| MIR | |
|---|---|
 Rubber Pride Flag | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Rubber, Fetish, Kink |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Chicagoland |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1997 (1997) |
| Most recent | October 17-20, 2024 |
| Organised by | MIR Contest, NPO |
| Website | mirubber |
MIR, formerly Mr. International Rubber, is a multi-day convention and contest celebrating the rubber, fetish, and kink communities. Established in 1997, MIR occurs annually in Chicagoland during the autumn, drawing participants and attendees from all over the world. Events include workshops, socials, dances, market, and the contest.
History
MIR started in 1997 hosted at the Boystown bar, Cell Block, and has been run every year since. In 2009 MIR contest moved to the Center on Halsted to account for larger crowds. In 2020 MIR 24 was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MIR 27 in 2023 moved to a new location in Skokie, Illinois.
At MIR 27 in 2023, organizers announced that the event would allow contestants of all genders to compete; the contest winner may chose whichever honorific best represents them as MIR titleholder: Mr. International Rubber, Ms. International Rubber, Mx. International Rubber, or MIR International Rubber Ambassador. To promote inclusion, organizers also changed the official name of the contest from "Mr. International Rubber" to gender-neutral "MIR."
The Leather Archives & Museum holds many of MIR's records.
Winners
Below is a table of MIR contest winners. Winner's Country as used in the table refers to the winner's country of residence at the time they won the competition.
| Year | Class | Winner | Preliminary Title / Sponsor | Winner's Country | Ref. |
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| 2024 | MIR 28 | Rush |  United States
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| 2023 | MIR 27 | AJ Huff | M. San Francisco Rubber | United States
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| 2022 | MIR 26 | Pusckatt Pumera ONYX | Mr. Florida Rubber | United States
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| 2021 | MIR 25 | ChicagoRubber | United States
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| 2020 | MIR 24 | Contest was virtual and no MIR titleholder was selected. | |||
| 2019 | MIR 23 | Adalberto Rubadam | Mr. Rubber Netherlands |  Netherlands
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| 2018 | MIR 22 | Guillaume Dupuis |  Canada
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| 2017 | MIR 21 | Michal Neighbour |  Poland
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| 2016 | MIR 20 | Preston "Wexx" So | Mr. New England Rubber | United States
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| 2015 | MIR 19 | Jeffrey "Gummibärchen" Basile | Mr. Midwest Rubber | United States
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| 2014 | MIR 18 | Max Samauth | Mr. Rubber Netherlands | Netherlands
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| 2013 | MIR 17 | Andy "CosmicRoo" Coatham | Mr. Rubber Toronto | Canada
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| 2012 | MIR 16 | Rubber Jason | United States
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| 2011 | MIR 15 | Sly Hands | Mr. Rubber UK |  United Kingdom
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| 2010 | MIR 14 | G-Man | Mr. Southeast Rubber | United States
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| 2009 | MIR 13 | Fenn | Mr. Rubber Toronto | Canada
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| 2008 | MIR 12 | Stephane Donaldson | Mr. Rubber Montreal | Canada
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| 2007 | MIR 11 | BJ Turgeon | Mr. Rubber Montreal | Canada
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| 2006 | MIR 10 | Maurizo Iacone | Mr. Rubber Italy |  Italy
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| 2005 | MIR 9 | Michael Schneider |  Germany
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| 2004 | MIR 8 | Frank Bug | Mr. Rubclub 2004 | Germany
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| 2003 | MIR 7 | Chris Vincent | United States
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| 2002 | MIR 6 | William "Rubberwilli" Schendel | United States
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| 2001 | MIR 5 | Yannick Kerjose |  France
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| 2000 | MIR 4 | Chad McLaughlin | United States
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| 1999 | MIR 3 | Tom Kelley | United States
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| 1998 | MIR 2 | Thomas Smith | United States
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| 1997 | MIR 1 | Christoph Lehner | United States
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References
- "Tips for Newbies". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- Lieberman, Hallie (2023-05-25). "'Fuck the Rules:' Rubberists are Starting Their Own Revolution". Vice. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- "Rubber lovers". Time Out Chicago. 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- "Mr. International Rubber 2010". Time Out Chicago. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- "MR INTERNATIONAL RUBBER PRESENTS: MIR24 - RUBBER LAB". Demasque Magazine. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "MIR's Intergalactic Rubber celebration soars to a suburb not too far way". Windy City Times. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "An Inclusive Contest - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- "Mr. International Rubber (MIR) Collection". Leather Archives & Museum. ORG-0015. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- "Titleholders - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- Stevens, Joseph (2024-10-20). "International Mr. Rubber goes to Skokie". Windy City Times. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ "Titleholders - MIR Contest". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- "Mister International Rubber takes the stage at Center on Halsted, Riviera Theatre". Windy City Times. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- "Jason "RubberJason" Lynch - In Memoriam". mirubber.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.