DETROIT – ICON Detroit leather club celebrates 20 years Feb. 16 with a party at Hayloft Saloon, 8070 Greenfield Rd Detroit, Mich. Expect door prizes, demos, refreshments, raffle and surprise guests at this milestone event!
Non-profit ICON has been producing monthly bar parties with a fundraising element since 1993. Current lineup: President, Buck. VP, Martino. Treasurer, Alleycat. Secretary, Tony. Pledge Master, Trooper. Road Captain/Web Master, Bill.
Two founders are still active members — Alleycat & Buck. Buck and Trooper have both served as IML judges. Eight members have walked the IML stage, with two making top twenty (Gary & Bryan). Trooper earned first runner up spots to two different international bootblack titleholders.
In 2009 three active members held three very different titles: Mr. Leather Cowboy, Great Lakes Bootblack and Mr. Detroit Eagle! ICON was among the first organizations to designate both The Ruth Ellis Center (a Detroit organization that helps and shelters GLBT youth) and “Mr. Friendly” as a recipient of charitable giving. The club was closely tied to now-defunct Detroit Eagle, where the ICON Colors hung for 16 years. The Club groomed several bootblacks, including Spike, Buck and Trooper. ICON and ONYX are considered “cousin” clubs, as both were formed a year apart with ONYX utilizing the ICON bylaws as a template for writing its own, early on. ICON was one of the first to have a female full member (Brenda).
The club was progressive and multicultural from its inception, with members from many ethnic backgrounds including white, black and latino — in fact, during the decade before ICON was formed, several USA leather clubs did not accept full members who were of color. The sword in the ICON logo is unique, as it symbolizes the fight against HIV/AIDS and support for those dealing with the disease.
ICON Detroit
