BY GIL KAAN

Gay men trot out their special gear each year for two of the community’s most popular, biggest money-making events: The White Party in Palm Springs and the International Mr. Leather Contest in Chicago. What do these distinctly different events have in common besides their large attendance? Men, sex and party, party, party! How do they differ? The look, the feel and the attitude.

IML is built around a contest. Last year 10,000 leather enthusiasts packed the house to watch 52 contestants vie for the title. As soon as one IML ends, regional contests at various local bars and organizations begin holding their own preliminary contests to qualify for the next. This year’s is the 28th and held May 25-29.

The White Party is a massive rave that doubles as a fund-raiser. There isn’t any contest, but you can be sure attendees spend the year at the gym getting ready to expose as much skin poolside as possible.

Skin is not absent from IML, but a quick look-see and one realizes that IML’s standard for a high physical appearance is slightly different from that of White Party attendees. Look at the ads for the different events. White Party ads feature good-looking, young 20ish, maybe 30ish smooth, gym bunnies. IML ads feature good-looking, hunky, sometimes hairy, late-30ish, early 40ish gym daddies.

The body differences don’t end with ads. Even though ones for IML feature what everyone across the board would agree as a hunk, at events the leather community is far more accepting in its physical standards. A look at some of the 2005 contestants reveals most weren’t shaved (bodies or faces) and some sported some serious overhang from their leather jockstraps -- in the front and the rear -- and these were the winners of their respective regional preliminary contests.

White Party circuit boys are, more often than not, tan and muscled, some with the de rigeur six- or eight-pack, and tattoos (probably the only thing in common with their IML brethren).

Does one find body “attitude” amidst the White Party attendees? There certainly is evidence of some from the young, muscled and tan set toward the un-toned, older and pale. The leather community is diverse in its inclusion of the young and the old, the smooth, sculpted bodies and the hairy chubs.

Facts and figures

Each event began as social gatherings where gay men could relax and celebrate their gayness in the comfort of a gay majority, as opposed to being the gay minority in some of the less cosmopolitan communities.

IML started in 1979 with 400 gay leatherman attending to celebrate all things leather. Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party began in 1989 after his initial attempts to host an intimate party for 200 of his closest friends kept growing. Eventually, it became a fund-raiser.

The White Party, last year attracting more than 30,000 gay enthusiasts from all around the world, generates a million dollars in hotel tax revenue every year for Palm Springs. The weekend is the largest tourist revenue-generating event in town, higher than the large corporate conventions and film festivals. IML also does its part in keeping Chicago green with money, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars with hotels, stores, and vendors.

Whereas White Party attendees find a small pocket in their gym bags to include a Speedo and a tube of sunblock to take advantage of Palm Springs’ April sunny average 85 degrees, the IML guy packs full leather -- boots, chaps, hats, harnesses, etc. -- and spend days checking out the new leather and fetish wares at the IML Leather Market.

Just say no

Long criticized as a high drug-use environment, in 2002 the White Party began a concerned effort to tout a drug-free atmosphere. Along with safer-sex materials and condoms, pamphlets have been distributed outlining the available help and treatment for drug abuse, particularly rave faves Ecstasy and Special K.

IML promotes having a Zero Tolerance drug policy. Do drugs and Chicago’s “men in blue” will be summoned: Not the dress-ups at the event, but the real Chicago PD.

The final appeal

So why do gays from all over the world congregate at The White Party and/or IML? The fantastic music the hippest DJs play at the White Party events? The hundreds of new leather apparel and paraphernalia to try on and purchase at IML? The great odds of hooking up, sexually or platonically, with some guy you’re attracted to, whether gym bunny or leather daddy? Or is it just the chance to revel in the camaraderie generated by 1,000s of men enjoying each other?

In the end, does it matter?