Alex Lindsay, American Leatherman 2009
There has been a lot of discussion of late regarding the impact that the selection of Tyler McCormick, who is transgendered, as IML will have on the leather community. The specific question we asked was: How will the selection of a disabled and transgendered man impact IML and the leather community? There have been articles and emails, conversations, and arguments. We also expected that there would be a certain degree of ambivalence in this poll, and that was clearly the case.
The second and third most popular choices - statistically tied at (26.1% and 26.5%) are the perfect evidence of this bipolarity. On the one hand we have a quarter or respondents indicating that IML is now representative of the entire community, and on the other an equal number who state that IML no longer represents them.
In my opinion, this is a reflection of a philosophical rift that has been growing in intensity within the leather community—whether we should be working toward greater inclusiveness, or if we need to protect our individual identities. This is not to state that one or the other is the right direction for the community, simply that they appear to be beliefs held by comparably sized groups. This is an area in which there is already ongoing discussion in various quarters. I believe that we are seeing this reflected as well in events that are being produced - a quick look through the Facebook event calendar for the community will show a large number of events with a very broad target audience, not particularly geared toward men or women as an example. It will also show a growing number of events with a very narrow target. The number of events geared toward specific fetishes is increasing, and these are often targeted toward men only. We are simultaneously becoming a melting pot and a federation of homogeneous focused interest groups.
The next item down further emphasized our being of two different minds on this matter. 20% of those polled think that there will be a significant impact on the community, but they are not sure what that impact will be. These people are seeing strong opinions to the left and right of them each of which is being reinforced by having a transgendered IML. So, they find themselves unsure of what direction the community will move in as a result.
The next two items are another sign of a split mind, but split in a slightly different way. Nearly the same number (13% versus 14.8%) indicate that IML just jumped the shark or that nobody cares about leather contests. Here we see one group which thinks that there is a degree of importance to how IML, as the premier leather contest in the community, moves in the community, and that there appears (to them) to be this need for ever-more unique titleholders. Whether or not this is valid, given the range of contestants, and variety of judges, is not the point. It is that there is a _perception_ that IML is like a TV show which has lost its core audience and is searching for new support. A similar number indicates a 'who cares?' attitude, acknowledging that IML can do whatever it wants, it won't be the driving force behind the community direction. So, one group cares but thinks what happens will be irrelevant, the other doesn't care and thinks what happens will be irrelevant.
The next pair reiterate this division. 13% think that this will strengthen the titleholder system, while 9% state that it will weaken the titleholder system. While there is a significant difference between the two, leaning optimistically, it's not an overwhelming one. Each opinion is also a relatively weakly held one, so just as 20% aren't sure of what impact there will be on the community, here we see uncertainly in what impact it will have on the titleholder system.
The last two items don't really pair up together. 8.3% think that this will make the leather community more divided and intolerant. The interesting point here is to compare this to the strongest answer of inclusiveness. There seems to be a general impression that, overall, having a transgendered IML will increase awareness and sensitivity in the community, giving us a specific face to associate with, a real person to think of when we consider how we interact with transgendered members of the larger community. This almost certainly reflects what we've seen as the gay community, the response we've had from the larger community as a result of our visibility through the media. There has been clear evidence of a large shift toward tolerance and inclusiveness, but there has also been an increase of polarized opinions and an increase in intolerance and rejection. Our poll respondents anticipate a similar polarizing effect, although leaning towards the beneficial side.
So. The short story for me is that this is a symptom of the balkanization that is ongoing in the leather/kink community and is likely to reinforce the growing divide between the proverbial conservative and liberal mindsets within the community.
Hopefully we can do better than our political brothers and maintain a degree of civil discourse while we're sorting this all out.
there is no ED on the end of the word transgender.
Posted by: Jessi Strucaly | 01/30/2011 at 06:42 PM
The question we ultimately have to answer is whether the Gay Male Leather/BDSM community is going to reflect the values we want for the LGBT community at large and our society as a whole. For years we have been calling for us to be accepted and welcomed or who we are-- Gay men who are part of the LGBT community and society who live and celebrate our sexuality with passion as men-- and not as evil perverts bent on causing harm or violence to others.
If we want to have that acceptance, then we must be sure our community is welcome to ALL Gay Men in the Leather/BDSM community-- and that includes transmen.
As for the relevance of IML, it is a working title, not a beauty contest, and men seeking that title (including Tyler) have to have what he describes as a "Leather Heart", a desire to work for the benefit and betterment of our community. As such, titles like International Mr. Leather, Leather Daddy and Leather Sir/Boy will always be relevant.
Posted by: Wayne Madden | 07/31/2010 at 10:40 AM