OUR LIVES | LEATHER LIFE
Russell Waisanen
Life After The Leather Title BY STEVE LENIUS So you win a leather title. You spend time preparing to compete at the International Mr. Leather (IML) contest. You compete at IML. You spend the rest of your title year serving the title and the community. And then what? When your title year ends, what do you do? If you’re Russell Waisanen, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2016, you find many other ways to stay involved with the leather community, and you find yourself involved with the bear community, gay rodeo and the Imperial Court of Minnesota as well. As Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2016, Russell Waisanen had a great title year. He competed in IML 2016 as part of a close-knit group of contestants who still call themselves the “38 Specials” (because IML 2016 was the 38th IML contest). During his title year Waisanen, along with other Minnesota leather titleholders, completed a massive project creating backpacks full of needed supplies for homeless youth. Waisenan also helped raise money for causes including the Trevor Project and Clare Housing. “I never want to say, I raised that money,” says Waisanen. “It wasn’t just me. I’m one member of the team. The community helped me raise that money.” But title years end eventually. As he neared the end of his leather title year, what plans did Waisanen have for what came next? “To be honest with you, absolutely nothing,” Waisanen told me. “I didn’t have any thoughts. I was just so excited for the next person (Eric Stafford, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2017) and to be there to help and support him. My thought was, I’m not going to disappear. I’m going to still be here for the community.” As it turned out, Waisanen has done a lot. In leather circles, Waisanen has been involved as a trainer with the North Star Kennel Club, is a member of the Black Guard of Minneapolis, and has participated in annual Minnesota Leather Pride events. And, before and after his leather title year, Waisanen also has held other titles in other communities including the bears, North Star Gay Rodeo Association, International Gay Rodeo Association, and the Imperial Court of Minnesota.
Photo courtesy of Russell Waisanen Continue on page 118
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LAVENDER JUNE 2-15, 2022
