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Bay Windows - New England's largest GLBT newspaper
When Terry Morrell entered the 2009 International Mr. Deaf Leather Competition, his main goals were to learn more about the leather community and to have a good time. Having never participated in a leather competition before, Morrell couldn’t imagine that he would win.
Now, almost done with his tenure as International Mr. Deaf Leather 2009, Morrell has more than reached those initial goals and accomplished more, becoming a role model and an inspiration to both the deaf and leather communities.
"I think he has set a new bar for what the contest is," said Tim Starkey, recent winner of International Mr. Bootblack 2010. "He has been extremely visible in the leather community and traveled all over North America to represent the title."
Despite the ease with which Morrell has taken to the role, he almost decided not to enter the competition in the first place. An earlier winner had suggested that Morrell enter the competition because he noticed how much Morrell loved the leather community. After more encouragement from other friends and an offer for sponsorship from his local leather club, Harbor Masters of Maine, he decided to compete.
"At first I was hesitant," the Maine native said in an e-mail to Bay Windows. "I did not think I would become International Mr. Deaf Leather 2009. I’m glad I did."
Morrell said he had hoped he would well represent both the deaf and leather communities while gaining experience through the competition. He was already active in the deaf community, volunteering his time as a Chairperson of the Maine Deaf Culture Committee and as the President of the Maine Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children. His efforts resulted in his being named the Most Outstanding Deaf Role Model in Maine for the year 2007.
However, there are not many competitions specifically aimed toward those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Morrell thought entering the contest would be a unique opportunity for him to grow as a person.
"I decided to compete for the experience," Morrell explained. "I wanted to grow more."
After winning the contest, he decided to dedicate his year as International Mr. Deaf Leather not only to his growth as a person, but to breaking down stereotypes, specifically about those who are deaf or hard of hearing. He said it was important that he unite the entire deaf community.
"[I’ve tried] to build a bridge between deaf and hearing as well as late deafened," he said. "In our community we all need each other to be strong. Even if we are different."
Starkey agreed, saying that having a contest just for the deaf community was an important step to empowerment.
"While there is a place where people who are deaf want to have inclusivity, there is a place where they have their own identity and exclusivity as well," he said. "I’ve seen that they are common in other cultures. They want their own identity. It’s very much about self empowerment."
"We need each other."The International Mr. Deaf Leather competition is, on the whole, quite similar to that for the title of International Mr. Leather. The biggest difference is that competitors in International Mr. Deaf Leather often have not won other contests, while those competing in the International Mr. Leather usually have. According to Morrell, the contest, which began in 1995, involved giving a 90-second speech, modeling bar wear and formal wear, participating in jockstrap competitions, and attending a meet-and-greet. The contestants were also interviewed by a panel of judges. International Mr. Deaf Leather is a smaller competition than International Mr. Leather, but Starkey said Morrell has made the small event into something much bigger.
"[The events] are both in the same league," said Starkey. "The International Mr. Deaf Leather event is a small event. Terry represented it as a large event; he really made the title into an international title."
Morrell said during his year as International Mr. Deaf Leather, he tried to reach out to as many people as possible, educating them about the leather and deaf communities.
"It has been important that I get out there and interact with people from all communities and to be a great role model," he said. "It has also been important for me to have people become comfortable talking to me."
Starkey said that Morrell was extremely visible to all during his year as International Mr. Deaf Leather. When he met Morrell a year ago, he was amazed by how easy it was to get along with him.
"I think that he has set a new bar for what that contest is," said Starkey. "He has been extremely visible in the leather community and traveled all over North America to represent the title. At every event, he has been right there offering to help people. He’s the first person to walk up to people and introduce himself."
As International Mr. Deaf Leather, Morrell spent the year doing a great deal of traveling and attending as many events as he could. Among many other things, he worked as an emcee for the Maine American Sign Language (ASL) Health Fair and gave a workshop in Boston on communication between deaf and hearing in the leather community. He also attended several competitions, including Mr. Boston Leather 2010 and Mr. Texas Leather 2010. Morrell even sat as a judge for Mr. and Mrs. Baltimore Association of the Deaf and Blind 2010. The most difficult part of the past year for Morrell was not being able to attend every event he was invited to.
Morrell said he will continue working to break down barriers in the gay and deaf communities after his time as International Mr. Deaf Leather and he hopes future winners will work with him.
"I hope the next International Deaf Leather title holders continue to work on maintaining the bridge I have started," explained Morrell. "I hope they are patient, motivated, have an open mind, and that they enjoy the journey as [much as] I have."
Morrell will not be able to compete again due to rules prohibiting winners of the International Mr. Deaf Leather from entering future competitions, but Starkey said Morrell has already left his mark and will continue to do so.
"I think he is going to stay very active and visible," said Starkey. "I think he is going to encourage other people in the community to be involved. I think that he’ll inspire others. Terry is an amazing person and an example of what is to be involved and to have a passion."
Morrell said he only hopes people follow his message of unity and respect one another.
"We need each other," he said. "I think it is important to respect each others differences. If we discriminate against our own, how can we expect others not to discriminate against us? I believe if we are united we can be strong. If we continue to be divided, then we are not strong."
When Terry Morrell entered the 2009 International Mr. Deaf Leather Competition, his main goals were to learn more about the leather community and to have a good time. Having never participated in a leather competition before, Morrell couldn’t imagine that he would win.
Now, almost done with his tenure as International Mr. Deaf Leather 2009, Morrell has more than reached those initial goals and accomplished more, becoming a role model and an inspiration to both the deaf and leather communities.
"I think he has set a new bar for what the contest is," said Tim Starkey, recent winner of International Mr. Bootblack 2010. "He has been extremely visible in the leather community and traveled all over North America to represent the title."
Despite the ease with which Morrell has taken to the role, he almost decided not to enter the competition in the first place. An earlier winner had suggested that Morrell enter the competition because he noticed how much Morrell loved the leather community. After more encouragement from other friends and an offer for sponsorship from his local leather club, Harbor Masters of Maine, he decided to compete.
"At first I was hesitant," the Maine native said in an e-mail to Bay Windows. "I did not think I would become International Mr. Deaf Leather 2009. I’m glad I did."
Morrell said he had hoped he would well represent both the deaf and leather communities while gaining experience through the competition. He was already active in the deaf community, volunteering his time as a Chairperson of the Maine Deaf Culture Committee and as the President of the Maine Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children. His efforts resulted in his being named the Most Outstanding Deaf Role Model in Maine for the year 2007.
However, there are not many competitions specifically aimed toward those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Morrell thought entering the contest would be a unique opportunity for him to grow as a person.
"I decided to compete for the experience," Morrell explained. "I wanted to grow more."
After winning the contest, he decided to dedicate his year as International Mr. Deaf Leather not only to his growth as a person, but to breaking down stereotypes, specifically about those who are deaf or hard of hearing. He said it was important that he unite the entire deaf community.
"[I’ve tried] to build a bridge between deaf and hearing as well as late deafened," he said. "In our community we all need each other to be strong. Even if we are different."
Starkey agreed, saying that having a contest just for the deaf community was an important step to empowerment.
"While there is a place where people who are deaf want to have inclusivity, there is a place where they have their own identity and exclusivity as well," he said. "I’ve seen that they are common in other cultures. They want their own identity. It’s very much about self empowerment."
"We need each other."The International Mr. Deaf Leather competition is, on the whole, quite similar to that for the title of International Mr. Leather. The biggest difference is that competitors in International Mr. Deaf Leather often have not won other contests, while those competing in the International Mr. Leather usually have. According to Morrell, the contest, which began in 1995, involved giving a 90-second speech, modeling bar wear and formal wear, participating in jockstrap competitions, and attending a meet-and-greet. The contestants were also interviewed by a panel of judges. International Mr. Deaf Leather is a smaller competition than International Mr. Leather, but Starkey said Morrell has made the small event into something much bigger.
"[The events] are both in the same league," said Starkey. "The International Mr. Deaf Leather event is a small event. Terry represented it as a large event; he really made the title into an international title."
Morrell said during his year as International Mr. Deaf Leather, he tried to reach out to as many people as possible, educating them about the leather and deaf communities.
"It has been important that I get out there and interact with people from all communities and to be a great role model," he said. "It has also been important for me to have people become comfortable talking to me."
Starkey said that Morrell was extremely visible to all during his year as International Mr. Deaf Leather. When he met Morrell a year ago, he was amazed by how easy it was to get along with him.
"I think that he has set a new bar for what that contest is," said Starkey. "He has been extremely visible in the leather community and traveled all over North America to represent the title. At every event, he has been right there offering to help people. He’s the first person to walk up to people and introduce himself."
As International Mr. Deaf Leather, Morrell spent the year doing a great deal of traveling and attending as many events as he could. Among many other things, he worked as an emcee for the Maine American Sign Language (ASL) Health Fair and gave a workshop in Boston on communication between deaf and hearing in the leather community. He also attended several competitions, including Mr. Boston Leather 2010 and Mr. Texas Leather 2010. Morrell even sat as a judge for Mr. and Mrs. Baltimore Association of the Deaf and Blind 2010. The most difficult part of the past year for Morrell was not being able to attend every event he was invited to.
Morrell said he will continue working to break down barriers in the gay and deaf communities after his time as International Mr. Deaf Leather and he hopes future winners will work with him.
"I hope the next International Deaf Leather title holders continue to work on maintaining the bridge I have started," explained Morrell. "I hope they are patient, motivated, have an open mind, and that they enjoy the journey as [much as] I have."
Morrell will not be able to compete again due to rules prohibiting winners of the International Mr. Deaf Leather from entering future competitions, but Starkey said Morrell has already left his mark and will continue to do so.
"I think he is going to stay very active and visible," said Starkey. "I think he is going to encourage other people in the community to be involved. I think that he’ll inspire others. Terry is an amazing person and an example of what is to be involved and to have a passion."
Morrell said he only hopes people follow his message of unity and respect one another.
"We need each other," he said. "I think it is important to respect each others differences. If we discriminate against our own, how can we expect others not to discriminate against us? I believe if we are united we can be strong. If we continue to be divided, then we are not strong."
