Gary Samuels - Head Judge

Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2007

Gary Samuels, 47, is the current Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2007 and completed his year as Mr. Double L Leather 2006 in September.  He was born and raised in Westchester County, New York, and lived in New Jersey most of his adult life.  In 2000, Gary moved to Washington, DC, where he now works in the telecommunications industry.

Gary's involvement in the leather community stems from a desire to express who he is and to help promote diversity, acceptance, and inclusion.  He finds it important to attend non-leather events to support other areas of the gay community and to build bridges that bring ALL lifestyles together.  He also enjoys raising funds for charities that are important to him.  But, perhaps arising from his experience as the proud father of two daughters (aged 18 and 21), Gary finds it most important and satisfying to enthusiastically welcome and mentor the leather community's younger generation -- and he urges you to make the time to do the same.

Mike Gerle

International Mr. Leather 2007

Mike Gerle is the current International Mister Leather 2007. In addition to the IML07 title he concurrently holds the titles for Mr. Los Angeles Leather 07, and Oil Can Harry’s Mr. Leather 07.

Mike is 42 years old, was born in Nebraska and raised in Wyoming and Idaho. He now calls West Hollywood home where he works as a Management Specialist and Academy Coordinator for the City of West Hollywood.

His community involvement includes annual fundraisers for a variety of organizations including Aid for AIDS, the Van Ness Recovery House, the West Hollywood Recovery Center and Hot n Dry, the countries largest gathering of sober gay men. Mike is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of crystal meth use and bridging the generation gap in the Leather/BDSM/fetish communities.

Affiliations include the Los Angeles Leather Coalition, Southern California Gay Sports Bikers, LA Frontrunners and The AIDS LifeCyle Ride. As International Mister Leather Mike has traveled to San Diego, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, Vancouver Canada, Berlin Germany, and now Kansas City, MO.

Mike’s interests include riding his BMW R1150R motorcycle, riding gear, boot blacking, black boots, anything SciFi, two-stepping, German dark rooms, floggers and lifting any stigma anyone might harbor towards his fellow subs.

Lauren Ide

International Ms. Leather 2007

Lauren is a queer-polyamorous-switch and has been an active participant in the Leather and BDSM tribes for 12 years. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, she now calls the desert around Phoenix, AZ her home. Lauren held the title of Southwest Ms. Leather 2006 and is the current International Ms. Leather 2007.

Lauren is a member of the Arizona Amazons, APEX, MAsT-Phoenix, and LILA-Living in Leather Arizona, a leather spirituality group. She continues to dedicate great amounts of time to her Leather life and loves traveling to and supporting many different kinds of events within the Leather and BDSM tribes from local bar contests to large pansexual weekends. She believes in "Family First" and "No Drama."

Professionally, Lauren is a Medical Massage Therapist and a Reiki Master/Teacher. She holds an Associates Degree in Massage Therapy with certifications in Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage Massage. She is a spiritual seeker who believes that everything happens for a reason. She strives to see beauty in all people and she lives with no regrets.

Blackkat

Blackkat’s leather journey “officially” began eighteen years ago and he has been traveling steady on his path ever since.  Today, BK is an active member of the leather community in various capacities.  Most people know him as American Leatherman 2005, but he has many more irons in the fire.  He is the founder and director of SAFER+SANER, a leathersex prevention, education, and outreach project; chairs the SWEAT! in the City (NYC’s Black Leather Pride Weekend) Planning Committee; and is a founding partner and the creative director for Forbidden FUNK Media.  When not working on his own projects, Blackkat is an invited speaker, presenter, and emcee at various national and international leather events.  His accomplishments have earned him several awards, including two 2006 Pantheon of Leather awards, Northeast Regional and Community Choice Man of the Year; and an inaugural 2007 Sexual Freedom Award from Folsom Street East.  Most recently, Blackkat received the prestigious 2007 Vi Johnson Award for his contributions to the African American leather community.

In addition to his leather activities, Blackkat volunteers his time with several community projects and has been honored for many of his efforts.  And somehow, he balances all that with his obligations to his Leather family which includes his life partner and their four sons.  To keep up with Blackkat, check out www.safersaner.org and www.forbiddenfunk.com.

David Kloss

First International Mr. Leather in 1979

David Kloss, representing the city of San Francisco, was the first man ever chosen to hold the title of International Mr. Leather in 1979. His primary career, spanning two decades, was in the international offshore oil exploration industry. But in 1991, due to disability from HIV/AIDS, David left the oil industry and began to focus his energies in assisting others suffering with the same disease.

For over twelve years, David had been a member on the Boards of Directors of three separate HIV/AIDS organizations: The Assistance Fund in Houston; HIV Wellness Center in Austin; Folsom Events (formerly SMMILE) in San Francisco. The latter has gained worldwide recognition for producing the "Up Your Alley" and "Folsom Street" Fairs. David served as Treasurer on all three boards, Administrator on one, and, in San Francisco, was Committee Chairman for the nationally acclaimed South of Market (SOMA) Bare Chest Calendar for two years. During David's tenure on these organizations, he was proud to have been a key participant in helping raise well over $1,500,000 for those in need.

David's dedicated and selfless community service has earned him a number of awards. In Houston, he was nominated for Volunteer of the Year Award and in Austin; a room at the HIV Wellness Center was named in his honor. In 2002 David received the National Leather Emerald Award from the Washington State Leather Organization, as well as the honor of having the Bare Chest Calendar Board dedicate its 2003 Calendar to him for his outstanding commitment to the project's success. Along with the Philip M. Turner "Star" Achievement Award for loyalty, devotion and outstanding achievement within the San Francisco Leather Community, David has also been presented with Certificates of Honor from the Mayor of San Francisco and the city's Board of Supervisors on two separate occasions.

At the end of 2002, David relocated to Toronto, Canada to share his life with his partner, Remi Collette, a native of Canada. Blessed by Ontario's adoption of same sex marriage legislation, David and Remi were united on July 11, 2003. Being one of the first couples taking advantage of Ontario's new law, and also due to David's having to leave the United States to be with Remi, their marriage was featured in the Canadian press as well as the New York Times. Additionally, they were selected 2003 Couple of the Year by the Pantheon of Leather.

David's commitment to helping others in need has not changed its focus, only its geographic locality. Since moving to Toronto, he became a volunteer with the Mr. Leatherman Toronto Competition organization, notably as a member of the Judge’s Selection Panel. In 2003 he was also instrumental in forming the new committee which produced an event called the Church Street Fetish Fair. In the position of Executive Producer, he successfully created the first event in August 2004, with the goal of assisting the Church Street Business Improvement Area in Toronto and the Toronto Community at large. The Board of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area has presented him with a citation for his work in producing the event. David’s charitable perseverance has also been acknowledged when he received an Award of Commendation from the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

In the last few years, both David and Remi have been outspoken concerning Gay rights and the issue of Gay marriage in the United States. Their involvement has resulted in interviews in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Reason Magazine, the Toronto Star, as well as Omni television, Global News and PBS. A documentary featuring David, Remi and four others from around the world, now living in Canada, was released in the fall of 2004 by Film Blanc and Omni television. It highlighted Gay issues internationally, delivered in six languages. It was awarded the Canadian Broadcasters Association Red Ribbon Award in the Document category in 2005.

David continues to be active in Leather events, judging many Leather contests as well as acting as emcee and/or auctioneer when requested across the United States and Canada. Instrumental in starting the Church Street Fetish Fair he served as the Executive Producer for three successful years bringing crowds to another of Toronto’s many annual cultural events. Up to the end of 2005, he was one of two directors of Leather and Bear Tours (aka Beef Dip.com) with his partner, Steve Buczek.

David became a Landed Immigrant in 2005 with intentions of becoming a Canadian citizen in 2007.

George Hester

George Hester has been a member of The Lords of Leather in New Orleans since 1988 and currently serves as the Vice President.  The club is the only gay leather Mardi Gras krewe in the nation and produces the annual Bal Masque during Carnival, which George has been crowned Lord Consort VIII and Lord King XIII.  His Pantheon Awards include South Central Man of the Year 2001 and 2007, as well as 2004's Couple of the Year with his long time partner Danny Alford, Mr. Louisiana Leather 2002.  George served on the prestigious IML 2004 judging panel and continues to judge many contests across the country today.  Along with his many fundraising activities, he is also on the International Leather Sir/boy production team and IML Contestant Handler Crew.  George gives y'all an open invitation to New Orleans to enjoy the many festivities of Mardi Gras and Southern Decadence.  He'll be sure to throw you some beads if you show him something!

Zack Marquart

Mr. Dixie Belle Leather 2002 and 2003

Zack comes to us from Kansas City where he works as an architectural design manager.  During his reign as Mr. Dixie Belle Leather his platform was H.E.L.P. (History – Education – Leadership – Participation) within the leather community which led him to becoming a founding Headmaster for Kansas City Leather University (KCLU).  He is especially proud of the success of KCLU which to date has produced over 200 workshops for thousands of participants in cities throughout the Midwest where Zack has also had the opportunity to share his deeper interests by teaching classes such as Flogging, Mummification, CBT, S&M 101-102, and Electrical Play (thanks Jim!).  Zack is an honorary member of the KC Pioneers where he has held the offices of Secretary and Pledge Master.  Zack was Executive Producer of Heart of America Leather Productions from 2003-2007 which produced the four Heart of America (HOA) titles – Woman, Man, girl and boy – as well as Co-Producer for the Mr. Dixie Belle Leather title.  A supporter of the leather boys, Zack is proud to be an associate member of the KC boys of Leather.  He is also an associate member of the Tulsa Uniform and Leather Seekers Association (T.U.L.S.A.) and Mama’s Family where he was honored with the name "Mama's True Blue". Zack's active participation and presence for the past 14 years in the Leather community has earned him two Pantheon of Leather nominations for the Midwest region as well as numerous other awards and recognitions.  He is honored to have been selected to be a judge for this year's Mid-Atlantic Leather competition and is proud to attend this event with his leather partner of 12 years.