September 2007
Part 2
09/28/2007 ARTICLE 10: INTERVIEW WITH GARY SAMUELS, MR. MID-ATLANTIC LEATHER 2007
This week LEATHERBEAR brings an interview to the Readers of West Virginia Queer News with Gary Samuels who is Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2007.
09/28/2007 ARTICLE 10: INTERVIEW WITH GARY SAMUELS, MR. MID-ATLANTIC LEATHER 2007
This week LEATHERBEAR brings an interview to the Readers of West Virginia Queer News with Gary Samuels who is Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2007.
LEATHERBEAR: Gary, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Tell us about the leather competitions have you entered?
SAMUELS: I just stepped down as Mr. Double L Leather 2006. The Double L is a Leather Bar in Rehoboth Beach, Maryland. I have entered three leather contests, in total. I first entered the Mr. Double L contest in September of 2006. That was a feeder for me to compete for the MAL title, that in turn forwarded me on to compete at International Mr. Leather (IML) last May 2007 in Chicago. I placed in the top 20, and then finally ended up placing 9th overall.
SAMUELS: I just stepped down as Mr. Double L Leather 2006. The Double L is a Leather Bar in Rehoboth Beach, Maryland. I have entered three leather contests, in total. I first entered the Mr. Double L contest in September of 2006. That was a feeder for me to compete for the MAL title, that in turn forwarded me on to compete at International Mr. Leather (IML) last May 2007 in Chicago. I placed in the top 20, and then finally ended up placing 9th overall.
LEATHERBEAR: Why did you compete in leather contests?
SAMUELS: I have always been drawn to the leather community, and I wanted a chance to give back to the community in some way. I also enjoy the idea of mentorship, and I think there are a lot of younger guys out there who are "leather curious" but don't know, or are intimidated to get involved.
LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about MAL. What is it? What regions does it include? Why was it important for you to compete at MAL?
SAMUELS: MAL is a title for the Mid-Atlantic region; however, people have come from all over the country to compete. It wasn't necessarily a question of importance to compete at MAL, but my Double L title forwarded me on to compete at MAL. The process itself of competing was important for me in many ways. Primarily I wanted to prove to myself that I could actually do it. That may sound silly, but I consider myself an "average Joe" and it was important for me to step outside of my comfort zone.
LEATHERBEAR: Please tell us a little about yourself and your ambitions in life.
SAMUELS: Well, as I said, I've always considered myself an "average Joe". There's not much to tell really. I am 47 years old, and I was born and raised in New York, just outside of New York City. I am the middle of five children. I have been blessed with a family that has been a tremendous source of love and support for me. My Mom and Dad are very supportive, and proud of my title. I have two beautiful daughters, Lauren 21, and Jessica 18. They are also very proud of their Leather Daddy, although for them, that term has a very different connotation! They are very supportive of my lifestyle. In fact my oldest daughter Lauren asked my Boyfriend and I to both be her date for her homecoming dance a few years ago. Pretty cool huh? My ambition in life is to just be the best Father, the best Partner, the best Son and Brother, the best Human Being I can be. In other words, I try to be able to live up to the values that I hold important to myself.
LEATHERBEAR: What is your profession?
SAMUELS: I am a Telecommunications Technician. I have been in the IT/Computer Industry all my life.
LEATHERBEAR: How do you feel about education?
SAMUELS: I believe Education is the single most important thing in life. I don't necessarily believe that you can't be successful unless you have a college degree, but your chances are certainly better if you do. I'm more interested and concerned about Education at the Elementary School Level. This is where I think the real foundation of a child’s future starts. This is where they will learn valuable social skills, this is where they will learn tolerance, and this is where they will learn acceptance.
LEATHERBEAR: Did help with fund-raising and charities? If so, please elaborate.
SAMUELS: I have done some fundraisers to help the Sussex County Aids Commission in Rehoboth Beach. One was just simply selling jello-shots on New Years Eve at the Double L. I raised $250 for them. I also auctioned off ALL my clothes at Scarlets Bake Sale at the DC Eagle to raise money for Scarlets Foundation, which helps children with Aids. I raised $1800 doing that.
LEATHERBEAR: How long have you been involved in the leather community?
SAMUELS: I have been "hanging around" the leather community since I started going to the New York Eagle, The Lure, The Anvil, and all the NY leather bars starting back in the early 90's. I didn't really start taking an active part until about 2005.
LEATHERBEAR: How long have you been involved in the bear community?
SAMUELS: Well, I have always considered myself a "Bear", and so are most of my friends. It's hard to say how long I have been "involved". I have always hung out at bear or leather bars so I guess I've been "involved" since I came out back in 1992.
LEATHERBEAR: What does it mean to be a “leatherman” to you?
SAMUELS: Wow, that's a tough question. There are so many things that go into that. For some, being a leatherman is about Bondage and Discipline, for some it's about Masters and Slaves. For some it's about all of it, BDSM. For me personally it's about acceptance. It’s acceptance of person’s opinions, strengths and weaknesses. It’s acceptance of dress and sexual appetites. It's about teaching by example, and by being open enough to share your deepest most private thoughts and experiences to help a Brother learn and grow. It's about being comfortable in your own skin and your place in the community. It's about power.
LEATHERBEAR: What does it mean to be a “bear” to you?
SAMUELS: To me a bear is typically a bigger guy who is for the most part, hairy or at least has facial hair.
LEATHERBEAR: What is the difference between a leatherman and a bear?
SAMUELS: I honestly don't think there are differences between leathermen and bears. Men are men, and we all have our sexual appetites and fetishes. I know bears that are into BDSM, and yet they don't consider themselves leathermen. I think the big difference is in the way these communities came into existence. The leather community was really born out of necessity of having a place to go. At the end of World War II, men who discovered while they were in the service that they were gay, and developed close bonds with others who were "like them", needed a place where they could fit in. There was a surplus of things such as leather jackets and motorcycles at the end of the war that guys could get for very cheap. Clubs were formed, like motorcycle clubs, and these guys could be together and share the same kind of camaraderie they shared in the service. The other big difference is that the leather community has a more formal code of honor, if you will, unlike that of the bear community. The bear community pretty much came about in the 80's mostly because mainstream gay culture was unwelcoming to guys who didn't fit a particular body type, i.e.; thin, smooth, gym body etc.
LEATHERBEAR: Why are you a leatherman and/or bear?
SAMUELS: The interesting thing is, I don't consider myself one or the other. I'm just me! I guess I would really have to say I'm a Leather Bear.
LEATHERBEAR: How old are you? What are your stats?
SAMUELS: I am 47, 5'10", 196 lbs, shaved head, blue eyes, hairy.
LEATHERBEAR: Are you single or partnered? Have you ever been married?
SAMUELS: Partnered with guy now. Was married to a woman for 12 years.
LEATHERBEAR: Does your ex-wife know you’re a leatherman?
SAMUELS: LOL...she does now!
LEATHERBEAR: How was that perceived?
SAMUELS: My ex wife and I get along very well. She is also very supportive.
LEATHERBEAR: Tell about your friends. What do you like to do for fun with your buddies?
SAMUELS: I have some really great friends. I'm very lucky. I really enjoy doing just about anything with them, whether it's going out to the bars, or the movies, or just sitting having coffee with them. They help to keep me grounded.
LEATHERBEAR: What qualities about yourself do you like the most?
SAMUELS: Loyalty. I may fight or argue with you, but I will always be a loyal friend.
LEATHERBEAR: What qualities about yourself do you like the least?
SAMUELS: Sometimes I just need to learn when to shut up and let things go.
LEATHERBEAR: What qualities do you like in other people?
SAMUELS: Honesty. I may not like what you have to say, but please, don't lie to me.
LEATHERBEAR: What qualities do you dislike in other people?
Dishonesty.
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?
SAMUELS: I do try to keep up with most of the issues. ENDA is extremely important to me.
LEATHERBEAR: What is the last book you read?
SAMUELS: The Five People You Meet In Heaven, by Mitch Albom.
LEATHERBEAR: Why did you choose that book?
SAMUELS: It really makes you think about how interconnected our lives are, and how you can have an effect on someone’s life without any knowledge of it at all.
LEATHERBEAR: What was your platform in your role as a titleholder?
SAMUELS: My platform was mentorship. I really wanted to help bridge the younger and older generations in the leather community. The leather lifestyle can be very intimidating, and there are a lot of young guys who want to explore but are afraid, or they don't feel welcome. Some of the "old school" or "old guard" leatherfolk sometimes look at the younger guys and think, "they don't know anything." Well I didn't either. But, I think I was more readily accepted because of my look.... you know, older, shaved head, goatee etc. But it's not about how you look it's about what's inside of you, and if I can help someone get in touch with that part of themselves, then I've done what I set out to do.
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LEATHERBEAR thanks Gary Samuels, Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2007, for taking the time to speak to the Readers of the West Virginia Queer News LEATHERBEAR column. Thank you for yout time Gary Samuels!
In Leather Bear Pride,
Steven Tompa
steventompa@yahoo.com
bravenet.com