I am quite the open-minded kind of guy, I always have been. My “To each is own” attitude has helped me (and I'm sure scarred me) in many ways through my life. Yes, I had my “flamer” stage and went out to the clubs with my friends in my big legs pants and flashy shirts (inside I still want to), but there was always something more that I was looking for beyond the twinky boys and glitter, something a little more manly. After some rough times in 2008, I began working at the Detroit Eagle as a bartender on the weekends and met a lot of great people who I have grown quite close to ever since. There was talk of a contest coming up and I was asked several times if I wanted to try out for it, but kept hesitating. Not soon after, I turned in my application for the contest.
.: icon detroit
Several months before my contest, I began to notice a group of gentlemen who would always show up at the larger events at The Detroit Eagle and sometimes even coordinate the events to raise money for local charities. They kept to themselves for the most part and always had a strict dress code that could range anywhere from jeans and a leather vest to a full leather outfit. I wanted to know about them and began to talk with the members during their bar nights. It turns out that they are a group of leathermen who go by the name of ICON Detroit. I could learn quite a bit from these guys. I inquired and became a pledge for ICON Detroit in October of 2008 and after a little over 4 months I was accepted into the club on February 14, 2009 in front of the entire bar by being presented with my colors.
.: mr. detroit eagle 2009
In November of 2008, I won the title of Mr. Detroit Eagle 2009 in front of friends and what would soon become my leather family.
At that point, I didn't even know where to begin. My knowledge of a bar title was that you looked pretty, represented the bar and brought business in. For most other titles (non-leather) this still stands true. This title was a little different. It was a preliminary contest which was sending me to another unknown event that I knew nothing about, International Mr. Leather. The prize money from the contest was to go towards my International competition journey. I had less than 7 months to get ready for something I knew nothing about.
.: life detroit
As I started to network with more people in the community, I stumbled across a local group that catered to people who were curious about things. Things that most people would giggle at or think was taboo when it came to the bedroom. Being the open minded person that I like to be, it intrigued me to follow along and see what happened. I became a member of LIFE Detroit in early 2009 and only a few months later was appointed Member at Large
.: cleveland leather awareness weekend (CLAW)
As a titleholder, you are expected to attend certain functions and if it were up to me I would have attended ALL of them. My bank account, unfortunately ruled my new lifestyle during my first year but I wasn't going to let that hold me down. CLAW which stands for Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend, is a MUST go to event for new titleholders every year, including the ones who will be competing at IML which is less than a month afterwards. Although this weekend was only 4 days long, I have memories that will last a lifetime from that weekend. I met many of my IML brothers, IML court and quite a few leaders in the leather community which helped me begin to see what this community is what it's really all about. I didn't want my weekend to end but I knew it was time to prepare for what would be an experience of a lifetime….
.: international mr. leather
After CLAW, I had less than 4 weeks to put the final touches on what would be a once in a lifetime experience for me, International Mr. Leather 31, which is held every year in Chicago, IL during memorial day weekend and has been since 1979. I began the 5 hour bus trip to Chicago and the only thing keeping me from jumping out of my seat in anxiousness was the seatbelt. I arrived at Union Station in Chicago, fresh off the megabus, unsure as to what I was about to experience. I grabbed my overly stuffed bags dragged them to the nearest cab and headed to the hotel. My first night in Chicago was amazing in itself and that was only the beginning of an out of this world 5 day weekend full of love, friendship, brotherhood and family. That weekend was not about winning or losing, it was about supporting your fellow brothers (of which I had 53 of them from all over the world) on becoming the next leader of our community. I'm very proud and honored to have stood on stage with those men and I am forever theirs as a brother in leather. I am also proud to be able to call one of the best IML's there ever was, Jeffrey Payne, my brother and close friend.
.: mamas family
Starting with CLAW, I had heard about this woman that everyone called “ Mama”. For me up until this point I only called MY Mom that. I had a chance to meet Ms. Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt at CLAW in 2009. I learned that she has a family, which to this day continues to grow beyond I'm sure what it was ever expected to. She travels the country (and sometimes the world) to see her “babies” and on her journeys she may come across someone who catches her eye doing volunteerism or general good for the community whom she would like to become part of her family and she “pins” them with her name for them. During IML Weekend in 2009, I was “pinned” and accepted into Mama's Family. Etched into the nametag was “Mama's Hug Lover”. I was told that name was given to me because my hugs were genuine when given and never lacked luster. It's true though, I love my hugs. Whether you're saying hi or goodbye, make every one last. You may never have a chance to hug that person again.
.: as the year goes on......
The rest of my year was a lot like the beginning. I continued to do fundraisers with local and regional titleholders. I was asked to judge several contests in different cities. I networked to find new ways to raise money and keep the leather community alive in Southeast Michigan. There were very few times during my year that I found time to relax. It was all worth it.
.: stepping down....not out
In November of 2009, it came time to pass the sash down to a new Mr. Detroit Eagle. I had my judges picked, I had the night set, I had my house ready for 11 leathermen to stay with me (oh yes, yes they did), but 1 week before the contest and no contestants to be found. Thanks to the help of several people I knew from the bar and my club brothers, we were able to pull together a cast of 3 contestants. That weekend was a blast!! It was great getting to see a lot of my IML brothers again and having a chance to really bond with them in and outside of the leather scene. Stepping down from your title NEVER means that you're done. Your title is what you make of it and I continue to this day to make it the most I can.
.: leather family
Now you may ask, why do I call them my leather family? Everybody has them, people that they call family that aren't their true biological family. I'm no different. I wanted to be a part of a group of people who share a common bond and I did. I quickly learned that the people in the leather community were among some of the most accepting folks of any sub-gay community I've ever seen. Always helping, always giving, never selfish and always loving…and I can't imagine being anywhere else.
My “To each is own” attitude has helped me (and I'm sure scarred me) in many ways through my life. Yes, I had my “flamer” stage and went out to the clubs with my friends in my big legs pants and flashy shirts (inside I still want to), but there was always something more that I was looking for beyond the twinky boys and glitter, something a little more manly. After some rough times in 2008, I began working at the
They kept to themselves for the most part and always had a strict dress code that could range anywhere from jeans and a leather vest to a full leather outfit. I wanted to know about them and began to talk with the members during their bar nights. It turns out that they are a group of leathermen who go by the name of 
I met many of my IML brothers, IML court and quite a few leaders in the leather community which helped me begin to see what this community is what it's really all about. I didn't want my weekend to end but I knew it was time to prepare for what would be an experience of a lifetime…. 
After
I learned that she has a family, which to this day continues to grow beyond I'm sure what it was ever expected to. She travels the country (and sometimes the world) to see her “babies” and on her journeys she may come across someone who catches her eye doing volunteerism or general good for the community whom she would like to become part of her family and she “pins” them with her name for them. During IML Weekend in 2009, I was “pinned” and accepted into
I networked to find new ways to raise money and keep the leather community alive in Southeast Michigan. There were very few times during my year that I found time to relax. It was all worth it. 
That weekend was a blast!! It was great getting to see a lot of my IML brothers again and having a chance to really bond with them in and outside of the leather scene. Stepping down from your title NEVER means that you're done. Your title is what you make of it and I continue to this day to make it the most I can.
Always helping, always giving, never selfish and always loving…and I can't imagine being anywhere else. 
