s version of a continental breakfast, we began preparing for the day’s activities in a loosely organized ballet of four short and bald men that looked like the Leather version of "Designing Women" - or, would that be "Slapstick Pervs"? Still, we managed to get ready in a reasonable amount of time and headed out into the cold mid-day air to hail a cab over to the Leather Archives & Museum. Although our cab driver somehow misunderstood the street address we gave him, after a bit of backtracking, he got us there in good time. Once inside, we were greeted by Rick Storer and other volunteers for the weekend, including the contestants for Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather. After greeting and talking to a few more people, Stallion took me on a tour of the gallery downstairs. As we were going down the back stairs, we stopped to see a framed copy of an old Leather Journal magazine, which featured a young Mark Frazier on the cover - and, he’s still as hot now as he was then. Past the replica of the Old Gold Coast leather bar, we made our way into the main gallery. If you’ve never been to the Leather Archives & Museum, I can only say GO! It filled me with a tremendous sense of pride and connection to see the history of our community and lifestyle on display.

Several pictures later, Stallion and I headed back upstairs to greet Mike Zuhl. We were glad that he was cleared to travel to Chicago for the weekend, as it was my first time being able to see him since assuming the title. After we took a few pictures with Master Mike, Robert Davis walked into the auditorium, looking as sharp and handsome as ever. We embraced each other, and shortly thereafter, Master Mike gave him the sash, which he placed on me. In that symbolic moment, it became very real to me that I was now a part of history, and receiving the sash from Robert in the place where our community history is kept just seemed to fit. No, I did not cry, but it was one of those signal moments in my life that I will always remember.

Finally, it was time for the program to start, with our beloved Frank Nowicki as Master of Ceremony - and, yes, the hair was flawless, as usual ;-). There, I’ve said it... that’s my only obligatory Frank Nowicki hair reference. The program went very smoothly, with the basket auctions for the Olympus contestants incorporated at certain points. In a rare occurrence, Frank Nowicki was upstaged and happy to give up the microphone to Lady Raven, one of the Olympus contestants, as she commanded the stage and highlighted the items in her basket - perhaps foreshadowing of what was to come. The program progressed through the regional and special category award recipients (go to www.theleatherjournal.com for the complete list) until it was time for the final set of awards and what everyone had been waiting for - Woman and Man of the Year. Before those were announced, we were treated to a three-way tie for the Community Choice Award for the men between BlackKat, Robert Davis, and Dale Rush - three handsome and deserving men. We were amused when BlackKat and Robert Davis announced that each had nominated the other. Finally, it was time for the top honors of the day with Woman of the Year being announced first. Sandy "Mama" Reinhardt was announced to a standing ovation, and she was nearly speechless in her acceptance. Then, Man of the Year was awarded to Robert Davis with another standing ovation as tears filled the eyes of several attendees. It was a great moment, and I extend my congratulations to all of the honorees.

Now that the awards were over, we headed back out into the now-sub-zero weather to hail cabs to take us to the other host hotel, where a group of us were gathering to go to dinner with Master Mike at an Italian restaurant - one of my favorite styles of cuisine. Once we were settled in and out of the cold, eleven of us enjoyed a wonderful dinner and fellowship as an ILSb family. With our stomachs full, we adjourned and made our way to the sidewalk to say our good byes for the evening. As we did so, a group of gay men in the restaurant found it intriguing that we, as leathermen, were sharing big embraces with each other. Message to the uninformed: YES, LEATHERMEN DO SHARE HUGS! We departed and made our way over to the Cell Block for the Mr. Cell Block Leather contest.

Upon our arrival, Stallion and I were asked to speak to the Mr. Cell Block Leather contestants as a bit of a pep talk and to tell them a bit about ILSb as an organization. After wishing them the best, we returned to the main bar where the patrons were quickly gathering for the evening’s festivities. Although it had been four years since I was last at the Cell Block, with the all of the hot men who were arriving, I quickly remembered why I enjoyed my previous visits to this bar! With Stallion close by, along with boy Ed and one of the members of the Windy City boys Troup, boy Amit, I got Master Lou Molnar’s - a dear friend and one of my mentors - attention and he and I began enjoying our cigars as the contest began. With Frank Nowicki doing the honors as emcee, the five contestants went through their on-stage questions and fantasy categories, and it quickly became apparent to the boys and me, along with BlackKat, who the contenders would be. But, would we be summations be proven correct? We would find out for sure after the intermission...

Ah, yes, intermission - this would mark the second special moment of the weekend. During the Titleholders "parade" (which, admittedly, quickly became quite crowded - if you’ve ever been to the Cell Block or any bar, for that matter, you understand what I mean), Frank Nowicki did something that was a small but very insightful and definitive gesture. When introducing International LeatherSIR and Leatherboy, he called Stallion to the stage first to have him waiting, and then he introduced me as International LeatherSIR making my first public appearance on stage. I was overwhelmed inside by the applause and cheers that erupted from the crowd as I took to the stage with Stallion waiting to kneel by my side. It was another golden moment in my life as Frank paused in his introductions while the crowd continued its applause. To those who were present and those who were absent but supporting us in spirit, I simply say "Thank you!"

After the photographs were taken of all of us on stage, we returned to our places in the crowd before being addressed by IML 2005, Michael Egdes, IMsL 2005, Jessi Holman-Ahart, and Mr. Cell Block Leather 2005, George Brown, Jr. (another hot man) in his step-down speech. With George bidding his farewell to the title, it was now time to get the results from the Tally Masters and for Frank to announce the final standings - and for us to see if our summations were correct. And, the winner is... Todd Davidson. So, yes, we were correct in our summations ;-). Todd is a hot man and presented himself very well - especially the fantasy scenario he constructed (I still have naughty thoughts about it!). I’m sure he will do well as Mr. Cell Block Leatherman 2006. After Stallion and I congratulated Todd on stage and stayed for a few photo ops, we decided to get a small group together to go over to the Chicago Eagle and give ourselves a break from the slowly dwindling crowd. So, in a near-repeat of the night before, four of us - Lou, Stallion, boy Ed, and I - grabbed a cab and headed to the Eagle - Michael Egdes and George Brown would join us later. The six of us had a great time talking and relaxing (with the occasional gropes and hugs, as well) and getting to know each other a bit better before adjourning for the night. It was another nice ending to an eventful day.

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