* Gary Iriza, Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2008, 1st Runner-up: Bob Firth-Tessier, M. Cuir Montreal 2008, 2nd Runner-up: Scott Melton, Mr. Ramrod 2007, and International Mr. Bootblack 2008: Bootdog, of the Alameda County Leather Corps. Photo by BULLmanX.
Honestly, there is no better gay holiday weekend than International Mr. Leather. So open and welcoming to all stripes, leather and not. Yes, it is male-centered, but the few women that are there are having a great time, not at all needing to worry about nasty trolls following them around. I go every year to the market, BUT this year I am official media, and will be live blogging the actual International Mr. Leather contest, as well as any and all happenings while I am there. I’m def gonna get my boots shined and try and interview my shiner, continue to stalk David Mason, and try and take more photos with gay celebs. Be sure to follow me @thinkpinkradio. Here are my tweets from Day 1:
So Friday afternoon is always a little snoozy at the market. People are still arriving from out of town and the vendors have no “schpiel – fatigue” and are giving the hard sell. Luckily, I was with Mistress Crimson, and as you can see above, she’s lots of fun. We had good conversations about hanky codes and the appeal of jock straps, I def got a good look at a hot Anderson Cooper-type with a blue hanky tucked on the right, and WOW is all we could say. First photo was this bizzaro table that I still don’t know what was going on. It was like an all-you-can-kink-garage sale:
After Crimson tried on a satin corset, we turned the corner and both of our jaws dropped:
WTF is that? It’s The Alien Egg. You can be born from it:
Yeah. Never, ever seen that before. I think at this point, we ran into TPR pal S.I.R , who works at the Leather Archives & Museum, he was on his way to perform:
I did make sure to pass by the Slick It Up table about 7 times, but I was determined to not say anything to David Mason. Not Yet. I couldn’t believe it when my friend Joey had tried on one if Slick It Up’s better suits and I wasn’t even there, UGH:
Crimson needed to meet up with her fellow dom Troy, and Troy needed to buy a flogging device. She needed someone to “help” “try” “it out” and while there is no photo (ha, no, sorry) I was flogged for the first time today. It was nice. Thanks for the freebie, Troy! It was then that my girls had to leave and so I showed Joey around the market (he ain’t from ’round these parts). That’s when this happened and I freaked the fuck out:
So, I know Dan Savage’s feminism is lacking, and he is a flawed man. BUT I have been reading Savage Love since I was 14 or 15 and I have never missed a week. NOT ONE, and honestly Dan Savage guided me through my gayness and with his help I am the proud and open gay-rod I am today. ANYWAY, I totally bumbled my way through telling him how much I loved him and he was gracious and kind and wanted to remember the letter I wrote him (which he sent me a personal response to). UGH FUCKING UGH. I was sweaty and giddy after that.
I gotta be Stinky Pinky, playing the best indie, electro and disco you’ve ever heard, tonight at Wang’s, so no more IML tonight. But I’ll be at the official events all weekend with a recap each day. Look here for the entire schedule. I’m going to be a swine flu-sie!
Stay tuned!
