West Virginia Queer News
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Steven Tompa
steventompa@yahoo.com

Interview with John David Elam, International Mr. Bear 2009
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #1:  How does it feel to be International Mr. Bear 2009? Tell us about your reign and all the fund raisers you did over the last year. Who were the various charities and how much did you raise?
JOHN DAVID #1:  It was amazing to be chosen International Mr. Bear 2009.  I competed with some great men from all over the world and it truly was an honor to be selected.  I have appeared at over 36 events in almost a dozen states over the last year.  I feel it has been important to represent our bear community with pride from selling raffle tickets, emceeing events, judging contests, organizing events, etc.  As a bear, we give back to the community helping organizations like Moveable Feast, The Fireman’s Children’s Association, and many more.  Some of the events raised several thousand dollars, others just a few hundred, however, every penny and dime was just as important as the big checks.   

 
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #2:  As a bear title holder, why do you feel it was important to help the community with fund raisers?
JOHN DAVID #2:  Title holders whether bear, leather or drag have an amazing opportunity to help charities.  It allows us to build unity, brotherhood, and a sense of family within our community.  Folks graciously offer to pay cover charge at the door buy the raffle tickets from us to support the needed resources for our organizations and charities. To waste this opportunity is truly a detriment to the community.   A titleholder should be a leader for current fund raising and a teacher to those title holders coming up behind us.
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #3:  Tell us about International Mr. Cub 2009, International Mr. Grizzly 2009 and International Mr. Daddy Bear 2009.
JOHN DAVID #3:  International Mr. Grizzly 2009 and International Mr. Daddy Bear 2009 both live on the West Coast and have made many, many appearances this year.  International Mr. Daddy Bear 2009 has traveled almost as much as I have.  International Mr. Cub 2009 lives in Spain.  Due to the distance, I have unfortunately not been able to talk with him much.  All of these guys have done great work for the community.   All of us combined have made over 70 appearances in many, many states.     
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #4:   Tell us about IBR in San Francisco.
JOHN DAVID #4:  IBR means International Bear Rendezvous.  It is a great event brining hundreds of bears from all over the world and the International Mr. Bear competition is the highlight of the weekend. IBR is a great time to make new friends and meet some old ones I haven’t seen in awhile.
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #5:  Tell us about the Bluegrass state. 
JOHN DAVID #5:  Kentucky is known as "the horse capital of the world".  In May we have an obscure, little heard of event called the Kentucky Derby. Of course I am kidding. The derby is horse racings most prestigious event.  In 2011 we will host the World Equestrian Games. This is considered the "Olympics" of various horse events and is a major honor for Lexington.  Bill Howard will be hosting BLUEGRASS CLAW 2010 on Saturday, March 27 at Crossings in Lexington, Kentucky.  Tell all your friends and try to come!
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #6:  I feel honored to be your brother and a former Mr. Kentucky Bear 2005. I believe our history is important.  Tell us about the rest of our brothers who were Mr. Kentucky Bears and the years they served.
JOHN DAVID #6:  The title of Mr. Kentucky Bear has held a special place in the bear community for some time. 
  • Scott Perry was Mr. Kentucky Bear 2000 and became International Mr. Bear 2001.  He was the first to win from Kentucky.
  • Stephen Marcum was Mr. Kentucky Bear 2002.  Unfortuntately, our dear Stephen Marcum passed away.  He was is sadly missed by us all.  Someday, we will see him again in Heaven.
  • Bill Howard was Mr. Kentucky Bear 2003 and went on to become International Mr. Daddy Bear 2004; he is also my bear mentor.  I have learned so much from Bill about fund raising and event coordinating. 
  • Harv Mallory was Mr. Kentucky Bear 2004 and went on to become International Mr. Bear 2005. 
  • You, Steven Tompa, were Mr. Kentucky Bear 2005 and were the recipient of the International Hospitality Bear Award 2006. 
  • I, John David Elam, was Mr. Kentucky Bear 2008 and became International Mr. Bear 2009.
  • Darren Efurd is Mr. Kentucky Bear 2009 and will compete for the title of International Mr. Bear 2010 in February in San Francisco.  Darren has some high expectations placed on him with the history that the Mr. Kentucky Bear title.
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #7:  Tell us about your family.
JOHN DAVID #7:  I was adopted by the Elams when I was about one year old.  After the passing of my mother last year, I was left to care for my disabled sister. My family has always been very supportive of anything I have pursued.   My immediate family is now just me and my sister, so my bear and leather brothers mean so much to me.  When I talk about my bear family, I really mean it when I say FAMILY. 




WVQN LEATHER BEAR #8:  Tell us about your partner Donnie. How did he feel about you being International Mr. Bear?
JOHN DAVID #8:  He is great.  We have been together for 7 years. When I was on stage last year and they announced me as International Mr. Bear 2009 the people sitting around Donnie in the audience starting calling him Michelle Obama. It was hilarious!  He has been very supportive and patient this year. We have had raffle prizes and event supplies all over the house for 12 months and I think he is ready for it to go away so we can have a normal bedroom again. Although he hasn't been able to attend every event with me, he has been supportive and understanding toward my schedule. I don't know what I would have done without him.



WVQN LEATHER BEAR #9:  Tell us about your career.

JOHN DAVID #9:  I am an Autotransfusionist and work in several different hospitals across Kentucky. I work with some fantastic people. Last year when I told my company that I would have to do some traveling they were very understanding.
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #10:  What’s this I hear about you wanting a leather puppy? Why would International Mr. Bear 2009 want a leather puppy?
JOHN DAVID #10:  You’re funny, Steven!  I went to International Mr. Leather for the first time last year. One night at one of the bars a guy came in with his "puppy". I don't know what it was about it but it was cool and I decided I wanted one. Hey, who wouldn't want to be International Mr. Bear 2009’s puppy?  lol
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #11:  What was your most memorable experience as International Mr. Bear? What was your least memorable experience?
JOHN DAVID #11:  My most memorable experience has to be the events where I have been able to see how the event impacts the charity. At an event in Columbus, Ohio to benefit Camp Sunrise, a summer camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDES I got to see how important these events are. Some times we go to or have an event and the charity is "out of sight, out of mind". It was good to see the actual effect the event was having.  My least memorable was kind of weird. I was asked to appear at an event and when I arrived I was completely ignored by the person coordinating the event. They took me off the program without ever telling me why or that they had even done it.  It was all kind of strange.



WVQN LEATHER BEAR #12:  Tell us about the workshop you will be presenting at “Paws & Hearts in the Bear and Leather Communities” at CLAW in Cleveland on April 24, 2010.

JOHN DAVID #12:  I am doing a workshop on fund raising. Many times I see events that are kind of just thrown together without much planning or the person coordinating the event has no link or realistic view of the community where the event is held.  I  am going to go over topics such as... know your target audience....know what is popular in the area, such as drag, leather, etc…and how to schedule while also covering your " oh crap" factor. This come into play when you have five scheduled performers and four just cancelled, OH crap! What do I do? Well, I'm going to tell you what to do. All this come from years of experience with fund raising and putting on various events.    
WVQN LEATHER BEAR #13:  Please share you favorite quote with us.
JOHN DAVID #13:  My favorite quote is by Henry Ford.  “Coming together is a beginning, working together is a start, staying together is success".   For several years there has been a kind of divide within our communities. The bears don't like the leather, the leather don’t like bears, the bears don’t like drag and on and on. It’s good to see that this line is beginning to fade. I have made several appearances at leather events this year and I know Jeff Payne, International Mr. Leather 2009, has made appearances at bear events. We as a collective cause need to work together if we are to be successful in our struggle for equality. We must work together if we are to bring awareness and recourses to our charities and organizations which are a benefit to society as a whole and not just the gay community. We are neither at the beginning or the end of the work to be done, we are somewhere in the middle with an eternity to go and I am proud that at this moment, in the second I am able to hold hands with my bear, leather and drag brothers and sisters and say that in my year as International Mr. Bear "WE" accomplished more than "I" ever could have.
If you would like to contact John David Elam, International Mr. Bear 2009, his email address is: 

kybear2008@yahoo.com