International Rubber Contest Announces Changes
CHICAGO, IL - We have always tried to be inclusive and to make MIR as welcoming as possible. Our unofficial motto for the past several years has been that “MIR is for Everyone.” Over the past 5 years we’ve tried to make good on that statement. We’ve added meet-ups for people of color, asians, and our trans siblings to let them know that this space and event is for them. We created a means for members of the community to nominate individuals to be considered as a judge. We created a scholarship program to make attending MIR a bit more affordable for BIPOC and low income individuals. And we’ve worked to diversify our staff, which now includes a range of gender identities. We’ve made progress in many areas, except one, only men have been eligible to run for our title.
As a Board, after much deliberation and discussion, we have decided that beginning with the 2024 event, our contest will no longer have a gender barrier. Additionally, we will institute a name change. Our weekend will no longer be known as Mr. International Rubber, but will simply be called “MIR” moving forward.
Starting with MIR28, all contestants will compete on the same stage in one gender-inclusive contest. The winner of the contest will then be able to choose the honorific that best represents them as the MIR titleholder: either Mr. International Rubber, Ms. International Rubber, Mx. International Rubber, or MIR International Rubber Ambassador.
We know that other local and regional fetish titles have been becoming more gender inclusive. Some have added additional gendered or non-binary contestant tracks, while others have removed gender barriers and produce a single contest for all genders. Making this change will help ensure that all rubber titleholders and independent contestants will have an international stage to shine on, regardless of their gender identity.
We are excited about this change, and look forward to welcoming everyone back to MIR for the 28th International Rubber Contest Weekend. Mark your calendars as we return to the DoubleTree by Hilton and North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, from October 17 - 20, 2024.
Thank you again for your support and for being a part of this weekend!
Announced by William "Rubberwilli" Schendel, MIR2003, from the stage of MIR27, on October 21, 2023, on behalf of the Board of Directors of MIR Contest, NPO.