LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Mr. Double L Hands Over the Reins |
August 26, Jon ? steps aside as Mr. Double L Leather. A tireless promoter of CAMP Rehoboth, PL Active, and other organizations, Jon has done a great job representing Rehoboth Beach. He recently shared his thoughts with us about his year. It's been an amazing year as the first Mr. Double L Leather. So many great things come to mind as I reflect over the past year: amazing new friends, experiences that provided for personal growth, and charge card receipts from some new hot looking leather! Perhaps the best part of being Mr. Double L Leather was being part of the Mid-Atlantic Leather Tribe. The leather men and women of the Mid-Atlantic region are well known for helping out in the community and immediately assisted me in putting my leather title to use in our Rehoboth Beach community. On a local basis, I am proud to have represented Rehoboth Beach and am truly honored with the support the community has shown me. Rehoboth Beach continues to grow and redefine its meaning of what "family" is. I remember coming to Rehoboth in the late 80s and early 90s and although Rehoboth touted itself as a family place, the men and women in the gay community were often excluded in that definition. If not for the continuing effort of several members in our community we would still be living with Webster's 1990 definition of family. I have seen a small town in a conservative state adopt an anti hate crimes law, welcome more and more gay owned or gay friendly businesses beyond Baltimore Avenue and in 1999 select the first Mr. Double L Leather. Once again, expanding that definition of family. We are no longer a hidden part of the "family" but a welcomed and vital part of it. Over the past year, several people asked me what do you do with a Leather title? Is it kind of like showing up at the Double L bar in leather every now and then, going to leather events, and having kinky sex? While some of this may be accurate, holding a leather title is much more than that. As a leather titleholder, you are a visible representative of the community that selected you. You can either choose to do something with that title or simply just wear the sash. I chose to do something with my title as Mr. Double L Leather 1999. During this past year I chose to be a visible part of Rehoboth by sponsoring fund raisers that promoted the Sussex County Aids Committee, CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Fund Project, and PL Active. In addition, I helped with fundraisers benefiting Metro TeenAids, Brother Help Thyself, and the Leather Archives and Museum. In my life, I believe we either choose to live in the shadow of someone who paved the way for us or we pave the road together. Certainly Rehoboth is no stranger to men and women who are out there working to improve our community. Look at the work CAMP Rehoboth has done for our community. I wish I was as dedicated as Steve and Murray. WOW! Also, Chris Riss and Tom Minnuto have promoted Rehoboth from day one. But you know each of us has the responsibility to push forward in our own area of interest. Whether it is running for a local city council office, promoting a fund raiser, lending a helping hand to a local charitable event, or voting in the upcoming election. The point is, do what you can do to move something forward that helps someone or something. Don't leave it to others to do all the work. I attended numerous Leather events over the past year and often saw the person stepping aside talk with sentiment and emotion about the new friends they had met, the support they felt from their local community, and the Leather family they were a part of. A family made up of men and women who were always there to lend a hand, to help you succeed and telling you that you can do it. As I step aside as Mr. Double L Leather 1999, I am no exception in my sentiment and emotion about this past year's experiences. I am honored to say Thank You to each and every one of you! Now it's time to select Mr. Double L Leather 2000. I know that person will have the support of not only the Leather Community but also the Rehoboth Beach family. To those men who are thinking about entering the contest, I say GO FOR IT! It will turn out to be one of the best experiences in your adult life. You will make many friends, experience personal growth, and have pride knowing you gave something back to your community. I will also be there to offer my support in any way I can. After all, I am the first Mr. Double L Leather and have a vested interest in seeing it succeed in years to come. I'm now a "Wasie" but can guarantee you I will still remain visible! Thank you Rehoboth and my Leather Tribe! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 12, Aug. 25, 2000. |