International LeatherSIR / Leatherboy

and Community Bootblack

Master Mike Zuhl

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 ILS/b/ICBB 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 2004. (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.

Sir Raul Mendez
International LeatherSIR 2008

Sir Raul and his partner, George, have been in the leather lifestyle for 11 of the 17 years they have been united.

Sir Raul's passion is to learn and share with others his life's Leather journey specifically life changing events individuals may experience that range from health issues to relationships.

Sir Raul bases his ideology on past experience, fetish play and relationships which comprise of three very important pillars forming his foundation and direction in life.  The three pillars constitute: maturity, honesty and trust.

The main interest in Raul's life is the guidance and nurturing of his Leather family. He faces the facts that a relationship between two is not easy, and a family is all the more consuming as it requires a lot of work and commitment.  In the end, the special emotional gift derived from having a family far exceeds any challenges that may arise.

On a less serious note, Raul enjoys making the majority of his own fetish toys and loves to ride his motorcycle.

Woody Bebout

Woody Bebout was Mr. Drummer 1991-1992 and the Leather Journal Man of the Year for 1993 and 1996. Woody has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 2002 where he practices consumer bankruptcy and family based immigration law.

Queen Cougar

Queen Cougar is a dynamic workshop presenter, leather activist, a highly respected judge.  The Queen has produced and entertained at numerous BDSM events. She was featured in "Bloodsisters" & appeared in "Safe, Sane & Consensual" - BDSM Video documentaries done in 1993.  She is a top female emcee with IML, Drummer, , International Leather Sir/boy & the International Community Bootblack Contests, SF Pride, Mr. & Ms SF Leather, Folsom Street Fair and numerous leather events nationwide in her resume. With an extensive leather family, she was a dedicated leather daughter to recently deceased leather icon Mr. Marcus Hernandez.

In 1993 she held the titles "Ms. Headquarters Leather" & "Ms. San Francisco Leather". Cougar was chosen "Leather Woman of The Year" 94 & 95 (by the SF "Leather/Levi Lexicon") & was "Pantheon of Leather" Reader's Choice "Woman Of The Year 2000".  Ms. Cougar is an associate of C.O.M.M.A.N.D., ONYX, The Philadelphians, NJ Andromeda and T.U.L.S.A and a member of the EXILES of SF.  Cougar has presented workshops at numerous events including Black Rose, IMsL, Pacific Friction, Desire, Kinkfest and many others.  A dedicated Sadomasochist with a distinct personal sense of style, she continues to mentor and encourage those new to the scene and help motivate them to enjoy the many   opportunities possible within the BDSM experience.

Dr. Jack Fritscher

Dr. Jack Fritscher, a primary historian of Folsom Street, is founding San Francisco editor-in-chief of Drummer, and award-winning pioneer author of 20 leather books, including the National Leather Association "best nonfiction book," Gay San Francisco: Eyewitness Drummer; the 1970s Folsom-Castro novel, Some Dance to Remember; the best-selling memoir of his photographer lover, Mapplethorpe; and the first leather-identity novel, Leather Blues (1969). During his 50-year writing career, he appointed first Mr. Drummer Val Martin, and his photographs have dirtied dozens of covers/centerfolds: Drummer, Bear, Man2Man. Icon Chuck Renslow, IML: "Fritscher is an uninhibited tour guide of leather culture." As a leather-community service since 1995, Fritscher offers his vast leather archives free to all: www.JackFritscher.com

Allena Gabosch

Allena Gabosch, Executive Director of the Center For Sex Positive Culture has been active in the sex positive movement practically from its beginning; producing educational and social events for the sex-positive community since 1990.  She is a frequent speaker on many sex-positive subjects at colleges and conferences around the US and Canada.  She is the Producer of the Seattle Erotic Art Festival, a past board member of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and a former commissioner with the  Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities.  She is a kinky bisexual, polyamorous switch and considers herself extremely blessed as she has a rich and full poly life, with many amazing and loving people in her "polycule"

McG
International Mr. Bootblack 2009

Over the past ten years his community involvement includes volunteering for Casey House Hospice as a Support Care Volunteer, the Central Canada Gay Rodeo Association, as their Sponsorship Director and Volunteer Coordinator and a member of Spearhead LDSC Toronto. McG became International Mr.Bootblack having won the title at IML in May 2009. McG is the second Canadian and first Bootblack Toronto titleholder to win the title. McG became the third Bootblack Toronto titleholder to win the Brotherhood Award at IML. At ILSb / ICBB, McG was named to "Mama's family as "Mama's Don Juan" and "Mama's McG". McG supports the Black Eagle bar titleholders by chairing the "Titleholder Support Committee" and co-producing the Mr. Bootblack Eagle Competition annually.

Stephen Palaschak

Stephen's journey into leather began at age 23 in Paris, where he lived and worked in the early 90's. Dragged by a friend to the infamous Le Keller bar, he remembers being both terrified and fascinated. By night's end his face was firmly pressed into the sweaty armpits of one hairy Leatherman while another poured beer over his bare butt and spanked him from behind. Suffice it to say he has never looked back...except at the marks!

From PhD studies in French literature at NYU, Stephen moved to Boston where he co-owned Tribal Ways Body Piercing for over 10 years. He currently resides in Phoenix, with his Daddy and the love of his life, Dan Fabrici. Active and visible in the community, Stephen co-emceed the SW LeatherSir/boy contest the past two years. He has been a member of the Arizona Men of Leather since 2006 and presently serves as Pledge Master.

Pagan spirituality has greatly influenced how he interprets the energy exchange which is fundamental to Leather/Fetish play. Stephen identifies most strongly with the Coyote/Trickster, which he views as the perfect representation of his mischievous boy side, as well as with the notion of homosexuals as Two-spirits — our very nature being to turn convention on its head.

Alternate Judge

Sir Jack Pearce
International Community Bootblack 2008

Sir Jack Pearce has been a familiar face in the Leather community for well over twenty years. This BDSM advocate, player and human resources specialist enjoys volunteering for various social services organizations, hosting, producing Leather and Bootblack competitions, and presenting a variety of workshops, and demonstrations.

Playfully deemed the "Godfather of Bootblacks", Sir Jack is proud to be the first ever Bootblack Toronto and first MLT titleholder to win an International leather title. He was awarded the prestigious title of International Community Bootblack in 2008, and currently is the coordinator of the Bootblack Toronto Competition and an Executive Co-Producer of ILS/b/ICBB. In addition, he was honoured with the Brotherhood award at IML XXX, received the 2009 Pantheon of Leather Canadian Regional Community Service award, the 2009 MLT Titleholders Impact award and a 2010 Spearhead award.

Sir Jack has served as a judge for many Leather and Bootblack competitions, including Head Judge for the Eastern and Western Canada LeatherSIR / Leatherboy 2009 contests, served on the jury for the German Mr. Leather 2009 contest in Berlin, and served as a judge for the Mr. Leather Ottawa 2010 contest. Sir Jack also holds memberships with Spearhead Toronto, The Rochester Rams, BLUF and Delta International.