06/11/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 38:
INTERVIEW WITH MARK FRAZIER
Hello LeatherBear Readers! LeatherBear is taking a summer break from the column for a bit. So, until he happily returns to us, I’ll be the Mistress of his furry, leather realm. I hope I can do his column...(ahem)...justice until he returns. Happy reading! In this weeks interview: Find out more about Mark Frazier, the amazing man who’s taught over 1500 leather classes, has been awarded Pantheon of Leather’s lifetime achievement award, is the new producer of International LeatherSir/leatherboy, allows himself to be full-on “body lubed” for charity, and plays a mean game of rugby. 
MARK FRAZIER
Lady Justice: How old are you? What are your stats?
Frazier: I am a 48 year old, gay, white, male who resides in Dallas, Texas.
Lady Justice: When did you realize you were “into” leather/BDSM/fetish? And how?
Frazier: My life evolved with bench marks along the path of my Leather/BSMS/Journey. My first fetish that I remember was at a young age of 5 when I found out that I enjoyed the sensation of pissing on myself and then later in life sharing that fetish with others.
BDSM is another story. That part of my life was influenced at an early age by television. Cowboys and Indians movies, followed by a TV series called the Wild Wild West. All my favorites included bondage, wrestling, dominance and submission. Although some of my childhood fantasies were enacted with my sibling and neighbors nothing really sexually occurred until I met my first girl friend. Our favorite scene was her playing a dominatrix.
Leather occurred when I was in my mid 20’s and co-worker took me to my first “leather bar”. There in the darkness of a dimly lit bar with the smell of leather and sex permeating the air, I knew I had found the missing link in my evolutionary journey of life that bonds together my fetish, BDSM and leather life.
Lady Justice: What are your hobbies? Frazier: I enjoy sports (playing and watching), anything outdoors and traveling.
Lady Justice: What is your favorite quote?
Frazier: I think my favorite quote sums of my feeling of a lot of things and tries to diminish prejudices – the quote is “We are all born naked, all else is ?”
Lady Justice: If you were to compare yourself to someone famous, who would it be?
Frazier: HMM..., Sybil, because I have 16 different personalities. Honestly? Nobody in particular, I am only trying to be myself.
Lady Justice: How long have you been involved in the leather community?
Frazier: 23 years
Lady Justice: What is your definition of a “leatherman”? What are his responsibilities?
Frazier: In my opinion, a Leatherman is a person (non-gender specific) who has integrity, strong convictions, and who is mentally creative and sexually powerful.
His responsibilities are never ending and always changing. I believe that a Leatherman must be responsible first and foremost to the things he holds dear, his community, his family and those he cares for.
Lady Justice: Which roles in the Leather BDSM lifestyle do you fit? How do the following words compare to you: Master, slave, dominant, submissive, sadist, masochist, Daddy, etc.
Frazier: Although I am person who despises self imposed titles, I think at some point in my journey I have fit into almost every category of roles. Asked which lifestyle best describe me? It would be an edge or scene player. I am a person realizes that respect is given freely and never demanded. I can be a Top, Master, Dom, sadist or Daddy and if somebody is strong willed enough, I would be just as content playing the opposite role.
Lady Justice: What organizations do you belong? Are you an officer of any of these groups?
Frazier: I am an associate member of Chicago Hellfire Club, voting member of the LA&M, member of the NCSF, a member of NLA-International, NLA-Dallas and Discipline Corps in Dallas.
Lady Justice: Please tell us about leather competitions, especially your new endeavor of heading up International LeatherSir & Leatherboy. What is your fondest memory of the event over the years?
Frazier: I first competed at International Drummer in 1991. My fondest memories was meeting individuals who I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to meet.
I started being a regional producer for Drummer in 1993. When the name changed to International LeatherSir and Leatherboy I continued as a regional producer until I bought the contest in October 2007.
Master Mike Zuhl laid a foundation for the ILSB contests and much of the contest will continue in his vision with the addition re-carving our niche as a scene and players contest. In addition to the fantasies, the contestants for Leather Sir must do a demo on stage showcasing his chosen SM skill set.
Another major change is allowing the regional producers to decide the direction of the organization. Each producer gets a vote on organizational matter and the major of votes will dictate the direction of the organization.
Lady Justice: If you would, share with us your experience first competing at IML. What would you have liked to know then, that you know now?
Frazier: I had been attending IML since 1988 and after competing for the International Drummer Title, I thought I would never compete again. My first experience of competing for IML 1993 was nothing short of spectacular. My favorite memory was meeting the class of that year. Some of them are still active and I love seeing them from time to time and catching up with what is happening in their lives.
Lady Justice: Who would you like to see in the White House and why?
Frazier: Although I was a diehard Hillary fan, I am now embracing Barack in his run for our nation’s highest office.
Our economy is in shambles, we are in a war that we should have never been in, the financial markets are anemic, our leadership in the world is diminished, and our civil rights have been compromised. Additionally, our country’s infrastructure is crumbling, our seniors are barely making ends meet, and we need a universal health care system to care for our uninsured.
Lady Justice: Who do you admire in the community? And, who would you like to be for 24 hours and why?
Frazier: I admire individuals who get up every morning and try to do something special for others in our community.
(Laughing) I would like to be Laura Bush, because I would love to beat the stupidity out of George.
Lady Justice: What is your stance on “old school” versus “new school” leather protocols and rules?
Frazier: I was once told many years ago by an elder in the community and somebody who I hold in the highest esteem as my mentor that “old school was nothing more than the values of a past generation and the new school values of today will become the old school for tomorrow”.
Unfortunately, some of our old school protocols would not fit into lives today – mainly because our values have changed and many relationships are less structured. Other of our leather protocols have changed and lost their meanings because the generational gap that exists.
I have studied much about our past protocols and indeed miss them. Our younger generations will never know the true meanings of those lost protocols. For those “old school” protocols that are still around I hope that and many are still observed and I would hope those traditions are transferred to others to pass on.
Lady Justice: Do others outside the leather community know you’re into leather? If so has that created any difficulty?
Frazier: Everybody I know also knows about my leather lifestyle. Even when I worked for the federal government, banking institutions and brokerage firms, everybody knew about my chosen lifestyle. I have never had a problem with any aspect of it.
Lady Justice: What qualities about yourself do you like the most? The least?
Frazier: That I care of people and try to treat people as I would want to be treated it is my adopted mantra.
What quality do I dislike about myself most? That I tend to give so much of my time to others, I keep little for myself. I am a person who has always found it very hard to say no to anybody or organization that needs help.
Lady Justice: If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? And if you could change anything about others, what would it be?
Frazier: About myself? (Again, laughing) That my ass was not as big as it is.
About others? They we embrace and respect each other’s differences without being so cynical.
Lady Justice: What is the last book you read that deals with leather and the last book you read that is a non-leather topic? Why did you choose those books?
Frazier: The books I read about leather was the Sleeping Beauty Novels, by Anne Rice.
The last non-leather book was Christ the Lord, by Anne Rice
I think Anne is one of the best writers of our time. Her perspectives and ability draws a person into her books.
Lady Justice: Tell us more about your lifestyle in the BDSM/leather realm. What are you into? Frazier: My lifestyle journey has been evolutionary and always evolving. The things I thought I would never do, I have done. What I use to see as extreme is now semi-vanilla. Personally, I am more geared towards the harder core SM play. Breath play, single tails, bullwhips, blood sports, body punching and lots more!
Lady Justice: What is the one thing that you want to do that you haven’t yet done?
Frazier: I am open to suggestions. (big grin)
Lady Justice: When you flag, which colors do you wear? Do you wear them on the left or the right?
Frazier: I never flag. I am very versatile, am into everything and feel that by flagging you miss the opportunity for conversation if somebody is interested in talking to you or you to them.
Plus, if I flagged everything I was into and stuck them into both rear pockets there would not be room enough.
Lady Justice: Do you have a dungeon or play space? If you do, tell us about it. If you don’t, tell us how you would design your dungeon.
Frazier: I have very large house that is set up for play in every room in it (but in Dallas – it tends to get limited use). I have hooks under marble counter tops in the kitchen, crosses in the garage, slings in the bedrooms and spanking benches in the living room and lots more.
Lady Justice: Let’s pretend that you’re placing a 35 word personal ad in LeatherBear’s column. How would it read?
Frazier: Middle aged gay, white male, in good shape with graying hair seeks another mature individual who is open minded, kinky and perverted and is open to exploring endless sexual boundaries and energy exchanges.
Lady Justice: What do you think our community needs to successfully move into the future? And, where would you like to see us in 10 years?
Frazier: Our community is in a national movement of something to rally around. Perhaps some project to get us excited and bring us back together. We as a community accomplish much more when there is something that needs our involvement. We come together and work to resolve that we at same time sometime we accomplish more.
Without a central rallying cry, many are left without rising to our god given talents and in my opinion this is where some of our best community leaders in the past and I think in the future comes from.
Where would I like to see us in 10 years? In a nation that respects us and try to understand us without criticizing the life we have chosen for ourselves.
Lady Justice: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Frazier: Nothing more than to say THANK YOU to the community for all the opportunities you have given me
Lady Justice: Where can we find you online? Do you have e-mail or a web site you’d like for us to link to? Frazier: My email address is Fraziermar@aol.com. I am currently working on setting up a blog so people who are interested can track my not so exciting life.
Lady Justice: Thank you Mark for talking the time to share some of your perspectives and insights with the readers of LeatherBear’s column and West Virginias Queer News! 
Above: MARK FRAZIER
Lady Justice above, reporting for LeatherBear, Steven Tompa
06/18/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR: ARTICLE 39
INTERVIEW WITH MAXX
Hello again, LeatherBear readers! In this weeks interview… find out more about Daddy Maxx: the artist, the producer of Great Lakes Olympus, the "Preacher of Leather" who is passionate enough to "tilt at windmills", and the ringleader of the "Steubenville Mafia." Also, read his Daveyboy’s thoughts on being a boy and what he thinks about his Daddy. 
Lady Justice: How old are you? What are your stats? Maxx: Well, isn’t this a fun question? My definition of LEATHER is a community of men and women, wherein each person irregardless of their age, race, religion, sexual preference, physical handicap, etc. is each and every persons equal. (This is why I love the Olympus circuit.) If that is true, then it seems to me questions about age are not very leather friendly. Let me tell you a story. Once during the first leather competition I ever entered, the producer, who by the way if I dropped their name, you’d know it, he’s quite well know – a major player, so to speak, used age as a criteria to draw contestant numbers. Yes, I went first, and I never forgot that. I learned then, right from the onset, that leather had an uphill battle in front of it….especially if the community leaders were unaware of their lack of ethics. Prejudice is prejudice, whether it’s about age, religion, sex, gender, etc. If I were to tell you my age, I’d probably make myself older than I am. I find doing so to be quite humorous. It makes people laugh, and I do get better birthday presents as a result. My stats? Are you inquiring about my frankfurter (wieners are shorter than frankfurters)? Or are you inquiring about my physique? My frankfurter is BIG and I’m 5’10"….and I’m of legal age. Lady Justice: When did you realize you were "into" leather/BDSM/fetish? And how? Maxx: I was a little boy when I realized I liked leather. My grandfather operated a shoe repair shop in Marietta, Ohio, and I spent part of my summers there when I was a kid. I wasn’t exactly the best boy on the block, but my grandfather liked me, and to occupy me, he’d let me play with scraps of leather and his hand-operated ridging machine at the front of the store. Directly in front of this was the shoe shine bench where his shiners worked. I loved watching his two bootblacks work the customers. They’d snap those rags, do a little jig, polish and shine, whistle and sing. They were magic, and those memories have never left me. As far as SM goes, it was the late 70’s, New York City and the Hellfire Club when I first ventured into the fetish world. I began in the pansexual world, and I find it humorous that this is where I am today. My life has come full circle. Lady Justice: What are your hobbies? Maxx: I never connected with the word ‘hobby’. It has a dilettantish ring to it, and that is not who I am. I’m an artist, and that’s not something I can consider lightly….walk away from and then come back. I have to create in whatever medium is available to me of the moment; it’s who I am. 
Lady Justice: What is your favorite quote? Maxx: "If it is to be, it is up to me." (Ten one syllable words to live by.) Lady Justice: If you were to compare yourself to someone famous, who would it be? Maxx: I’m unique in the world. To compare something to something else in order to understand is a cute English turn of phrase-oft used in poetry. I’m whoever you perceive me to be. Lady Justice: Why and how long have you been involved in the leather community? Maxx: Since the 70s…..almost 40 years. Lady Justice: Tell the readers, if you would, about the dynamics of a Daddy/boy relationship? Maxx: I tell the boy what to do, he does it, and that’s it. Anybody out there in la-la land buying that? Hmmmmmmmm. When I first came across my boy, as a foundling in a basket alone in the world, I told him he had the right to say ‘no’. That was the first and worst mistake I ever made. I hope prospective Daddy’s of the world learn from my example and never say those words. Believe me, if I could go back in time, I would tape my mouth shut. Lady Justice: Maxx, how has the community changed since you first stepped foot into it? Maxx: I never heard of people into latex; I thought that was something you put over your pecker. Bears were wild life animals or rugs, and dogs were pets I saved from the pound, and cleaned up after, and ponies belonged to rich people. The only non-human that is a constant in our community is the snake-in-the-grass. These treacherous and venomous reptiles have been around since the dawn of time, and boy, can they upset the proverbial apple cart. The fetish community today has many different campgrounds and many different flags. It amazes me that in my Great Lakes Leather family that so many of these different fetishes come together and play. AND THEN THERE IS THE AIDS EPIDEMIC. When I first stepped foot into this community, no one had ever heard of this acronym. It wasn’t long before this innocence turned into devastating realization. The world changed right before my eyes, and it did so instantly. My friends died around me in horrible ways. I really hate speaking about this time. Truly, it’s too painful, yet when I look around today at my world, damn if I see much change in behavior. I hope I’m wrong. I know the new drugs work miracles, but there is another side to this coin, and the other side is those who are infected can still spread the disease. I’ve known too many snakes to be so trusting. I hope I’m wrong. Lady Justice: Maxx, what is your definition of a "leatherman"? What are his responsibilities? Maxx: I can only answer this question in terms of my own particular being. (See question and answer #1.) I believe that prejudice of any kind is dishonorable. No matter what differences we may have, we are all brothers and sisters. I believe in truth, honor and loyalty. I believe when I see inequity, I have the responsibility to change it. Lady Justice: Daveyboy, what is your definition of a "boy"? What are his responsibilities? Daveyboy: I believe a boy is only a boy if he or she has a Daddy. You can be a sub, bottom or a boy waiting for a Daddy but not until you find yourself a Daddy can you truly be a boy. The responsibilities for a boy are to be respectful, to be of service, and to foster growth. · You must respect yourself before you can respect others. This is a very important lesson. Know yourself. Respect for your Daddy will guide you in finding one’s place in the world. · Service stems from a Latin word that means to protect. A boy brings to the Daddy/boy relationship many talents and skills which are a vital part of the relationship. These skills are to be used to service and to protect the interests of the Daddy. THE POWER OF BOY!!!! · Growth is an important part of any relationship, but for boys it may be the most important. Any true Daddy’s major job is to develop a boy into being the best person that boy can become. This growing process can be an amazing journey for both. The talents discovered can serve to better the Daddy, the boy, and the community. Lady Justice: Which roles in the Leather BDSM lifestyle do you fit? How do the following words compare to you: Master, slave, dominant, submissive, sadist, masochist, Daddy, etc… Maxx: I’m a Daddy and I’m very dominant. My mother told me once, "Son, you’re a good boy, you got a mean streak, but you’re a good boy." I think a washed-out gray hankie in my left rear pocket with a hunter green on top says it all. Lady Justice: What organizations do you belong? Are you an officer of any of these groups? Maxx: I’m a founding member of Steel Valley Leather, past president and treasurer. I’m co-producer of Great Lakes Olympus, and UOVL. I’m also the co-producer of Great Lakes Pony/Trainer. Lady Justice: Please tell us about leather competitions, especially Great Lakes Olympus/Lady Raven's Leather Ball. What is your fondest memory of the event over the years? Maxx: Of all the leather competitions out there, I especially enjoy the Olympus circuit. Raven’s Leather Ball I and II were held in my local area which is Steubenville, Ohio. I owned a bar there for the past four years called Club MAXX, so by using a local hotel, that was very friendly, and using my bar everything ran very smoothly. It was also a great way to create an atmosphere of family because everything was in the neighborhood and everyone working the event was a friend or family member. I overjoyed when Lady Raven was chosen Ms. Olympus 2006. She wasn’t a Ms. Great Lakes Olympus winner because I didn’t have this contest at that time, but she was my Ms UOVL 2006, and then went on to win the national laurel wreath. She was the first transgender person to ever win a major leather title. I’ve had a lot of firsts. I produced the first female leather title holder in the state of Ohio. I produced the first husband and wife leather title holders in our area, and then of course, there is Lady Raven, the first transgender winner in leather’s history. My local area never had a leather club until Steel Valley Leather, and I produced the first leather contest which was West Virginia Drummer/drummerboy in 2000. All of these are my fondest memories….but I want more. Lady Justice: Have you ever conducted a leather workshop? What was the topic? If you were to teach more leather workshops, what topics would you teach? Maxx: Yes, I did a workshop at GLLA entitled ‘The Future of Leather’. I also did a workshop at Raven’s Leather Ball I on ‘Sex in the 80s and the onset of AIDS’. I taught for the better part of my life – high school, college, and when the bug hits me I work as an adjunct professor at a local college. I believe I’m very good at what I do, but it wears me out. I never take teaching lightly, and as a result I spend myself. Thus, if I wanted to do a workshop or would be asked, it would have to be something I am passionate about. The one leather subject that interest me profoundly is our future and ‘what the hell do we want?’. Lady Justice: Maxx, what's your favorite thing about Daveyboy? Maxx: His heart. Lady Justice: Daveyboy, what do you love most about Maxx? Daveyboy: His creativity. Lady Justice: Who do you admire in the community? And, who would you like to be for 24 hours and why? Maxx: I admire Kendra McClain and Nigel. Both of these people are my friends and my mentors. I also admire Mary Elizabeth; she is so charming and one very smart cookie. Maxx: I’d be GOD. I know several people I’d pierce with red hot pokers, and I’d also enlighten several very dim-witted Bible-thumpers who mistakenly think they are doing my will. Lady Justice: What is your stance on "old school" versus "new school" leather protocols and rules? Maxx: I THINK THIS IS BULLSHIT. It’s odd to me that you used the terms old school and new school. The phrase old guard and new guard is more to the point of this question…and terms I understand and am more familiar with. You realize that soon this question will be irrelevant. Organized leather as we know it began with the end of WWII; that was 1945. That was my father’s generation. These men are gone now. True, their protocol lives on, but the first and second generation of leather has, for the most part passed on. AIDS took most of my brothers, and this second generation is the one in which I was born. Not many of us 63 year old leather men around any more. (Yes, it’s one thing for me to tell you my age, but entirely different for you to ask.) As a side bar, do you know where the term old guard came from? The soldiers who were loyal to Napoleon Bonaparte to the very end of his military campaigns were referred to as the Old Guard. This was a term used to describe loyal men who would follow their leader into the bowels of hell, and suffer untold hardship because they loved the man who led them. They believed in him and all that he stood for, thus the term Old Guard, not only has a military origin but one that embodies the sacrifices that male adoration for another male may entail; it’s a term of respectful veneration. It humors me that you used old school rather than old guard, and I think your turn of phrase says it all. Change is in the wind, and this is good. In order for leather to grow and become stronger, change is vital. The face of war has changed and this a new generation of men and women. Leather has to reflect this and move forward; we have many battles that lay in front of us, and we must use all the best that this new age has to offer. Would you want to fight a modern day battle with WWII ideas? I want to win this battle of inequality, and if this new school of leather is willing to bleed for me, then you have my complete support. Lady Justice: Do others outside the leather community know you’re into leather? If so has that created any difficulty? Maxx: Yes, they do. No difficulty for me, but I’m not vulnerable to anyone. I never cared about other people liking me, especially if I had to lie or be dishonorable to myself. Lady Justice: What qualities about yourself do you like the most? The least? Maxx: If I like you and you’re in need, I’d give you the shirt off my back, and I’d like to think if the situation were reversed, you’d do the same. No Polo shirts, please. I don’t like labeled clothing. I think what I like best about myself, and what causes me the most aches and pains, is the fact that I can’t sit on my ass and do nothing. I’ve always tried to make changes for the better. What do I like the least about myself? I’d like to be taller….two inches more would be fine. Lady Justice: If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? And if you could change anything about others, what would it be? Maxx: I’m OK the way I am. I wish the snakes-in-the-grass people would all be colored bright yellow, so I should know them for what they are when I see them. But, if Adam and Eve had to deal with the same situation, perhaps a wiser body has placed these serpents around our world so we might learn the lesson that temptation can have dire consequences….and come in many forms. Lady Justice: What is the last book you read that deals with leather and the last book you read that is a non-leather topic? Why did you choose those books? Maxx: I once was an avid reader. One of my undergraduate degrees is in English. Today I don’t read as much as I did once, at least not books. A few months ago, I read all of Anne Rice’s books in the Beauty trilogy, and some vampire knock-off of Rice’s vampire tales. It was OK. I can’t remember the title. The last non-leather texts that I read were not books, but plays. (My master’s degree is in Theater Arts.) It was a musical called Bat Boy. It was great fun. I also read two different versions of Sweeney Todd, and my boy and I wrote a version of our own. I read An. O. Henry Christmas, ART, A Life in the Theatre, American Buffalo, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Swinging on a Star. Lady Justice: Tell us more about your lifestyle in the BDSM leather world. What are you into? Maxx: I love verbal torture. I adore mind games. I have a mouth and a mind that can inflict more pain than any dragon tail out there. Lady Justice: And, what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet? Maxx: At my age if I haven’t done it, I had no interest in doing it….or thought it had no place in my concept of S&M. Lady Justice: When you flag, which colors do you wear? Do you wear them on the left or the right? Maxx: Usually hunter green worn on the left….sometimes mustard, also left. I’ve never flagged right……well, there was this one time at GLLA, but I think I had sunstroke, and when it was called to my attention, I switched that sucker quick. Lady Justice: Do you have a dungeon or play space? If you do, tell us about it. If you don’t, tell us how you would design your dungeon. Maxx: This will disappoint some people, but I don’t have a dungeon. I don’t have that type of living space. I also don’t have that many toys. Look, I come from a day and age where if you wanted to smack someone’s ass, you reached for the nearest handy object and paddled away. Shoes were always my favorite smackers, and my hand works really well because I also enjoy the sensation received and given. I don’t want to design a dungeon. I leave this type of thing to boy. He has great spatial sense, but it bores me. I’d just make sure he put a garden hose in the layout, and a drain. Lady Justice: What do you think our community needs to successfully move into the future? UNITY…You name the different camps of leather: gay, pansexual, male, female, bear, rubber, dog, and pony– whatever. We need to put aside our differences, and realize that we have more that unites us than we have that separates us. Maxx: That old adage is still true today: "United we stand; divided we fall." Lady Justice: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Maxx: Yes, I would. I’d like to create a new type of leather contest that is more in keeping with my philosophy of living. I don’t know what name I’d give it…for fun; let’s call it "The Marquis Award of Honor." This would be the first totally non-discriminating leather competition ever in our modern age. (There is not one leather competition out there that doesn’t discriminate in one form or another against someone.) Shocking statement, huh? I also think this truth is rather shameful. In this "Marquis Contest of Honor", men would compete against women; ponies could compete next to bears, dogs against ponies/trainers, leather against latex, pansexual against gay, transsexual against masters/slave. Everybody welcome! If we truly wish to find a person who best represents our community rather than a part of our community, it seems to me this is the way to do it. NOW, I WOULD SUPPOSE WHEN YOU READ THIS, YOU IMMEDIATELY THINK, "THIS WILL NEVER WORK." You see the obstacles rather that the possibilities, don’t you? I see the possibilities, and am willing to battle the obstacles. As the Marquis De Sade once said, "It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure." I suppose this marks me as a true sadist, but change has never been easy. 
Lady Justice: Where can we find you online? Do you have e-mail or a web site you’d like to share with us? www.olympusleather.com www.greatlakesolympus.com www.myspace.com/greatlakesolympus Maxx: More important than these web pages, why not come to one of my contests and spend some money so I can do more good!?!
Lady Justice above, reporting for LeatherBear, Steven Tompa
06/11/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 38:
INTERVIEW WITH MARK FRAZIER
Hello LeatherBear Readers!
INTERVIEW WITH MARK FRAZIER
Hello LeatherBear Readers!
LeatherBear is taking a summer break from the column for a bit. So, until he happily returns to us, I’ll be the Mistress of his furry, leather realm.
I hope I can do his column...(ahem)...justice until he returns. Happy reading!
In this weeks interview: Find out more about Mark Frazier, the amazing man who’s taught over 1500 leather classes, has been awarded Pantheon of Leather’s lifetime achievement award, is the new producer of International LeatherSir/leatherboy, allows himself to be full-on “body lubed” for charity, and plays a mean game of rugby.
MARK FRAZIER
Lady Justice: How old are you? What are your stats?
Frazier: I am a 48 year old, gay, white, male who resides in Dallas, Texas.
Lady Justice: When did you realize you were “into” leather/BDSM/fetish? And how?
Frazier: My life evolved with bench marks along the path of my Leather/BSMS/Journey. My first fetish that I remember was at a young age of 5 when I found out that I enjoyed the sensation of pissing on myself and then later in life sharing that fetish with others.
BDSM is another story. That part of my life was influenced at an early age by television. Cowboys and Indians movies, followed by a TV series called the Wild Wild West. All my favorites included bondage, wrestling, dominance and submission. Although some of my childhood fantasies were enacted with my sibling and neighbors nothing really sexually occurred until I met my first girl friend. Our favorite scene was her playing a dominatrix.
Leather occurred when I was in my mid 20’s and co-worker took me to my first “leather bar”. There in the darkness of a dimly lit bar with the smell of leather and sex permeating the air, I knew I had found the missing link in my evolutionary journey of life that bonds together my fetish, BDSM and leather life.
Lady Justice: What are your hobbies?
Frazier: I enjoy sports (playing and watching), anything outdoors and traveling.
Lady Justice: What is your favorite quote?
Frazier: I think my favorite quote sums of my feeling of a lot of things and tries to diminish prejudices – the quote is “We are all born naked, all else is ?”
Lady Justice: If you were to compare yourself to someone famous, who would it be?
Frazier: HMM..., Sybil, because I have 16 different personalities. Honestly? Nobody in particular, I am only trying to be myself.
Lady Justice: How long have you been involved in the leather community?
Frazier: 23 years
Lady Justice: What is your definition of a “leatherman”? What are his responsibilities?
Frazier: In my opinion, a Leatherman is a person (non-gender specific) who has integrity, strong convictions, and who is mentally creative and sexually powerful.
His responsibilities are never ending and always changing. I believe that a Leatherman must be responsible first and foremost to the things he holds dear, his community, his family and those he cares for.
Lady Justice: What is your favorite quote?
Frazier: I think my favorite quote sums of my feeling of a lot of things and tries to diminish prejudices – the quote is “We are all born naked, all else is ?”
Lady Justice: If you were to compare yourself to someone famous, who would it be?
Frazier: HMM..., Sybil, because I have 16 different personalities. Honestly? Nobody in particular, I am only trying to be myself.
Lady Justice: How long have you been involved in the leather community?
Frazier: 23 years
Lady Justice: What is your definition of a “leatherman”? What are his responsibilities?
Frazier: In my opinion, a Leatherman is a person (non-gender specific) who has integrity, strong convictions, and who is mentally creative and sexually powerful.
His responsibilities are never ending and always changing. I believe that a Leatherman must be responsible first and foremost to the things he holds dear, his community, his family and those he cares for.
Lady Justice: Which roles in the Leather BDSM lifestyle do you fit? How do the following words compare to you: Master, slave, dominant, submissive, sadist, masochist, Daddy, etc.
Frazier: Although I am person who despises self imposed titles, I think at some point in my journey I have fit into almost every category of roles. Asked which lifestyle best describe me? It would be an edge or scene player. I am a person realizes that respect is given freely and never demanded. I can be a Top, Master, Dom, sadist or Daddy and if somebody is strong willed enough, I would be just as content playing the opposite role.
Lady Justice: What organizations do you belong? Are you an officer of any of these groups?
Frazier: I am an associate member of Chicago Hellfire Club, voting member of the LA&M, member of the NCSF, a member of NLA-International, NLA-Dallas and Discipline Corps in Dallas.
Lady Justice: Please tell us about leather competitions, especially your new endeavor of heading up International LeatherSir & Leatherboy. What is your fondest memory of the event over the years?
Frazier: I first competed at International Drummer in 1991. My fondest memories was meeting individuals who I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to meet.
I started being a regional producer for Drummer in 1993. When the name changed to International LeatherSir and Leatherboy I continued as a regional producer until I bought the contest in October 2007.
Master Mike Zuhl laid a foundation for the ILSB contests and much of the contest will continue in his vision with the addition re-carving our niche as a scene and players contest. In addition to the fantasies, the contestants for Leather Sir must do a demo on stage showcasing his chosen SM skill set.
Another major change is allowing the regional producers to decide the direction of the organization. Each producer gets a vote on organizational matter and the major of votes will dictate the direction of the organization.
Lady Justice: If you would, share with us your experience first competing at IML. What would you have liked to know then, that you know now?
Frazier: I had been attending IML since 1988 and after competing for the International Drummer Title, I thought I would never compete again. My first experience of competing for IML 1993 was nothing short of spectacular. My favorite memory was meeting the class of that year. Some of them are still active and I love seeing them from time to time and catching up with what is happening in their lives.
Lady Justice: Who would you like to see in the White House and why?
Frazier: Although I was a diehard Hillary fan, I am now embracing Barack in his run for our nation’s highest office.
Our economy is in shambles, we are in a war that we should have never been in, the financial markets are anemic, our leadership in the world is diminished, and our civil rights have been compromised. Additionally, our country’s infrastructure is crumbling, our seniors are barely making ends meet, and we need a universal health care system to care for our uninsured.
Lady Justice: Who do you admire in the community? And, who would you like to be for 24 hours and why?
Frazier: I admire individuals who get up every morning and try to do something special for others in our community.
(Laughing) I would like to be Laura Bush, because I would love to beat the stupidity out of George.
Lady Justice: What is your stance on “old school” versus “new school” leather protocols and rules?
Frazier: I was once told many years ago by an elder in the community and somebody who I hold in the highest esteem as my mentor that “old school was nothing more than the values of a past generation and the new school values of today will become the old school for tomorrow”.
Unfortunately, some of our old school protocols would not fit into lives today – mainly because our values have changed and many relationships are less structured. Other of our leather protocols have changed and lost their meanings because the generational gap that exists.
I have studied much about our past protocols and indeed miss them. Our younger generations will never know the true meanings of those lost protocols. For those “old school” protocols that are still around I hope that and many are still observed and I would hope those traditions are transferred to others to pass on.
Lady Justice: Do others outside the leather community know you’re into leather? If so has that created any difficulty?
Frazier: Everybody I know also knows about my leather lifestyle. Even when I worked for the federal government, banking institutions and brokerage firms, everybody knew about my chosen lifestyle. I have never had a problem with any aspect of it.
Lady Justice: What qualities about yourself do you like the most? The least?
Frazier: That I care of people and try to treat people as I would want to be treated it is my adopted mantra.
What quality do I dislike about myself most? That I tend to give so much of my time to others, I keep little for myself. I am a person who has always found it very hard to say no to anybody or organization that needs help.
Lady Justice: If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? And if you could change anything about others, what would it be?
Frazier: About myself? (Again, laughing) That my ass was not as big as it is.
About others? They we embrace and respect each other’s differences without being so cynical.
Lady Justice: What is the last book you read that deals with leather and the last book you read that is a non-leather topic? Why did you choose those books?
Frazier: The books I read about leather was the Sleeping Beauty Novels, by Anne Rice.
The last non-leather book was Christ the Lord, by Anne Rice
I think Anne is one of the best writers of our time. Her perspectives and ability draws a person into her books.
Lady Justice: Tell us more about your lifestyle in the BDSM/leather realm. What are you into?
Frazier: My lifestyle journey has been evolutionary and always evolving. The things I thought I would never do, I have done. What I use to see as extreme is now semi-vanilla. Personally, I am more geared towards the harder core SM play. Breath play, single tails, bullwhips, blood sports, body punching and lots more!
Lady Justice: What is the one thing that you want to do that you haven’t yet done?
Lady Justice: What is the one thing that you want to do that you haven’t yet done?
Frazier: I am open to suggestions. (big grin)
Lady Justice: When you flag, which colors do you wear? Do you wear them on the left or the right?
Frazier: I never flag. I am very versatile, am into everything and feel that by flagging you miss the opportunity for conversation if somebody is interested in talking to you or you to them.
Plus, if I flagged everything I was into and stuck them into both rear pockets there would not be room enough.
Lady Justice: Do you have a dungeon or play space? If you do, tell us about it. If you don’t, tell us how you would design your dungeon.
Frazier: I have very large house that is set up for play in every room in it (but in Dallas – it tends to get limited use). I have hooks under marble counter tops in the kitchen, crosses in the garage, slings in the bedrooms and spanking benches in the living room and lots more.
Lady Justice: Let’s pretend that you’re placing a 35 word personal ad in LeatherBear’s column. How would it read?
Frazier: Middle aged gay, white male, in good shape with graying hair seeks another mature individual who is open minded, kinky and perverted and is open to exploring endless sexual boundaries and energy exchanges.
Lady Justice: What do you think our community needs to successfully move into the future? And, where would you like to see us in 10 years?
Frazier: Our community is in a national movement of something to rally around. Perhaps some project to get us excited and bring us back together. We as a community accomplish much more when there is something that needs our involvement. We come together and work to resolve that we at same time sometime we accomplish more.
Without a central rallying cry, many are left without rising to our god given talents and in my opinion this is where some of our best community leaders in the past and I think in the future comes from.
Where would I like to see us in 10 years? In a nation that respects us and try to understand us without criticizing the life we have chosen for ourselves.
Lady Justice: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Frazier: Nothing more than to say THANK YOU to the community for all the opportunities you have given me
Lady Justice: Where can we find you online? Do you have e-mail or a web site you’d like for us to link to?
Frazier: My email address is Fraziermar@aol.com. I am currently working on setting up a blog so people who are interested can track my not so exciting life.
Lady Justice: Thank you Mark for talking the time to share some of your perspectives and insights with the readers of LeatherBear’s column and West Virginias Queer News!
Above: MARK FRAZIER
Lady Justice above, reporting for LeatherBear, Steven Tompa
06/18/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR: ARTICLE 39
INTERVIEW WITH MAXX
Hello again, LeatherBear readers!
INTERVIEW WITH MAXX
Hello again, LeatherBear readers!
In this weeks interview… find out more about Daddy Maxx: the artist, the producer of Great Lakes Olympus, the "Preacher of Leather" who is passionate enough to "tilt at windmills", and the ringleader of the "Steubenville Mafia." Also, read his Daveyboy’s thoughts on being a boy and what he thinks about his Daddy.
Lady Justice: How old are you? What are your stats?
Maxx: Well, isn’t this a fun question? My definition of LEATHER is a community of men and women, wherein each person irregardless of their age, race, religion, sexual preference, physical handicap, etc. is each and every persons equal. (This is why I love the Olympus circuit.) If that is true, then it seems to me questions about age are not very leather friendly.
Let me tell you a story. Once during the first leather competition I ever entered, the producer, who by the way if I dropped their name, you’d know it, he’s quite well know – a major player, so to speak, used age as a criteria to draw contestant numbers. Yes, I went first, and I never forgot that. I learned then, right from the onset, that leather had an uphill battle in front of it….especially if the community leaders were unaware of their lack of ethics. Prejudice is prejudice, whether it’s about age, religion, sex, gender, etc.
If I were to tell you my age, I’d probably make myself older than I am. I find doing so to be quite humorous. It makes people laugh, and I do get better birthday presents as a result.
My stats? Are you inquiring about my frankfurter (wieners are shorter than frankfurters)? Or are you inquiring about my physique? My frankfurter is BIG and I’m 5’10"….and I’m of legal age.
Lady Justice: When did you realize you were "into" leather/BDSM/fetish? And how?
Maxx: I was a little boy when I realized I liked leather. My grandfather operated a shoe repair shop in Marietta, Ohio, and I spent part of my summers there when I was a kid. I wasn’t exactly the best boy on the block, but my grandfather liked me, and to occupy me, he’d let me play with scraps of leather and his hand-operated ridging machine at the front of the store. Directly in front of this was the shoe shine bench where his shiners worked.
I loved watching his two bootblacks work the customers. They’d snap those rags, do a little jig, polish and shine, whistle and sing. They were magic, and those memories have never left me.
As far as SM goes, it was the late 70’s, New York City and the Hellfire Club when I first ventured into the fetish world. I began in the pansexual world, and I find it humorous that this is where I am today. My life has come full circle.
Lady Justice: What are your hobbies?
Maxx: I never connected with the word ‘hobby’. It has a dilettantish ring to it, and that is not who I am. I’m an artist, and that’s not something I can consider lightly….walk away from and then come back. I have to create in whatever medium is available to me of the moment; it’s who I am.
Lady Justice: What is your favorite quote?
Maxx: "If it is to be, it is up to me." (Ten one syllable words to live by.)
Lady Justice: If you were to compare yourself to someone famous, who would it be?
Maxx: I’m unique in the world. To compare something to something else in order to understand is a cute English turn of phrase-oft used in poetry. I’m whoever you
perceive me to be.
Lady Justice: Why and how long have you been involved in the leather community?
Maxx: Since the 70s…..almost 40 years.
Lady Justice: Tell the readers, if you would, about the dynamics of a Daddy/boy relationship?
Maxx: I tell the boy what to do, he does it, and that’s it. Anybody out there in la-la land buying that? Hmmmmmmmm.
When I first came across my boy, as a foundling in a basket alone in the world, I told him he had the right to say ‘no’. That was the first and worst mistake I ever made. I hope prospective Daddy’s of the world learn from my example and never say those words. Believe me, if I could go back in time, I would tape my mouth shut.
Lady Justice: Maxx, how has the community changed since you first stepped foot into it?
Maxx: I never heard of people into latex; I thought that was something you put over your pecker. Bears were wild life animals or rugs, and dogs were pets I saved from the pound, and cleaned up after, and ponies belonged to rich people.
The only non-human that is a constant in our community is the snake-in-the-grass. These treacherous and venomous reptiles have been around since the dawn of time, and boy, can they upset the proverbial apple cart.
The fetish community today has many different campgrounds and many different flags. It amazes me that in my Great Lakes Leather family that so many of these different fetishes come together and play.
AND THEN THERE IS THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.
When I first stepped foot into this community, no one had ever heard of this acronym. It wasn’t long before this innocence turned into devastating realization. The world changed right before my eyes, and it did so instantly. My friends died around me in horrible ways.
I really hate speaking about this time. Truly, it’s too painful, yet when I look around today at my world, damn if I see much change in behavior. I hope I’m wrong.
I know the new drugs work miracles, but there is another side to this coin, and the other side is those who are infected can still spread the disease. I’ve known too many snakes to be so trusting. I hope I’m wrong.
Lady Justice: Maxx, what is your definition of a "leatherman"? What are his responsibilities?
Maxx: I can only answer this question in terms of my own particular being. (See question and answer #1.) I believe that prejudice of any kind is dishonorable. No matter what differences we may have, we are all brothers and sisters.
I believe in truth, honor and loyalty.
I believe when I see inequity, I have the responsibility to change it.
Lady Justice: Daveyboy, what is your definition of a "boy"? What are his responsibilities?
Daveyboy: I believe a boy is only a boy if he or she has a Daddy. You can be a sub, bottom or a boy waiting for a Daddy but not until you find yourself a Daddy can you truly be a boy.
The responsibilities for a boy are to be respectful, to be of service, and to foster growth.
· You must respect yourself before you can respect others. This is a very important lesson. Know yourself. Respect for your Daddy will guide you in finding one’s place in the world.
· Service stems from a Latin word that means to protect. A boy brings to the Daddy/boy relationship many talents and skills which are a vital part of the relationship. These skills are to be used to service and to protect the interests of the Daddy. THE POWER OF BOY!!!!
· Growth is an important part of any relationship, but for boys it may be the most important. Any true Daddy’s major job is to develop a boy into being the best person that boy can become. This growing process can be an amazing journey for both. The talents discovered can serve to better the Daddy, the boy, and the community.
Lady Justice: Which roles in the Leather BDSM lifestyle do you fit? How do the following words compare to you: Master, slave, dominant, submissive, sadist, masochist, Daddy, etc…
Maxx: I’m a Daddy and I’m very dominant. My mother told me once, "Son, you’re a good boy, you got a mean streak, but you’re a good boy." I think a washed-out gray hankie in my left rear pocket with a hunter green on top says it all.
Lady Justice: What organizations do you belong? Are you an officer of any of these groups?
Maxx: I’m a founding member of Steel Valley Leather, past president and treasurer.
I’m co-producer of Great Lakes Olympus, and UOVL. I’m also the co-producer of Great Lakes Pony/Trainer.
Lady Justice: Please tell us about leather competitions, especially Great Lakes Olympus/Lady Raven's Leather Ball. What is your fondest memory of the event over the years?
Maxx: Of all the leather competitions out there, I especially enjoy the Olympus circuit.
Raven’s Leather Ball I and II were held in my local area which is Steubenville, Ohio. I owned a bar there for the past four years called Club MAXX, so by using a local hotel, that was very friendly, and using my bar everything ran very smoothly. It was also a great way to create an atmosphere of family because everything was in the neighborhood and everyone working the event was a friend or family member.
I overjoyed when Lady Raven was chosen Ms. Olympus 2006. She wasn’t a Ms. Great Lakes Olympus winner because I didn’t have this contest at that time, but she was my Ms UOVL 2006, and then went on to win the national laurel wreath. She was the first transgender person to ever win a major leather title.
I’ve had a lot of firsts. I produced the first female leather title holder in the state of Ohio. I produced the first husband and wife leather title holders in our area, and then of course, there is Lady Raven, the first transgender winner in leather’s history.
My local area never had a leather club until Steel Valley Leather, and I produced the first leather contest which was West Virginia Drummer/drummerboy in 2000.
All of these are my fondest memories….but I want more.
Lady Justice: Have you ever conducted a leather workshop? What was the topic? If you were to teach more leather workshops, what topics would you teach?
Maxx: Yes, I did a workshop at GLLA entitled ‘The Future of Leather’. I also did a workshop at Raven’s Leather Ball I on ‘Sex in the 80s and the onset of AIDS’.
I taught for the better part of my life – high school, college, and when the bug hits me I work as an adjunct professor at a local college. I believe I’m very good at what I do, but it wears me out. I never take teaching lightly, and as a result I spend myself. Thus, if I wanted to do a workshop or would be asked, it would have to be something I am passionate about. The one leather subject that interest me profoundly is our future and ‘what the hell do we want?’.
Lady Justice: Maxx, what's your favorite thing about Daveyboy?
Maxx: His heart.
Lady Justice: Daveyboy, what do you love most about Maxx?
Daveyboy: His creativity.
Lady Justice: Who do you admire in the community? And, who would you like to be for 24 hours and why?
Maxx: I admire Kendra McClain and Nigel. Both of these people are my friends and my mentors. I also admire Mary Elizabeth; she is so charming and one very smart cookie.
Maxx: I’d be GOD. I know several people I’d pierce with red hot pokers, and I’d also enlighten several very dim-witted Bible-thumpers who mistakenly think they are doing my will.
Lady Justice: What is your stance on "old school" versus "new school" leather protocols and rules?
Maxx: I THINK THIS IS BULLSHIT.
It’s odd to me that you used the terms old school and new school. The phrase old guard and new guard is more to the point of this question…and terms I understand and am more familiar with.
You realize that soon this question will be irrelevant.
Organized leather as we know it began with the end of WWII; that was 1945. That was my father’s generation. These men are gone now. True, their protocol lives on, but the first and second generation of leather has, for the most part passed on. AIDS took most of my brothers, and this second generation is the one in which I was born. Not many of us 63 year old leather men around any more. (Yes, it’s one thing for me to tell you my age, but entirely different for you to ask.)
As a side bar, do you know where the term old guard came from?
The soldiers who were loyal to Napoleon Bonaparte to the very end of his military campaigns were referred to as the Old Guard. This was a term used to describe loyal men who would follow their leader into the bowels of hell, and suffer untold hardship because they loved the man who led them. They believed in him and all that he stood for, thus the term Old Guard, not only has a military origin but one that embodies the sacrifices that male adoration for another male may entail; it’s a term of respectful veneration.
It humors me that you used old school rather than old guard, and I think your turn of phrase says it all. Change is in the wind, and this is good. In order for leather to grow and become stronger, change is vital. The face of war has changed and this a new generation of men and women. Leather has to reflect this and move forward; we have many battles that lay in front of us, and we must use all the best that this new age has to offer.
Would you want to fight a modern day battle with WWII ideas?
I want to win this battle of inequality, and if this new school of leather is willing to bleed for me, then you have my complete support.
Lady Justice: Do others outside the leather community know you’re into leather? If so has that created any difficulty?
Maxx: Yes, they do. No difficulty for me, but I’m not vulnerable to anyone. I never cared about other people liking me, especially if I had to lie or be dishonorable to myself.
Lady Justice: What qualities about yourself do you like the most? The least?
Maxx: If I like you and you’re in need, I’d give you the shirt off my back, and I’d like to think if the situation were reversed, you’d do the same. No Polo shirts, please. I don’t like labeled clothing.
I think what I like best about myself, and what causes me the most aches and pains, is the fact that I can’t sit on my ass and do nothing. I’ve always tried to make changes for the better.
What do I like the least about myself? I’d like to be taller….two inches more would be fine.
Lady Justice: If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? And if you could change anything about others, what would it be?
Maxx: I’m OK the way I am. I wish the snakes-in-the-grass people would all be colored bright yellow, so I should know them for what they are when I see them. But, if Adam and Eve had to deal with the same situation, perhaps a wiser body has placed these serpents around our world so we might learn the lesson that temptation can have dire consequences….and come in many forms.
Lady Justice: What is the last book you read that deals with leather and the last book you read that is a non-leather topic? Why did you choose those books?
Maxx: I once was an avid reader. One of my undergraduate degrees is in English. Today I don’t read as much as I did once, at least not books. A few months ago, I read all of Anne Rice’s books in the Beauty trilogy, and some vampire knock-off of Rice’s vampire tales. It was OK. I can’t remember the title.
The last non-leather texts that I read were not books, but plays. (My master’s degree is in Theater Arts.) It was a musical called Bat Boy. It was great fun. I also read two different versions of Sweeney Todd, and my boy and I wrote a version of our own. I read An. O. Henry Christmas, ART, A Life in the Theatre, American Buffalo, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Swinging on a Star.
Lady Justice: Tell us more about your lifestyle in the BDSM leather world. What are you into?
Maxx: I love verbal torture. I adore mind games. I have a mouth and a mind that can inflict more pain than any dragon tail out there.
Lady Justice: And, what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet?
Maxx: At my age if I haven’t done it, I had no interest in doing it….or thought it had no place in my concept of S&M.
Lady Justice: When you flag, which colors do you wear? Do you wear them on the left or the right?
Maxx: Usually hunter green worn on the left….sometimes mustard, also left. I’ve never flagged right……well, there was this one time at GLLA, but I think I had sunstroke, and when it was called to my attention, I switched that sucker quick.
Lady Justice: Do you have a dungeon or play space? If you do, tell us about it. If you don’t, tell us how you would design your dungeon.
Maxx: This will disappoint some people, but I don’t have a dungeon. I don’t have that type of living space. I also don’t have that many toys. Look, I come from a day and age where if you wanted to smack someone’s ass, you reached for the nearest handy object and paddled away. Shoes were always my favorite smackers, and my hand works really well because I also enjoy the sensation received and given.
I don’t want to design a dungeon. I leave this type of thing to boy. He has great spatial sense, but it bores me. I’d just make sure he put a garden hose in the layout, and a drain.
Lady Justice: What do you think our community needs to successfully move into the future?
UNITY…You name the different camps of leather: gay, pansexual, male, female, bear, rubber, dog, and pony– whatever. We need to put aside our differences, and realize that we have more that unites us than we have that separates us.
Maxx: That old adage is still true today:
"United we stand; divided we fall."
Lady Justice: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Maxx: Yes, I would.
I’d like to create a new type of leather contest that is more in keeping with my philosophy of living. I don’t know what name I’d give it…for fun; let’s call it "The Marquis Award of Honor."
This would be the first totally non-discriminating leather competition ever in our modern age. (There is not one leather competition out there that doesn’t discriminate in one form or another against someone.) Shocking statement, huh? I also think this truth is rather shameful.
In this "Marquis Contest of Honor", men would compete against women; ponies could compete next to bears, dogs against ponies/trainers, leather against latex, pansexual against gay, transsexual against masters/slave. Everybody welcome!
If we truly wish to find a person who best represents our community rather than a part of our community, it seems to me this is the way to do it.
NOW, I WOULD SUPPOSE WHEN YOU READ THIS, YOU IMMEDIATELY THINK, "THIS WILL NEVER WORK."
You see the obstacles rather that the possibilities, don’t you? I see the possibilities, and am willing to battle the obstacles. As the Marquis De Sade once said, "It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure." I suppose this marks me as a true sadist, but change has never been easy.
Lady Justice: Where can we find you online? Do you have e-mail or a web site you’d like to share with us?
www.olympusleather.com
www.greatlakesolympus.com
www.myspace.com/greatlakesolympus
Maxx: More important than these web pages, why not come to one of my contests and spend some money so I can do more good!?!
Lady Justice above, reporting for LeatherBear, Steven Tompa
bravenet.com