Mr. Fire Island Leather Contest Marks Its 20th Anniversary on May 19
BY BRUCE-MICHAEL GELBERT
9 Messrs Fire Island Leather, in 2019 (left to right) 2001 Bruce-Michael Gelbert, 2005 Joseph Saporito, 2007 Diego Vargas, 2012 Mark Nayden, 2013 Candido Soares, 2015 Edd Clark, 2017 Sir Joseph, 2018 CB Kirby & 2019 Bruce Michael II - photo by Mel Flythe
The first Mr. Fire Island Leather contest took place at the Ice Palace at the Grove Hotel on May 19, 2001. The hosts were Steven, creator of the contest, and Ariel Sinclair, co-host of most of the contests since then. Sal Piro, then Entertainment Coordinator for the Ice Palace, was the Tally Judge and Custom Leatherwear Designer David Samuel Menkes, creator of the winners’ sashes and most of our vests, was one of the judges, as he has been for all subsequent contests. Contestants were to make entrances in Dress Leather and Meat Rack or ‘raunch’ wear, to act out or narrate a fantasy scene, set in the Fire Island Meat Rack, or elsewhere, and winners were to be named what was then called Mr. Fire Island Leatherman and/or Most Popular.
I arrived in Cherry Grove, with my leather, which travels with me, for the first time that season, earlier that week, learned about the inaugural contest, and decided to enter. The contenders I faced were the late Jack Ebert, who had been President of the now-defunct Long Island Spuds; Todd Solis, who would win Most Popular; and Jerry Viteritti, considered a ringer, as he worked at the hotel. For my fantasy narrative, I described what I experienced at my first Mardi Gras in New Orleans that February. Steven said that I looked truly surprised when I won. One of the judges said that I won because my leather was my own, as I was asked its provenance and could describe it in detail.
My prizes were air fare to Chicago for International Mr. Leather (IML) 2002, which I asked Steven to change to air fare to New Orleans for Mardi Gras 2002, and a gift certificate for David Samuel Menkes’ Custom Leatherwear, which I used to commission a sash. One had not been awarded that night—in all subsequent years, it has commissioned for the winner-to-be. I also asked Steven to change the name of the contest to either Mr. Fire Island Leather or Fire Island Leatherman, as I felt that Mr. Fire Island Leatherman was redundant, and Mr. Fire Island Leather was what it became. My sash is the only one that says Mr. Fire Island Leatherman. Ariel still calls the contest that.
New York City-based Excelsior MC, absent that first season, soon became the competition’s co-producer and the Saturday night contest became the centerpiece of the club’s Fire Island Leather “Lust for Life” weekend. Mr. Fire Island Leather has usually participated in the Fourth of July Cherry Grove Invasion of the Pines, often as part of the entourage of the Homecoming Queen, elected the week after Mr. Leather, and is sometimes her escort. Cherry Grove has had a Pride Parade since 1999, and generally includes a Leather Contingent, made up of Messrs Fire Island Leather and their friends and loved ones. Mr. Fire Island Leather has often been a judge of the Miss Fire Island Pageant. In 2015 and 2017, the Leather contest took place at Island Breeze Restaurant, first when the Grove Hotel burned down and then when its permit situation was still being worked out. This almost happened again in 2019. Porsche has been the contest co-host during the years that Ariel was not. Peter B, Rob Ferri, and Edd Clark were co-hosts after Steven. Wendy Lewis and Richard Kennedy have succeeded Sal as Tally Judge. The 2020 and 2021 contests—and Excelsior’s Leather Weekend—were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 19 titleholders have been: 2001 this writer; 2002 Peter Boruchowitz, known as Peter B, who officiated at the wedding of two Messrs Fire Island Leather in 2011; 2003 Master James; 2004 ‘East Village Stud’ Jeff Goodman; 2005 Joseph Saporito, my legal spouse of the past 10 years, winning in the only year that I recused myself from judging; 2006 Master Tom; 2007 Diego Vargas; 2008 Steven, the contest’s creator; 2009 Steve Rodriguez, of Connecticut and the Pines; 2010 the late Rob Ferri; 2011 Danny Logan, who had also been the Ice Palace’s Dallas Dubois; 2012 Mark Nayden; 2013 Candido Soares; 2014 Victor Skolnik; 2015 Edd Clark; 2016 Cesar Augusto Barragan Diaz; 2017 Sir Joseph; 2018 CB Kirby, who was also Mr. Eagle NYC Leather 2011; and 2019 Bruce Michael II, now in the third season of his reign. Other contestants have included Rick Webber, before he became Mr. Eagle NYC Leather 2007; CJ Mingolelli; Gabriel Rivas, Excelsior MC Historian; and Rich McFeaters. Victor, Edd, and Joseph have also held the office of Excelsior MC President. Beside Excelsior, Mr. Long Island Leather titleholders, usually members of the Long Island Ravens, have had a presence in the Mr. Fire Island Leather contest.
The Mr. Fire Island Leather contest takes place near the beginning of the Ice Palace’s season, as the Miss Fire Island Pageant occurs near the end. The latter started in the 1960s and, though it also was not held during last year’s emergency, continues to this day. Mr. Fire Island Leather is meant to promote Leather visibility in Cherry Grove and the Pines, by participating in community events, and Fire Island Leather visibility to the larger Leather community, outside the Grove and Pines. Hopefully, the Mr. Fire Island Leather contest will be revived in 2022.
Photographer Koitz has been chronicling the gay people and events of Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines for more than a decade and a half in work that has appeared in newspapers and been displayed in art shows. Koitz’s clear and sensitive photos find a dramatic setting in a new art book entitled “Gay Fire Island: It’s Good to Be Us,” with foreword by Patrick ...
