While some people find leather titles to be a little silly or archaic, I find them interesting and intriguing. I cannot say that I've always found them to be such. I mean the first one that I attended I was confused and completely out of the loop as to what was going on. I was just watching sexy men walk across the stage and ogling them. I had no idea these were men that were going to represent my city at IML or to other places as they traveled the event circuit of the year. Nor did I know there was more to the competition that I didn't get to see. That didn't happen until the next year when I watched it with a friend who's partner happened to be competing in the event.
I learned so much about the competition and how it was actually a serious event where these men wanted to represent the leathermen of Chicago. They have a desire to better the community from which they come that has helped make them who they are. Part of this may still be lost on me, but I at least think I have a better understanding of what it means for someone to be a titleholder.
I have to say this year I really paid attention though. I paid attention to how the men presented themselves, and how they actually answered the question they were asked (and yes still ogled a little, they were hot!). It was interesting because I felt like I had an opinion on what they were saying as if I was really a part of the community, which they are going to represent, but somehow at the same time I felt not a part of it.
In many ways I know I'm a part of the community. By nature being a leatherboy I am a part of the leather community, but it seems there are so many parts that are greatly unknown to me. Part of me really doesn't know why I feel this disconnect between myself and the community, but then I look around the room and begin to understand it (or at least think I do) slightly. The majority of the men around me are easily 10-15 years my senior. I have no issue with this these men are wonderful and have so much to pass on, but where are my peers?
As was wonderfully said at the contest, the pups of today are the dogs of tomorrow. Where are my fellow boys (pups) who want to be the men (dogs) of tomorrow? I can't be the only one wanting to be a part of this process of being mentored and brought up through the ranks. Together we can keep this community alive and thriving, but alone we stand in our corners and hope someone does something to keep it alive for us.
This is our community too! We may not have as much experience as those men around us, but we have ideas, we have the ability, we can do it. It's not time to sit around and wait until we get called upon to take the lead, it's time to take the step and be a part of the now so when it's our turn to really take the lead we can do it and show those boys how to take the lead one day!
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