Leather Line - Everything Old is New Again

Published in the July 2026 Edition
By Rodney Burger

As much as I try to not dwell on the past, sometimes I find myself looking back. In March of 2001, I was awarded the title of Maryland Mr. Drummer 2001 at the largest LGBT bar in Maryland, the Club Hippo. I had an amazing title year. I met my partner Sir Steve, raised lots of money for local charities, and even road my Drummer float down Pennsylvania Avenue pass the White House! (The street was not closed in those pre-September 11^th days.) When I had my step-down at the Hippo in March of 2002, along with my title partner, Maryland Drummer boy 2001 Mark Greene, you could not have squeezed another person into the club. It was magical. When I close my eyes, I can still see it.

In 2003, Sir Steve was selected Mr. Baltimore Eagle, and he too had an amazing year. I wanted him to have the same celebratory memory of his step-down that I had, but no one stepped up to produce the 2004 Baltimore Eagle Contest. In late 2004, Baltimore Eagle owner Rich Richardson asked me if I wanted to do it. Rich had always given a cash prize for his titleholders to use towards their travel fund. Since the year was almost half over, I suggested that he skip 2004 and I would produce the 2005 contest. (Plus, he would save money.) Rich agreed.

The 2005 Baltimore Eagle contest was a hit with Ms. Baltimore Eagle 2005 Jessie Ahart going on to win International Ms. Leather and Mr. Baltimore Eagle 2005 going on to be sashed International Mr. Deaf Leather. (Baltimore had a large number of deaf people involved in the local leather community in those days. There was even a leather patch club called BLADeaf, Baltimore Leather Association of the Deaf. The club hosted parties, held bar nights, and even produced their own leather contests.) There were five contestants for Mr. Baltimore Eagle 2005 and when I sashed Jerry Garmany, a deaf man, tears rolled down the faces of the many deaf people in attendance. He had won “a hearing title” they exclaimed. The following week I was in “San Francisco and their LGBT newspaper shouted: “Baltimore sashes first even deaf Eagle titleholder!”

Obviously, after the success of the 2005 Baltimore Eagle titleholders, they had to have a step-down. So, Sir Steve and I produced the 2006 Baltimore Eagle contest the following year. In 2007 Sir Steve was selected Mr. Maryland Leather 2007 and I was asked to produce the Maryland Leather Sir/ Leather boy contest at the Hippo. There was no Baltimore Eagle Contest in 2007 or ever since …. until now.

I am extremely excited to announce that on October 17, 2026, the contest will return as a new Mr. Baltimore Eagle, Ms. Baltimore Eagle, and a MX. Baltimore Eagle will be selected. Many more details are coming soon. Save the date. Who will be the new Baltimore Eagle titleholders? It could be you! Afterall, everything old is new again.