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How would Lance Gear describe the year 2000 in one word? "Empowering!" he responds without hesitation. In that year, Gear captured three titles: Mr. February for a benefit calendar, Mr. Powerhouse at a San Francisco bar, and Mr. San Francisco Leather. He was a relative newcomer to the area at the time.

Originally from Detroit, Gear has lived in a number of cities, including Miami, New York, and Washington, DC. After moving from Miami to San Francisco, he found work as a bartender at Powerhouse. Soon afterward he found himself draped with the Mr. Powerhouse sash.

"I went for the Mr. Powerhouse title because they gave me a job when I first moved there, and I wanted to give back to them by being Mr. Powerhouse and helping to keep the bar busy," he says.

Gear himself kept busy as he entered yet another contest around the same time. Participating in the SOMA (South of Market Street) Calendar competition, Gear was named Mr. February 2000. The calendar, a longtime tradition in San Francisco, benefits the AIDS Emergency Fund.

Fulfilling his obligation as Mr. Powerhouse, Gear competed for the title Mr. San Francisco Leather. "I thought there was no way I would win," he says. "I had only lived in San Francisco for seven months and didn't know many people."

But many local residents attending the contest immediately took notice as soon as Gear hit the stage. "While walking onstage for the physique competition, my cod piece came undone and almost fell right off," recalls Gear. "But I don't think anyone noticed." (Yeah, right!)

Certainly everyone noticed the candid nature of the speech Gear delivered. "My speech was all about domestic violence in the gay community, and I talked about my personal history on the receiving end of such abuse," he shares. "I wanted to give a speech that would be close to my heart, something I truly cared about. So I knew I had to do it. Some people advised me against it, but once I had it in my mind, that was it." It was the first time Gear had spoken publicly about the issue from his firsthand point of view.

"After I walked off the stage at the end of my speech, I broke down," he says. "It was such an intense moment, talking openly about that in front of a thousand people."

What advice would Gear offer to someone who's the victim of domestic abuse? "I would say to get professional help or get out of the relationship," he says. "Personally, I did not seek professional help and I did not get out when I should have. For me, it took things getting very bad before I did. That's something I've had to deal with on my own. Each situation is different and must be dealt with as such. There's no single way to deal with such a sensitive subject." Additionally, he notes, "Not all fights are abuse; know enough to know the difference."

A couple of little-known facts about Gear: he served in the Air Force and he's a Gulf War veteran. Additionally, he enjoys singing. (He was a musical-theater major before switching to political science.)

Not only a multiple titleholder, Gear is also well known as the star of numerous erotic videos. "Being a porn star, a calendar man, and holding two titles all at once, it was hard for me because I could never blend into the woodwork," he says. "But it was all worth it and I would not change anything for the world. The highlight of the year was being able to raise money for so many worthy causes."

Author Profile:  Ed Karvoski, Jr.
Ed Karvoski Jr. is the author of All-Male: Quirky Quotes, Intimate Interviews, and Tantalizing Trivia from the Most Desired Men on Earth (Kensington Books)
Email:	edkarvoskijr@prodigy.net
Website:	www.edkarvoskijr.com