Friday, July 24, 2009
Chicagoland International Mr. Leather bans barebacking
Posted by Albert Williams on 07.24.09 at 02:51 PM
According to the LGBT newspaper Chicago Free Press, the International Mr. Leather pageant is finally instituting a long-overdue policy prohibiting marketing that promotes unprotected sex.
"Any entity that advocates barebacking (condom-less anal sex) or distributes or sells any merchandise promoting barebacking is, effective immediately, banned from IML's leather market," Free Press reports, citing a letter sent to vendors at the annual event's leather market.
IML, which attracts contestants from around the globe, is one of the largest gay and lesbian events in the world—and a major tourist draw for Chicago. The centerpiece of the annual Memorial Day weekend gathering is a contest for the title of International Mr. Leather, but the leather market is a big factor in its success—as are parties and other social activities.
Quoting Free Press: "In a letter to vendors last week, IML president Chuck Renslow said that the policy change is in large part to help prevent future HIV infections." Free Press also says that Renslow—a longtime gay businessman who was my employer when I was editor of the now-defunct GayLife newspaper, which he owned—"was first inspired to change the policy through President Barack Obama's Act Against AIDS campaign, which emphasizes that every 9.5 minutes, a person in the U.S. becomes HIV-positive." The new policy will impact IML 2010's leather market.
Comments (9)
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After years of running leather bars and bathhouses during the AIDS crisis, Chuck Renslow was FINALLY inspired to ban unsafe-sex marketing because of something PRESIDENT OBAMA did this year? Hallalujerr!
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During the running of that Bathhouse and many bars, Chuck also promoted safe sex, gave out free condoms and free, yes FREE HIV testing. What doe Howard Brown charge for an HIV test?
Dear Glib: I don't know what Howard Brown charges for an HIV test, but at least you don't have to pay an admission fee and a membership fee, or tip the towel boy.
Chuck promoted safe sex? What kind of drug are you on child (one purchased at Chuck's establishments?
The backroom of the now defunct Eagle was filled with guys having unprotected sex, repeatedly, with numerous and largely anonymous partners.
At Man's Country the use of condoms is the exception not the rule.
Now, after all these years Chuck becomes Florence Nightengale.
As publisher of Gaylife he ignored the AIDS crisis for as long as he could. As the owner of establishments that are nothing more than sex clubs he did little more than hand out condoms that he got free and once a year he gives a nice little tirade against unsafe sex practices all the while he is surrounded by guys participating in unprotected sex.
Give me a break.
I'd love to know the real reason behind this....I assume it has something to do with $. That's the only thing he understands.
Wrong, Mr. Caito: Chuck Renslow also understands politics. He cited President Obama as the inspiration for the change. You know, the same Chicago Democrat President Obama who has direct ties to the Daley machine, which controls the police and the health departments...
Excellent point, Ms. Weiss. Renslow has always been brilliant in knowing where his bread is buttered.
And, Glib, my recollection is that the free condoms that have been distributed at Man's Country were provided by either the Reimer Foundation or the City's Health Department. Also, the testing has been done by Howard Brown or the city again at no cost to Renslow.
Freedom of choice is an fundemental right that we as Americans hold dear. Shouldn't IML promote the consumers freedom of choice on this issue. Perhaps balancing the bareback and safe sex vendors to a 1/1 ratio would be a more logical and fair way for IML and all of their related events to address instead of a ban. But, on the other hand, I do want to point out that if bareback porn is what is being banned because it promotes the spread of HIV/AIDS then, to be fair and equal in their decision, IML must ban ANY company that sells bareback porn INCLUDING but not limited to Falcon and Channel One Releasing because they still sell their vintage porn from the 70's and 80's which depicts condomless gay sex! If current bareback porn promotes an unsafe practice then vintage condomless porn must also and ANY company selling it MUST be banned from IML and their affiliates! Don't you all agree?
I am all for educatng people of risks of their behaviors, but as adults we have a right to make our own informed consent decisions! I am sure Mr. Renslow would defed a woman's right to choose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Are gay men not supposed to have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies??? What would the NCSF (National Coalition for Sexual Freedom) say about this. I doubt I will be attending IML anytime soon. I am not going to give a freaking dime to that man! What about bareback sex between individuals that are already infected. Is he against that too???
