Interview iwth Mason Proudfoot

Lady Justice:  Who are you?  Please describe yourself in 30 words or less.

Mason:  I'm an Architect living in Kentucky with my partner of fifteen years.  I commute to my best friend and Daddy/Sir of 5 years and His/my stable mates, spread hither and yon.

Lady Justice:  When did you first realize you were interested in leather and/or BDSM and/or fetish?  And how?

Mason:  When I was a kid my brothers and I would play cowboys and Indians, I was the one that liked getting tied up.  I used to sit on my big brother’s back when we watched Batman and Robin together.  I think the Joker’s devious plots to overpower masculine heroes cemented my enjoyment of dominant/submissive power play for life. 

As an adult, that was realized in the fitting for my first harness.  Hooded and chained to the rafters of a leather shop in LA for five hours, I discovered submission, and a very powerful spiritual awakening.

Lady Justice:  Do you have any hobbies?

Mason:  Friends, sharing stories and creating new ones, sketching, woodworking, camping, hiking, photography, travel…. laughing.

Lady Justice:  What is your favorite quote?

Mason:  There are two:

 Buckaroo Banzai: “Just remember, no matter where you go, there you are. Acceptance of circumstance, one cannot change. 

Lloyd Cole:  I don’t need an alibi, I need a fire escape and an open window.”

(A reminder to face the consequences of ones actions.)

Lady Justice:  If you were to compare yourself to someone (more) famous or infamous, who would it be? 

Mason:  I wouldn’t demote someone of high regard to the level of a grin seeker/sharer (grin).     

Lady Justice:  How long have you been involved in the leather community? 

Mason:  I was first involved GDI from the early 80’s through the early 90’s in Southern California.  Exploratory but non-committal to any lifestyle, I earned my first leather in 1987, the year that I began the design of Casa Del Sol, LA’s first AIDS hospice, and first engaged with the AIDS Project LA. 

I met my partner Bob, a handsome and wonderfully humane, soulful, man who happened to be HIV positive in a leather bar in Cincinnati in 1992 and fell into a loving, happy at home, extended honeymoon with him.  

Following the introverted struggle of Bob’s battle with opportunistic brain cancer in 1996 and slow recovery through 2001, I met my Daddy/Sir and stable brothers and subsequently became involved with our regional Leather clubs through my extended family’s engagement.    

Lady Justice:  Do you feel there is anything vital missing from today’s leather community?

Mason:  Yes, those that will find and explore it and/or become active in it.  We’re blessed with diversity and acceptance here and I’m looking forward to seeing the sparkle of wide-eyed discovery as others join in.     

Lady Justice:  What is your definition of a leatherman?  What are his responsibilities? 

Mason:  In His/Her heart? Sincerity, humility, respect, patience, tolerance, strength, an aspiration to virtue, mentorship, leadership…in that order, from core to possibility.

In a sexual role?  All of the above!   Add: Resourcefulness, creativity, humor, orneriness, and evasion of scripts.

Lady Justice:  Which roles in the Leather BDSM lifestyle do you fit?  How do the following words compare to you:  Master, slave, dominant, submissive, sadist, masochist, Daddy, etc.?

Mason:  “Natural sub”: meaning ornery, hopefully sensitive and creative with a sincere delight in another’s pleasure.  My service in that capacity is versatile/not role specific.  Masochist/serotonin junkie, mentor/conduit, given the opportunity.

Lady Justice:  What keeps you passionate about the leather community? 

Mason:  Discovery, revelation, touched hearts, inspired minds, lecherous grins, devious intentions.

A biker in South Dakota brought to tears by a special moment. 

The everlasting impression of a bullwhip scar 

Surprise.  Impact. 

A young Midwest seeker strong enough to dive in with both feet and change the face of a community while challenging himself that it still isn’t enough. 

The look of shock on a beneficiary’s face. 

A Daddy’s sigh of contentment.

Hugs and overwhelming joy.

A sense that one’s work is bigger than one’s self.  

Lady Justice:  To what organizations do you belong?  Are you an officer of any of these groups?

Mason:  In the Leather community, I was Vice President and Road Captain of the Lexington Lyons for the last two years.  I am a member of Scorpius Cincinnati, the Dayton Gryphons, the Louisville Nightwings, and the Louisville Trailblazers.  I’m also a member of numerous professional and non leather affiliated community service organizations, and a board member of INDY, a small but powerful little organization in Northern Kentucky for PWAs and their family and friends.  INDY = I’m Not Dead Yet. Ha!

Lady Justice:  Please tell us about more about your leather club.  Why do you think leather backpatch clubs are important?

Mason:  Ask (strike that) Hug a Satyr.  They started it.  

Our growth into this broadly diverse and inclusive run culture is based on the empowerment offered by early gay Leather/motorcycle clubs and we emulate their runs to this day in a huge variety of permutations of sexuality/gender/fetish.  Smokeout, Thunder in the Mountains, Leather Spirit, Butchmanns, the title circuits, Inferno, CLAW…there are thousands of deviants on the road today doing phenomenal things in the name of ornery fun and it started at Badger Flat with a few guys from LA taking tricks out on their bikes to have sex in the woods. Sex is inspirational, or better yet: good motivation in making things happen.

Leather/MC clubs empower seekers in our communities through the visibility of their service, whether that is through education and outreach, having notorious and/or educational runs, or by fundraising and being visibly known as a community benefactor.

I am so very proud of my small home club: the Lexington Lyons.  Founded in 1998 as a community service organization, there are 9 full members as of today and we are humorously known as the “Leather Junior League” for being a down home group of folks from the Bluegrass State that happen to gravitate to this broad reaching island of misfit toys. 

Over the past three years we have raised and disbursed over $31,000.00 to beneficiaries across the country.  We were instrumental in assisting the New Orleans AIDS Task Force in their rebound after hurricane Katrina.  We fund meals for PWAs and their loved ones across Kentucky.  We sponsor the state’s GLSO and are a benefactor to not only our own AIDS Service organization, but Nashville CARES, the AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, The AIDS Volunteers of Northern Kentucky, and two hospice organizations.  Our members are continuing sponsors of the Leather Archives. We have been responsible for over $7,000.00 raised for the CLAW charities. 

We sponsor the Leather Spirit retreat weekend here in Kentucky and host an annual party at IML that brings over 500 folks for a donation only taste of Kentucky hospitality party (bourbon included) as a kickoff for the weekend. 

Our cookbooks, filled with the best of southern hospitality are available for order.  (See the email address at the end of the interview if you are interested in one.)  

 I would be remiss not to mention that we have also benefited our friends at The Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League of Washington DC, International Deaf Leather, and the Atlantic Bear Leather Festival weekend as well as having consistently supported GLLA, Mr. Kentucky Leather, Mid State’s Leather, Kentucky Leather Sir, and IDL titleholder’s runs…nine people affecting a community so large…wow.

Lady Justice:  What is your fondest memory while you were wearing leather over the years?

Mason:  There are so many moments to look back on and forward to.  The most humorous was breaking a roof truss with a good friend.  Not to be deterred, we laughed and got out the sawhorses. We fixed the truss later.

Lady Justice:  How does your husband-to-be feel about your leather life and active travel schedule?

Mason:  Bob is very gracious in his support of my travel and my interaction in our community.  Although he does not gravitate to the same flame, he is an honorary member of the Lyons for his service to us by way of lending me out, and I am certain he enjoys the peace and quiet when I’m on the road! 

Lady Justice:  Have you ever conducted a leather workshop?  What was the topic?  If you were to teach more leather workshops, what topics would you teach?

Mason:  I have not.  I leave the stage/podium to others better at managing it.  Mentorship is another thing entirely.    

Lady Justice:  Whom do you admire in the community?  And, is there anyone in it you like to be for 24 hours and why? 

Mason:  A flood of names immediately comes to mind, one that would fill pages.  I have to distill it to those that inspire, empower, encourage and positively affect our greater community and those in it. 

In empathy, I would value walking a mile in some of my struggling Leather brothers' shoes. Despite their challenges, they not only participate but contribute to this community, and I'm humbled by their strength.

Lady Justice:  What is your stance on “Old Guard” versus “New Guard” leather protocols and rules?

Mason:  I am not an old guard man.  Like many that I know in our community, I’m a drop-in.  With great respect for our forbearers, I hold those traditions as sacred and offer that our diversity demands a respect of the terms with which one enters into our community.  I neither pine for old guard ways nor sigh at their passing, because I know from personal experience that they are very much alive today.  I believe that our singular journeys will be made better with the knowledge of tradition but our actions in respect of those rotes is up to each of us individually.

Lady Justice:  Do others outside the leather community know you’re into leather?  If so, has that created any difficulty? 

Mason:  Everyone in my circle of family, friends, and close professional associates knows of my interests in and dedication to the leather community.    I believe the only difficulty I’ve encountered is the challenge to respond sensitively and respectfully to a straight couples Q&A in their blossoming desire to explore.   

Lady Justice:  What qualities about yourself do you like the most?   The least? 

Mason:  I believe that one of my greatest strengths is passion.  I think that one of my greatest distractions is being passionate.

Lady Justice:  If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?  And if you could change anything about others, what would it be?

Mason:  I would be more constructive with my time.  I would encourage others to be tolerant, accepting, and embrace divergent views.

Lady Justice:  What is the last book you read that deals with leather and the last book you read that is a non-leather topic?  Why did you choose those books? 

Mason:  Chainmale was a gift from a friend, and Bloomberg by Bloomberg by way of professional research and personal interest.

Lady Justice:  Tell us more about your lifestyle in the BDSM leather world.  What are you into?  And, what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet?

Mason:  Not to be esoteric, I’m into creativity and power play/sharing.  That happens on an amazingly broad scale of interaction.  In my experience, the very best moments are sponsored by the resourcefulness required by immediate design in intimate interaction.   Elaborately scripted scenes often shatter into missed opportunity on the hard surface of expectations built into their construction.  Be prepared.  Always.  Don’t put anything into your baggage but your gear, and leave your fantasies on your pillow because it’s likely that the realities will overwhelm them by a heinous magnitude.

I’ve been fortunate to live every fantasy I’ve had so far.  There’s a location out there waiting for me though.  A loading dock in the Santa Fe switching yards in east LA has my name on it. 

Lady Justice:  When you flag, which colors do you wear?  Do you wear them on the left or the right?

Mason:  Right pocket:  black, grey, hunter green, yellow, light blue, to name a few.  A blender would be more appropriate.  If it’s His preference, He may feel free to move them to the left. I defer.

Lady Justice:  Do you have a dungeon or play space?  If you do, tell us about it.  If you don’t, tell us how you would design your dungeon. 

Mason:  Have hardware, will travel.  I’ve designed others play spaces but for all of the reasons mentioned previously and below I do not have one here at home.

Lady Justice:  Let’s pretend that you’re placing a 35 word personal ad in LeatherBear’s column.  How would it read?

Mason:  Gay leather pervert seeks low maintenance travel companion for heavy lifting and community service in the search for the world’s largest ball of twine. Destination unknown.  Pack duct tape.

Lady Justice:  What do you think our community needs to successfully move into the future?

Mason:  Relaxation about who we are. 

In each of our actions we make an impact and contribute.  Each of us can only do so much, and none of us are our broader community’s salvation. We have the opportunity to live by example for those that might want to join us in our respect for diversity, and the responsibility to consider and be tolerant of divergent perspective. 

We are a beautiful subculture.  That makes us fringe, and grin together. Humility requires that we defer to the needs of our greater community, and respond as required. 

Lady Justice:  Would you like to tell us more about any of your new endeavors?

Mason:  Stay tuned for news on ASSFEST 2008.  I think it has legs.

Lady Justice:  Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? 

Mason:  If you know where the largest ball of twine is, please don’t let on.  I’m enjoying the search too much to see it end. 

Lady Justice:  Where can we find you online?  Do you have e-mail, business information, or a web site you’d like to share with us?

Mason:  I’m available at:  kymancub@aol.com.   I maintain that screen name everywhere I have a web presence.