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You have just returned from Folsom Europe in Berlin tell us what the event is about?
Folsom Europe is one of the biggest LGBTQ festival events in Europe aimed at promoting awareness and visibility of kink and fetish communities. It started in 2003, bringing to Europe the not-for-profit leather festival concept that originated from the Folsom Street festival in San Francisco. It’s a chance to attend workshops, classes, club events with like minded individuals from all over Europe, and enjoy a Street Fair. It’s also one of the few opportunities in the year when titleholders from across the continent come together to help collect money for charitable organisations.
How did you get the title of Mr Sportswear UK?
I was awarded the title of Mr Sportswear UK back in November in Manchester as part of the Manchester Sneax Weekend - a weekend aimed at guys into their Sportswear. Different cities host events like a Leather weekend or a Rubber weekend and these are often the times when a national titleholder is chosen - someone who embodies the look, the attitude and the spirit of that part of the community, but has the drive to create change, widening awareness or developing the scene further. Alongside 4 other finalists who applied, I met the visitors who came to Manchester Sneax Weekend in November 2023 and talked to as many as possible to introduce myself and explain my views and what I wanted to achieve. In the evening, there was a competition held in one of the venues with judges from across Europe including current and previous titleholders, who already had experience of the scene and knew what would be needed. We were interviewed on stage by them in front of the audience and had the chance to show our personality, our skills and our character.
There was then a public vote, which combined with the jury vote gave the results. As you know now, I was the winner and became the first ever Mr Sportswear UK, joining also Mr Puppy UK, Ms Handler UK and Mr Bear UK. Being the first, there was no precedent set so I‘ve steered my own path, attending prides with my sash and the sportswear flag to raise awareness and increase visibility, setting up a Sportswear Social group in my home city as many bars and clubs exclude guests dressed in this kind of gear, and travelling to events to raise money for charity. In addition to this, I am working with local venues to try and help change their dress codes in a way that benefits members of our community who do want to go out in sports gear and not be excluded or refused entry into venues.
You raised over €70000 what will happen with the money?
Last year, the titleholders at Folsom raised over €65,000. This year, we managed to collect over €70,000. This money will go to HIV and AIDS charities right across Europe, in addition to helping some smaller non profit kink / fetish organisations get off the ground where they are also supporting people living with HIV or AIDS, or raising awareness of the condition - providing testing, access to medication, counselling or other support services.
Did you get to see much of Berlin?
Over the weekend I saw very little of Berlin - but that‘s ok! It’s one of my favourite cities and I know the city really well! It was more important for me this year to be present at the street fair and give up my time to collect donations. I was allocated a shift alongside Mr Puppy Italia and Mr Fetish World. There were over 50 titleholders from around Europe present and all of us out in some time at the gates to collect donations from visitors. The titleholders worked with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who are extremely active in Berlin in fundraising and working with the LGBTQ community. It was also a nice opportunity to be able to see some of the people I‘d met at other events since I became a titleholder, and a pleasure to meet members of the public who were curious and wanted to know more about our individual projects and paths that we are following in our home countries.
Are you going to be entering any other competitions?
My stepdown or handover is in November 2024. I was asked if I‘d like to run for the title again, and whilst I considered it briefly, I think it’s important for somebody else to have the chance to experience some of the things I‘ve been fortunate enough to be part of, and to put their own stamp on the title. I‘ll continue to run the group I‘ve set up and attend a variety of events as I have done. In 2026 there is the Mr Sportswear Europe competition which I could enter if I choose to. But I don‘t need to decide that just yet! The title I‘ve held this year has been all about representing members of our community who sometimes feel ostracised, excluded or demeaned because of how they choose to dress or express themselves. I strive to be a positive role model for them - it’s not just about catwalks and costumes and a popularity contest of how many followers you have. There is substance at the heart of it, and I hope that I‘ve helped to develop our part of the LGBTQ scene for the better through the connections I‘ve made, the activities I‘ve done, the places I‘ve been seen and the conversations I‘ve had with people. I‘m excited to see who becomes the next Mr Sportswear UK and what they do with the title… come and ask me in a year if I miss it and then you’ll know if I‘ll be applying to be the next Mr Sportswear Europe in 2026!
