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Leather and legacy: Hector S. Quintana-Smith’s journey to West Hollywood Leather 2026 and beyond

From childhood memories of dad’s leather boots to winning the title of West Hollywood Leather 2026, Quintana-Smith shares on identity, representation, and making space for everyone

Published

26 minutes ago

on

Hector S. Quintana-Smith

For Hector S. Quintana-Smith, leather represents visibility, service, community, and looking fan-f*cking-tastic dressed from head to toe in it. Almost a decade after first entering the Leather title arena, Quintana-Smith has come full circle as the winner of West Hollywood Leather 2026, fully and wholly embracing this title as the perfect opportunity to foster greater space for folks who haven’t always seen themselves reflected in “traditional” leather culture. His platform honors visibility, body positivity, zero tolerance of bullying, and recovery – all of which are deeply rooted in his belief that space must be made for everyone to have a seat at the leather-clad table.

And now Quintana-Smith is bringing this mission one step further as he prepares himself to compete for Cuero 2026 – a title that celebrates Latino representation in the leather and kink communities. His path to this moment in his life has been anything but conventional.  All the way back to his kinder-queer years, he can recall memories of his father’s leather boots in El Paso, fast-forward to discovering the leather scene in San Francisco, to an unexpected first title competition which introduced him to the camaraderie and compassion of the community. Along his journey, Quintana-Smith has explored his identity, sexuality, and culture. In our conversation with this king, Quintana-Smith reflects on the importance of feeling represented and why claiming space can be an act of transformation both personally and for the community as a whole.

You recently earned the title West Hollywood Leather 2026. What does this victory and title signify for and represent to you?

West Hollywood Leather 2026 represents belonging, but it also represents coming full circle. I first entered the Leather title world in 2016 and 2017. I first competed for Regiment of the Black and Tans and later competed for Mr. Bullet Leather. Both were incredibly positive experiences, but afterward I remember thinking, “Okay, I did that. I don’t think I need to run for another Leather title.” Apparently, the universe had other plans. Almost ten years later, I was asked to become West Hollywood Leather 2026. There was something beautiful about returning to a Leather title at this point in my life because I am not the same person I was ten years ago. I understand service differently, I understand community differently, and I understand myself differently. I also understand that the vest does not make the person. A title should represent work you are already willing to do.

And you are now preparing to compete for Mr. Cuero 2026, a title that celebrates Latino representation within the leather and kink communities. What does the Mr. Cuero title mean to you, particularly as a Latino member of the community?

There is something incredibly powerful about the word cuero itself. It is Leather through a Latino lens. My relationship with Latino identity was something I had to grow into because I did not see many Latino people reflected through film or television and popular culture as a child. Freddie Prinze on Chico and the Man was one of the very few Latino faces I remember seeing prominently on television. While that representation mattered, his character was also a mechanic, reflecting the working-class roles Latino actors were so often limited to, and unfortunately that still lingers today.

Eventually, I served on the board of Teatro Visión, a Chicano/Latino theater organization in San Jose, CA. That’s when the journey of reconnecting to my Latino heritage was in full swing. When I created my album Songo: Havana Soul, all original Latin rock music, it was important to me that it reflect the way many of us live culturally. Most of the record moves between English and Spanish, with one song entirely in Spanish. That connects directly to Mr. Cuero.

I also have complicated feelings about labels. If you ask me what I am, my favorite answer would probably be, “a free spirit.” But I also understand the importance of naming ourselves when people like us have historically been invisible. I identify publicly as a Two Spirit person with Mescalero Apache ancestry, a person of color, pansexual, Latino, a Leather person, and Daddy Spider. I am married to my incredible spouse, Allen Quintana-Smith, who is nonbinary and a drag performer; Moorephina Dripp. In our Leather world, they are also Kitty Spider.

All those things are pieces of me. None of them individually is all of me. I can bring all of it with me, and that is what Mr. Cuero means. I do not have to leave any of those pieces behind.

Can you share with us about your first experience with leather? How were you first introduced to it, and what was this like for you?

This question takes me much farther back than a Leather bar. I was born in El Paso, TX, but I grew up in Firebaugh, CA.  When I was about eight years old, I traveled back to El Paso with my mother and father to visit his family. My dad was a Texas man, and he had a collection of boots.

I remember shopping with him and being surrounded by that smell of Leather. I can still remember watching him look at and try on different boots and different skins; I was absolutely fascinated. There was something about the smell, the texture, the ritual of it.

I became obsessed with boots. And cowboy hats. Because apparently, I have always understood the importance of accessories. LOL. Of course, I had no understanding of Leather as sexuality or community then. But looking backward, I wonder whether that sensory memory was my first relationship with Leather.

Years later, when I was living in San Francisco, Leather became something entirely different.

Around 1996 or 1997, I began attending events like Folsom Street Fair and Dore Alley. I was not part of the Leather community at that time. I was standing on the fringes looking in, and like a kid in a candy store who wanted to try ALL the candy.

I also remember one particular night walking into the Powerhouse with fellow cast members from Beach Blanket Babylon, who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty. The bar was packed. At the back of the room, I watched one of my friends having a very enthusiastic encounter, bent over a pool table with another gentleman. Let’s just say there was not a lot left to the imagination. I remember being shocked, I remember being intrigued, and if I am completely truthful, I was incredibly turned on. There was something about seeing sexuality existing so openly and unapologetically that blew my mind.

Then in 1999, I entered a relationship that ultimately lasted 16 years. We simply had different relationships with Leather and kink. My curiosity was not something we shared in the same way, so I remained more of an observer than a participant during those years.

We separated in 2015, and then Leather basically came looking for me. In 2016, a friend messaged me on a Monday and said, “You should run for a Leather title.”

Eventually they said, “No, you really need to do this.” So finally, I said, “Okay. When is this title thing happening?” They said, “Saturday.” I said, “I don’t even have any Leather!” And I did not.

What happened over the next several days is one of the reasons I fell in love with this community. Suddenly I was going home to home. People were lending me Leather, people were fitting me, people were teaching me, and I was trying things on finally.

I was naked in more people’s houses that week than I care to count or can remember. By Saturday, I had everything I needed to compete. Leather, information, support, encouragement, community. I went into that contest almost by accident and walked out understanding why people stay. There was camaraderie, there was generosity, there was love, and that was my real induction into the Leather community.

You have prioritized visibility as a main component to your platform. What makes representation so important, and when did you first recognize that there were folks who weren’t seeing themselves represented in traditional leather spaces?

Representation is deeply personal to me because I know what it feels like not to see yourself. I knew that feeling long before Leather. I was the fat kid growing up; I was bullied, and I was teased. I remember one boy sitting behind me in class who reached over the back of my chair and pulled my hair hard. So hard that my head almost hit the desk behind me. It hurt physically, but it was also incredibly embarrassing and humiliating. The kids in my class could be horrible. I remember hearing that one of our substitute teachers even had a nervous breakdown. I cannot confirm that to be true, but what I can say is that I remember her crying and leaving the classroom during one period. After that, we never saw her again.

That was the environment I grew up in during the 80s. Those experiences stay with you.

When I was 21, I was cast in my first professional show at Paramount’s Great America in Santa Clara. I was the heaviest guy in the cast. One of my best friends, who is still one of my closest friends today, later joked that when they first saw me, they thought I was one of the technicians rather than one of the performers. We laugh about it today, but I can also acknowledge that it hurt. During that season, I lost approximately 85 pounds. By the time the choreographer returned near the end of the run, she did not recognize me. That transformation changed my life. I can honestly say that prior to my weight loss, all I wanted was to be in love.

I had many sexual experiences, but in those days, we had to cruise the adult bookstores, the regular bookstores, the parks, and certain parts of town to find hookups. We had to work for our dinner, as it were! Even outside of the gay clubs, before I turned 21, of course, we did not have the convenience of a mobile app. But here was the painful part. The people who would have sex with me would not necessarily approach me in a public setting. I was their dark little secret.

Once I lost the weight, my dance card was FULL. Suddenly, I was getting picked up all the time by some of the most beautiful men. The tables had turned, and I was the hottest ticket in town.

But that came with something else; one thing that always bothered me was being fetishized. I became the token Latino in the group, in the crowd. One of the things I used to hear that annoyed me to no end was, “You’re so exotic!” To which I would respond, “Exotic?! I’m not a plant or an illegally imported animal or snake!” Funny now, VERY aggravating then.

And while losing the weight opened doors for me socially and sexually, it also created another problem. My body changed much faster than the picture in my head did. For years, I struggled with body dysmorphia. For a period of time, I became anorexic. I went from approximately a size 38 waist to a size 28. Basically, I was a stick with an enormous head. Apparently, subtlety has never been my brand. Eventually I began working out and putting muscle on my body, but the real work was learning to change my relationship with myself.

So when I talk about representation, body positivity, and anti-bullying, I am not talking about slogans. I am speaking from experience.  I want the person standing outside an LGBTQ+ or Leather space thinking, “When I lose the weight, when I build the muscle, when I become masculine enough, THEN maybe I can walk through that door,” to hear something different. You do not have to transform yourself before we are willing to see you. WE see you. And at the very least, I see YOU!

Leather and kink communities have at times been seen and experienced as exclusive or intimidating. What would you hope people who have never entered or experienced these communities better understood about them?

I would tell them that I once stood exactly where they are standing. I was at Folsom and Dore Alley looking in. Years later, I entered my first Leather contest without even owning Leather. You do not have to know everything before you walk through the door. Come curious. Come respectful. Ask questions.

This is one reason I am so excited about working with SoCal Club South LA. As part of my platform and service through The House of Spider Ambassadorship, we are developing educational workshops around Leather, fetish, kink, and consent. As a matter of fact, I just met with them this week to discuss this partnership.  SoCal Club South LA is an inclusive community wellness space offering sexual health resources, mental health support, health education, community programming, and other services designed to create a safe and affirming environment, particularly for LGBTQ+ young people and communities of color.

I want to take what people generously taught me and turn around and share it with somebody standing where I once stood. That is how community continues.

Your platform emphasizes making room for every body, gender expression, generation, and background. What does true inclusivity actually look like?

True inclusion is not a photograph. Putting marginalized people in photographs and on flyers is advertising. It is not representation. Who has the microphone? Who is making decisions? Who is being mentored? Who is teaching? Who is being paid? Who is getting booked? Whose voices are being amplified?

And one question I believe we should be asking ourselves: Why, in this day and age, do so many of our celebrities, artists, and community leaders of color, as well as those representing marginalized identities within our own LGBTQIA+ community, still have significantly smaller social media followings than many of their white counterparts?

Who are we showing up for? And who is being supported when they are struggling? And when somebody tells us they do not feel welcome, do we immediately defend ourselves, or are we secure enough to listen? My own chosen family does not fit neatly into boxes.

Allen and I are 23 years apart chronologically, although I am perpetually 26 and Allen has apparently been 92 for most of their life, so please do not ask me to explain the math. They are my person. We are kindred spirits, and in them, I have found my soulmate.

Together we created Daddy Spider Productions because we are both artists and believe creativity can create community. I sing. I dance. I act. I do makeup. I design clothes. I write. Allen also writes, creates, and performs as Moorephina Dripp. We are both storytellers in our own ways.

I am currently writing a memoir, with a one-man play with music being developed alongside it. Storytelling continues to be one of the ways I make sense of where I have been, who I am today, and what I hope to leave behind. My worlds do not live in separate boxes. Neither should people.

That philosophy is also central to the House of Spider Leather Ambassador. House of Spider takes inspiration from the chosen family traditions of Black and Latino ballroom Houses in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as Leather families, organizations, and other ambassador models that have inspired me. I am very intentional about calling it an ambassadorship, not another title. Its purpose is mentorship, education, service, artistic expression, inclusion, and recovery support. I want chosen family to mean more than “You are welcome at the party.”

Sometimes chosen family means asking, “Who is missing? Who is struggling? Who needs us?”

If you could talk directly to folks of our next generation who have been curious to explore leather, kink, or LGBTQ+ community but have never felt like they fit into these spaces, what would you say to them?

Come find us.

And I would say something to the kid being bullied right now because they are fat, skinny, nerdy, feminine, masculine, queer, awkward, different, or simply have not figured out who they are yet. Please do not allow the people who cannot see your value today to write the story of who you become tomorrow. For years, I stood on the outside looking in. I spent years curious about a world I was not quite sure belonged to me, and eventually I discovered something incredibly important. I wasn’t waiting for Leather to give me permission. I was waiting to give myself permission.

So come curious. You do not need the right clothes, you do not need the right body, you do not need the right gender. You do not need to know whether you are a Daddy, a boy, a Sir, a pup, a Dom, a sub, a switch, or anything else. You do not even have to choose a label. Learn your history, ask questions, learn consent, find people who respect your boundaries. Find mentors who encourage you to become more yourself rather than more like them.

And if you are struggling with substances, please understand that you do not have to disappear from queer life, Leather, kink, or sexuality in order to recover. There are people here who understand. And let me say something else that I wish someone had told me much earlier:

Sober sex is not only possible. It is absolutely AMAZING!

For me, learning to experience sex completely present in my body became another way of saying, “I am enough.” One of the greatest lessons my dear friend and former sponsor taught me was to question the story I had sometimes allowed myself to believe: that someone needed “a little something” in order for the sex to be exciting enough, uninhibited enough, or intimate enough. Because underneath that, what I could hear was: “You are not enough.” Recovery helped me change that conversation. I am enough.

Sex does not become less adventurous because I am present for it. For me, it became more intimate, more connected, more conscious, and frankly, a hell of a lot more fun. There are many paths into recovery, just as there are many paths into Leather.

Find the one that keeps you here. And find the people who remind you that you were already enough when you walked through the door. There are people here who understand.

There are many paths into recovery, just as there are many paths into Leather. Find the one that keeps you here. Community is not something we simply inherit. Eventually, it becomes something we are responsible for creating. Somebody created space for me. My responsibility now is to create more space for you. And one day, I hope you will turn around and hold that same door open for somebody else. That is how chosen family grows, that is how Leather survives, and that is how community becomes home.

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BEAR SIGHTING: Looking into the next chapter with Mr. LA Leather Bear 2025 Mike Klipsch

With the Mr. LA Leather Bear 2026 Contest around the corner, who better to rev our engines for the festivities than our current reigning title holder

Published

8 months ago

on

January 15, 2026

By

Mike Klipsch

Before the whistles, the woofs, and the yummy chaos descend en masse, let’s take a smidge of time to shine a well-deserved light on a man who managed to turn something dazzlingly daring into so much more. Mr. LA Leather Bear 2025 is a beacon of the queer community, steeped in a whole lot of rawhide realness. And in Mike Klipsch’s peachy keen year holding this title, that crown sat atop a hunky heart that learned how meaningful it is when you show face and show up for your community.

So saddle up for a woof-tastic ride through memories and milestones that make LA Leather Bear Week what it is. From nutritionally balanced bear soup pools to honoring leather legends, Klipsch reflects on a wondrous year chock-full of grit and grin. Join us as we look ahead to festivities that are guaranteed to be just as cheeky and then some. Consider this your warm-up stretch before the boots hit the floor, and the fun begins.

Congrats again on winning Mr. LA Leather Bear 2025 (woof). How did that title personally impact you and the LA leather & bear community?

Thank you! The title impacted my life immensely. Previously, I was not a very social person and somewhat shy.  But I wanted to step outside of that, and the title enabled me to do that. Now, anytime I walk into the Eagle LA, I see a handful of friends happy to see me. Something I thought was out of reach, and looking back a year later, it’s a great reminder of how fast you can create change in your life.

What did your life look like in the year following being crowned Mr. LA Leather Bear?

Right after I won, I started getting ready for LA Leather in March. But a month or so after getting the title, I went to IBC for the first time, which was a lot of fun to see a pool completely packed with happy bears (aka bear soup). Then Pride season rolled around, so I went to represent BearsLA at LA and Weho Pride. I went to as many local leather events, was the tallymaster at the SF Bear Contest, and threw some events at Eagle LA and Bullet. Definitely the busiest I’ve ever been, but I also made the most memories during this year.

Can you share with us all one particular highlight or moment from your title year?

As part of my title duties, I put on a few events to raise money. My first event was called One Night Only: Only Way. I wanted to pay homage to the bars that birthed our culture, and One Way was a leather/biker bar in Silverlake in the 70s that was raided many times over the years until the final raid in 1987. There were a handful of people who came out who had actually been to One Way when it was open, so that was really cool to see their excitement and hear stories about what it was like. I am fascinated by LA leather culture in the 60s/70s, so it was a highlight to show people my leather perspective while also raising some money for the SGV LGBTQ Center.

How did your leather and bear communities support and/or impact your road to the title?

While preparing, I got a lot of advice from current and past title holders, and some friends who have been in the LA leather community for a while. I think most of the support came in the form of just making me feel welcome. Like I wasn’t a poser in my leather.

This year you’re helping run the Mr. LA Leather Bear 2026 Contest Week. What prompted you to take on this responsibility? 

I’ve enjoyed throwing events and being involved in BearsLA, so when Gabriel Green asked if I would like to help him out, I immediately started thinking about poster designs, finding contestants, and thinking about how to put together a fun show. I’ve been shown time and time again that putting effort and work into the LA leather community is always worth it in the end. 

What are you particularly excited about for the upcoming contest and week and its list of events?

I’m very excited to see what the contestants bring on stage at the contest at Eagle Saturday – their looks and stage presence. Meatball is hosting, so you know it’s going to be entertaining and the right amount of off-the-rails. Our contestants have been putting in a lot of work and are excited to put on a memorable show.

We also have our first-ever Bearlympics on Friday, which is a contest and singlet night by our Mr. Bear LA 2026, Matt. It’s going to be a bunch of bears in singlets at Eagle with Love Connie getting everyone riled up. Even if you don’t have a singlet, you should come by!

But I think I’m most excited for the contestant interviews because that’s where we really learn what made them want to run, what they are like in their ‘normal’ non-leather bear life, and what the future will look like with them as the new Mr. LA Leather Bear. I’m excited to hear the questions our other judges come up with.

In your words, what aspects and characteristics make for a worthy Mr. LA Leather Bear contestant?

Being approachable and genuinely good to be around is the baseline for anyone seeking a title, since you’re representing the bar, organization, or community that awards it. For Mr. LA Leather Bear, that means walking the line between being a laid-back, fun-loving bear and having a real understanding of the leather community and history surrounding it, and how those subcultures intersect with your own identity. It’s about taking the role seriously without taking yourself too seriously.

For those contemplating competing in years to come, what words of wisdom or advice would you impart onto them?

I would say, if you’re looking for a great way to dive into the leather community face-first, you should take the chance and run. It’s trite and cheesy, but just by running, you are a winner. You build a bond in that short time with your fellow contestants, and it’s your foot in the door if you want to get more involved to help throw events to raise money for charity. You really learn that nothing is stopping you from getting more involved, and there are always ways for you to contribute.

In what ways do you hope this contest honors and lifts up diversity and inclusion within the leather and bear communities?

I hope this contest honors diversity and inclusion by reflecting the full spectrum of who actually makes up the leather and bear communities, not only in the contest and producers, but in the audience as well. The leather community was built by people who didn’t fit neatly elsewhere and chose to create something of their own, and our events/contests should reflect that.

Can you dish on what goes into preparing our contestants for their big night, from interviews to stepping into that spotlight on stage?

As the current title-holder and a judge for the contest, I want to be surprised when I see their looks and hear their speech, so I haven’t really given advice on those things. Most of how I help them prepare is by helping them understand how the show will run and reassuring them that having fun is the most important and apparent aspect of running for the title.

As a contestant, you are going through all of the leather and gear you have and figuring out who wears the same size as you so you can borrow something from them. You’re looking for people you trust to give you advice about your speech and practice over and over until you feel like a crazy person. Each contestant has some sort of community that rallies around them to help them feel prepared, which is really cute.

With the weekend brimming with events adjacent to the BearsLA and Leather community, which, in your humble opinion, are a must?

Outside of all the BearsLA events happening (Meet & Greet Thursday, Bearlympics Friday, Contest Saturday, and Victory Party Sunday), you can also catch Meatball at their world-renowned Fat Slut event at Precinct on Friday at 9 pm. Go say hi to Meatball, then take the short Uber over to Eagle LA for Bearlympics!

There’s also Leather Beast at Bullet Bar on Thursday, produced by the amazing Quintin, Mr. Bullet Leather 2025. He’s one of the best of our community, so definitely go check out his event every month!

What can folks anticipate with the Meet & Greet as well as other community gatherings?

At the Meet & Greet, you can grab a drink and watch as the contestants and judges get to know each other, then come up to one of us to chat. For judges, we have Francisco Perales, Michael Lara from Bullet Bar, Marquis the Honey Bear, and Alexander Rodriguez from Blade Magazine itself!

How do events like the Formal Leather Cocktails or afterparties add to the overall experience for those attending?

Dressing in formal leather for events like the Regiment of the Black & Tans’ annual Assembly is fun because you get to really show off your gear and be surrounded by people who are immediately on the same wavelength. You know how much work went into earning the leather, putting it all on, and navigating LA traffic just to share a cocktail. A lot of our connections happen at bar events, which is great, but sitting down over a cocktail and a conversation to talk about real-life difficulties and successes are the quieter moments that help build more genuine bonds and strengthen the sense of community beyond the bar.

For our first-timers, what words would you impart on them to help them feel both welcome and excited about taking part in the festivities?

You don’t need to have a full leather outfit or any leather at all to come out and see what the LA leather community is all about – and borrowing/sharing leather is always encouraged! Leather people can look intimidating, but I promise you, most of them are the kindest people you could meet. Just strike up a conversation with someone who looks interesting. There are a lot of people at these events who are happy to answer questions and make you feel welcomed, no matter how you show up.

Looking into our leather-scented years to come, how do you envision the legacy of Mr. LA Leather Bear evolving in the near future?

My hope is that this title continues to carry leather culture forward in a way that stays authentic, accessible, and proudly countercultural. I hope the titleholders continue to remember the origins of the leather community, and how it was built by people creating space for themselves and others when none existed. By honoring that history while welcoming new voices and expressions, the legacy of Mr. LA Leather Bear can remain rooted, relevant, and genuinely representative of the community it serves.

Come join the LA Blade for the Mr. LA Leather Bear 2026 competition at The Eagle LA, Saturday, January 17th, at 9 pm. Our publisher, Alexander Rodriguez, joins the judges’ panel!

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Legacy never looked so good: LA Leather Pride’s George Vasser talks titleholders past, present, and future

We take a peek at LA’s leather titleholders through the eyes of George Vasser, co-chair of LA Leather Pride 2026, who is devoted to preserving heritage while ushering in a bolder, more inclusive tomorrow.

Published

9 months ago

on

December 15, 2025

By

LA Leather Pride

For a quarter of a century, the Mr. LA Leather title has been a leather-clad chronicle of queer heritage, kink culture, and community leadership. Each titleholder carries the weight of their ansisters who came before them, penning in their own chapter into a legacy built on sweat, solidarity, and buckets of leather polish. The contest itself has always been a celebration of tradition, but never one stuck in the past. It is a consistent pulse that beats in rhythm with a community always ready to evolve and diversify, all the while taking pride in its own oh-so yummy sexuality. After all, heritage in the leather community isn’t preserved by tucking it away on a shelf. It’s kept alive every time someone straps in, struts their stuff across that stage, and claims the title.

At the center of this evolving history is LA Leather Pride co-chair George Vasser, a man who understands that respecting the past does not by any means translate to being stuck in it. Under his eye, LA Leather Pride is polishing the old boots of tradition while also marching confidently (and rhythmically) into the future, one crack of the whip at a time. Vasser champions the idea that a titleholder isn’t merely a juicy set of pecs in a harness, but a torchbearer, community advocate, and catalyst for progress. With a proper mix of reverence and irreverence (because what’s leather without a little playful friction), Vasser is here to ensure that the next generation of titleholders are ready to proudly pen their own chapter in the ongoing legacy of LA Leather Pride.

We’re coming up on the 25th anniversary. Over the years, how have you seen the identity or characteristics of Mr. LA Leather evolve?

The first thing that stands out is that it has become far more inclusive. If you look back at our very first Mr. LA Leather, Jeff Wacha, in 2000, the titleholder reflected a very traditional demographic – your stereotypical tall, gay, white male. We’ve changed a lot since then. Starting around 2010, we began seeing more people of color, and we’ve had trans candidates as well. Over the past 14 years, more than half of our existence, we’ve embraced diversity. We’re actively expanding the image of what a leather person looks like. It’s no longer just the Tom of Finland archetype.

We’ve recently added all our titleholders’ photos to the Los Angeles Leather Pride website. This is the first time we’ve truly documented our history so people can reference it and see who we are.

In the past few years, has one winner stood out to you or shined a bit above the rest?

One who stands out to me is our 2014 titleholder, Eric Paul Leue. He had recently moved from Germany to the U.S. and was an early PrEP advocate before it became widely discussed. He later worked with kink.com in a role focused on sexual health and sex-positive education, and he became a prominent international voice for HIV prevention and kink-positive culture. He didn’t win International Mr. Leather (IML), but his title deeply influenced his career and advocacy work. Today, he’s happily married and living in Atlanta.

Photo courtesy of LA Leather Pride

What do you think the LA Mr. Leather titleholder’s legacy should be for future generations?

Our legacy is that we try to set the national standard. Southern California has produced more IML winners than any other region. Whether or not you win IML, being Mr. Los Angeles Leather puts you in a special class. You’re representing all of Southern California – Long Beach, Orange County, everywhere – not just Los Angeles.

How has the relationship between IML and Mr. LA Leather evolved? They seem closely connected.

They’re connected in the same way we have feeder contests: LA Leather itself is a feeder contest into IML. We often have former IML winners as judges, usually including the current IML titleholder when logistics allow. Many people from the LA leather community have served as IML judges, even if they were never contestants. We also give a community service award honoring George Wong, a beloved member of Avatar who was never a titleholder but was an IML handler and multi-time judge. There’s a long, deep connection between LA and IML.

How do you balance celebrating tradition with acknowledging social progress?

We focus on social progress while still respecting tradition. IML is a male-presenting contest – that’s their standard – so the contestants we send forward must meet that criteria. But at the local level, we welcome anyone to compete in our feeder contests. We’ve had trans winners, including Elliot Musgrave in 2019. Progress is visible in our winners: comparing photos from early years to recent years shows how dramatically the community has diversified.

What criteria do judges look for in a titleholder… beyond a sexy slick outfit?

IML talks about “personality and presence,” and that applies here too. You need to be articulate onstage, think on your feet, and understand your leather history – contestants need deeper historical knowledge than attendees. We look for integrity, honesty, openness to change, and commitment to social justice. The current IML winner, Rene Hebert from Palm Springs, is an excellent example – very vocal about trans rights and inclusion.

Self-confidence is crucial. You’re putting yourself on a national stage. You must be authentic and willing to put your name and face out there.

Do you remember the sexiest, most unique, or most extravagant leather look from recent years?

Absolutely! Colin MacDougall’s look for IML 2023. I was helping Ben Orson Leather at the time. His outfit was extraordinary – something between a 1950s Uncle Sam, the leader of a marching band, and Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat. It was completely one-of-a-kind and very unconventional for formal leather.

Any wardrobe malfunctions worth noting?

Not at LA Leather, not that I recall. At LA Pup around 2015, there may have been an incident involving something that had been inserted and later became… un-inserted on stage. But nothing major in the Los Angeles Leather contest itself.

For people preparing to compete, where can they find high-quality gear in Southern California?

Rough Trade Gear is one of our premier sponsors, with locations in LA and Palm Springs. Ben Orson Leather in Duarte does phenomenal custom work – that’s who made Colin’s outfit.
665 Leather is returning as a sponsor; they used to have a brick-and-mortar store before the pandemic and are ramping up again.

In Palm Springs, Off-Ramp Leather has an outstanding consignment section. GearWorks in Palm Springs and San Diego (connected to Mr. S Leather in San Francisco) is another great option. Moose Leather in San Diego does consignment, repairs, and custom work as well.

If you could sum up the spirit of Mr. LA Leather in three words, what would they be?

Honesty, integrity, community.

And what message would you give prospective contestants for 2026?

Have fun. If you’re not enjoying the process, don’t do it. Also, remember: a title doesn’t give you power. Anyone in the community can make a difference. The title just opens certain doors—but you can walk through them with or without a sash.

LA Leather Pride
LA Leather Pride 2026
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Leather community

Leather, legacy, and a little lust: Celebrating 25 years of LA Leather Pride

Marking its 25th year, LA Leather Pride is turning up the heat with a theme that blends nostalgia, desire, and community into one yummy leather-scented celebration.

Published

9 months ago

on

December 1, 2025

By

Los Angeles Leather Pride logo

Los Angeles is polishing its boots, tightening its laces, and prepping to cruise into its kinkiest convention of 2026. As LA Leather Pride gears up to celebrate its 25th anniversary, co-chairs Ayité Okyne and George Vasser are steering the community into a milestone year drenched in the scent of rawhide and unapologetic erotic imagination. But this anniversary marks more than a major celebration. It reflects the leather community’s longstanding role in expanding queer visibility, asserting the legitimacy of diverse sexual expression, and pushing LGBTQIA+ rights forward through fearless authenticity. Leather is more than a simple kink. For decades, leather has been a political act. It serves as a declaration of freedom and queer liberation. 

This year’s theme, “Cruising – The Boulevard of Erotic Dreams,” pays tribute to the deep roots of cruising culture while also inviting a new generation to embrace the sensuality, solidarity, and radical self-expression that have defined Los Angeles’ leather legacy for decades. In so many ways, cruising, and leather culture as a whole, have always made space where queer people can boldly be themselves and on their own terms, way before mainstream society bothered to make room. We sat down with Okyne to talk cruising then and now, and just how erotic we can expect this year’s Boulevard to be. Buckle up. I hope you drive stick.

To start, what is Leather Pride for readers who may not know?

Leather Pride brings together people in the leather, fetish, and kink communities to celebrate our culture and shared identity. For many, leather and kink exist on the edges of what’s considered “mainstream,” so Leather Pride becomes a space of affirmation, much like LGBTQ+ Pride.

Los Angeles is one of the major centers for celebrating leather and kink, and we’re proud of that history. This year marks the 25th anniversary of LA Leather Pride, and we’re thrilled to continue that legacy.

Can you take us through the process of organizing LA Leather Pride? What goes into preparation leading up to day one? 

A surprising amount of work. We begin months in advance, planning, programming, securing sponsorships, and coordinating the various feeder contests in the LA area that send contestants to Mr. LA Leather. We also select and vet judges, promote the events, and host weekly planning meetings.

I joined the organization a few months ago and have focused on modernizing and making our operations more efficient. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes to make the experience seamless.

What inspired this year’s theme, “Cruising the Boulevard of Erotic Dreams,” and how did the references to Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and Smokey Robinson’s “Cruisin’” come together? 

The theme came from several days of brainstorming. We wanted something fresh, sexy, and not overly political. We explored different words and ideas, and “cruising” emerged early on – it immediately brought to mind the Smokey Robinson song. Someone then remembered “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and we thought, why not combine the two? That’s how “Cruising the Boulevard of Erotic Dreams” was born. It captures nostalgia, sensuality, and a sense of possibility.

2026 Los Angeles Leather Pride “Cruising” Theme

You mentioned wanting to avoid a political theme, yet expressions of sexuality often carry political weight. Can you speak to the relationship between sexual expression and today’s political climate?

Absolutely. Anything queer is political by nature. Expressing our desires – our pleasure – is itself a revolutionary act. Leather Pride is inherently political simply by existing, but we also wanted this year’s theme to be unabashedly sexy. Pride is already political; this theme invites people to lean into the joy and sensuality that are also part of our culture.

How does the theme reflect the current moment in the leather community, especially here in Los Angeles?

The theme is a nod to the past, when cruising was a central way of connecting before apps existed. But it also looks toward the present – toward the erotic, sensual, and imaginative aspects of our community today. In an era where asserting pleasure is an act of defiance, the theme honors both our history and our ongoing resilience.

Cruising is often misunderstood. Do you think this year’s theme and events will help reclaim cruising as an art form or tradition?

I don’t think the intention is to change behavior. It’s more about honoring and revisiting the past, bringing that energy into the present rather than trying to shift how people connect today.

What can cruising offer that apps like Grindr or Sniffies can’t?

Cruising is organic and immediate. There’s a primal, instinctive quality to it – locking eyes with someone, feeling a spark without a word spoken, reading body language, sensing interest. That raw, spontaneous connection doesn’t translate through an app. Cruising reminds us that connection can be visceral, intuitive, and deeply in-the-moment.

How is the organization engaging people who may be new to the leather scene, including younger generations who might not be familiar with cruising at all? 

Inclusion is a major priority this year. For example, LA LA Leather – one of our events – merges leather culture with classical music, bringing in audiences who may never have interacted with leather spaces before. We’re also featuring the Trans Chorus of LA, which is significant because trans people haven’t historically had as much visibility in leather communities.

We’re committed to expanding our audience, being more welcoming, and making the culture accessible.

Let’s save a deeper dive into LA LA Leather for its own feature. For now, what can attendees expect creatively, visually, or experientially from LA Leather Pride 2026? 

This year’s event has a fresh new look and feel – a new logo, new branding, and a more welcoming, contemporary aesthetic. The events themselves will be more cohesive and thoughtfully executed. Think of it as a revitalized version of what people already love about LA Leather Pride, with an emphasis on inclusivity and creative vision.

Final question: What do you hope people, whether they’re part of the leather community or simply adjacent to it, take away from LA Leather Pride this year?

I hope people walk away feeling empowered. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Take up space. Be seen. Don’t hide.

For more information, head to LALeatherPride.com

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