Chuck Renslow In Memoriam

August 26, 1929 – June 29, 2017

Chuck Renslow, a pioneer in the gay and leather communities, passed away at the age of 87 on 30 June 2017. An activist since the 1950s, he began Mr. Gold Coast contests in the early 1960s which became the International Mr. Leather in 1979. Later he co-founded the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago.

Rev. Elder Rachelle Brown has participated in a worship service at the International Mr. Leather conference in Chicago.

“As we honor the diversity of our own bodies, expressions, and spiritualities, it is wonderful to pray, bless, and celebrate with the wider leather community the gift of Chuck’s vision and life-long work. He was a dear friend to the people of MCC,” Rev. Brown said.

Rev. Elder Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Churches, remembers Chuck Renslow as a friend for over 40 years.

“I would like to remember him as a wonderful host and a person of deeply-held faith. He always insisted that I come to his house for dinner anytime I was in Chicago. He would talk about being a member of the Masonic order as well as being a member of the Episcopal Church. He always believed that those two organizations gave him a great spiritual foundation. I will always deeply miss Chuck for his friendship and the wonderful times we had altogether. He was a friend worth having,” Rev. Perry said.

Services are being planned in Chicago. Follow the link to read the obituary in the Chicago Tribune: https://trib.in/2sXmIAp.