One of my friends recently approached me and recommended that I compete in the Gulf Coast Leather Sir competition at the Dallas Eagle. I’m trying to decide if it’s the right thing for me to do.

Part of why I would want to compete is to show that there is a younger generation interested in leather/bdsm/kink, and if we are forgotten or ignored a lot of the knowledge from the older generations will be lost. Instead we need to be taken in, mentored and shown what kind of kinky world is out there. This is especially true if the older generations want to try to preserve their traditions.

As with any new generation, things will change and we will do things our own way. Like I don’t foresee it being mostly leather much longer at all. Other materials like rubber, latex, neoprene and sports gear are becoming extremely popular among the younger generations.

My belief is a big portion of the resistance in buying leather is the cost. Leather is expensive and it’s not an investment younger people are able to make. I borrowed my first harness I wore to IML, and was given some other leather pieces beforehand. Without those helping hands, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It helped to show me that my curiosity wasn’t just a fleeting interest.

Participating in the contest would be a great experience to be able to promote and encourage a younger generation of leathermen and kinksters if I won the title. I’m just trying to decide if I’m truly ready. I don’t have as much experience as the people I expect to compete against. Granted, I have no clue who they may be and I don’t think any of them have ever competed before. I think it’s something I’m going to do though. If I don’t win, at least it’s an experience I can use in the future and will hopefully give me a chance to voice my concern about my younger, lost generation of leathermen/kinksters.