In a definite first, and a sign of the ongoing changing nature of the leather scene both here and elsewhere, the 2015 title of Mr. SF Leather was awarded on Saturday to Trevor Wisnieski who also does drag around town and hosts parties as Jem Jehova. Trevor/Jem will now go on to compete at the International Mr. Leather contest representing San Francisco in Chicago in May.
Jem Jehova's version of drag is "San Francisco style" in that she's bearded and androgynous, in the style of the Cockettes and others. And to qualify for the competition, Trevor had to prove an abiding love for leather and the leather community, and beat out fellow contestants representing bars and businesses around town modeling gear on stage.
The leather scenes in different cities certainly differs, and San Francisco's, while small, has evolved over the years to include younger people who don't fit the hyper-masculine, uniformed stereotypes of yesteryear, as well as drag queen-hosted parties in traditionally leather-only bars like the Powerhouse.
As local drag queen Juanita More! writes on Facebook, "It's a new world in San Francisco. Congratulations to [Jem] on her title of Mr. SF Leather 2015. She is living proof that you can be EVERYTHING in SF."
