Mr Leather Europe

By Michael Neuhold

Thorsten from Graz in Austria has been elected the new Mr Leather Europe. We met him at Hard On in Vienna for a little chat.

Thorsten, what were your intentions when you applied to be part of the Mr Leather Austria contest? Did you imagine you would also become Mr Leather Europe?

I have been part of the leather and fetish community for quite some time now. Over the years I’ve noted that there is considerable potential for like-minded men to get together here in Austria, and also outside Vienna.
The fetish scene is quite a small. I feel it is very important to motivate people to take part in our lifestyle so that the community can grow. As a true leatherman, I dared to run for Mr Leather Austria 2015 so I could become an authentic ambassador for the Austrian fetish community and set a good example for others to follow.
I was aware that six months after the Mr Leather Austria election I would also be a candidate for the European contest. During my term I met the other charming and hardworking European Misters. From this I realised that the one who had the most to give to the European leather community would succeed in the end.

So now you are also Mr Leather Europe. How does it feel? Has your life changed?
It feels great. I enjoy the title and the possibilities that come with it very much. My life has changed indeed. I hardly have any more leisure time as there is always something to organise after work, or some public relations event. However, I was aware this would happen and I am passionately working to support our leather community in the best way I can.

What are your plans as the new Mr Leather Europe?

My goal is to build bridges between the different clubs in Europe. I want to advance the networking opportunities, support fairly young clubs, and help to promote the emerging leather communities in different European countries. Austria’s location in central Europe is the perfect bridge between East and West, North and South. As Mr Leather Europe I stand for LGBTI awareness as well as promoting safer sex. And of course, I proudly and passionately represent our European leather and fetish community.
You are travelling a lot. Is it still fun?
To represent the community you have to travel and take any chance to support European leather and fetish guys. For me, travel is still the most intense way to learn from others and it enriches my life. Travel can be exhausting, but you get so many positive experiences in return. It is well worth the long journeys to all the good places.

What are your next travel plans?

In January I will join my Irish leather brothers for the Three Kings competition in Dublin. After that I will participate in Leatherpride Belgium in Antwerp during February. I will also attend Easter in Berlin in March and various titleholder competitions throughout Europe. In between I am going to take every available opportunity to support the smaller and emerging fetish communities. Next week I’m in Bratislava, and I also plan to visit Austrian cities including Salzburg, Linz and Graz.

You live in Graz. What is the fetish scene like there? Is it worth visiting Graz for a fetish weekend or is it more a culture hotspot?

In 2003, Graz was the Cultural Capital of Europe. As Austria’s second-largest city, it plays an important role in cultural life. The old town is one of the best-preserved city centres in Central Europe, and has been added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. So Graz is always worth a culture holiday.
Fetish life though is not visible and exists only in private. Social constraints seem to be stronger and people obviously submit to them, rather than living their own lifestyle free and unhidden.
In 2015, both the Mr Leather and Mr Bear titles were held by guys from Graz. That encouraged me to organise the first fetish event in Graz in November called ‘Fetish in the City’. The high number of visitors and the positive response are indicators that we should repeat the party regularly in the future. So make sure you plan your Graz visit around our next leather and fetish party.

How is your life in Graz since you were elected Mr Leather Europe? Do people recognise you on the street or ask for an autograph?

My life in Graz has not changed much since I became Mr Leather Europe. The most interesting time was during the Graz Gay Pride in June, which was my first appearance as Mr Leather Austria. For many people, my title was something completely new. But they showed a lot of interest in my responsibilities, tasks and motivation. The people in my neighbourhood are already used to seeing me in leathers, and so far I have not been asked to sign an autograph. However, that did happen once in Berlin.
What does your boyfriend think about his partner being a titleholder?
It is not always easy for him as we do not have a lot of time to spend together right now. He also had to get used to the fact that I get much more attention now. Most of the time we travel together and he understands that the experience of being a Mister, and having a mission to fulfil, is important. That is why he fully supports me.

Would you encourage others to take on this role?

I want to encourage each and every one of you to be yourself, stand-up for the fetish you enjoy, and live life to the fullest. Don’t hide behind your fantasies instead of enjoying them. Go out, be visible, and support your local community instead of dating via the internet. Let’s all get involved in keeping our leather and fetish scene vivid and strong!

Thanks, Thorsten for this friendly talk and your commitment to the fetish scene. You can find Thorsten on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mrleatheraustria2015.