James Lee is crowned Mr International Leather 2018 (Photo: IML)
Chicago was bursting with fetish lovers over the past weekend for the annual International Mr Leather festival.
The event was celebrating its 40th anniversary. In the past four decades, it has grown to become the most famous gay leather event on the planet.
The 71 contestants line up for Mr International Leather 2018 at IML (Photo: @willbakerleather | Instagram)
Mr International Leather 2018
The highlight of the festivities is undoubtedly the crowning of the new International Mr Leather. This year’s winner is James Lee of Lexington, Kentucky.
Lee triumphed over 70 other contestants. They heralded from countries as far afield as Italy, Australia, Israel, France and Mexico.
James Lee, Mr Kentucky Leather 2017, now Mr International Leather 2018 (Photo; IML)
A long-time leather fan, Lee mentors LGBTQ+ youth in his home state. He has volunteered at North American Bear, Tri-State, Kentucky CoronaNon, Pride Lexington and Pride Louisville. He has also organized and promoted a variety of LGBTI and Leather events.
Asked what it was like to win the title, he said: ‘It’s a stamp of approval, it’s a acknowledgement of hard-work and success. It’s knowing you have brothers and sisters around the world that except you just the way you are and are your support system day in day out.
‘It’s knowing your community is growing and evolving, and it’s being a leader to those who are looking for encouragement and acceptance.
James Lee and Lucky Rebel (center) and the IML runner-up contestants (Photo: IML)
He revealed that he had only recently overcome personal tragedy and found the strength to compete.
‘This journey has not been a walk in the park. It’s been a fiery swim through hell. Losing my partner of 9.5 years right before all of it made me want to walk away from it all … including life.
‘My Leather community, blood and chosen family made sure I would build new and strong a way to survive.’
He said that winning the title was, ‘Overwhelmingly awesome and insanely shocking and unforgettable.’
Lucky Rebel won Mr Bootblack 2018 (Photo: IML)
The smaller International Mr Bootblack contest had four contestants, and was won by Lucky Rebel of Portland, Oregon.
Celebrating kink in all its forms
Besides the contests, International Mr Leather offered a diverse range of events for all fetish lovers. Many of these took place in or near the Congress Plaza Hotel. These included everything from 12-step Recovery Meetings and Puppy Yoga to a superhero fetish extravaganza.
The Superhero Fetish Meetup at IML 2018 (Photo: © Pablo Greene – howtokillasuperhero.net)
Pablo Greene is the promoter of the latter event, POW! He started the superhero meetup four years ago.
‘At the time it was just about ten people or so who wanted to show their pride in superhero fetish … This year we had an epic turnout, with more than 150 people attending the party!
‘IML is special because it’s a living history of LGBT people that up until recently, were fairly invisible to the rest of the world. IML has helped validate the sexual expressions of many LGBT people, and it’s also helped educate the world about BDSM and kink to promote sex positivity through community and friendship. There’s nothing quite like IML.’
Heading out to International Mr Leather in Chicago (Photo: @westwoodcowboy | Instagram)
His views were echoed by another attendee.
‘IML is an opportunity where LGBTQ people of all walks of life and from all over the world can get together to celebrate the thread that binds us all: KINK,’ said Johnny Junior (@westwoodcowboy).
‘Whether you execute it in leather, rubber, spandex or shroud your head in a pup mask or a hood, if it makes you feel complete and queer as fuck then that’s what IML is all about! It truly is a celebration and a display of the manifestations of our fantasies and our kinks without a shred of any shame.’
Leather lovers at IML 2018 (Photo: @pup_amp | Instagram)
Remembering Chuck Renslow
Besides the weekend being IML’s 40th anniversary, it also acted as a tribute to the memory of the event’s founder, Chuck Renslow.
Chicago Businessman Renslow passed away in June 2017. Besides IML, he owned the former Man Country Bathhouse and several other LGBTI-related businesses.
Just ahead of this year’s event, on 19 May, a portion of Chicago’s Clark Street was renamed in his honor.
Organizers described Renslow as ‘a Leather giant and one of the most influential gay men of our time.
‘Even though he has passed, his legacy continues to live on with the Renslow Trust Foundation and the Leather Archives and Museum. We look forward to continuing on with his vision to unify the Leather community and remind ourselves that, “We are one”.’
See also
When is Pride? Check out our international Pride calendar 2018
