On Oct. 12, 2008, Raul Mendez II was awarded the title of International Leather SIR. He is one of the few title holders who completely embody the true spirit of leather/BDSM. Sir Raul will be in San Diego on Saturday, March 20, to judge the San Diego Mr. Leather Contest. Gay & Lesbian Times In the Pit columnist sigma had the good fortune to meet and spend some time with Sir Raul, while getting to know him better.

Gay & Lesbian Times: How do you identify as a leather man? (Example Daddy, Master, Sir etc.)

Sir Raul: I identify as a Daddy. My nature is very much the patriarch in a family.

GLT: Please describe your domestic/leather family.

SR: My Leather family consists of my partner, George, where we have been together since July ’93 and my boy edward that I have known since February ’06. At one point, Myself and boy edward decided to cool off the relationship for six months and I am glad to say he has returned stronger and more committed than ever.

As for bill, my condition to compete alongside with him was that he would entertain the notion of being my boy. Sadly, bill has different needs from what I can offer but this does not keep us from working as a team to do great things for our community.

GLT: What is your ethnic background?

SR: My ethnic background is varied. My parents were born in Cuba and my grandparents are from the Canary Islands, Spain , France and China.

GLT: What is your major kink/fetish?

SR: My love of single-tails far outweighs any other fetish tools that are used in the dungeon. Next in line, on an even plateau, are floggers, dragon’s tooth, electro, ass play, piss play and marking. I always use a combination of these whenever I am in a scene. As for marking, I love to make hickies where I suck on my boy’s neck until I can taste the iron in the blood surface to the skin. Does this make me a vampire? (laughing)

The hottest aspect of doing a kink scene is where my partner and I tag team a submissive. The dynamic of our play, I feel, is unique.

GLT: Why did you run for the Leather Sir title?

SR: I have enjoyed my anonymity for a very long time. I was very discrete about my fetish lifestyle as I had been in many groups and saw how ugly the situation would get because of politics around certain topics. Even though these groups had good intentions, I would avoid getting caught up in those political battles and focus on participating in activities that would benefit those who are less fortunate whether it was with the group or individually.

I met bill a couple of years back when he competed at IML29 where he placed second runner-up. A year later, we connected where he felt it was a shame that I continue my anonymity. He was considering the Leather Sir/boy contest but needed a Sir in order to compete. I gave it some thought and saw no harm in doing what I love to do. Little did I realize how this would end up.

GLT: Did you prepare any differently for the International Contest?

SR: Since I had no prior experience, preparation for the contest was completely new to me. I focused on honing my skills and only thought of having fun during the contest. The hardest part for me was to be on stage and deliver a speech before an audience. The only mic time I had before that was at the Ramrod just before we went to San Fran.

GLT: At what point in the International Contest did you believe you would win?

SR: The reality of possibly winning the title came right after we did our fantasy. Tom Stice came up to Myself and bill and said “Congratulations! I think you fucked up and won!”

Even after that comment, I did not think I would have won. My intent was to ensure bill would win his title…this was very important for him and all of the community work he does.

After they announced his win, I was in another world and relishing in a sigh of relief that bill had in fact won his title. It wasn’t until Andy Liu hit me in the arm and said “Congratulations! You won!” that I realized I had won the title. I guess that explains the deer in the headlights look I had. (laughing) To this day, I still get a rush of emotions every time I re-visit this moment.

GLT: What element do you see yourself bringing to the title of International Leather Sir?

SR: I have a specific mission statement in this regard. My growth has gone in leaps and bounds with the guidance of the gay, lesbian and pansexual community. There are way too many right-wingers out there who would like to see this lifestyle disappear altogether. As a community of lifestylers, we can no longer afford the segregation based on orientation and/or gender.

My specific mission is to bridge the gap between all orientations and gender…old and new.

GLT: See you at Leather Pride!