March 10 kicks off several weeks of events celebrating Leather Pride in San Diego. The first weekend features the Ms. San Diego Leather 2011 contest, where Ms. San Diego Leather 2010, Tiger, passes on the title sash.
In the middle of preparing for the festivities, Tiger spent some time with San Diego LGBT Weekly to reflect on how being involved in the local leather community has affected her life.
LGBT Weekly: How long have you been involved in the leather community?
Tiger: Seems longer, but I’ve been involved in the local San Diego Leather community for about 4 1/2 years. My first introduction to the Leather lifestyle was in Cleveland back in the early 1980s.
What drew you to leather?
Raised in the backwoods of northern Minnesota, I was bombarded with expectations to fit a certain mold. I rebelled, like any decent North Country tomboy should, and started hanging out with a local motorcycle gang. Their expressions of freedom and individuality sucked me right in. I didn’t understand it then, but once I got involved with leather, the flame flickered and I became the moth.
Who has been your mentor and/or inspiration?
Wow, that’s a tough one. I’m an observer and a deep thinker. I can’t say that any one person has mentored or inspired me, because every person I encounter feeds me in some way. There are two women here in the San Diego area that have supported me, taught me and guided me. If I have to pick my mentors and inspirations, it would be them.
Why did you want to run for Ms. San Diego Leather?
Well, after years of daily discoveries about myself, I learned two things: Apparently I have a volunteering fetish, and I am very service-oriented. I had become extremely active in the leather community here and around Southern California, and it seemed to be an appropriate next step in my leather journey.
Have you represented San Diego in other competitions as Ms. Leather?
As a current titleholder, I have not competed in any other events. Even if I could, where would I find the time? San Diego has kept me very busy. I have attended several events in and around California as a representative of the San Diego Leather Community and the Ms. San Diego Leather title. I have been a judge, an emcee and of course a volunteer at dozens of contests and events.
What have been some of your major achievements in the past year?
I started a couple of repeating events: a quarterly Women’s party, which seems to be a huge success, and also a monthly Leather/BDSM motorcycle riding group. Both started out as part of my title year requirements and were intended to be one-time only events, but the community enjoyed them, so I opted to continue them.
I am not sure those would be considered major achievements, but I think every little bit helps us grow. I tried to stir up some fun and enthusiasm this year, which I guess could be considered an achievement. Sometimes, and especially with the volunteering aspect of a lot of our groups, we tend to get burned out or flat-out bored. I hope I built a little more fun into things.
As a representative of the women’s leather community this past year, what do you tell people who want to know more about the community? How would you suggest they get involved?
That’s easy! I tell them to volunteer. The best way to meet people and learn about any community is to volunteer. Volunteering gives you a purpose or a reason to be somewhere, instead of just hanging around the fringe feeling weird or out of place.
When I first got involved in the leather community, I volunteered for door shifts. I saw or met everyone who came in. If they asked me anything, I simply said, “I have no idea! I’m brand new here!” and then I’d give them a big grin.
What are you going to miss about being Ms. San Diego Leather?
Well, there’s the title sash. I turn it over to the next Ms. San Diego Leather Saturday, March 12, at the contest finale. That will likely be pretty emotional.
What else am I going to miss? I can honestly say nothing, and here’s why. I will always be Ms. San Diego Leather 2010; therefore there is nothing to miss. A good friend told me you don’t step down, you only step aside. I will continue to serve San Diego and the leather community. So, if you need anything, just let me know! I’m not going anywhere.
San Diego Leather Pride Schedule
VIP tickets are $75 and are available online. Online costs for just the contests are $10 each. For more information, log on to mrsandiegoleather.org.
March 10
- All Club Night at the Joyce Beers Community Center (1220 Cleveland Ave., in Hillcrest); 7:30 p.m., $5 (free with VIP ticket).
March 11
- Ms. San Diego Leather Meet and Greet at The Hole (2820 Lytton Street, in Point Loma); 8 p.m., free.
March 12
- Ms. San Diego Leather Contest at Rich’s (1051 University Ave., in Hillcrest); 5:30 p.m. with VIP ticket, or 6:30 p.m. general admission, $15.
March 13
- Ms. Victory Brunch at Urban Mo’s (308 University Ave., in Hillcrest), 11 a.m., $20 (free with VIP ticket).
- Kinky Classes at the Joyce Beers Community Center (1220 Cleveland Ave., in Hillcrest); 1:30 p.m., $5 (free with VIP ticket).
March 17
- Titleholder Night at Numbers (3811 Park Blvd., in Hillcrest), 7:30 p.m., $5 (free with VIP ticket)
March 18
- Mr. San Diego Leather Meet and Greet at The Hole (2820 Lytton Street, in Point Loma); 8 p.m., free.
March 19
- Mr. San Diego Leather Contest at Rich’s (1051 University Ave., in Hillcrest); 5:30 p.m. with VIP ticket, or 6:30 p.m. general admission, $15; includes LLBear Dance after.
March 20
- Mr. Victory Brunch at Urban Mo’s (308 University Ave., in Hillcrest), 11 a.m., $20 (free with VIP ticket).
- Afterglow at Redwing Bar and Grill (4012 30th Street, in North Park), 4 p.m., free.
