My IML Contestant Speech (1996)
A Little Warmup
First and foremost, I had a far too much fun at the International Mr. Leather contest this year, and there is nothing I would do differently if I had it to do over. I wish Joe Gallagher (the winner) only the best; we had dinner with a mob of leatherfolk Monday after the contest and I’m convinced he’ll do a great job.
Anyone who suggests I try for it a third year in a row will get to help me practice my Top skills.
The hot topic, of course, was the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Colorado’s Amendment 2. At least half the speeches at IML focused on that historic decision. Not to be left out, I added the opening you’ll see below. Fortunately, it fit very nicely into the rest of the speech (which was only 45 seconds long, by the way!).
And without further ado, the speech
(If it looks funny, try reading it aloud; it was never meant to be a document)
So…
The US Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s Amendment 2, and there were parties in cities all over the country.
That’s really great.
It’s also really sad if that’s what it takes to get us to celebrate.
Back in February, I was at an event — a Mardis Gras party. About a hundred leatherfolk in a bar, playing silly Carnival games and having a generally good time.
Afterwards, several people commented that it was the first time in months they’d been at an event and actually had fun, and it struck me:
we get so involved in our various battles — the war against AIDS, the grief for our lost brothers and sisters, the fight for the right to marry, the fight for the simple right to be who we are,
that we can find ourselves in a state of siege, so busy fighting that we forget to live the lives we’re fighting for.
So I offer you a challenge:
Keep fighting the good fights
Play hard
Cherish the memories of those we’ve lost
Have sex (lots of sex!)
But never forget to celebrate who and what we are
And live your life to the fullest!
I’m not going to change the world up here in a minute;
But together we could transform it in the next year.
Originally posted online: June 3, 1996