International Mr. Leather

International Mr. Leather

International Mister Leather (IML) is an international conference and contest of leathermen held annually in May since 1979 in Chicago, Illinois.

The International Mister Leather conference spans several days, and includes the International Mister Leather competition, as well as other events, such as speakers, socials, themed dance parties and a leather market. Most, but far from all, attendees are gay men. BDSM enthusiasts also have a presence at the event.

IML is an independent contest in that there is no contract or formal connection with feeder contests. To qualify, IML contestants must either be the winner of a bar, local or regional leather contest or be sponsored by a leather bar, business, club, or organization.

IML's forerunner was the 1970s "Mr. Gold Coast" bar contest held at Chicago's Gold Coast leather bar, owned by Chuck Renslow and his then-partner, Dom Orejudos. As the "Mr. Gold Coast" contest became one of the bar's most popular promotions, it expanded to a larger venue in 1979. Along with the change of venue came a change in name to International Mr. Leather.

Since 1993, a second contest, the International Mister Bootblack Competition, has been added to the IML program.

In May 2009, the Leather Archives and Museum announced that IML would be placed in a trust, with profits from the event benefiting the museum.

In July 2009, IML announced that "it will no longer allow participation in the IML Leather Market by any entity which promotes barebacking or distributes/sells any merchandise tending to promote or advocate barebacking."