Tim's Leather journey began about 15 years ago while living in Rochester, NY. Through interactions with the Rochester Rams, he became intrigued with the Leather lifestyle, met his SIR and was trained in the ways of the Old Guard. In those 'early' days, his travels took him to IML and MAL, working as a Leather vendor. After moving back to his home state of Connecticut in '99, Tim cofounded the CT Cruisers in 2010, a play group that encourages safety and responsibility and provides a safe space for those that wish to ex-plore their inner desires and fetishes, educating those new to the lifestyle. He is the proud SIR to his boy robert a.k.a. 'scruffy', who became Mr. New Jersey Leather in October 2010. Tim is also an associate member of the Jersey boys of Leather. His charity work has focused on helping the New Haven Downtown evening soup kitchen (DESK), and the Hartford Health Collective's Rainbow Room, which provides a safe haven for gay youth. Tim is an avid sailor, loves the beach, and enjoys being a photographer. Tim always stresses the most important attributes to carry with you on your Leather journey are honesty, integrity, and respect... respect for others but above all respect for yourself.

Jeffrey Payne, International Mr. Leather 2009, is originally from Maine and moved to Louisiana at the young age of 3.  He relocated to Texas after Hurricane Katrina shook the city of New Orleans.

He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and currently owns and manages Notarius Reporting, a court-reporting firm, and is co- owner of the Dallas Eagle.  He works diligently as a Board Member of the Sharon St. Cyr Fund (SSC Fund) to raise money for individuals within our community to assist them with the purchase of hearing aids and to provide grants to organizations for Sign Language Interpreters. 

Jeffrey serves as Historian and Webmaster for the Leather Knights, a Board Member of C.L.A.W., a member of NLA – International and NLA – Dallas, as well as a voting member of the Leather Archives and Museum. Professionally, Jeffrey is a member of the Dallas Court Reporters Association serving as the Budget Committee Chair and the organizations Webmaster, as well as an active member of the Texas Court Reporters Association.

Jeffrey is married to David Roy and together they share their Dallas home their five children, Isabella, Lucy & Wilson (miniature Dachshunds) and Korbin & Konner (miniature Poodles).

Marc’s main goal as Mr. Connecticut Leather was to unite the at-large and Leather communities behind common causes, and to increase the visibility and viability of the local Leather community. Marc represented the Leather community at a substantial number of community organizations and events throughout the year , such as the Imperial Court.

As Mr. Connecticut Leather Marc Chartier, Mr. Connecticut Leather 2002, is a native of Northeastern Connecticut. Marc became a member of the Leather Tribe while living in California’s Bay Area. The East Bay Gay and Leather Community used Marc’s driveway in Oakland to build the floats for participation in the San Francisco Pride Parades.

Marc led a number of fund raising events. These events raised thousands of dollars for such local charities as Aids Project New Haven, and for national organizations such as The National Association for Sexual Freedom. Marc is proud to have competed in IML 2002 in Chicago, forming lasting friendships and associations with Leather communities across the US.

Marc Chartier holds a seat on the CT State Multicultural Advisory Council and is a long time consultant and trainer to the Multicultural Leadership Institute. In these capacities, Marc presents Multicultural training and education seminars on GLBTQI Culture and issues throughout the State to many providers of Human Services, and to the majority of CT State Departments such as the Judicial Dept, the Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Dept. of Public Health. The focus of this education and training is to end the disparities in services to the GLBTQI Community, including the Leather Community, and to help to end the oppression, bigotry, and hatred aimed at our community.

Marc is proud to have served as Mr. Connecticut Leather 2002. Marc is proud to continue to be of service to the Leather Community in a variety of ongoing and substantial ways.

One day, back in 1989 when Douglas Connors was just a young gayling, he stumbled upon two Leathermen in full gear at a local bar and thought to himself: "Now, THAT's a man!"

And thus commenced a lengthy descent into debauchery... as well as a rewarding, and at times challenging, lifetime voyage of self-discovery...

Eventually, Douglas found his way to IML as an attendee in 2001, then again as a surprised-to-be-named-Mr Leather Ottawa-Outaouais for the Silver Anniversary of IML (2003) where he delivered a positive message of self-acceptance on the way to an 8th place finish. A steadfast believer in The Power of Kind, his easy smile, treatment of others, and infectious energy earned him the nickname Tigger. He went on to earn the Pantheon of Leather -- Canadian Region Award for his title year.

As a columnist, discussion leader, debater, event producer, networker, artist, and communications & PR specialist, Douglas' contributions to the community over time have been numerous and varied. And they are not about to end anytime soon.

Douglas is most proud of being Mama's LeatherTigger, one of Thom's Boys, an Associate-Member of the Chicago Hellfire Club, and as a writer, to have been considered a peer by noted author Robert Davolt.

Douglas is extremely honoured and flattered to have had his writing featured in International Mr Leather: 25 Years of Champions, and to have been able to serve as a judge for IML 2011.

Douglas is very excited about coming to Connecticut and eagerly await the opportunity to meet the community. He further thanks all those who support this event through their participation and contributions.

"You must first love the skin you're in before any second skin will fit. One cannot hide behind Leather for It reveals the true self."

Leif Mitchell is the Assistant Director of the Community Research Core at Yale’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS. He is the Co-Chair of the AIDS LIFE Campaign, a statewide AIDS advocacy group, and the Co-Chair of the Ryan White Planning Council of New Haven and Fairfield Counties. He is also the Co-Chair of Yale’s LGBTQ Affinity Group.

Leif has volunteered with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) since 1996 when he was the organization’s first summer intern. Leif served on the GLSEN National Board of Directors from 2000 – 2004, is the Co-Chair of GLSEN Connecticut, and a member of GLSEN’s National Advisory Council and National Training Team. In 1998 and 2007 he published a resource module for educators, Tackling LGBT Issues in School, which has been distributed throughout the US and abroad. Leif has a chapter titled "No Regrets" in Out on Fraternity Row about his experience being gay and a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity and does presentations on this topic throughout the country. Leif has been providing training since 1992 on sexuality and diversity issues and has worked with the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference Institute since 2006.

Leif enjoys the rich diversity of life in New Haven, with his partner, Will Lawson, with whom he celebrated a civil union on October 14, 2006.

Sara Vibes a black, polyamorous, queer, kinky, dandy, macho femme princess born and raised in New York City. She is The 25 th International Ms Leather 2011 and an active member in The Leather, BDSM, Poly, and LGBT communities in New York City and beyond. She has taught at Playhouse in Baltimore, Dark Odyssey, and International Mr. Leather. She will also be a contributor of the Perverts of Color Anthology and a featured video blogger on Fearless Press, an online magazine about the intersection of life and sex. Her mission is to make sex education accessible to everyone. She hopes to rip the veil off of the shame surrounding sex and sexuality through self love and exploration with people that care about each other

Robert “scruffy” Vitale has been actively involved in the local leather community since 2009, when he joined the Jersey boys of Leather (JboL) and was elected Treasurer, and acting Vice President. He is a supporter of the local leather events in the NY/NJ Metro area, including FOREPLAY, Santa Saturday, NJ Pride Festival, and Folsom East, and has served as Judge’s boy for the Annual NJ Chili Cook Off, and for Chesapeake Leather Awareness Pride (CLAP). He is honored to be a member of IML Class XXXIII that recently competed in Chicago, and a finalist for the Pantheon of Leather Community Choice Award 2011. Scruffy is also a member of CT Cruisers and the Keystone boys of Leather (KboL) and is currently serving his term as Mr. NJ Leather 2011, where he hopes to raise awareness about providing safe spaces for LGBTQ youth, as well as raising funds for local HIV/AIDS organizations.

In his free time, scruffy enjoys playing tennis, working out, bowling, photography and organizing fundraising/social events. He identifies as a boy/pup, with a streak of “alpha” in him, and loves to meet new people and find out what makes them tick, and is always looking to learn about the leather/kink community and himself. He is happily collared to his Daddy Tim White, Mr. CT Leather 2011.

Native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Douglas (D) received his BS degree in Business Management and MBA in International Business from Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey. He travels as an international businessman and has lived in places such as New York, New Jersey, Ireland and India. He now resides back in Pittsburgh with his partner of 14 years and their dog Chase.

He marked the beginning of his Leather Journey in 2004, with the purchase of leather jock strap from The Leather Man NYC. What’s interesting, the jock wasn’t for him, but the feelings of excitement, adventure, and mystery that came over him from the purchase of the leather jock, would change his life forever. D followed his curiosity and searched for answers to explain or help justified why he was felt this way towards leather. As if it wasn’t difficult being gay, and now having kinky thoughts and feelings; he thought something must be really wrong with him. That frustrated feeling lasted until April 2007 when he attended his first true leather event, Beyond Leather in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There he received the answers to his questions through seminars and much more.   

D believes that there are many people, especially Africa Americans that suppress their feelings or desires when it comes to leather or fetishes. Often there is no one you can trust to share your feelings or fantasy with, so you pursue your journey in the dark without guidance.  D offers himself, as a mentor, to become that light, in their darkness.

He strongly supports the message, as long as you believe—you can achieve—for all things are possible through strength, determination and passion. D is a full member of Three Rivers Leather Club. He is currently the reigning Mr. Pittsburgh Leather/Fetish 2011, Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2011, and the First Runner Up for Mr. International Leather 2011. 

Demonstrating a holistic approach to volunteerism, D works with the United Way, Shepard Wellness, Boys & Girls Club of America, Three Rivers Youth, Gay Men Heath Crises (GMHC), and the Leather & Archives Museum; lending a helping hand to all communities—black or white, straight or gay, lesbian or transgender, young or old, kinky or vanilla – for we are all in this together!

D is not an abbreviation for Douglas, it stands for three signature words that he lives by: Always Daring, Never Stop Dreaming & Always Deliver on your promise! For these are true characteristic of Leatherman and the cornerstones of our community.

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Biography: Room 960, Hartford, CT
Up or On the Rocks, Hartford, CT
Chez, Hartford, CT
Polo Club, Hartford, CT
Triangles, Danbury CT
Windsor Lounge, Windsor, CT
Endzone, Indian Orchards, MA
Diva's Nightclub, Northampton, MA