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“Your new International Mr. Leather 2010 is….Tyler McCormick!”

Only seconds after those words had been spoken an entire room of leather men and leather women burst into tears. We had all watched as kinky history had been made. For 31 years the International Mr. Leather contest had been a symbol of pride for the leather community. In one single instance the kinky community would be rocked so hard it would it only be comparable to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Fifty-one other men had stood beside him, and he had outshone them all.

Why is this so profound? Well, you see, Tyler McCormick is wheelchair bound. Not meaningful enough for you? Consider then that Tyler was not born a man, Tyler is a female-to-male transsexual person. Think I’m getting caught up in sensationalized history? Wrong. Under the surface there is so much more to Tyler McCormick.

I stood in the audience that night only 2 feet from him as the announcement was made as a security volunteer. In his eyes I saw pride beyond measure. For two days I had watched him during the Pecs & Personality contest and during the final night held my breath during his speech. Both occasions to watch him I was amazed as his inner light shone brighter and brighter as the contest drew to a conclusion.

It was a moment which I shall never forget as long as I live. In my mind I instantly new that I was witnessing the kinky equivalent of MLK’s famous speech, Obama’s election, and many other proud and historically significantly events all rolled into one. The raw emotion of it, the atmosphere of pride in the Congress Theatre that evening was enough to floor you. I could not hold back my tears of pride. I wrapped my arms around the nearest security volunteer. We held each other, embraced with pride for our community.

As Tyler made his way around the front edge of the stage, I reached up to touch his hand and share the moment with him. I will sound like a crackpot to some of you, but I swear the energy that came from his hands when we touched was electric and so intense that I felt my muscles spasm.

Standing only several feet from me at the foot of the stage was 2010 International Ms. Leather Mollena Williams, who I had the honor of meeting only days before at Shibaricon as my instructor. In her eyes I saw something which I can not find the words to express to you. The level of pride we felt was overwhelming. The closest I could possibly come to explaining it would be to ask yourself if you have ever looked into another human beings eyes and saw straight into their soul and felt that inside for just one moment the two of you were connected in a way deeper than any other bond. That’s what it felt like.

It was only in hindsight, as I so eagerly rushed back to Shibaricon on public transit to be the harbinger of kinky news, that I realized was standing as a volunteer between the 2010 International Mr. and Ms. Leather, having never been to a leather event before. The reality of that hit me hard.

But why am I choosing to talk about this when so many other bloggers and journalists have already covered this event days ago? The answer to that question is simple….pride. It was on this evening only about an hour before the announcement that I finally understood what pride really truly meant. Perhaps even more remarkable was that only one year prior to this historical moment during Pride Month had I come out as not straight.

How did I achieve this sudden realization? It wasn’t really one pivotal moment, but the unfolding of many things at once. Already overwhelmed with the energy of Shibaricon, I was eager from the night before standing door guard at Pecs & Personality to come back this night and show my kinky side. I had only worn jeans, an IML volunteer t-shirt, chucks and a leather cap which I had borrowed from a friend at Shibaricon. Funnily enough, I didn’t even realize yet the rich culture and meaning behind leather. I was just wearing the cap as camouflage, so as to feel like I stuck out too much. I had thought that I was simply going to volunteer and see a pageant. I could not have been more wrong.

Upon the final night of the contest, I had the privilege of standing before my leather brothers wearing that very same leather cap which had been borrowed the night before. Only this time I was wearing it as my own, as it had been given to me the night before after my volunteer shift by a very special friend named Jackie. I would not understand the profoundness of this gift until later.

I didn’t have a clue as to the significance of giving leather. I didn’t understand boot black. None of this meant anything to me. Not until I started asking questions from my leather brothers, who took the time to teach me and explain our heritage.

One in particular will always have a very special place in my heart and I wish to thank him from the depths of my soul. Piglet, you know who you are, you taught me more than you will every realize. I shall never forget you as long I live. Your patience and understanding in helping a young cub to find his place, combined with the experience of IML itself taught me the meaning of pride.

Piglet taught me that leather was once alive, and if taken care of properly will last nearly forever. He taught me that by taking care of another brother or sisters boots you are showing respect for those that have come before you. He, and several others, taught me that the gift of giving leather was as to say this is your heritage. Be proud. As a U.S. Navy veteran, all of this rattled my soul and stirred sensations long forgotten. The feelings of being a part of something bigger than you. The honor of respecting the customs and traditions of those before you. Pride.

Only an hour later, I stood before the foot of the main stage. The announcement was made. All at once my experiences, my new knowledge fell upon my soul. I was overwhelmed. I began to weep. I was part of history. For the first time I was experiencing pride with my gay brothers and sisters. I was joyful and sad. Full of emotion, and proud. I know knew what it meant to have pride. I learned all of this, simply because of the gift of leather and time was offered to me, and now I carry the pride of calling myself a Leather Man.