November 2007
Part 2
“Real isn’t how you are made, it’s a thing that happens to you, because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” This week Steven “Leatherbear” Tompa brings an interview with Dr. Leather Sir Slade Andrews. Dr. Leather Sir Slade Andrews recently won the title of Mr. Kentucky Leather 2008. He explains that everyone expects you to be many things as a titleholder, but unless you are true and real to yourself, you get lost and you become someone you don’t recognize anymore. He explains we all become targets in some way or another, but by being Real, when the sash is gone, the same person will be there before the sash went on. Check out Bay Area Reporter at Gazing in the (blue) grass
Dr. Leather invites everyone to attend his bar night, charity benefit, "Holiday House Call," on December 21, 2007 at the Eagle Serpent in Cincinnati, Ohio. The night will be filled with raffles, prizes, snacks, and jello/tequila shots. This is also Slade’s annual “Christmas S.O.S.” event, (Christmas Soup or Socks.) To gain entry into the bar that evening, please bring canned goods or new socks. These items all go to the St. John Social Services for the Poor and Homeless in Cincinnati. The evening will end with a “Strip Auction”. All those in attendance will have the opportunity to bid on clothing items Slade is wearing, until every piece is purchased and removed. Be the successful bidder, and have the opportunity to reveal the, hmm, mistletoe! So bring your money and donate to a worthwhile charity, while having a great time in Cincinnati. This is the weekend just prior to Christmas, so this will be your last chance to have some bar fun prior to the holiday, while contributing to a worthy cause.
Now let the interview begin:
Now let the interview begin:
LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about the book(s) that you have written. How can we get our own copy?
DR LEATHER: I just published a new book entitled “Better Dungeon / Safety Measures” BDSM for short. The book was written in an effort to educate those involved in any type of sexual scene, whether it be in your own bedroom, a dungeon setting or even outside; outlining safety precautions to follow and what remedies, if in fact, an emergency situation arises. The book also includes some wit and funny stories just to remind us all that this is suppose to be a fun world and, although safe sex is serious business, one needs to keep in mind that it also needs to be relaxing. All proceeds from my book go directly to the Leather Archives & Museum. I have never put a price on the book, as the price of such a work should be strictly what you feel it is worth and what you want to contribute to the LA&M. You can order the book directly through me at: MrKentuckyLeather2008@yahoo.com. The book can be mailed or emailed, which ever you desire. It is also available in C/D format as well. The LA&M have the copyrights to the book, so therefore, be prudent if you use the information for your own needs.
LEATHERBEAR: Are you gay, straight, bi-sexual, or pansexual? Do you have children? How many? Grandchildren?
DR LEATHER: I am a proud gay man. I love children, but never had any of my own. I do have an identical twin brother who is straight and he and his wife have three children. That was a great compromise in my life. I could spoil them and buy them things, usually those things that made the biggest noise, and then send them home with the kids to let him and his wife deal with it.
LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about the place you won your title, Star Base Q. Where is it? Why do you like it there? What kinds of people are there? Elaborate.
DR LEATHER: I won my current title, Mr. Kentucky Leather 2008 on October 20th, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky at the Star Base Q bar. It is a great venue for fun and entertainment. The bar is spacious, very art deco and has many different rooms to socialize in. If you want quiet and intimacy, they have rooms for that, or to dance and even play pool. I heard they have another “fun room”, but while I was there as a contestant, I did my best to behave and didn’t go looking for that room. The staff was great and Brian, the owner, was very accommodating.
LEATHERBEAR: In today’s world more and more bears are entering leather contests, why do you think so and is this acceptable?
DR LEATHER: I think as the Leather community has evolved, so have contestants. If you look back over the past 25 years of IML, you can see that every year, the winners have been different. There is no “cookie cutter” types, thus, contest now offer a wide variety of body types for our viewing pleasure. Face it, myself included, we all have preferences as to the type of men we like, but hopefully, judges are picking winners based on what they have to offer the community and where their heart really is, and not that they are bears, gym types or even handicapped. This is a prime example of inclusion.
LEATHERBEAR: Please tell us about yourself and your ambitions. What is your profession? How do you feel about education?
DR LEATHER: I am a physician, actually neurosurgery; however, I always play that down and I never allow people to address me as Doctor or “Doc”, not even in a medical setting…I prefer, just being called Slade. A little unknown fact about myself is that prior to becoming a physician, I was a Roman Catholic priest. While I was a priest I continued my education to become a physician so I could do missionary work. Obviously, the priest part of my life didn’t work out, for many reasons, but the education was well worth all that time I spent on my knees… praying of course. As far as education, while it is important in today’s world, one must not forget the importance of everyone’s job, from the housekeeper, garbage truck driver, car mechanic and on and on, because, without each of these job functions, whether they require education or not, they are still an important part of our society.
LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about leather competitions. Which ones have you competed in? Have you lost any? How does it feel to lose? Which ones did you win? How does it feel to win? Which ones did you judge? How did it feel to participate?
DR LEATHER: I have competed in several competitions, and actually did not start competing until a year ago. Like so many people new to the competition scene, I was given a lot of bad advice; therefore, I didn’t do so well, but with every competition I learned something new and I was able to enhance my competition skills for the next one. I have always said, for me, it hasn’t always been about winning the “sash.” For me, every time I was given the opportunity to stand on stage and tell people what I was all about, what my goals were, and the opportunity to discuss my book, and then coming away from that experience knowing that maybe, just maybe, it touched one person's life, that was a win for me. After all, when the title year is up, and the sash is gone, you still need to go on with life and educating people. Being selected as Mr. Kentucky Leather was a thrill of a lifetime for me and I can’t wait to step on stage at IML 30. Being labeled a “sash” queen isn’t so bad. Usually jealousy or some other motive is the reason a person would refer to a titleholder with such a label. For me, I just say, “Thank you for noticing.”
LEATHERBEAR: What is your platform in your role as a titleholder? Did you help with fund-raising and charities? If so, please tell why and elaborate.
DR LEATHER: My platform is, and has always been about the promotion and education of today’s youth through nurturing and education. Several years ago I developed a non-profit organization called S.A.F.E.T.Y., (Slade Andrews Foundation Educating Today’s Youth.) Through this Foundation, we are able to award college funds to those, college enrolled youth, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, who have been recognized in their communities, while making a difference among their own peer groups, in the promotion and education of safe sex practices and education. Last year alone, we awarded $6,000.00 to those “Fire-Starters” who made a difference in the young community. If you would like to nominate a youth you can get further information by emailing Andrews.Foundation@yahoo.com .
LEATHERBEAR: What was your most exciting fund-raising experience?
DR LEATHER: Actually I have two. Each year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I work with our local AIDS chapter in Cincinnati, selling Christmas trees. Through the years this project has grown and each year it gets bigger. All proceeds go to the local AIDS organization. The second fundraiser is one that I am currently planning called the “Strip Auction.” I appear on stage, fully dressed in leather that is for sale. Each piece, and I mean, each and every piece, is auctioned off to the highest bidder, one piece at a time, until there is nothing left. All the money raised will go to my travel fund.
LEATHERBEAR: Why and how long have you been involved in the leather community? What is the definition of a “Leatherman”? What are his responsibilities?
DR LEATHER: I have been involved in the leather community, here and in Europe, for over twenty-five years…. yes, I know, most of you are thinking I must have been very young…. well, you are correct. I grew up with “Old Guard” traditions, and I still live by those same values today. A Leatherman is more than dressing the part. It is an innate quality. It is in the way you speak and the way you act and project yourself in public. As any good Leatherman, your primary responsibility is to yourself first, by always remaining safe, sane and consensual in your interactions with others, as well as always remembering to educate and groom our youth.
LEATHERBEAR: Which roles in the Leather BDSM lifestyle do you fit? How do the following words compare to you: Master, slave, dominant, passive, submissive, etc.
DR LEATHER: Through the years I have evolved in roles, and today, I consider myself a dominant top; but then again, being a person that isn’t much into labels, I find myself being more versatile at times. Like any thing else in life, the setting and situation makes all the difference in the world.
LEATHERBEAR: How old are you? What are your stats? What are your hobbies?
DR LEATHER: In today’s world, the topic of age can end a conversation quickly or find them hanging on because they feel sorry for you. I am 53 years old. I am a true Cancer, having been born in July. I am 5’8” tall and 165 pounds. Some would say that I am very muscular, while I never think I am big enough. I have pale blond hair and blue/green eyes. I am very smooth, naturally, due to all that Swedish blood, I suppose. When it comes to hobbies, I like anything pertaining to the outdoors. I break and train Quarter horses in my spare time and I am into woodworking.
LEATHERBEAR: Are you single? Do you date or have a Partner? Do you have children? Do you tell your family about your Leather BDSM lifestyle? Does your employer know? Do others know you’re a leather titleholder? If so, how was that perceived?
DR LEATHER: I am single now, and have been for almost two years after an 18-year LTR. He left me for a younger man. I have been out to my family since high school and they have always been very accepting of my gay lifestyle. They do know of my involvement in the Leather aspect of my life, however, like most families, you only tell them what they need to know! My twin brother does know, and has always been one of my biggest supporters in life, including, my competing for leather titles. My work knows about my being gay and my Leather lifestyle. I work for a hospital group in excess of 60,000 employees, where I head up the Diversity organization. I am very fortunate in knowing that I am accepted first as a caring, compassionate person, first, long before what it is that I do on my off hours. My family consisted of my parents and twin brother. I was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, and we came to the states when I entered college. My parents were both killed in an auto accident in 1990, so since that time, it has only been my twin brother and his family. NOW, I must say, through the years I have developed a very loving and extended Leather family, whom has always been there for me, even when my “Real” family couldn’t.
LEATHERBEAR: What qualities about yourself do you like the most? The least?
DR LEATHER: What I like most about myself is that I have never forgotten where I came from, what I have had to accomplish in my life and that I have remained true to myself over all these years. The one thing that I like least about myself is that I have very low-self esteem. I think that all reverts back to the priest days when you were suppose to be very humble…I wonder what ever happened to that train of thought?
LEATHERBEAR: Have you ever walked in a gay pride parade? Which ones? Tell us about your experience at this parade. Were you in leather?
DR LEATHER: Last year, I rode in two gay Pride parades, one in Indianapolis, Indiana and one in Cincinnati, Ohio with my good friend Dave Drees, Mr. Midwest Leather 2007. I was the first runner-up in that contest with Dave and we have been great friends ever since. We were both dressed in leather for the parade, and I have to admit, the crowd response was overwhelming in both cities. After the parade we were able to mingle with the crowds and it was like being celebrities. People wanted their pictures taken with us, young and old, and I have to say, it was one of the most rewarding leather experiences I have ever had.
LEATHERBEAR: Are you involved with any political organizations? Which political updates do you keep up with on the Internet and newspaper? Do you keep updated on topics like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, “ENDA”, or other important issues that affect the LGBT communities? Which ones are important to you?
DR LEATHER: In all honesty, I try to avoid politics and religion subjects at all costs, however, I do have my own opinions, and in the proper setting I do discuss them. The only thing I will say on the subject right now is…I do get Internet updates on Hillary.
LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about your farm. Do you have horses? Do you have a barn? Have you ever acted out any of your fetishes in that barn?
DR LEATHER: I do have a small farm where I raise Quarter horses. It is located on 16 acres and has several horse barns. I am a very outdoors kind of person and I have to admit, out door sex gets me going like a freight train. One of the on stage questions asked of me at the Mr. Kentucky contest was “If I could have sex with anyone I wanted, who would it be with, and where would it take place.” Well once again, I tried to stay politically correct and not bring politics into play, so I had to quickly improvise, stating that it would, in fact, be in one of my horse barns where I have a “special” stall equipped with a sling. It is a great play space with plenty of ropes, pulleys, and shackles…well; I think you get the picture.
LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about your “kink”. What is your fetish? What are you into?
DR LEATHER: I am a kink-loving Dominant Top who gets off on playing with guys who are a little bit twisted in their sexual appetite. I am not "married" to any one particular activity, but I enjoy all sorts of kinky scenes and fetishes:
§ Whipping – for the pure sensual pleasure
§ CBT – from the erotic tease to the excruciatingly “nut buster,”
§ Spanking – a firm hand applied to a guy's upraised butt; I love watching those buns warm up!
§ Bondage & Discipline – from light to wild.
§ Anal Play – a sling and a selection of toys for a bottom's pleasure --- whether it's a finger or a fist, a toy or a plug, Dr. Leather Sir Slade Andrews enjoys giving you what you want, where you want it.
§ Fetishes – I enjoy feet, boots, leather, jock straps and more.
§ Daddy/boy – Leather boys need special guidance to bring out the best in them.
§ Shaving – hair razors, or crotch clips--and in all the right places. (A razor strop has more than one use, of course).
§ Water sports – hot, steamy, and wet; recycled beer, water, what's your pleasure?
LEATHERBEAR: Ever smoked a cigar? What kind? Tell us about this experience. What is the most bizarre fetish you have?
DR LEATHER: I am one of those rare people in life where I have never even taken the first puff of a cigarette, although, I do like the smell of a good cigar.
LEATHERBEAR: Ever done porn? Tell us about this. Where can we get our own copies of your movies?
DR LEATHER: This is a question that I am asked on a regular basis. I currently have contracts with two video companies; however, I had it written into my contracts that I would fulfill my obligation at a later date. The reason for this is that I personally feel that when one is competing in Leather contests, it should be about the Leather community and a certain image we are promoting. Granted, 99% of us like to watch porn, however, for me, that is something I can do at a later date, if I choose to do so, after my competition days are over. I would in no way want to promote myself in that way while being a titleholder. I want to be known for what I do for our communities, rather than what my bare ass looks like on the big screen.
LEATHERBEAR: Where can we find you online? Do you have e-mail or a web site you’d like to share with us? Any other web addresses you want to share with us.
DR LEATHER: Currently my web site is under construction…again, so in the meantime you can either reach me at MrKentuckyLeather2008@yahoo.com or at Slade_Andrews@yahoo.com. Both sites will eventually have a link to my web page. In the meantime, “Play hard and play safe keeping in mind that the life you save may be that of your own, or that of your play partner(s).
Steven “Leatherbear” Tompa would like to thank Dr. Leather for speaking to the Readers of West Virginia Queer News. And don't forget, “Real isn’t how you are made, it’s a thing that happens to you, because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
In Leather Bear Pride,
Steven Tompa
bravenet.com