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demitgibbs · 6 years

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Mr. Ramrod Talks Pageants, Pups & Barbra

For most Americans, Memorial Day weekend marks the (unofficial) start of summer and, weather permitting, the itinerary is built around outdoor activities: parades, pool parties, barbecues, baseball games, and maybe an inaugural jaunt to the beach.

In the leather community, things are… a little different.

Memorial Day weekend is when the International Mr. Leather competition, perhaps the premiere leather event of the year, is held in Chicago, and the festivities — few of which occur outdoors, oddly enough — include a host of title competitions, a leather market (shopping!), massive dance parties, kink seminars, puppy yoga, fetish demonstrations, and a number of informal events (for 3 to 300) that don’t appear on the official calendar.

It’s part pageant, part pigfest, and a helluva good time. Or so I’ve heard.

Last October, Scot Blumstein, a former runner-up, earned the title of Mr. Ramrod, so he’ll be proudly sporting that sash — and hoping to snatch another one — in Chicago next weekend. We caught up with Scot for a little chat as he was breaking in the new leather he’ll be wearing on stage.

You’re a native New Yorker. Do you know the score by now?

I love that song, Bill. As for the score, I’m constantly learning. I still consider myself a work in progress.

When did you come to South Florida? What brought you here?

I moved here in January 1995. My dad passed away suddenly, and I moved here for six months to take care of my mom, and I wound up staying.

Last October you were named Mr. Ramrod. What’s involved? Swimsuit, evening gown, and talent competitions?

There’s an interview that’s not seen by the audience. Then onstage there’s a spoken fantasy scene, a pop question, and three gear changes: formal leather, jockstrap, and bar wear. The judges want to see how comfortable you are in your gear, how you handle yourself in front of an audience, and whether your personality shines through.

You were the runner-up in 2015. Did you do anything differently this time? Or had circumstances changed?

I was more well-known in the community because I’d been promoting and supporting leather events for the last three years. I looked out into the audience [during last October’s contest], and I knew everyone. All of my friends were there to support me. The host of the contest, Bill Hoeppner, asked the audience, “How many of you get Scot’s email blast every week?” and I saw everyone’s hand go up. I will have that memory for the rest of my life.

You’ll be representing Ramrod — and all of South Florida — at IML over Memorial Day weekend. Is it different from the Mr. Ramrod contest?

It’s a huge deal. It’s basically the Academy Awards for the leather community. Mr. GayDays Leather and I are the only contestants representing Florida. It’s nerve-wracking standing on a stage in front of your peers and being judged. I’ll be competing with men from around the world.

How many contestants will there be?

This is the biggest IML class so far. We are 72 contestants, including 15 title holders from Europe.

What’s your strategy?

To be myself, show my personality, and bond with and support my brothers.

I’ve heard people dismiss IML and the feeder contests as “beauty pageants.” Others complain that it’s all political, that the winners are determined based on who they know. How would you respond to those perceptions?

The winners are picked by earning points for their interview, gear, and personality. It’s like a job interview, and the judges are looking for the best candidate. Sometimes they get it right, and sometimes they blow it.

Having a title opens doors and offers you opportunities. It also puts a target on your back. You are the face and name, and that comes with responsibility. Three years ago I was first runner-up. I decided to be the best first runner up that I could be. I was disappointed that I didn’t win that first contest. But now I realize that it was a blessing; I made a name for myself and got involved, when most first runners-up walk away and disappear.

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PHOTOS: Scott Portugal for LeatherWerks

I saw a brief bio of you online that reads, “He enjoys gardening, the music of Barbra Streisand, going to the gym, and the leather subculture.” Exactly how much do you love Barbra?

I really love Barbra Streisand! Through her talent and sheer will she made others see her beauty. She changed the concept of what was considered attractive. When I was lonely, depressed, or heartbroken, her music and her movies consoled me. She was an outsider who made good, so I thought I could do the same.

How long have you been going to Ramrod?

I’ve been going to Ramrod since it opened 24 years ago. I’m usually there every weekend. It’s my home bar.

What first drew you to the place?

When I lived in New York, I was a preppy boy who worked on Wall Street. When I moved to South Florida in 1995, there were three leather bars: The Eagle, Jackhammer, and Ramrod. I walked into Ramrod and saw these muscular, masculine men wearing harnesses and bar vests, and I thought that they were the sexiest men I’d ever seen. I wanted to be like them.

I bought my first harness at LeatherWerks. I started working out, showing skin, and getting attention. Ramrod was a revelation. It felt like home.

What keeps you coming back?

It’s a fun bar, with great music and friendly people. Now that I’m Mr. Ramrod, I go to represent, meet, and mingle. When I go to events in other cities and I wear my title sash, everyone knows the bar, and they want to share their Ramrod stories.

You’ve been hosting monthly Leather Incursions for the last three years. What happens when a group of leathermen and women show up unannounced at a bar, club, or restaurant that’s not a regular leather haunt?

Leather Incursions were started to demystify and humanize the leather scene. We want the general public to see us and become comfortable around us — and to ask questions. Usually, by the end of the night, the owner or manager [of the venue] will come over and say, “You guys are fun and spend money. You are welcome back anytime.”

Do you find that a lot of gay men have masculinity issues — whether that means consciously embracing all things masculine, rejecting all those things, or just being insecure in their masculinity? What’s your take?

As a kid I was called “sissy” and “fairy” and made fun of. As a young adult I felt empowered wearing a leather motorcycle jacket. I embraced über masculinity because it made me feel more confident. I carry myself differently when I wear leather, and people treat and respond to me in a different way.

You’re a member of the South Florida Minotaurs and a former board member of The Lambda Men’s Brotherhood, and you do volunteer work for both The SMART Ride and the Comprehensive AIDS Program in West Palm Beach. Have you always been a joiner?

I’ve been doing volunteer work since I was in high school. As a young queer kid in the ’70s, I wasn’t popular or accepted. Volunteering was a way for me to meet people and feel like I was a part of something.

Besides the Leather Incursions, you host or promote a bunch of other events, including the monthly Enforced Dress Code party at Ramrod, Drag Bingo at Georgie’s Alibi, Fetish Rendezvous at Southern Nights, and Onyx Deep South Events. Have you always been a Julie McCoy?

I’ve always been an organizer. When I moved here, I was an outsider looking to get involved, searching for a brotherhood and a community. That was difficult for me to find. I’m basically a shy person. Promoting events was a way to help me get out of my shell by focusing on making others feel welcome.

You drive down to Fort Lauderdale from West Palm Beach several nights a week for events. Are you a full-time leatherman, or is there also a day job?

I wear leather every day to show my support and commitment to leather, even if it’s wearing just a wristband. I have a landscape design business.

How can people get onto your weekly email blast?

I post the blast on my Facebook page, so they can friend me. I send the blast out via text every Wednesday, so people can plan their weekends.

Do you see young queers still coming into the leather scene?

Yes, I do. I walk around Ramrod every weekend and introduce myself and say hello to everyone. I see young men there, and they are excited to embrace the scene.

What’s new in the leather scene? Have you noticed any scenes, fetishes, toys, or tools that are gathering steam?

Puppy play and puppy gear is huge and becoming a big part of the scene, as is rubber gear and neoprene. The next generation has a new vitality and enthusiasm. I’m curious to see how they will impact the scene as they get more involved.

What’re you gonna do if you win International Mr. Leather? Off to Disney?

It’s easier for me to handle things in small pieces. My personal goal this year was to enjoy and experience MAL [Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend] in D.C., then enjoy CLAW [Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend], and now to soak in the brotherhood of IML.

I get overwhelmed when I think of the big picture. If I win, I will continue to support and represent Ramrod and the South Florida leather community.

I really couldn’t do this job without the support and love of my partner Randy Goforth, who has been with me every step of the way. Or without the guidance and support of my mentors: Rich Rodriguez, Jason Pelky, Bill Hoeppner, Kirk Ruben, and Bearman. And, of course, my sponsors: Ramrod, LeatherWerks, Stompers Boots, Paul Michael Leather, Pervyology, and Tribal Son.

We wish you luck in Chicago. Any last words?

This past year has been a blast. I say it all the time: “I love my job!”

If you want to wish Scot luck yourself, you can catch him Friday, May 18 from 8–10pm for Leather Incursion at DrYnk (2255 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors) or on his home turf Sunday, May 20 for Enforced Dress Code (three pieces of leather or fetish wear plus boots!) at Ramrod (1508 NE 4th Ave, Ft Lauderdale).

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/05/16/mr-ramrod-talks-pageants-pups-barbra/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/173958524180

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cynthiajayusa · 7 years

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Man of Many Talents: A Q&A with David Richwine

David Richwine is an HIV nurse, educator, and healthcare policy advocate who works for leading pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb in the position of National Advocacy and Policy Lead, U.S Virology. He is also a leather title holder, currently reigning as Mr. Ramrod.

An honors graduate of New York University’s College of Nursing, Richwine is a long-time LGBT rights activist and Army veteran. An avid amateur athlete, he has competed at three Gay Games and one World Outgames in cycling and marathons, garnering a total of four gold, three silver and one bronze medals. Currently he is seen frequently on the tennis courts at Hagen Park in Wilton Manors. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Richwine spent most of his adult life living in NYC, relocating to Fort Lauderdale 12 years ago. He is openly sober and openly on PrEP. It was a pleasure to sit down with David for this Hotspots exclusive interview, just weeks before he travels to compete in International Mr. Leather (IML) in Chicago.

Q: Did you always want to be a nurse? What prompted you to get your degree in nursing? A: No, all through high school I wanted to be a horse trainer. I had some success at that in Pennsylvania, where I grew up, and in Kentucky. It was a dream job for me. The decisions to enlist in the Army and go to nursing school were a direct result of the HIV epidemic. The Army, because I always wanted to – and, like many gay men in 1984, I had no idea what was next, so I joined the army. I made the decision to go to nursing school later.

Q: How long were you in the U.S. Army? Tell us about that experience… A: I was on active duty for four years. I loved being in the Army as I loved the discipline, the order and chain of command. Of course, I had to be closeted – it was 1985, even pre- “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. But I was stationed at a big Army Medical Center, Fitzsimmons, in Denver and most people just looked the other way, even my Colonel. I pretty much openly dated an officer, also a no-no, a captain. I was an E-4 (enlisted 4), basically a corporal, called a specialist. I was in the pharmacy and a bit of a star because I always got a perfect score, a 300, on my bi-annual physical fitness test every single time. In January 1989 I was due to re-up. My next station would be Hawaii. I really wanted to go to Hawaii. One day my colonel came up to me in the pharmacy and asked me to take a walk with him. I’ll never forget the sadness and kindness in his voice when he said, ‘I never thought I could like a man like you (meaning gay), but I do. I have to recommend you don’t re-up. Under [my command] I can protect you, but someday someone’s going to call you on this thing and you’ll end up with a dishonorable discharge, or worse, and you don’t deserve it.’ Even now, it brings tears to my eyes. I left active duty with an honorable discharge and went into the reserves, were I stayed for seven more years.

Q: You work in the HIV field as a nurse, treatment educator and as a policy advocate. How long have you been working in the field and how rewarding are these jobs? A: I’ve been involved in one way or another for over 30 years. After the Army, I took a couple of years to decide between nursing school and pharmacy school. At the time there was no treatment and I wanted to work directly with the people living with AIDS, so I chose nursing. At first, during school rotations and later when I started working on the unit, it was a revolving door of patients who didn’t make it. When combination therapy came out a couple years later, the very same guys – most of my patients were guys – that wouldn’t have made it did a complete turnaround and were able to get out of the hospital and stay out. My belief in HIV treatment, based on seeing that change first-hand, is unshakable. That’s why when the pharmaceutical companies offered me the job of doing direct patient treatment education, I jumped on it. I’ve been very fortunate to have a job for the past 18 years that is emotionally rewarding every single day. For the past four of those years, I’ve worked directly with HIV policy advocates. Many of these are people I’ve admired for years. The opportunity to contribute in this way now, as I approach the end of my own career, well I can’t describe how good it makes me feel. A couple of years ago, I sat next to long-time AIDS activist, Matt Sharp, at a company meeting. We had a brief conversation about AIDS Survivor Syndrome that resulted in The ReUnion Project, a project focused on the psycho-social issues of long-term survivors, both positive and negative, of the epidemic. The project had a very successful summit in collaboration with The Pride Center here in Fort Lauderdale in January. I attended the opening event in gear, in my role as Mr. Ramrod.

Q: How were the experiences competing in the Gay Games and World Out Games and how did it feel to win all those medals? A: I believe the Gay Games are still the second largest amateur sporting event in the world. Everything – from the opening to the closing ceremonies – is a source of pride for me. My first Gay Games was in Amsterdam in 1998. I ran the marathon. It was my first one and just finishing was a big deal for me even though I didn’t get a medal. I ran four more. My best marathon time, 3:56:13 was in the Chicago Marathon in 2000. I was injured, but knew I was on a good time and kept going. Unfortunately, that also made it my last marathon. I had a planter fascist and had to give up running. That’s when I took up cycling. One of the guys I rode with all the time in NYC was planning to go to Sydney in 2002. I decided to go with him and that’s where I won my first medal, silver, in the individual road event. I immediately starting looking toward 2006, which was the same year the organizer pulled the games from Montreal and moved them to Chicago. I won gold in all three of my events in Chicago, but unquestionably, I’m most proud of the team time trial gold I won with my three teammates! Two weeks later, Montreal held the first World Outgames. I also competed in that, winning a gold and a silver.

Q: How did you get into the leather community? A: I became interested in the leather community when I moved to Wilton Manors 12 years ago and started going to Ramrod. I liked the vibe a lot. I bought my first pair of chaps… I love the way leather feels against my skin and love the way guys look in it. I’d go to Ramrod a lot and The Leather Mask Ball, and would hit the leather bars when I traveled, but didn’t really connect until I attended Leather Pride Weekend in Palm Springs in October 2015. We had a ReUnion Project Summit planned there two days after Halloween Weekend. One of the other project organizers that lives there casually mentioned it was Leather Pride Weekend. I was recently single and thought that would be a good way to let go. I went to all the events, met many of the contestants and most importantly the current 2015 IML titleholder, Patrick Smith. He gave the keynote opening speech at the final event speaking about his work in LGBT rights in underdeveloped countries or those with particularly harsh laws. He had just returned from Uganda. I had no idea you could use the IML platform for that level of activism. Speaking with him later that evening at the victory party I heard myself say the words, “I’m going to run for IML in 2017…I want to raise awareness around AIDS Survivor Syndrome.” When I got home I went to LeatherWerks and announced my intentions to Jason Pelky, a long-time, well-respected member of the leather community and customer gear designer. He agreed to provide guidance (he still does) and we got busy putting together more gear for me. I have a lot of gear and boots, 12 pairs now, and thanks to Jason and other mentors such as Bill Hoeppner, Bearman (LeatherWerks owner), Scot Blumstien and Kirk Ruben a lot more information. Bill and Kirk are both past Mr. Ramrod’s and IML contestants. Bill was 2nd runner the year he competed. Q: How did it feel when you won Mr. Ramrod? A: They announce the winner, first- and second runner-up in reverse order. After they announced the first runner up, my heart rate jumped. I thought, ‘you might win this!’ Then they announced my name and everything after that is a blur. I couldn’t believe it! It was particularly special because Patrick Smith, 2015 IML, and my inspiration to begin this journey, was one of my judges.

Q: How excited are you to go to Mr. IML, and specifically to represent the Ramrod? A: I can’t wait as I’ve met most of my class brothers, and they are all special guys. Any one of us could win. I know its cliché, but it really is an honor just to compete, to represent my bar, Ramrod and my other sponsors LeatherWerks, Stompers Boots, AniceteDesign and my South Florida leather brothers.

Q: What’s ahead for David? A: That depends a lot on what happens in Chicago on Sunday, May 28th. Either way, I’ll be honored to represent Ramrod in the Pride Parade here. I also have plans to go to Madrid for the last couple days of World Pride and I retire at the end of the year. I’m working on two certifications as part of a project I’ve named David Unbound: the first is personal trainer and the other is life coaching. My goal is to help other guys around my age look at where they are, emotionally, physically and spiritually, where they like to be and map a plan to help them get there. The website is coming soon: davidunbound.com.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/05/16/man-of-many-talents-a-qa-with-david-richwine/ from Hot Spots Magazine http://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2017/05/man-of-many-talents-q-with-david.html

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hotspotsmagazine · 7 years

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Man of Many Talents: A Q&A with David Richwine

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/05/16/man-of-many-talents-a-qa-with-david-richwine/

0 notes