Mr QLD Leather Takes on the World

By Toby Longhurst

Queensland's own Mr Leather Australia & New Zealand, Pierre Brand is preparing to represent Australia at the upcoming International Mr Leather competition being held in Chicago this week.

Speaking from The United States, Pierre told QNews, “I'm excited, very excited. It is going to be massive. I believe that there are 54 contestants at this stage. I've done a few of these competitions before but this one is quite serious. They really go for the history and the leather terminology questions so I have been reading up about the leather scene in the States.”

Pierre was named Mr QLD Leather at last year's Corium and later Mr Leather Australia & New Zealand at Collingwood Town Hall, Melbourne last September.

Pierre's success on the international leather scene comes at a time when Brisbane's own leather scene is growing in leaps and bounds. Boot Co Brisbane recently announce that 2009 will mark the first ever Brisbane Leather Pride Festival.

Running between 28th June and 4th July, the week long festival will include a series of new events mixed in with some old favourites and is open to men of all ages who are interested in leather, uniforms or denim.

Joshua Hart, President of Boot Co Brisbane told QNews, “We set up the festival to support and identify the boundaries of the leather community in Brisbane. Boot Co is extremely excited about the prospect of developing community identity, sexual health and developing strong networks.”

“Boot Co has always been very proud of the funds our members continually raise to assist the community in which we live, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS. We are very pleased that the Brisbane Leather Pride Festival will allow us to broaden our fundraising to other community based issues which this year will include the prevention of suicide amongst our LGBT youth”, Mr Hart said.

Brisbane's Leather Pride festival will kick off with an official launch Party to be held at The Sportsman Hotel on Sunday 28 June, welcoming all comers to a week of leather celebration.

The festival, which has been endorsed and included as part of the Brisbane Pride Festival, will include a movie screening of Daddy and the Muscle Academy; a Boot Co dinner where all political correctness can be forgotten while being served by hot male, leather clad wenches; and rope bondage and BDSM workshops that are offered for both curious beginners and those with more experience.

The Mr Queensland Leather competition is always one of the highlights in the Boot Co calendar and with last year's winner flying the Boot Co flag internationally, there will be more interest than ever before.

All of the Mr QLD Leather action gets underway at Tom's Bar at The Sportsman Hotel on Friday 2 July, where the first round of judging will take place before the winner is decided at Corium.

Corium is the hottest leather party in Brisbane and every year attracts huge numbers of men. Being hosted in a new venue this year, Corium will be spread across two rooms and a secluded outdoor garden courtyard featuring live entertainment throughout the night.

And of course what is a party without an after party? For those who don't want the night to end, the official After Corium Party will be pumping from 2am at The Mineshaft Bar at The Sportsman Hotel.

For more information or to enter Mr Queensland Leather please visit www.bootco.org.au

To read an exclusive interview with Boot Co Brisbane's President Joshua Hart, please visit page 27 in this issue of QNews.