Major announcements were made in Dallas, Texas over the last weekend, (October 4-7) at the International Leather Sir/boy/Community Bootblack gathering at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Hundreds of leather folk from around the world were in attendance as 11 Sirs, 10 boys, and four bootblacks competed for the titles. There was a meet and greet on Thursday night at the Dallas Eagle, contestant interviews and workshops on Saturday with a barbecue at the Dallas Eagle thrown in and a gigantic travel fund auction with Ultra Domme and Randal Kinnear auctioning off great items. Saturday night the climax of months of competitions and hoopla had arrived with an enthusiastic crowd completely unaware of what was in store.

Major announcements

At the ILSb/CBB contest just before the winners were named, Mike Zuhl announced to the assembled crowd that he had turned over the contests to a new producer, Mark Frazier, a former titleholder himself and co-owner of the Dallas Eagle. This information was met with wild applause and it was hinted that ILSb/CBB may return to its roots, San Francisco, on Dore Alley weekend in 2009. Details have yet to be worked out on that aspect.

Also during the weekend, the return of the American Leather Man, Woman, boy and girl competitions was announced to take place in New Orleans the weekend of July 11-13, 2008. Dean Ogren, Frank Nowicki, and Paula Smith are the producers and work is in progress already.

Dallas – and the host hotel – was overrun with guests there for the big rivalry football game between Oklahoma and Texas. The Oklahoma team won and the U.S. Marine Corps recruiting team was on the hotel's premises with over 150 young men being indoctrinated with reasons why they should join up. Very interesting population at the host hotel all weekend, but there were no clashes and a good time was had by all.

I have printed the names and photos of all the ILS/b regions since January of this year, so no need list them all here again. The contest itself on Saturday was a colorful pastiche of leather, rubber, bears, uniforms, and straight couples into the BDSM lifestyle. Kinnear rendered the U.S. national anthem after the Canadian anthem was played. The Dallas Boys of Leather were the flag bearers and then Nowicki got into the guts of the contest itself with his usual aplomb, humor, and a few arrows directed at certain personalities in the audience.

The speeches by both Sirs and boys were insightful and the fantasies were mostly top notch and very imaginative. The one that really rocked the house though, was executed by the Great Lakes Regional titlists Joee Arteaga and his boy Doug, which was a take off on 'Mommie Dear

Boy Jean of San Francisco was chosen Community Bootblack during the ILS/b contest weekend in Dallas. Jean won out over 4 other hopefuls. Her daddy, Sal Hopkins was jubilant at the announcement.

est' heroine, Joan Crawford, who while thumbing through the leather closet of his boy noted leathers by Mister S, and other major leather stores and one, just one item by Wilson Leathers. The Sir, Joee, went berserk and unleashed a reign of terror on the boy who foolishly hung the offending garb in the leather closet. The audience went berserk, the judges went berserk, and it was deemed one of the best in the long line of fantasies performed at any leather competition.

Sir Kinnear, boy Marshall and Community Bootblack Henry James rendered step-aside speeches less than 10 minutes each and they were insightful, delightful, and well received by the audience.

After all the hoopla, the thank yous, the announcements, the moment of truth arrived. Zuhl, flanked by Kinnear and boy Marshall, opened the envelopes tallied by Jim Raymond and Brian Kuerze and the winners were announced.

The 2007 Community Bootblack chosen was boy Jean of San Francisco. Of course, Sal Hopkins was overjoyed to see her boy win.

Next, the International Leather boy was announced: Justin "Sparky" Connelly of Wellston, Oklahoma.

The first runner-up Sir was handsome Kerry Ellison (Great Plains Leather Sir) and International Leather Sir 2007 is Olivier Pratt of Oklahoma City. Shrieks of joy, excitement, applause, and gasps as thousands of digital cameras flashed away. Both Olivier and Sparky are from Oklahoma, representing the South Central Region on the ILSb roster.

As an aside, a few hours earlier, the Oklahoma U. football team had defeated Texas U. on the gridiron. So it was an Oklahoma sweep for the weekend and afterward, a cake and champagne victory party had everyone sipping and discussing the outcome and the change of ownership of the contest.

Meanwhile, in New York

The Wicked Witch of the East (Vern Stewart) produced the Mr. NY Eagle Leather 2007 contest at that fabled bar last Saturday night, October 6. There were four contestants (including Scott, formerly Mr. Double L Leather and former Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather). Some $3,600 worth of prizes was awarded to the winner, who turned out to be Peter Schwartz (spouse of the 2006 Mr. NY Eagle Rick Weber). Scott Harris was the first runner-up. It was packed to the rafters in the bar, even with some competition from Robert Valin's opposition New York Leather Weekend. Schwartz advances to compete at IML in May 2008. By the way, have you switched your reservations from the Palmer House to the Chicago Hyatt Hotel? Better do it today!

Updates, we love updates

Well, the accounting is not yet done for the Folsom Street Fair but in the meantime, some satellite events during SF Leather Pride Week have been tallied. You already know that Mama's Leather Walk raised over $25,000; the Leather Daddies art auction at the Eagle raised $4,500 for Visual Aid; Mr. SF Leather Travis Creston raised $4,750 for his travel fund and for CARAS thanks to Powerhouse manager Scott Peterson and the men of Colt Studios. And former Mr. SF Leather Troy Anicete's pre-Folsom event on Thursday, September 27 at the Powerhouse bar raised $2,080 for the Leather Archives & Museum with Chuck Windemuth of the museum here in person, and thanks to the men of Raging Stallion for their participation. Money raised at countless other benefits during Leather Week are still being counted so stay tuned.

Onward!

Next weekend, women of the BDSM persuasion will gather in Seattle for the annual Wicked Womyn three-day marathon. For details, go to http://www.wickedwomyn.com. It's also the Mr. Calgary Leather contest in Canada and the Mr. Ohio Leather contest in Akron.

The following weekend, five more sashes will be awarded to Mr. Kentucky Leather in Louisville; Mr. and Ms. Rio Grande Leather in Albuquerque; and Mr. and Ms. Sacramento Valley Leather at the Bolt bar. I'll be in Louisville for that contest and you'll be the first to get the results. Until then, keep up your volunteer work and make your leather pride shine bright!

Eventures in Leather, Oct. 12 – 20, 2007

Weekend Oct. 12-14

Wicked Womyn in Seattle for BDSM women. Lots of women from around the country will be there for fun and games. Mr. Ohio Leather contest in Akron, Ohio. No details. In Los Angeles, Avatar will install their new officers at a dinner.

Weekend Oct. 19-20

Mr. Kentucky Leather Contest. That hunk Bill Howard will step aside for a successor. In Albuquerque, Mr. and Ms. Rio Grande Leather Contest. For more info, go to www.riograndeleather.org In Sacramento at the Bolt Bar, Mr. and Ms. Sacramento Valley Leather 2008 will be chosen. Sundance Stompede in San Francisco. For ticket info, go to www.frantix.net

Friday, Oct. 19

The SF Exiles monthly gather will feature "Vic" who will show you the ups and downs and the ins and outs of Singletails. It's at the Women's Bldg., doors open at 19:30; show from 20:00 22:00.

Saturday, Oct. 20

Mr. Oklahoma Leather contest in Tulsa with a Meet & Greet on Friday; contest on Saturday. For more info, go to www.tulsaleather.com