Assless Chaps In the Windy City

The 29th annual International Mr. Leather Contest is harnessed up and ready go May 24 through May 28 (Memorial Day weekend) in Chicago. According to the website, IML began in the late seventies when 400 leathermen got together to name the first International Mr. Leather. Today, the contest is sponsored by Miller Beer and the weekend of activities — from a leather market to the Black and Blue Ball — is expected to draw upwards of 15,000 people. Leatherwomen are also honored in annual ceremonies, and the IML website clearly states that men, women and transgendered leatherfolk are welcome.

If you want to attend, you'll have to stay at the overflow hotel — The Palmer House is already sold out. For more details, visit IML. And for those of us who won't be able to gawk and drool over all the buff leathermen, I'm posting a photo of last year's winner, Bo Ladashevska (center), and the runners up. Please Sir, may I have another?

Roar,
MM

PS... Anyone know if Vermont will be represented at this year's competition?