My San Francisco History
Just Me was the first chat room screen name I used so my gallery of photos of me, is titled “Just Me”. Click Here to access the photographs of myself throughout the years in San Francisco
I moved to San Francisco June 1st, 2004. In 2005 and eventually a break up in 2006 I decided to get myself more involved with the community here. I started in 2006 doing sex surveys in Castro and in SOMA. I started learning about outreach to the community and although it was about collecting data, it was more about being a resource for people to approach, ask questions, and be a source of truth for HIV and AIDS.
At the same time in 2006, we started forming the San Francisco K9 Unit which was a group originally designed to do outreach and show the world of leather and kink, just what puppy play was. We started doing puppy piles at our homes, leading to more and more pups getting involved. We were a pack. We did outings together like miniature golf, corn mazes, ice skating, and so many other events. We hosted fund raisers at Powerhouse, and Eagle, and in 2007 we had our first booth at Folsom Street Fair.
In 2006 I also competed for my first leather title. San Francisco Leather Daddy’s boy. At that time I was more submissive, but it started me down a new path. A new direction. I lost but so did Jose Sarria when being the first openly gay person to run for public office. I ran again in 2007 and again lost. It was then I was approached to run for Mr Hayes Valley Leather out of a drag bar in Hayes Valley, and I did. This time I won, and more so I won a family in every sense of the word. We went to events together as a family, we did regular brunches together as a family, and we argued and loved like family.
Being Marlenas Bar was a drag bar it was also home to many organizations and fund raisers. The Gay Rodeo, The Imperial Court, among other leather groups. Marlena, the owner, was a past Empress of San Francisco, and that was my introduction to the Imperial Court. Several of the Hayes Valley Leather men sat on the board for the court. I helped over the years in many court events, and competed for Mr San Francisco Leather, and IML (International Mr Leather).
Mr. Hayes Valley Leather 2008 helped push me forward. Suddenly I was involved with Mr. San Francisco Leather and became a regular judge for the Bare Chest Calendar. I eventually appeared in the 2014 edition, contributing in 2013 to the release. Our team raised $167,000 for HIV through the AIDS Emergency Fund and Positive Resource Center.
In 2013 when the new iteration of the S.F. Eagle opened, I started producing their leather contest. I had already been producing Hayes Valley Leather until its end in 2013 and working closely as Assistant Producer for the Mr. San Francisco Leather contest.
Through those years, I had always had a camera in my hand. I have been photographing landscapes, people, as well as just things I saw through my warped eye. This site is a reflection of my journey here in San Francisco, the people I have met along the way, and the events I have been privileged to attend. Oh, and my art through pictures.
