The gyms are getting crowded again, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for International Mr. Leather in Chicago. The current Mr. San Diego Leather, Lee Butler, plans to compete next year, so the locals who are going can spend their time jumping in and out of slings instead of sitting through a four-hour contest. The talented bottoms can rock a lot of slings in four hours, so hopefully there’ll be enough tops to pass around. If not, I’m sure the versatile boys will jump down when needed.

This will be the 29th annual International Mr. Leather Contest, and rumor is some leather folk are waiting for the 30th, hoping for more celebration and hoopla. How much celebration and hoopla can one deal with? Do they really need to add anything else to an already way-to-much-stuff-to-do event? Most of us don’t care about the events unless we’re there to cheer on a contestant. Since we don’t have one, all we want to do is get laid by as many men, and as many times, as possible. We want our inner “nappy headed ho” to come out and drag us into the deepest pit of debauchery our body parts can handle. That’s what leather events are all about.

Of course, we’ll be there to bid farewell to one of our favorite International Mr. Leathers, Bo Ladashevska. You remember, Bo, who was here a couple of months ago to judge our Mr. San Diego Leather contest. We loved Bo – a lot! Some loved him more than others, and we hate them for it. Bo is a big, hairy hunk of goodness. He’s also one of the nicest men to visit our “finest leather city.” Maybe we can get him back here just to hang out with us for a while. I’ll get right on that.

The IML 2007 weekend packages start at $150, with special upgraded-seating packages available. All packages include admission to the International Mr. Leather 2007 competition, admission to all other official IML events (opening ceremonies, physique competition, salute, closing ceremonies, IML victory celebration party, and the Black and Blue Ball), free admission to the Leather Market, free shuttle service, an official IML 2007 T-shirt, plus special promotional offers and gifts.

How’s that for a lot of stuff when all we want to do is get laid! Did I mention Hal Sparks is the entertainment for the contest? Hal’s OK, but can we upgrade to Robert Gant who played his lover, Ben, on that dreadful “Queer As Folk?” He may not be as funny as Hal, but “fine” trumps funny any day! Did anyone see that “leather” episode? Now that was funny!

A few weeks ago, at the Leather Leadership Conference in Minneapolis, I met the current Mr. San Francisco Leather, Travis Creston. Travis will be competing for Bo’s tiara at IML. Speaking of tiaras, did you know that May 24 is National Tiara Day? Seriously, I didn’t make that up. Tiara Day! Who knew?

Anyway, Travis is 5-foot-something, and his mouth is conveniently at the perfect height for my nipples. He’s a short bugger and packs a punch of hotness into a pint-sized body. Travis is perfect to sit on your lap and bounce up and down like a man-doll. Not only is he drop-dead hot, but he’s a maniac on the dance floor. The man bumps, grinds, sweats and unzips just enough to give you wood. He’s the perfect Mr. San Francisco Leather, and we have to get him down here to one of our L.L. Bear nights at Rich’s. We’ll be hooting and hollering for him at IML, and maybe later we’ll get a lap dance.

What’s up with L.L. Bear these days? I love me some L.L. Bear, but as usual there are grumblings around town. For the time being, let’s just go, see our friends and make out on the dance floor. It’s all about getting out of the house and touching and feeling sweaty, hirsute men. The next L.L. Bear is May 19, and I want to see you all there touching and feeling to whatever music is playing. Got it?

The May grey is the perfect time to re-acquaint ourselves with each other. There are all kinds of events listed in Rocket magazine. Check ’em out.

You can always send me your happenings at Inthepitsd@aol.com. See ya In the Pit!