A record-number of leather enthusiasts packed the Auditorium Theatre for the annual competition where Thompson became the 41st person to claim the coveted leather title.
Thompson is the first trans person of color and the second trans person ever to win.
“There’s people in this room right now that don’t believe I’m man enough to be on this stage,” Thompson said during the speech portion of the competition. “If you’re enough for you, then you are enough. Period.”
“I’m Jack Thompson and I’m a proud biracial, openly transgender, HIV positive man and I am enough,” he continued to a standing ovation.
During the physique portion of the competition, Thompson wore a Transgender Flag jockstrap.
Hailing from Baltimore, Thompson bested a field of 68 contestants that included a record number of eighteen International contestants representing Belgium, Germany, Australia, Italy, Mexico, France, Ireland, Spain, Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, Venezuela, China, European Union and Israel.
Tyler McCormick was the first trans man to win International Mr. Leather in 2010.
Jawn Marques, Mr. San Francisco Leather 2019, was named first runner-up, and second runner-up was Fionn Scott, Mr. Leather Ireland 2019. Kriszly de Hond was named International Mr. Bootblack.
This year’s IML was the second to occur after the death of founder Chuck Renslow, who died June 29, 2017 at age 87.
INTERNATIONAL MR LEATHER 2019 WINNER
2nd Runner Up Fionn Scott
1st Runner Up Jawn Marques
IML 41 Jack Thompson
INTERNATIONAL BOOTBLACK 2019 WINNER
2nd Runner Up Sparky
1st Runner Up Geoff Millard
IMBB 41 Kriszly de Hond
INTERNATIONAL MR LEATHER 2019 TOP 20
Mr. Atlas Leather 2019 Colin Marcus Jackson
Mr. Ramrod 2018 Elimination
Mr. New Jersey Leather 2019 Lynx
Mr. Leather Belgium 2018 Bart
Mr. Friendly SF 2019 Amp Somers
Mr. CMen Leather 2018 James Stewart
Mr. Leather Spain 2018 Joseph Rider
Mister Leather Berlin 2018 Jens Walker
Laird Leatherman 2017 James Addinsal
Mr. San Francisco Leather 2019 Jawn Marques
Mr. Leather Ireland 2019 Fionn Scott
Mr. Pittsburgh Leather Fetish 2018 Greg Jones
Leatherman of Color 2019 Jack Thompson
Mr. Mid Atlantic Leather 2019 Emerson Aniceto
Mr. Michigan Leather 2019 Will Baker
Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2019 Elliot Musgrave
Mr. Leather Venezuela 2018 Gaspare
Mister Fetish Spain 2018 Emerson Prieto
Mr. Chicago Leather 2019 Saber Onyx
Mister Leather Europe 2019 Everett Leerson
