Equal Ireland - little island with a big voice

Ireland has become a 'Rainbow Republic'. And what a celebratory past few weeks it has been across the island. Both the 'greening' of gay marriage across the land and my leather brother's reception at IML (International Mister Leather) has recently pushed Ireland up the global gay index. 

Ireland has certainly shook off any perception of it being a traditionally conservative (Catholic) country with the result of last month's Marriage Equality Referendum. If you're part of the global LGBT community and haven't heard, Ireland has become the first country in the world - and amongst the twenty other countries where same-sex marriage is legally recognised - to get a majority 'YES' outcome by public vote. To have achieved this in just over 20 years, since homosexuality was decriminalised in 1993, is without doubt transformational and progressive. As the proactive 'YES Equality' campaign proclaims, Ireland is 'truly a nation of equals'. While there are still further steps to take to mainstream greater equality, the constitutional revision is a wonderful platform to advance diversity and difference in our increasingly pluralistic society - one that better embraces kinkier lifestyles and fetishism. 

Running parallel to this momentous occasion occurring in Ireland was our fellow Leatherman, Kevin Murphy, the winner of Mr Leather Ireland, competing at this year's IML in Chicago. It was a huge success for our fellow Irish Leatherman to be runner up in the competition. Let's hear from the man himself: "Coming First Runner Up IML was actually my third victory of that weekend. First came the same-sex marriage victory, and just before taking my place on the podium I proposed to my partner on stage, in front of 1500 people, and he said yes :-) What does this mean for the leather and fetish community in Ireland? It means that not only has Ireland established itself as somewhere that has an emerging and exciting kink scene, but also as one that is welcoming to all LGBT people. The referendum was historic globally, and at IML attention couldn't help but be drawn to our country. Hopefully many of them will visit and experience our leather and fetish community in the flesh (or in their leathers, as the case may be...). Ireland is often considered a dream destination because of its history, both real and mythological. That weekend, with the referendum, in one grand gesture we managed to illustrate to the world that Ireland is not the conservative stereotype once thought; Ireland is welcoming to all and you can come be yourself. It also means a lot for us locally. Hopefully it will encourage more people to come out and join socially, in what has been created over the last few years. I'm looking forward to seeing how the year ahead takes shape!"

As if this wasn't enough for an Irish kinkster to celebrate in such a short period of time, GEARED Ireland also had its 2nd birthday party in Dublin in May. It was a night full of cake, kink and camaraderie!  As a regular patron and huge supporter of GEARED Ireland, I am delighted they are into their third year of operation. Long may it continue to be an extremely welcoming event for all kinksters and a haven for leather men in Ireland, and beyond. If you're planning a visit Dublin in the future, ensure you check their events calendar and pack your leathers (other kink gear is available, but I would prefer to see you in leathers!)  

This is the new Ireland, the new normal.  

The Irish Kinkster Kings

On Saturday 17 January Ireland elected three new kinkster Kings for 2015 - Mr Leather Ireland, Mr Rubber Ireland and Mr GEARED Ireland, representing three strands within the fetish scene.

Several European guys joined GEARED organisers and patrons for a weekend of leather, laughter and lining up on stage (for the competition). We were joined by Daniel Dumont (Secretary of the ECMC), Arnaud (Mr Leather Europe), Max (International Mr Rubber), Nordine (Mr Leather Belgium), Tyrone (German Mr Leather) and Nigel (BLUF webmaster).

The lead-up to competition night at GEARED Ireland was filled with activities for our European visitors in Dublin. There was some drinking in Patnibar, a sightseeing bus tour of Dublin, and some pouring pints of the 'black stuff' at Guinness' Storehouse.

And so the big night arrived! The stage was set and the venue was filling up with loads of fetish guys excited about the night ahead - and eager to find out who the 2015 titleholders will be. By the time of the competition, the place was jammed to the rafters. The club's atmosphere was electric, if a little hot and sweaty with all the guys in gear. Perfect! There was a great buzz backstage between the guys that entered the competition, and I was delighted to be a part of the 'gang' of contestants this year. I have to say, there was great camaraderie between everyone, not only on the night, but in the weeks leading up to the competition.

Photo (left to right): Tyrone (German Mr Leather), Nordine (Mr Leather Belgium), Conor (Mr GEARED Ireland), Kevin (Mr Leather Ireland), Collie (Mr Rubber Ireland), Max (International Mr Rubber) and Arnaud (Mr Leather Europe).

And the winners were... Let's hear from our new Irish titleholders themselves:

Mr Leather Ireland (Kevin)

"What can I say about the titleholder competition at GEARED Ireland? Phenomenal experience! To see such a diverse community come together and create an electric atmosphere like that was amazing. What I witnessed was the epitome of inclusiveness where no one felt left out, helped I'm sure by there being three different titles held. It reinforced that if you put effort and persistence into something you believe in, it can be achieved. The organisers and volunteers get my full commendations for this, as well as all the contestants, and those that attended. I don't think it was just any one thing that made the night a success, it was the combination of everything, from everyone. As they say, the whole is definitely greater than the sum of it's parts, but at the same time each part is as necessary as the other. If we can keep this momentum going, we can only go from strength to strength."

Mr Rubber Ireland (Collie)
"The 3 Kings event was truly amazing, definitely one for the history books. It was great to see so many people, from home and abroad, turn up and support a momentous event for our fetish community. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and everyone was looking forward to the festivities of the night. When I was waiting backstage listening for the result to be called out for Mr Rubber Ireland, I was looking at the other contestants so I could congratulate them before they walked out on stage. I was in shock when I heard my name being called out, I couldn't believe it! When I walked out to the roar of applause from the crowd who voted for me, I was overwhelmed. I felt, and still do feel, honoured and humble at being selected as Mr Rubber Ireland and being chosen to represent the Irish Fetish Community at home and abroad. I was also delighted at being presented a new rubber hoodie made especially by E7 Gear. It is an awesome rubber hoodie with the Irish flag and shamrock on it. I will wear it proudly with the sash when I am out representing the community wherever I go. I shall endeavour to be the best Mr Rubber Ireland I can be so that people who voted for me know that they made the right choice."

Mr GEARED Ireland (Conor)
"Attempting to fill Brett's (the 2014 Mr. GEAR Ireland's) big boots is daunting to say the least, he made a huge impact in Europe last year. The support I got on the night was absolutely fantastic and I am so proud to stand up and represent our community, and hopefully I will live up to and hopefully exceed what Brett did last year for Ireland. Already I have plans to run the London Marathon in aid of Marriage Equality in April and will definitely get over to Berlin, Vienna and Bristol over the course of the year to meet up with my kinky brothers across Europe."

Our host for the night was Karl, who did an excellent job at introducing the contestants to the audience with his very professional style and cheeky Irish charm. A huge thanks has to go to the GEARED volunteers for holding a very successful night. The Irish titleholders were elected on the basis of both a professional judging panel and the audience vote. Sincere gratitude to everyone for turning up and showing their support for GEARED Ireland. 

GEARED Ireland will have a busy few months ahead with a bondage workshop, delivered by Sir Dart and Sir Bart, on 21 March, then their first joint BLUF Ireland / GEARED Ireland night planned for 18 April, followed by their second birthday party in May.  GEARED Ireland looks forward to welcoming our international fetish friends to future nights. Please do come along and, of course, enjoy great Irish craic!

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our 3 well-deserved winners. And I look forward to joining them at future fetish events this year at home and abroad to both celebrate the Irish fetish community and promote it on our travels. Next stop, well stops, I should say, will be Amsterdam Bear Pride (including a BLUF Amsterdam Social) and then Berlin at Easter with many of the GEARED and fetish guys from across Ireland.

New Year, Support GEAR

With 2015 upon us, it is that time of the year again for reflection, as well as celebration. While I am not one to obsess about New Year's resolutions, I do like to use the beginning of the new year to take stock of my (leather) life, make new goals and consider how I can help grow as a person - and help grow the fetish leather community.

Just recently, news broke on the closure of Argos, one of Amsterdam's longstanding gay leather bars. It is undoubtedly disappointing to hear this news. However, unfortunately, this is not the first established leather bar to close its door to patrons over the past few years. As one trawls through the internet to read about leather history and the growth - and demise - of leather bars, there is definitely an argument emerging that the cause of the decline in attendance to such bars has something to do with the proliferation of social communication through mobile apps and websites online.

In the 'good old days', before we became 'wired' to each other via our computers, iPads and smart phones, a leatherman would have used leather/fetish bars to go it alone, cruise the bar and darkrooms, and seek out pleasure with other leathermen. However, we have forgotten another important dimension of the leather bar, one that fulfils non-sexual encounters of bonding and camaraderie. Many leathermen, in the past, would have also frequented such bars to socialise, have a drink and chat with other likeminded fetishists (and maybe cruise the bar and darkrooms, too, if the notion took them).  I, personally, don't think this desire, to socialise, has totally dissolved in our increasingly online connected world. (Well, hopefully not, anyway.) The social/sex dichotomy bound up in contemporary leather bars is having consequences on their survival. What is the future of the leather bar, with the rapid growth in connected fetishists through their connected devices? (I don't intend to answer this question. Not now, anyhow. But hopefully it will make you think about how you use - or why you don't avail of - your local leather/fetish bars in your area, or help you consider how we can reinvigorate the role of these bars given the growth of online communication.)

While such new social norms and activities provide some explanation for the drop in numbers, there is another argument that we, the leather community, need to be more proactive and visit our leather/fetish bars more often. Reflecting on the closure of Argos, Leatherscot insists, "stop moaning and get off your ass and do something about it." What we need to do is to get our gear on and get out to our nearest bar. We need to celebrate the fact that these bars are available to us, to wear our gear with pride, as not every city or town is lucky enough to have such bars. Maybe it's time for each of us to make a resolution to support leather in 2015, before more of our leather bars face closure.

This is happening at a time when there is a continued growth in kink within our community. As a relatively young leatherman myself, I do get the sense that there are many other gay men genuinely interested in leather, and more broadly in kink, particularly across the island of Ireland - and beyond (from my conversations through Recon, BLUF, and other gay social networking platforms). Only the other day, did a non-fetish friend of mine message me to say he got a book on leathersex for Christmas; this young man is surely going to be part of the leather brotherhood by the time he finishes the book! We need to encourage these young gay men along to leather/fetish bars, to help grow our community and the 'safe spaces' within which we can get together.

This is why GEAR Ireland is such a welcome addition to the fetish scene in Ireland. The GEAR nights provide a safe and friendly environment that caters for those with a wide range of fetish interests to socialise with other kinksters. It enables serious leathermen and curious outsiders an opportunity to socialise in various degrees of leather attire, and other fetish gear, such as rubber, biker, military, sports, skinhead and work/uniform gear.  GEAR Ireland was established in May 2013 to be a regular social night in Dublin's fetish scene, and is hosted in the basement bar of Fibber Magees. The success of GEAR Ireland can be attributed to the continued efforts of the core team organising the events and those volunteering, as well as the guys who regularly attend, from all across the island of Ireland, and sometimes from further afield.

The great work of GEAR over the past 18 months has culminated with the announcement of the 'Three Kings' 2015 Titleholders' Competition, occurring on Saturday 17 January 2015. As many of us know, or can appreciate, this type of event takes a huge amount of preparation and planning - and thanks have to go to all those involved.

This is a very special event in the fetish scene on the island, which is hosting the first ever Mr Leather Ireland and Mr Rubber Ireland competitions, alongside the second year of Mr GEAR Ireland. Like many other GEAR supporters, I am delighted to hear that the current Mr Leather Europe, Mr Leather Belgium and German Mr Leather will all be joining us on the competition night in January.

GEAR Ireland - and the committed organising team - has certainly put our Celtic fringe nation on the fetish map! However, the success of GEAR can only continue if those who have expressed an interest and attend events regularly continue to come along to their events. The closure of Argos, Europe's first leather bar, is a stark reminder that we can't take our leather bars for granted. They need our support, the support of the leather and fetish community. Let's celebrate them, and make a commitment in 2015 to attend regularly and help grow our fetish community.

We are at a pivotal moment in history in the struggle for securing the survival of fetish/leather bars. It's a time when unity, inclusion and support are paramount.

#SupportLeather in #Leather2015

#SupportGEAR

Leather hugs and best wishes for 2015.

Leathercolt