Lady Justice: Who are you?  Please describe yourself in 30 words or less.

Big: Friendly, flirty and horny. In love and happy to have the friends that I do. A big old teddy bear. (Actually, Mr. Teddy Bear 2004!) Father of four and Grandpa six times over. I made Shiva a Grandpa!

Shiva: A grounded, mature gay male; passionate and engaged for others; blessedly dispassionate and disengaged personally. I’m longing to be a better person, due to my union with Big.

Big: I've always loved the smell of leather, but I didn't get into the kinky side until I lived in Akron, Ohio. (Though I did fantasize about sexy men in leather.) Then, I moved to Columbus and met Michael. He corrupted me.

Shiva: For me, it has built up from a composite of fascinations over the years.

Cub scouts and uniforms. [8 years old]

Balloons and underwear, including Sears and JCPenney catalogs. [9 – 10]

The visuals of linear patterns made with rope on flesh. [12]

The smell of leather – Dad's workshop apron to his English and Russian Leather cologne. Oh, and his pipe tobacco! [13]

Tom of Finland, of course! [15]

Enough said.

Big: Stained glass and more recently, floggers and paddles.

Shiva: Being a host, patron, mentor and goad. I also like cooking, reading, travel and obscure intoxicants.

Shiva: "People are different. Some things are funny."

Big: Almost six years.

Shiva: Tangentially, and as a GDI, over two decades and then, more formally and actively, about nine years with Trident International Columbus Ohio.

Big: Yes. Respect and real interest.

Shiva: Embracing and promoting of the values of diversity and inclusion are threatened, and even openly compromised at times, by discomfort sourced in unconscious bigotry parading as 'justified' defense of protocol. (Yes! I said it!)

Big: Outwardly, I feel a leatherman presents himself as hot, sexy and yummy. But, without earning respect for what's within, that all falls flat.

Shiva: I've always cringed (I almost wrote stiffened, but that would be open to gross misunderstanding with this audience) at the concept of 'definition.' It means to discover the edge of something…where it stops. 'Identity' is such a more important concept, what something, or someone, is.

Shiva: To evolve and to nurture him/herself and others.

Big: Dominant Daddy, some kink. (S: 'Some' kink?!??!?)

Shiva: Supporter, Patron, Counselor, Artiste, Trainer, Macramé Aficionado, 'Loonatic, Floggers' Palate, Faithfully Big's, tolerant of most, but expectant of (much) more!

Big: The hope that new people will become involved in leather.

Shiva: Big's (stubborn) Heart, Lady Justice & Michael, the "Don Juan Benet José of Chicago" (mi Tio Taco Humédo) and my existing & aspiring TICO Peeps.

Big: I am a Trident and have been President of Trident International Columbus Ohio (TICO) for four years. I am an associate member of Centurions of Columbus, Tribe Detroit and the Iron Eagles.

Shiva: Trident International Columbus Ohio & the Trident International Clearinghouse [Secretary], HRC, Equality Ohio, Pride at Work, Mid America Conference of Clubs [TICO's representative], Associate member of Centurions of Columbus, Tribe Detroit and the Iron Eagles, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Westgate Heights Block Watch [Co-Coordinator].

Big: It's been nice, as we get to travel, do things together and meet lots of new people.

Shiva: As Big has served as President, it has provided opportunities for me to help channel and highlight his passion and personal persuasiveness towards a focus on progress versus confrontation. He's often hot-headed in the moment, but is consistently confident in positive change and outcomes. (I work best in the background.)

Big: I love it! I have wanted brotherhood to flourish and the club to grow for so long. It will be nice to get some good, quality people into the club.

Shiva: (Funny you should ask, TICO Pledge LJ! LOL) Personally, I hope it will be a revival within the TI movement of the original 'Give a Damn!' attitude, practicality and irreverence. New blood to us, both seasoned and green, but all with an eye to a higher prize.

Shiva: In my opinion, Trident International is firstly a Tribe. While we sometimes form (dis)functional chapters geographically to affect local change, support the leather lifestyle and pursue charitable ends, membership is firstly individual within a movement. It is a way for boys and girls from 'The Land of Misfit Toys' to engage the more formal aspects of Leatherdom.

At our original formation, TI was a way for a couple of independent leathermen (GDIs) to gain the requisite back patch status to officially play at a run. (As if the protocol brothers didn't freely trick with whatever twinks and vanilla boys they hit on and enticed into the after parties!)

Presently, Trident International, with one outpost in TICO, can serve as a community of At Large and locally-affiliated leatherfolk of any ilk, to focus more on the leather community and our place in the larger society, rather than the old school, branded club politics. (The only group that I think is in anyway similar is the Cosmic Order of KA.)

Once a Trident, always a Trident. That's somewhat akin to veterans. The lack of a local VFW connection will never diminish their service or connection. So, I'd say leather back patch affiliation is still important, but more for what it can contribute in support of others, than what it can afford the membership.

Big: Walking in the room and someone saying, "Hot Damn!"

Shiva: Big's fiery eyes, perfect 'evil' smile and warm, groping hands. I never thought I'd find someone, so the memory looms large.

Big: All of my leather family.

Shiva: Big. Michael. Lady Justice. Jim Criswell, of Centurions of Columbus and WOOFs. TICO Pledge Monte', the playful and articulate Pagan. (Personally, I'm more of a Saivite, but I'm very accepting!) Maxx, from your recent interview.

There's no one I'd like to 'be,' but I'd love to spend time with Maxx, to hear more and learn from his long history and refreshing perspectives on our community and the society at large.

Big: I'm not stuck on rules. I've been around too many people that would be.

Shiva: I'm pretty much 'No Guard,' which makes me hard to offend and open to all. I do have to say that, though strict regimens seem to have been authentically adopted by a few, I more commonly encounter what I can only characterize as feigned adherence to esoteric systems that usually prove divisive. (By their fruits, you shall know them.)

Big: Yes. Everyone does, even my kids. Some people at work think I'm weird.

Shiva: Family, friends and colleagues…everyone knows. This year, the President and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, where I work, was the Grand Marshall of Stonewall Columbus' PRIDE Parade. TICO had a parade entry of its own with our leather friends, where I was present in kilt, chainmaile harness and colors. Yeah, I think they know!

Big: How easily I make friends and put people at ease.

My weight.

Shiva: That I'm calm to the point of almost being comatose; I have no energy for personal anger. That I can find no time for being offended and I have boundless vision.

That I did not pursue studies in language and international diplomacy at the University of Reykjavik, Iceland, because my parents thought it was odd. (I might have been Björk's gay uncle!??!?)

Big: My health and weight.

To make grumpy people happy.

Shiva: I'd like all hair on my body to be pure, dazzling white. (Blue skin would also be interesting.)

I'd like to help others be slow to anger; abounding in mercy.

Shiva: For me personally, marriage. Though I've taking the time and expense to jump though all the legal hoops to ensure Big is 'safe' when I'm dust, I'm offended daily that my nation and society will not recognize him as my spouse. ENDA, because it's simple justice. Military inclusion, because we are excluding needed talent. (Cut nose, spite face!?!?)

Of equal importance to me are education of the public about general fetish issues and the continuum of gender roles and identification. The latter is more out there now, but too often as a bit of titillation, rather than honest exploration.

Big: Ultimate Gay Erotica 2005, an anthology. A novel, Rage.

Shiva: Time is so limited. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. How to win friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

B: I just exist and work on Michael. I like to have fun!

Shiva: Leather, Rope, Tape, Bondage, Balloons, Trussed, Spread, Suspended, Movable, Able to be manipulated.

Big: Fisting and sounds.

Shiva: Open to much, but, hey! No hidden desires! It's all transitory anyway...maya, illusion!

Big: Navy blue, Left. (S: What?!?? No red?!?)

Shiva: I flag only as a thought-provoking fashion statement. Anything I would choose to flag could be on either side: Grey bandanna, a starched, white linen scalloped kerchief with eyelet hand-embroidery, a '50s kelly green ribbon'n'bow print hankie or, possibly, a teal or aqua 6 foot zeppelin balloon. Oh, and a hank of white nylon rope, at times.

Big: No one would talk to me. I scared everyone.

Shiva: Well, I remember being a bit surprised that it was gay white men only. My fantasy exploration up to this point was multi-racial, multi-ethnic and pan-sexual. Damn! Being well-read in the Midwest had it drawbacks and disappointments when you moved to actual experience in the later '80s. The crowd was mixed: Men who 'were' leather, those curious men (like me) who'd not seen much leather, and odd trawlers and trade of an exclusively sexual or commercial bent.

Big: Younger leather boys to come out of the woodwork. (S: Or, come out the woods and get to work!)

Shiva: A focus on the common good, a mutually-held outcome, rather then getting so hung up on the process and protocol of advancement. Yes, your boy better be able to share that they want a 'pony' at their birthday party, or ask to keep a 'puppy' they've found, without setting off major drama. If not, you'd best play with inanimate beings.

Big: Learning how to make paddles and smack some asses! Oh, and flogging.

Shiva: While I'd not classify it as a new endeavor, I have been enjoying a re-exploration of my balloon inventory with a curious circle of friends. The reactions to date have been interesting. (No request to assist in riding or popping, alas!)

Shiva: I believe the children are our future. Some of today's leatherboys may grow up to become Daddies, Sirs, or future leaders. Others will just remain the snotty-nosed, slutty shits they are now! (You know who you are, boys.)

Big: bomicbig@aol.com  , www.trident-columbus.org .

Shiva: shivapuja@aol.com. We hope to have a new web presence shortly, but all web contacts will be responded to promptly.