San Diego Rocked Leather Pride!
There are a lot of bright spots in our leather community these days and San Diego is definitely high on that list. San Diego Leather Pride is a very visible (and hot!) example of the kind of exciting events happening there.
The Leather Pride week is anchored by the Ms San Diego Leather 2011 and the Mr San Diego Leather 2011. The Ms contest is in its 16th year and the Mr title is celebrating 29 years. The winners will work together and independently in the coming year as they represent their local community, both at home and across the nation.
Leather Pride events also include an All Club Night, a Meet and Greet, cocktail parties and victory brunches. Plus enough silent and live auction action to satisfy everybody!
Check out all of the photos here!
Ms San Diego Leather 2011
We weren't able to cover the event live but met up with the winner, Beanstalk, the following weekend at the Mr contest. I'm sure she's up to the challenge laid out for her. San Diego, after all, has been honored to have one Ms San Diego Leather take the International Ms Leather title, one hold the American Leatherwoman title and two hold the Ms World Leather title.
Mr San Diego Leather 2011
We had a great time at the Mr San Diego Leather 2011 contest, held at the fantastic Rich's again this year. Lenny Broberg, emcee to the stars, was on hand to guide us through the intricate process of selecting a winner from the lineup of three great candidates. In the second half of the contest, Lenny unveiled his new leathers; a uniform designed after his service blues and complete down to the smallest details. I'll slip in a little plug for Off Ramp Leathers for their amazing craftsmanship right about here.
Three men competed for the Mr San Diego Leather contest this year; (left to right) Anthony, Kurt and Daddy Dan.
The contest ran through the standard segments; speech, leather image, etc. as well as a live auction of baskets presented by the contestants with some pretty amazing stuff. Wish we had room for the stocks!
Of course the universe is a perverse place and this proved out when the outgoing Mr San Diego Leather for 2010, Anthony, got up to deliver his speech. After the thunderous applause died down, it became apparent that the microphone had also died! Didn't even slow Anthony down. The usual hub bub of noise died away completely as he delivered his step-down speech au naturel.
Anthony did an amazing job this year as Mr SDL. He was incredibly acive and visible, both locally and at events around the country. He goes on now to compete at International Mr Leather in Chicago in May. I'm going to slip in an editorial plug for the title producers out there: I heartily endorse this growing trend to send local and regional title holders to IML in the year following their local title year. It give the local community (who work their asses off to make these things happen) a full year of service from their title holder, and it allows the winner to take a year to settle in, scope things out, and gain some invaluable experience. </end plug>
When the final tally was in (after a bit of stretching from contest producers Annie Romano, Adam Latham and Michael David Bond) the medallion was awarded to Kurt, the new Mr San Diego Leather for 2011. Congrats Kurt! Be sure to put San Diego Leather Pride on your calendar for 2012.
Check out mrsandiegoleather.org for more info on San Diego Leather Pride and the two contests.
Kurt you ROCK!!!! And mom is right you totally look great! I am so happy for you.
Your friend
Ginger
Posted by: Ginger Stevens | 03/22/2011 at 06:07 PM
OMG, OMG, OMG......I AM SOOOOOOOOO PROUD OF MY FRIEND. KURT YOU ARE SO GORGEOUS AND THAT SMILE MELTS MY OL' LADYS HEART AND MAKES ME MORE PROUD OF KNOWING YOU. YOU GO MAN!!!!
Joanna
Posted by: Joanna | 03/22/2011 at 10:25 AM