International Mr. Leather

History

International Mr. Leather is regarded as the world's oldest continuously operating international leather and fetish event, even being dubbed "the granddaddy of all leather events." This contest, like all similar leather contests, was designed to be both an homage and a satire of women's beauty pageants, by giving men their own platform to admire and be admired, specifically by and for gay men involved in the leather and BDSM subcultures.

The forerunner of the competition was the Mr. Gold Coast contest held through the 1970s at Chicago's Gold Coast leather bar, owned by Chuck Renslow and his partner Dom Orejudos. This contest became one of the bar's most popular events, causing the need to relocate the competition to a larger venue by 1979, at which point Renslow decided to change the name to "International Mr. Leather". Flyers and promotional materials for this first IML were sent to every leather bar that Renslow and his associates knew of, not knowing if the historically regional contest would actually be able to attract a global audience. Fortunately, by the contest's second year, it would go on to actually live up to its name.

The inaugural IML competition took place May 18–20, 1979. The event was advertised as "a weekend you won't want to miss" featuring "some of the world's hottest men, representing leather bars and clubs across America and Europe" competing to win prizes worth $5,000 , including a motorcycle. Spectators could purchase a weekend package for $25 that included a shirt designed by Orejudos (under his pseudonym "Etienne"), tickets to various parties and events, and coupons for local shops and bathhouses. Standalone tickets to the contest itself were priced at $10 . Orejudos also designed much of the contest's promotional material, including the iconic "Wingman Logo" still used today. David Kloss won the first contest, with Durk Dehner and Jesse Capello as first and second runners-up. Touko Laaksonen, a.k.a. Tom of Finland, volunteered to judge the contest, but had to drop out for health reasons (he later judged the 1983 contest).[[File:International Mr Leather 1979.jpg|thumb|Advertisement for inaugural IML contest (1979)]] In 1980, IML introduced the Black and Blue Ball. In 1982, Glynn Sudbery served as press coordinator. By 1984, attendance had increased from 300 to 1,500. The leather pride flag was officially unveiled by its designer Tony DeBlase during IML 11 on May 28, 1989. The flag was quickly incorporated into the design of the sash awarded to subsequent contest winners.

The International Bootblack Competition was added to the IML program in 1993, intended to honor and showcase the hard work performed by bootblacks in the leather community. In 1998, the originally mixed-gender competition was spun off into two separate events: International Mr. Bootblack (IMBB), still produced by IML, and International Ms. Bootblack (IMsBB), now produced by International Ms. Leather, the female equivalent of IML held annually since 1987.

Since 2009, IML proceeds have been placed in a trust to benefit the Leather Archives and Museum (LA&M), the Chicago-based institution dedicated to preserving the history of the leather and fetish subcultures.{{cite web | access-date = 2009-09-04}} Co-founded by Renslow and DeBlase, LA&M is also the official custodian of IML records and artwork.

The historic Congress Plaza Hotel has hosted IML guests and festivities every year since 2015, but the contest itself has often been hosted at offsite venues, such as the Auditorium Theatre across the street from the Congress Plaza. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant shutdowns and cancellations of large gatherings throughout the world, in-person IML events in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled. IML resumed in May 2022.

In 2025, the gay men's kink-focused hookup site Recon sponsored a pay-per-view live broadcast of the contest, the first time it had ever been officially broadcast live for a wider audience.

Leather market

Each IML contest features a market for leather, kink, and LGBT-related vendors and organizations of all kinds. The market is open for multiple days and routinely draws thousands of visitors. Past and present participants include Chicago Department of Public Health, Folsom Street Events, Howard Brown Health, Mid America Fists In Action, MIR, Nasty Pig, and Recon.

The leather market also hosts bootblacks in partnership with International Mr. Bootblack.

Rules

Eligibility

As of 2024, to qualify for IML, prospective contestants must:

• Present as male and be 21 years of age or older.
• Win a preliminary contest or receive a primary sponsor.
  • Preliminary contest is defined as a bar, local, or regional leather contest that awards its winner entry into IML.
  • Primary sponsor is defined as "a bar, business, club or organization that specializes in the levi/leather, uniform, S&M, western, gear or related lifestyles.
• Submit an application and registration fee.

Contest criteria

;Preliminary round Contest finalists are selected following:

1. A preliminary interview with each of the nine judges, up to 8 minutes in length, are held in private (60% of the preliminary score).
2. Stage presence and personality at a Saturday "Pecs and Personality" event (40% of the preliminary score). The judge's highest and lowest scores for each contestant on each criterion are dropped, and the contestant's remaining seven scores are tallied to determine the 20 contestants with the highest combined scores to proceed as finalists at the Sunday IML contest event. The only time that the dropped scores are included in the tally is when there is a tie for the 20th place; the contestants in question have their dropped scores included in the tally but if the stalemate continues then each of the nine judges must vote for only one of the two contestants. Preliminary judging scores are not carried forward. There are also two tally masters.

;Final round Each of the 20 finalists is judged at the Sunday IML contest on a scale from 0 to 100 in the following order:

1. Leather image (up to 40 points).
2. Presentation skills that include a contestant speech (up to 40 points).
3. Physical appearance (up to 20 points). The highest and lowest scores for each finalist are dropped, the remaining seven scores are added together, and the top three scores designate the second runner-up, first runner-up, and winner, International Mr. Leather. A tie for the title is resolved by adding to the tally the dropped scores of the two contestants; if the stalemate continues then each of the nine judges must vote for only one of the contestants in question.

Participating countries and territories

As of 2025, twenty-eight countries spanning six continents have officially fielded at least one contestant to compete at IML. Additionally, 44 U.S. states have provided contestants, as have the District of Columbia (D.C.) and the U.S. territory Puerto Rico; the only U.S. states that have yet to field a contestant are Delaware, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

: Some IML contestants emigrated from countries that have not officially sent contestants to IML (or had not as of the time they competed). For instance, Venezuela-born Gary Iriza (Mr. Palm Springs Leather) won IML 30 in 2008, more than a decade before Venezuela officially sent a contestant (Mr. Leather Venezuela) in 2019. : Wins by contestants with international or nonnational preliminary titles (e.g. Mister Leather Europe, Mr. Gay Naturists International Leather) are attributed to the winner's country of residence.

Winners

As of 2025, 45 contestants representing eight countries have won IML: the United States (37), Germany (2), Australia (1), Belgium (1), Canada (1), France (1), the Netherlands (1), and the United Kingdom (1).

The following is a table of IML contest winners. Note that winner's city as used in the table variously refers to the preliminary title host city or winner's city of residence.

In cases of regional, international, or non-geographic preliminary titles (Mr Midwest Leather, Mr SECC Leather, Leathermen of Color, Mr Leather Europe, etc.), participation is attributed to the contestant's country, state, and/or territory of residence.

Milestones

In 1984 Ron Moore became the first black man to win International Mr. Leather. In 1997, his sister Genelle Moore won International Ms. Leather, which made them the first siblings to hold international leather titles.

In 2010, Tyler McCormick became the first openly transgender man, the first wheelchair user, and the first person from New Mexico to win International Mr. Leather.

The 2012 contest featured two weddings as well as the contest's first pair of married contestants competing against each other.

In 2019, Jack Thompson became the first openly transgender person of color to win International Mr. Leather. His win also marked the first time black men won consecutive International Mr. Leather titles.

In 2025, Rene Hebert became the first bootblack to win International Mr. Leather.

International Mr. Bootblack

The International Mr. Bootblack (IMrBB) Competition runs throughout the IML weekend. Contestants are given a location in the IML Leather Market at which they perform bootblacking services. Weekend ticket package holders (as well as judges, contestants, and vendors) are each provided with a bootblack ballot which is redeemable for one shine by the bootblack of the voter's choice. Bootblacks are free to shine the boots of any person, regardless of whether that person has a ballot, although it is made clear that the ballots are the means by which the winner will be determined. Tipping is not required, but is quite common.

The bootblack contestants work during the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of IML during the time that the Leather Market is open, a total of approximately 20 hours over three days. In previous years, the bootblacks were allowed to shine boots and collect tickets at all times during the weekend. Since 2001, the bootblack contestants have established a gentlemen's agreement at the start of the weekend that they will not shine boots or accept ballots except during the established competition hours. This agreement was conceived to give the contestants the freedom to take time to enjoy the weekend without feeling the pressure to always be bootblacking.

At its inception in 1993, the competition was called the International Bootblack Competition, and both men and women were allowed to compete. In 1998, it was announced that the competition would be changed to the International Mr. Bootblack Competition and that a separate competition solely for women would be held at International Ms. Leather. This change was made largely because it was commonly held that women had a significant disadvantage competing for ballots from IML's predominantly gay male attendees, who may favor bootblacks who they find attractive. Since 1999, competitors for IMrBB are restricted to persons over the age of 21 who present as male.

During the Saturday contest, before the Pecs and Personality segment, each of the contestants for International Mr. Bootblack is required to give a speech to the contest audience, giving future patrons for the following day an idea of who they may like to vote for. The next day, during the Sunday contest, the IMBB winner is announced (along with the first and second runners-up and the winner of the Brotherhood Award, on which the IMBB competitors vote and which is roughly analogous to the Miss Congeniality Award from various traditional beauty contests). This occurs before the announcement of IML's winner and runners-up, after which all seven men may return to the stage for photos.

In recent years, largely because of coordination of the contest by David Hawks, International Mr. Bootblack 2000, the Bootblack Competition has begun to develop adjunct activities. An IMrBB party is held in a hotel function room on Saturday night, offering food, music, and a silent auction, the proceeds of which go to the travel fund of the winner. Likewise, during the competition hours in the Leather Market, volunteers man a table to answer questions and sell IMrBB Travel Fund pins, which also adds to the travel fund. These sources of revenue have provided the various contestants with significantly more money to aid their travel to distant events during their title years. The money is controlled by the contest coordinator, and any access to the funds must be accompanied by proof of the travel outlay.[10]

Starting in 2013, the IMrBB contest has implemented a judging system to select the winner. Contestants are evaluated by a panel of judges on the basis of their technical bootblacking skills, how they present themselves on stage and in public and what they say in an interview with the judges. Ballot voting still makes up a percentage of the contestant's total score.

In 2019, Dutch bootblack Kriszly de Hond became the first primarily non-English speaking IMBB titleholder (he gave his contestant speech in English, but his primary language was Dutch), as well as the first to originate from outside North America. These distinctions made him the first truly International Mr. Bootblack.

In early 2023, in the months leading up to the convention, the entirety of IMBB staff resigned from their positions, citing many years of mistreatment and dwindling interest in the contest. This mass resignation effectively made the occurrence of IMBB impossible until negotiations and compromises were agreed upon by the IML and IMBB staffs. There are currently plans to bring the IMBB contest back for IML 48 in 2026.

IMBB Winners

As of 2025, 28 contestants representing four countries have won IMBB: the United States (24), Canada (2), the Netherlands (1), and the United Kingdom (1).

Cultural impact and legacy

According to the Chicago Reader in 2024, "IML has endured as an institution that serves the LGBTQ+ community by fundraising for grassroots groups as well as providing opportunities to gather and exchange goods, information, and kinship." IML has also improved the visibility and popularity of leather culture; past IML contestants and attendees have founded leather organizations, competitions, and businesses around the world, including National Leather Association International.

IML proceeds have been placed in a trust to benefit the Leather Archives & Museum. The museum’s photos, videos, and oral histories chronicling IML (and International Ms. Leather) were featured in a 2015 documentary by Christina Court, titled High Shine: 15 Years of International Ms Bootblack.

Recognition

• In 1995, “Chuck Renslow – IML” was one of the recipients of the International Deaf Leather Recognition Award.
• In 1999 IML received the Business of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards.
• In 2007 and 2012 IML received the Large Event of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards.
• In 2010 IML was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.
• In 2010, director Mike Skiff released the documentary film Kink Crusaders, which chronicled the history of IML as well as the 2008 convention. The film featured interviews with Renslow, as well as past IML winners David Kloss, Guy Baldwin, Jeff Tucker, Tony Mills, John Pendal, Mikel Gerle, and then-contestant Gary Iriza. The following year, an epilogue was added to document the historic win of Tyler McCormick.
• In 2018, IML was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame during Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend 2018.
• On May 25, 2018, the Chicago City Council voted to honorarily designate a stretch of Clark Street in Uptown (between Winnemac Avenue and Ainslie Avenue) as "Chuck Renslow Way"; the city unveiled the new street sign during the anniversary of IML.

Footnotes

1. {{cite book
2. {{cite book
3. {{cite web |access-date=2005-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324045723/http://www.imrl.com/forms/ContestantApplication2006.pdf |archive-date=2006-03-24 |url-status=dead
4. {{cite web | access-date = 2009-09-04
5. {{cite web | access-date = 2009-09-04
6. {{cite web |access-date=2005-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222054853/http://www.imrl.com/contestantinfo/scoring.asp |archive-date=2005-12-22 |url-status=dead
7. {{cite web |access-date=2005-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324045826/http://www.imrl.com/imlpast/2004.asp |archive-date=2006-03-24 |url-status=dead
8. {{cite book | access-date = 2005-12-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051223153734/http://www.imrl.com/press/IML2005PostRelease.doc | archive-date = 2005-12-23 | url-status = dead
9. {{cite web |access-date=2006-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324045320/http://www.imrl.com/bootblack/index.asp |archive-date=2006-03-24 |url-status=dead
10. {{cite web |access-date=2006-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324045308/http://www.imrl.com/bootblack/pastbootblacks.asp |archive-date=2006-03-24 |url-status=dead
11. {{cite book | access-date = 2007-05-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070721025006/http://www.imrl.com/press/2007/2007IMLWinnersRelease.doc | archive-date = 2007-07-21 | url-status = dead
12. {{cite web |access-date = 2013-02-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130719082245/http://www.imrl.com/press/2013/IMBB2013JudgeAnnouncement.pdf |archive-date = 2013-07-19
13. Source for 1979 to 2003: {{cite book
14. Source for 2004 to 2008: {{cite web |access-date = 2009-03-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090220182519/http://imrl.com/history/viewyear.php |archive-date = 2009-02-20

References

References

1. Street, Mikelle. (2019-01-19). "What You Need To Know About International Mr. Leather 2019".
2. Peregrin, Tony. (2012-05-21). "International Mr. Leather competition to include two gay weddings in 34th year".
3. "International Mr. Leather".
4. Goldsborough, Bob. (2017-06-30). "Chuck Renslow, Chicago gay community icon and International Mr. Leather contest founder, dies at 87".
5. (2024-05-27). "File:International Mr Leather 1979.jpg". Wikipedia.
6. "International Mr. Leather".
7. "Man's Country". Alternate Publishing.
8. "Glynn Sudbery".
9. "Leather History Timeline".
10. Croix, Sukie de la. (2003-05-21). "International Mr. Leather Hits 25th Anniversary".
11. "The History of Bootblacking".
12. (2014-10-22). "KANE, "DRUMMER," AND DEBLASE — Rick Storer, Leather Archives & Museum — San Francisco Leathermen's Discussion Group". Sfldg.org.
13. Croix, Sukie de la. (2003-05-21). "International Mr. Leather Hits 25th Anniversary".
14. Ambrosius, Andy. (2015-05-19). "IML 2015 going back to its Chicago roots May 21-25".
15. (2023-05-30). "Barela wins International Mr. Leather title".
16. (2020-05-26). "IML officially cancelled for 2020".
17. Farinas, Gerald. (2021-06-09). "IML cancels November date; will return Memorial Day weekend 2022".
18. "Event Schedule".
19. (2025-03-21). "Watch IML Live: Pay-Per-View".
20. (2023-05-28). "IML visitors are off to (the leather) market".
21. (2019-05-27). "International Mr. Leather 2019 market attracts thousands".
22. (2013-05-15). "IML XXX5 Vendor Market list and map".
23. "Application".
24. Rhodes, Dave. (2014-12-04). "Mr. New England Leather 2015 Dalton Flint".
25. Leather Archives & Museum. (2004). "International Mr. Leather: 25 Years of Champions". Nazca Plains.
26. (2018-05-27). "International Mr. Leather 40: The contestants".
27. Rhodes, Dave. (2015-05-29). "Patrick Smith wins IML and Bamm Bamm is IMBB 2015".
28. Rhodes, Dave. (2019-05-19). "IMBB and IML 2019 Contestants Preview".
29. "Mikel Gerle Named International Mr. Leather 2007".
30. Rhodes, Dave. (2017-05-19). "IML and IMBB 2017 Contestant Bios and Photos".
31. Rhodes, David. (2023-05-19). "The Leather Journal's IML 2023 Contestants Preview".
32. (2025-05-01). "Contestant Counts and Countries — IML47". [[International Mr. Leather]].
33. Leatherati. (2016-08-26). "IML 2010 Contestants".
34. "27th Annual International Mr. Leather in Chicago, May 26-30".
35. Mister Marcus. (2008-04-07). "Mr. Powerhouse wins it!".
36. (2008-05-28). "International Mr. Leather 2008, first photos".
37. Wade, Matthew. (2015-09-17). "Throwback: When Patrick Brookes was crowned Mr Leather Australia".
38. Mister Marcus. (2006-03-28). "Remembrances".
39. Rhodes, Dave. (1992-12-21). "Leather Titles in 1992".
40. Jones, Arnold Wayne. (2009-05-28). "That's MISTER Leather to you!".
41. Lenius, Steve. (2003-06-13). "International Mr. Leather 2003—Silver Anniversary".
42. (2005-06-01). "International Mr. Leather 2005".
43. "2006 IML switches locations, moves to Chicago Theatre".
44. "29th Annual International Mr. Leather Contest: May 24-28, 2007".
45. Mister Marcus. (2007-05-29). "LA's Mikel Gerle wins IML".
46. Mister Marcus. (2008-05-27). "Californians sweep IML 2008".
47. "Life After IML - June 2008".
48. Lenius, Steve. (2009-06-19). "International Mr. Leather 2009".
49. (2009-05-27). "31st annual International Mr. Leather photos".
50. Brogan, Scott. (2010-06-01). "Trans man wins IML 2010".
51. Leatherati. (2016-08-26). "IML 2010 Complete Coverage".
52. Leatherati. (2016-08-26). "IML 2011 Recap".
53. Anthony, Brett. "Eric Guttierez named International Mr. Leather 2011".
54. (2024-01-23). "Eric - Mr. Leather Europe 2010".
55. (2012-05-28). "International Mr. Leather 2012 crowned".
56. (2013-05-26). "Andy Cross wins International Mr. Leather 2013".
57. Rhodes, Dave. "51 men will compete for the IML 2013 title - The Leather Journal".
58. Burger, Rodney. (2013-03-08). "A Two-Headed Titleholder? Seeing Double at Mr. SECC Leather Contest". Baltimore Out Loud.
59. (2013-04-10). "Clark Wins Code". Watermark: Your LGBT Life.
60. Rhodes, Dave. "German Native, Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2014 at IML 36! - The Leather Journal".
61. Bannon, Race. (2014-06-10). "Chicago Style".
62. Rhodes, Dave. "IML Class of 2014 - Part III - The Leather Journal".
63. "Ramien Pierre wins International Mr. Leather 2014".
64. Staff, Windy City. (2015-05-25). "International Mr. Leather chosen".
65. "IML 2015 Contestants - The Leather Journal".
66. Rhodes, Dave. (2016-06-05). "IML 2016 was hotter than the weather in Chicago".
67. Rhodes, Dave. (2016-05-17). "IML Class of 2016 Bios and Photos - The Leather Journal".
68. Rhodes, Dave. "IML 2018 Contestants' Photos and Bios - The Leather Journal".
69. Street, Mikelle. (2019-05-26). "Jack Thompson Is the First Trans POC to Win International Mr. Leather".
70. Rhodes, Dave. (2022-06-07). "IML 2022 Winners, Top 20 and Contenders".
71. "Bleather - Bear and Leather Pride".
72. (2023-05-30). "Barela wins International Mr. Leather title".
73. (2022-12-05). "Podcast: Andy Walgraef (Mister Leather Belgium/Europe) & Johnny Verburg (Mister Bear Belgium) Videov".
74. Rhodes, Dave. (2024-05-16). "IML 2024 Contestants Preview".
75. "Displaying items by tag: International Leather". The Leather Journal.
76. "Cuir Underground".
77. (23 May 2020). "Leather Archives & Museum".
78. (2011-01-04). "Tyler McCormick, International Mr. Leather 2010 - Leatherati Online". Leatherati.com.
79. Rhodes, Dave. (2019-05-31). "Jack Thompson is the first Trans POC to win IML title".
80. (22 October 2014). "KANE, "DRUMMER," AND DEBLASE — Rick Storer, Leather Archives & Museum".
81. "IML 2023 is Marcus Barela - the Leather Journal".
82. "Title Holders".
83. (2009-05-25). "Leather Archives & Museum Announcement". [[Twitter]].
84. Caporale, Micco. (2024-01-31). "Leather could be for everyone".
85. "Our Story".
86. Cheves, Alexander. (2017-11-09). "35 DOs and DON'Ts of a Gay Leather Bar".
87. "Judge 5, Daniel Premack - Executive Producer of Mister Leather Israel (Tel Aviv, Israel)".
88. "About Us – History of Leather64TEN".
89. "History - NLA International".
90. Creane, C.. "The making of the Documentary, "High Shine: 15 Years of International Ms Bootblack" - The Leather Journal".
91. (July 4, 2021). "International Deaf Leather | AWARDS".
92. "Pantheon of Leather Awards All Time Recipients - The Leather Journal".
93. "Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame".
94. "Kink Crusaders".
95. "CLAW". Clawinfo.org.
96. "Claw". Leatherhalloffame.com.
97. "Record No. O2018-3236 - Office of the City Clerk".
98. (2018-05-07). "Chuck Renslow street dedication May 19".
99. (2020-10-31). "Chuck Renslow Way".