Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

Leather Leadership

I about fell out of my chair as I read Mr. Castillo's article "Living 'La Vida' Leather" [January 2006, available at www.guidemag. com]. As the producer of the Florida Leather Sir/Boy competition, I made a formal request that he remove our name from his website as a sponsor because we never agreed to be a sponsor. We felt this to be misleading to the readers of his website. This can hardly be considered a threat.

Without my approval, a former Florida Leather Sir/Boy board member had asked Mr. Castillo to be a judge at last year's contest, in March 2005. After many difficulties with Mr. Castillo prior to the contest, I revoked the invitation. At the personal request of one of the distinguished judges, I included him back on the panel the week prior to the contest, but with great regret.

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As the 2006 contests begin I ask that you support your families and communities. It is a difficult line to walk. As many titleholders know, at the end of the year we are held accountable to our communities and states for what we have done during our title year. Have we made things better? Or did we just use the title to promote a personal agenda? For some that agenda is a platform, for others it is the personal glory of a medal and a sash. But when the day is done did you make a difference? History and the community will judge those titleholders who make a positive contribution to their communities and those who are solely in it for their egos.

As we learn and grow from one another, I hope we can continue to move the leather community forward for future generations to enjoy.

Travis Smith
Regional Sponsor & Producer
Florida Leather Sir/Boy and Community Bootblack Contest

Cruise Cruise

I'm going on a straight cruise in October and was looking for a website that might let me contact other gay men that may be on the same ship. There should be a site that let's you chat with other gay men that will be there. There are plenty of sites for finding guys in cities, but not on cruise ships..

Charlie
topguy2255@aol.com

Perhaps personal ads listed under the cities of your ports of call, along with an ad containing the name of your ship, might yield results; or you could always consult the onboard social director....