Leather contests are a funny fucking thing. Not funny like “ha-ha” and more like “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.” When you allow yourself to be swept away by the wonder of the pomp and circumstance. To be enchanted and connected to the shear raw, uncensored magnitude of it all….
If you do not fall in love with pageantry — Then fuck it, you have no love of life!
Now I am not going to give you a play-by-play account of the contest goings-on, nor do I want too. I am not a fucking reporter. Instead I am going to try and give you an understanding of the emotions of all of this, because its to fucking astonishing not to.
Contests are part of the fabric that makes our wizarding world so fucking cool. Even with all of the peace, love, understanding and respect, there are those that still do not believe that contests like this hold water, they question their importance in furthering our collective agenda.
And I say fuck’m…they have no clue as to what they speak of.
I can’t tell you how important contests are for the general health of the LBGTQ+ collective psyche. Let me tell you a story, back in the day a newly minted gayby goes to their first MAL — watches the contest, and begins to understand themself better.
Their loin’s swelled and groaned in their brand new jockstrap (they bought that day in the vendor-mart). It is at this point, this very fucking point they fully, completely, totally, without reservations knew they had finally found their people. They had found their tribe, their home, their clan.
My story is only one of about a jizillon examples, so contests fucking matter. And lets not get me started on the brave fucking souls that choose (make sure you understand me here people — They fucking chose this!) to be ranked, measured, judged by people within the community that are not only examples of their peers, but will at some stage should they win, become their selected colleague. The people who become contestants are thing stars are fucking made of.
They are star stuff.
Mixer’s ant your mama’s Cheers!
Mixer’s Bar (Facebook – @mixersbar) is Baltimore’s answer to Cheers (and clearly way more queer). Its very much a locals kind of place. They have a stable staple of regulars who make up a fairly representational cross section of Baltimore’s queer community. And in Baltimore, there are a dwindling of queer focused spaces. So gems like Mixer’s really should be treated as famed UNESCO sites.
And like so much in our little world, the Leather/Kink/BDSM (will be known collectively as the leather community out of simplicity) will when their a lack of a welcoming space, we tend to take over the next best thing. Mixer’s — no shit — has developed a very active Leather seen, supported by a strong set of regional and national leather titles.
Yep — I said it — leather titleholder — the fucking foundation a community is built on.
The “Mobtown” Leather Family as I have coined it, has developed into a strong tradition. It was only a matter of time, before the youth of this family would begin to look towards their respective elders, their pantheon of heros. Their local titleholders — and aspire to follow in their foot steps. The creation of title that respects this was needed. Mixer’s Leather was born.
This past weekend the first contest was held. And like previously described, the selection of contestants was also born of “mobtown leather tradition”.
But like all great contests, their comes the moment, when everyone now understands the fucking real meaning of their can be only 1.
Contests are to be won, and contestants are warriors.
Furby Smash – First of their Name…Mixer’s Leather!
Furby Smash (Facebook – @furby.smash) is a virtual newcomer – at least within my circles, but their impact appears to be substantial. Furby is a local youngster, with loving, caring eyes, and a heart of gold. My experience with them is limited, but in a very short time it was apperant that they represent the next generation of leadership.
Furby is a local in their own right, clearly Old Bay runs in their veins. Which is good since their title feeds into the Maryland Contest sponsored by COMMAND MC.
Furby really does embody the new generation of leather, and what makes kink cool in Maryland. Will they need guidance, of course. But they have at the back strong standard bears. This we are expecting great things from them in the coming months.
It goes without saying that the contest was amazing. I am personally excited to see how the title progresses and to watch Furby grow during their title year.
