“Guys, I Just Experienced Racism Full Force.” ~Max Konnor

“We were the only African Americans in the store. He told us he didn’t have time to watch us. After we left, the other patrons left, too.”

Max Konnor is nominated for the GayVN Performer of the Year Award as well as Best Duo Sex Scene, and Best Group Sex Scene.

Max, along with designer Maxfield Haynes, went to “The Leather Man” in Greenwich Village in NYC seeking to have an outfit crafted he could wear to the GAYvn ceremonies to be held on January 21.

“‘I would have to take a shirt apart and all that, so by the time it was all done it would be $1,500. It would be better for you to go another place,’” OUT reports they were told by the store’s leather maker, German Torres.

“I was still very interested in the other products they were selling,” Max said. Konnor and Haynes looked around and went they were finished and we’re calling for a ride. “That’s when the owner comes up to me and says, ‘we really don’t have time to watch people that aren’t going to buy anything,’” Konnor said.

According to both Konnor and Haynes, Konnor responded, “Well you don’t have to watch me, we don’t need your help.” After a moment, according to Konnor, Mueller then raised his voice: “He says, ‘I don’t care about all of that, you need to get out of my store.’”

During a scheduled interview on Sunday, the store owner and founder, Chuck Mueller, referred to the incident as a “simple case of disrespect being shown to store employees,” alleging that Konnor and “three others” “caused a ruckus.” After, Mueller refused to be a part of an on-the-record interview with audio recording.

“There were about 10 other people in the store,” said Haynes, who had been to the store before with no issue but had never interacted with the owner. Mueller and Jordan confirmed that the store was busy that day. “Everyone [on the first floor] left with us when they saw what happened. All of the staff that worked there were so respectful, it was just what happened with the owner that was negative.”

The Leather Man has since released a statement on their Instagram:

We were the only African Americans in the store. He told us he didn’t have time to watch us — well no one asked you to watch us. We came in for a specific reason. It was the way that he approached us. After we left, the other patrons left, too. It’s horrible. I’ve never felt like this in my life. I’m literally still shaking.”

Konnor said that another employee followed them out of the Christopher Street store and apologized for the owner.

Ironically, I was about to say “all things being equal”, but things have never been more unequal right now. Just in gay porn, or even the US, but around the globe.

At the end of the end, it comes down to this, if Wesley Woods or Roman Todd or Skyy Knox, all of whom have been nominated along with Max in the Performer of the Year category had visited “The Leather Man” for their ceremony outfits, would anyone like they “had to be watched”? Would they be asked to leave as they called for a ride?

Watch this blog.