James Botelho, the current Mr. Connecticut Leather 2010’s interest in the leather lifestyle started back in 2004 when he purchased his first piece of leather, a Y-Harness, and attended his first leather event Mr. Michigan Leather 2004. After moving to New Haven Connecticut in 2006, he started attending various leather events and meeting extraordinary people within the Connecticut area gay communities.

One of James’ main goals as Mr. Connecticut Leather is to continue to build the relationship between the area’s Leather and Bear groups. During his title year, he attended many events with the Northeast Ursamen, as well as the Imperial Court of all Connecticut. The Bear and Cub Auction, run by Mr. Connecticut Leather, during “Out of Hibernation” in Provincetown, raised almost $2,000.00 for the Soup Kitchen in Provincetown. His S4 Socials, including “Pantry Raid”, a fund raiser for the Downtown New Haven Soup Kitchen, and “Get Your Heart On”, helped to raise money, as well as awareness of the Leather Communities’ contributions within the Connecticut area. Building bridges within the area’s gay community, as well as the public at large, is something that James actively pursues.

James is proud to have competed at MAL 2010 with Matt Bamford, and is forever grateful for the experience and the relationships of brotherhood formed there. He was happy to be a Judge for the Chili Cookoff in Asbury Park for Mr. and Ms. New Jersey Leather, and extremely proud to be your representative for Mr. Connecticut Leather 2010 at Tristate Pride Events, including Boston, New Jersey, NYC, and of course Hartford.

Damian is the current Mr. New Jersey Leather 2010. He is a born and raised ‘Jersey Boy’ presently living in Plainfield, New Jersey. His title was won on October 17th, 2009 at the Paradise in Asbury Park. Through his title year he has helped raise funds and create awareness for the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual community. He volunteered as the guest stripper in the “Strip the Stud” auction at the 2009 annual Santa Saturday hosted by the Bucks MC, which benefitted the Bucks County Office on Aging and Checkmate, Inc. In February of 2010, he Co-Hosted with Ms New Jersey Leather 2010 the annual Chili Cook Off raising over $1,500 to benefit The Center in Asbury Park, NJ. As an associate member of the Jersey boys of Leather, he helped at the Leather Meet & Greet at The Cage in Hoboken, NJ which benefitted the Hudson Pride Connections Center. Wanting to create awareness to youth about the Leather Community he volunteered to play “Leather Santa" for Open Space GLBTIQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Queer)Youth Drop-In Center.

Making the Leather community more accessible is important for Damian and Ms New Jersey Leather 2010, Morgaine. They, along with the New Jersey Leather Family and volunteers from the tri-state area, hosted "Carnivale Noir" in April. At this event, a safe play space was provided which encouraged those with an interest in different forms of “play” to learn from and experience things with established players of bondage, flogging, bootblacking, electro-play, impact, spanking and barbering and more. Proceeds went to the BootBlack Brigade and New Beginnings Pet Foundation.

Lending a helping hand to his fellow Brothers, he volunteered at the NYC Eagle to raise funds for the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center for the LGBTIQ in NYC and participated at Jail ‘n Bail 5 for team Eagle NYC benefiting Breaking the Cycle, New York-Boston AIDS ride as well as being a volunteer at CLAW NATION as a jock model during MAL weekend with proceeds to benefit CLAW.

In May 2010, he entered International Mr. Leather 2010 in Chicago and placed TOP 20 making him the 1st Mr. New Jersey Leather to place at this level. Helping create awareness, fundraising and representing his family have been priority for him throughout his year.

He is currently a Daddy to boy sean where exploring and reaching new limits together is a growing experience for both.

Current Mr. Leather Man of Color 2010.  Jay Lee is 29 years old, single, and living in Brooklyn, NY.  He is a former Marine and is currently working for the federal government as a human resource assistant.

Jay Lee is a member of ONYX NY where he currently serves as the Road Captain and is also an associate member of New York Boys of Leather.  Looking to get more involved in the leather community thru education and volunteering with various organizations in the community such as GMAD & Girott Circle.

 I love to dance, read, get tied up, spanked, and have a great time.

Joe Mannetti is Mr. International Daddy Bear 2009. He has held several other Bear titles including Mr. Southern California Cub 2006, Mr. Long Beach Pride Bear/2ub 2008, Mr. Los Angeles Bear 2008, Mr. Southern California Bear 2008, as well as Mr. International Daddy Bear 2009. His titles also include several with The International Imperial Court system including being the Imperial Prince 2010 with The Los Angeles and Hollywood Imperial Court. He currently resides in New London, CT.

Joe was voted Best Bear Fundraiser 2009 in the Best of the Bears poll conducted by The Complete Bear website. He been the recipient of several certificates of appreciation from various organizations for his outreach work, and he was recently presented with the prestigious Justice-Love Award from The Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley back in Los Angeles county for his work with LGBTQ youth. The focus of Joe's work has been with promoting HIV/AIDS support services and improved outreach for Transgender people, crystal meth addiction recovery, as well as for LGBTQ youth. He is also an actor, and he has appeared on television and in several theatrically released films including "BearCity." He has proudly worked with The Northeast Ursamen, Connecticut Leather, and the The Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut. He is happy to be a part of the New England community. 

Morgaine is Ms NJ Leather 2010. Sashed in October of 2009 alongside Damian, Mr. NJ Leather 2010, she has spent her title year working to educate those interested in learning more about what it is to be “Leather.”

She has participated in numerous fundraising and community events including a speaking engagement at Brookdale Community College where she addressed students in a Human Sexuality course, the 5th Annual Chili Cook-off which benefitted The Center in Asbury Park, NJ, two Meet-and-Greets at The Cage in Hoboken, NJ for Jersey boys of Leather and Hudson Pride, NJ Foreplay 2010, Asbury Pride 2010, Jersey City Pride2010.

In April, just before flying to San Francisco as the first Ms NJ Leather to ever compete in the International Ms Leather contest, she and Mr. NJ Leather 2010 hosted the first ever “Carnivale Noir” which offered those interested, the opportunity to watch and experience multiple forms of “play.”

Morgaine is the proud Owner of slave Rebecca. In June, they were asked to take over leading the NJ women’s Leather group formerly known as “Tribe – NJ’s Leather Dykes.”

She was a judge at the first ever Mr. Rawhide NYC contest and is honored to be on the panel whose task it will be to select the best Leatherman to represent Connecticut in 2011.

boy ken was born and raised in danbury CT and graduated from Henry Abbott Technical High School from the electrical department. He worked in that field for a year and now is a union sheet metal apprentice for local 38. boy ken is very athletic participating in sports. Some of those sports include soccer, tennis and most recently skateboarding.

Most recently, boy ken served as judges boy for The Mr. Oneida and oneida boy competition in Pennsylvania and is excited to serve as judges boy for Mr. CT Leather 2011.