Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Washington Blade - November 19, 2004
Brian Moylan, Staff Writer
After being named International Mr. Leather in Chicago in June, he has spent nearly every weekend traveling, judging leather competitions and representing the title.
As Mr. D.C. Eagle 2004, the title that allowed him to compete in IML, he is also representing the city's venerable leather bar.
"Wherever I go now, people know the D.C. Eagle," he says. "When I travel, I always take pins and pens and T-shirts to hand out. I'm constantly promoting the bar."
This weekend, Hendrix will be representing the bar by helping select the new Mr. D.C. Eagle at the 32nd annual contest on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 10 p.m. "Lots of bars have a men's title or a women's title, but the Eagle is the only bar that has been able to keep the title going," says Schelli Dittman, the Eagle's marketing manager.
The title started in 1972, as part of the D.C. Eagle's anniversary celebration.
There are a few official duties for Mr. D.C. Eagle. He has to organize the bar's leather contingent for Capital Pride in June, participate in the bar's food, clothing and toy drive in December, and attend Leather Sabbat on Halloween. He also participates in the Eagle's anniversary celebration in November, including raising money for the Eagle Wings auction on Friday night and serving as a judge at the Mr. D.C Eagle competition on Saturday.
The auction is a recent addition to the anniversary weekend, which was traditionally held during the weekend after Thanksgiving, but was moved ahead a week to increase participation. Last year it raised about $5,000 for Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care Inc., an art therapy program for children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. This year the auction will be held on Friday, Nov. 19, from 8-11 p.m.
On Sunday, Nov. 21, there is a victory celebration scheduled for the new Mr. D.C. Eagle at 6 p.m., followed by the anniversary "black out" night at 10 p.m.
Along with the official responsibilities, Mr. D.C. Eagle is encouraged to compete in IML, and, if he chooses to do so, the bar will pay for his trip to compete. There's even a cash bonus if he wins a prize.
"When you get to IML, half the guys really want to make it and half are really happy with their local title and don't want the responsibility," Hendrix says. "But you want to send someone who will represent you well."
As for choosing someone, Hendrix will have some help from the other judges: Robert Napolitano, American Leatherman 2004; Darrell Moyers, Mr. DC Eagle 2001; Brian Kent, Mr. New York Eagle 2004; and Jim Madden, owner of Bike Stop in Philadelphia.
The contest is limited to 10 contestants, because that's all that will fit on the stage. They compete in five categories. The first is an interview portion, where each judge has an individual meeting with the contestants to ask questions. This happens before the contest, and if there are more than 10 contestants, cuts are made after the initial round.
On Saturday, Nov. 20, patrons at the bar will see the contestants being judged in four areas: the jockstrap competition, introduction to the crowd and bar wear, a 90-second speech, and overall image.
"You're looking for someone who is involved locally in the leather community and the community as a whole," Hendrix says. "You're also looking at what they're wearing and if they're comfortable wearing it."
Dittman says The Eagle would like an active titleholder. "What we push for is a nice guy who is active in the D.C. community, who likes to come to the bar, and that's the most important thing to us," she says.
Anyone looking to compete can register at the Eagle, 639 New York Ave., NW, starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday or online by visiting www.mrdceagle.com.
Hendrix, who holds the IML title through May 2005, says it will be hard to give up the Mr. D.C. Eagle sash Saturday.
"It's going to be interesting because I'm still here," he says, "but I won't be the guy anymore."
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