Judges and Contest Staff
Judy Tallwing McCarthey – Head Judge
Judy Tallwing McCarthey, Apache/Tewa & African American, Feminist, Activist, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Great Great Grandmother, found member of the National Leather Association International, as as the very first International Ms Leather in 1987.
“An invisible minority leaves itself open as easy prey for those who would deny it’s freedom, it’s very existence!”
Having a strong belief in this statement is why Judy has lived a life standing up against a system of racism, sexism and injustice. She was an elected Arizona delegate to the International Womens Year Convention held in Houston, Texas in 1977. She went into labor with her 6th child during the opening session of that conference. Judy has a strong belief in the Great Creator, the Spirits of Mother Earth and the Power of Women, learned from her maternal grandmother.
“I came to strongly believe that being visible and out front is necessary especially since I became a part of the battle against AIDs. I watched and was a part of that war and saw the kindness of our people. I hope I have the ability to continue to battle injustice and hatred until I leave this planet.”
Brooks Davis – Judge – Mid Atlantic Bear 2026
Brooks / BearPup Royal (He/They) resides in Baltimore, MD and hails from the mid-west not too far outside of the great city of Chicago. After attending BBM in 2023 he then went to World Bear in Orlando and between the two events got to know a lot of folks in the bear/leather/kink communities. He attended Maryland Leather Weekend later that year and eventually moved to Baltimore. He is a proud member of COMMAND MC and is currently their Road Captain. He is a flip-switch vers kinkster and a confirmed make-out artist.
Since competing and winning the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Bear title it has been lots of travel up and down the east coast. Most recently he was able to assist at New Jersey Leather as an assistant stage manager. Events he has attended have ranged from MAL, Virginia Leather, and Project Play up in Allentown. He has much more coming soon and is excited to represent his community.
In his personal life, Brooks enjoys reading fantasy and sci-fi, dabbling at writing his own work, and conquering the world through online gaming.
Beeyotch the Bunny – Judge – Mid Atlantic Cub 2026
Beeyotch the Bunny is a local kinkster to the state of Maryland. As the current Mid Atlantic Cub 2026, they spent their year traveling the east coast and enjoying meeting folx from each state they visited. They plan on enjoying a quiet year in 2027. They wish for you all to remember, “when people show you who they are, believe them the first time” – (Maya Angelou)
Furby Smash – Judge – Mid Atlantic Pet 2027
Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Furby Smash (any/all) is the neighborhood not-so-friendly junkyard dog. From fetching rogue brats to fetching looks, this pup is a pleaser. The Maryland mutt may be familiar before the privilege to be the inaugural Mid Atlantic Pet 2026. Breaking the mold is nothing new, as they were also your inaugural Mixer’s Leather 2024. When asked how they felt about this past year, they said “YIP YIP”. We are still working on a translation. This filthy dog can be found growling through the fence of your nearest junkyard, howling in the foothills of Appalachia, or curled up on the back patio of Mixers. They strive to assist critters to express themselves in their own unique ways and to find their bark, growl, roar, chirp, caw, neigh, or whatever noise possums make.
Bilal Sakr – Judge
Meet Bilal Sakr (he, him) a proud Middle Eastern from Lebanon, now based in Canada. Mr. Bear Montreal 2024, Mr. Bear Canada 2025, 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate, Ambassador for Empower Inc., first-time author, and recipient of the Government of Canada’s Agent of Change 2026 recognition.
Based in Montreal, Bilal has taken his titleholder journey across Canada and the United States, connecting with bears, leather, pup, kink and Pride communities while building friendships, sharing stories, and celebrating what makes each community unique.
And if there’s music, costumes, or a stage nearby, chances are Bilal is not far behind. With a multicultural background and a love of belly dancing, singing, acting, fantasy, and performance, he enjoys blending culture, creativity, humour, and kink in his own way. A proud kink explorer, he approaches the community with confidence, curiousity, consent, and respect.
Bilal is also writing his first book and workign toward creating a leather and bear social club in Lebanon.
For him, community is about showing up, connecting, expressing yourself, opening doors for others…and never forgetting to have a little fun along the way.
Lord Ty – Judge
What do you hear? A thunderous laughter?! He doesn’t need any introduction. You’ll hear him before you see him. Lord Ty is here to cause international kinky mayhem. He’s Word Bear 2024. The Self-Appointed King of Bear Hugs.
A young emo dad bear at heart, he travels around the kinky world to lend his services out where-ever he shows up. From serving as “judge’s bear” for International Mr. Leather 2025-2026 to speaking on panels about what it means to be “authentically you” , he is there to aid the community at large, by providing back-breaking bear hugs and terrible dad jokes.
His main flags are. Red on the left, and Hunter Green and Navy Blue on both sides. His main kinks are: impact play, hypnosis, and sensory deprivation.
Outside of the kinky world, he’s helping create more safe spaces in the LGBTQIA+ community. He was elected as Board Member to a new 501.C organization: “Scream Queens Coaster Community”. A nonprofit for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies who love roller coasters. A community that celebrates both thrills and inclusivity, because “No one rides alone”.
His life motto is: when you are ready, Be a lighthouse, because you never know who is trying to swim home. By being active in his community, he guides the next generation of kink and queer members, to be more confident, take center stage, and be thunderously loud but sincerely humble.
P.S. FUCK FASCISM
Goddessxx Rayne – Judge
Goddessxx Rayne (She/They/Kitty) is a Queer non-binary switch and Mid-Atlantic Leatherwoman 2020–22. An active member of Mid-Atlantic ONYX Pearls for 7+ years, they’ve held multiple leadership roles and currently serve as Treasurer. Rayne is also active in Hooker and Boys Ministries, ONYX Mid-Atlantic, and F.I.S.T. In 2023, they co-founded Felines of Color Collective, supporting PoC who identify as feline in Leather/Kink spaces, and in 2024 became Director of Diversity for NECK. Passionate about education and safe consensual exploration, Rayne presents on consent, Black BDSM practices, sexual wellness, hygiene, diabetes and play, and BDSM spirituality.
Edward Yingling – Emcee
Edward Yingling also known as Bishop has been part of the leather community since 2022. Before becoming a part of Maryland leather community, he was a Maryland drag queen winning the title of Gay East Baltimore, 2015 with a drag career expanding 11 years in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Edward is also an actual Bishop for a local Independent Catholic Church community and works with helping the homeless with water and coffee through their outreach program, having church communities in two states and in the U.K.
Cinder Dust – Tally Master
Your Mixers Leather 2026 Cinder Dust (she/they) is the first Hard of Hearing Mixers Leather. They are a Leather Woman, Bootblack and former LGBTQIA+ Educator who has been in the kink scene for over a decade and has been an active part of the Baltimore Leather Scene since 2023. She is a proud Polynesian, Polyamorous, Sapphic with a love for historical sword fighting and archery despite hypermobility and hearing disabilities. She’s a member of the The Vixxens and Member of House Orpheus.
Your Mixers Leather 2026 constantly strives to do the best they can and will always fight for the rights to have Accessibility and she will always uplift the voices of small marginalized communities.
AJ Sementilli – Judges Person
AJ Sementelli (aka Pup Zeo and World Pet 2021) is located in Montgomery Village, Maryland. Zeo uses he/him pronouns. Originally from Erie, PA, Zeo has been an active part of the bear and pet communities for about 20 years. He’s volunteered for previous events such as Drenched Fur, Bears, Bikers and Mayhem, North American Bear Weekend and World Bear Weekend. You would usually find him slinging hotdogs or meatballs in the after hours hospitality suite. He’s always on the look out for cigar smoking, coffee drinking, Power Ranger enthusiats.
Zakarias Brooks – Den Staff
Zakarias Brookes has been a member of the leather community since 1999. In 2008 Zak decided to take a break from being leather visible in the community and decided to re-enter again in 2018 and hasn’t looked back. Zak is a former member and Vice President of The Baltimore ShipMates and was ShipMate of the Year in 2020. Zak is an associate of COMMAND MC, an associate of The HighwayMen TNT, and an associate of The Vixxens Leather Club. Zak is an honorary member of Hell & Back Ministries and in 2022 Zak was awarded The Fenton, Bohli, Snider Award for going above and beyond. Zak is a former board member of the BHT Foundation and served on the board until BHT decided to sunset. Zak is part of The Murin Leather Family, It’s What We Do and currently is a board member of The Clifton Pleasure Club as their social media person. If you’ve been to Clifton Pleasure Club and took a bathroom selfie Zak probably had something to do with that whether you knew it or not.