In advance of heading to Chicago to represent his country at the International Mister Leather competition, Fionn Scott, the reigning Mister Leather Ireland speaks about demystifying the kink scene and making it more inclusive.

Photos by Hazel Coonagh.

the SCENE

The leather scene has traditionally been behind closed doors. It was always based around being subversive, deviance, raw sexuality. But something I’ve seen more and more here in the Irish community and across the European, is that sense of social space, a camaraderie.

the COLLECTIVE

The Irish Kink Collective is this large community of people who are interested in kink who do want to be involved but don’t have the financial acumen to go out and pay 600 quid for a leather jacket. But rather they are finding this hyper social community where they can feel safe, where they can feel included but also have their social, emotional and sexual needs met.

the PEOPLE

Since winning Mister Leather Ireland, I’ve met so many wonderful people, I’ve heard so many wonderful stories, and so many challenging stories as well from people who faced many difficult years before coming into self acceptance - that multiple coming out process where you’re not just coming out as a queer person, you’re coming out as a queer sexual deviant on top of it.

the SPACES

What I’m learning about the international leather community is that aside from being a social space, as well as being a sexual space, there’s a political space to it as well - this whole queer identity which seems to be seeping into and challenging normative behaviours.

the DIVERSITY

Coming from a place where my expectations were saturated with very two dimensional impressions of leather and kink fetishes, for me it’s about making it accessible, diversifying those who represent the community and creating those safe spaces.

the CHANGES

Geared Ireland are now moving away from it being a men-only space and making it all inclusive. At an event in January we had a couple of individuals who were trans, we had a couple of women, and it was absolutely fantastic. It really hammered home that the leather community is more than just a bunch of white guys getting dressed up in cow hides to go out once every couple of months.