Christopher Velasquez Talks Leather Pride, the Leather Community, & His Perverso Party

March 15, 2023
CASTEL

Photo by Ziv Safe. THE FIGHT.

Meet Christopher Velasquez, a gay proud, and kinky leather man who has set out to bring inclusivity and visibility to those not seen. After becoming Mr. Christopher Street West Leather 2022, Chris pulled himself up from his leather bootstraps and expanded his successful co-created Perverso: Latin Leather Nights. He hopes to break down barriers and show the LGBTQIA+ communities that though we have different labels and classifications for ourselves, there is a commonality among us. Take a big whiff of that new leather scent and dig into our exclusive interview to learn more about him and the upcoming events during L.A. Leather Pride! Join the 9th Perveso Party this Friday, March 17 at Bullet Bar in LA.

1. For our readers and newly queer, can you tell us about the Leather fetish through your lens?

For me, wearing leather is about feeling sexy and putting on something that makes you feel empowered. When people think of a leather person, they think of a traditional guy dressed in a uniform or five shades of gray, but that's not how I see it. Being a leather man is all about the energy you put out and your confidence to own the room. To own yourself and be authentic might be as a pup, furry, or in leather.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr. CSW 2023 (@chrisdiva)

2. Being runner-up in 2020 lit a fire under you to come out on top in 2022. What can you attribute to that drive and eventual success?

Not only did I know I could win if I came back, but I also really wanted to make a change. I want to leave a mark on the community. Being a "mainstream gay" and in the leather community, I felt the divide between the two communities and believed I could change that. I want to show everyone that it's possible to be a "mainstream gay" and a leather man. I love my title. My title is the perfect one for me, a connection to L.A. Pride and the leather world. So I feel like the judges could see my relationship with it. It also helped to have an amazing mentor and father figure in the leather community Aric Wilson, Mr. SoCal Leather 2019. Aric taught me so much about how to represent myself.

3. What attracted you to the leather community for you to firmly plant your feet here?

The brotherhood has always been an attraction to the community. My first taste of that was with my drag family. My first family was Vanna Vicious, my drag mom, and my aunts Valerie Von Boom and Luna Mariconita. So when I started going to Leather events and getting to know people within the community, I saw how big it is — where people helped each other out in the bar and outside them. I started creating bonds and building close relationships. I also learned a lot about my sexuality and was able to really begin exploring that a lot.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Perverso (@perverso_la)

4. What was your first leather experience?

So my first leather/kink experience was around 2013. I went to my first Pride event and saw this area where you had to be 18+ to go in. It was a big tent, so naturally very curious. I went inside, walked around, and was intrigued by all the leather and toys. I was invited to experience bondage play, I was young with enormous eyes, and it sounded fun and intrigued me. She tied me up to the St. Andrews, which was so hot. Giving complete control to someone else was something different. Even though it was not sexual, I could see how this could be sexual. After the demo and I left, I was hooked, but I didn't know there was a leather community. So for a couple of years after that experience, I went back to Pride to explore more and more. Until one day, someone at the event told me about The Bullet Bar and the Eagle L.A.; the rest is history.

5. Perservo is your co-created Latin night; what was the process from ideation, conception, and execution?

When I started the night at Cfrendz, it came from a place of friendship with my then-co-creator, and both of us wanted to make a space where Hispanics who love leather could be around other like-minded people. That was less than a year ago, and I'm fortunate that the night has become an enormous success now at Bullet Bar. The night is a mixture of what you find in a traditional night: Sexy people with little-to-no clothes, people wearing their gear, the smell of sex, musk, leather, and poppers in the air with loud Hispanic music and dancing. Our Go-Go dancers are diverse and come from all over the LGBTQ+ community. The thing I'm most proud of is that everyone in the fetish community is represented. From leather people to pups and everything in between.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Perverso (@perverso_la)

6. How do you choose your Go-Gos for your nights? What do Dre, Chris, and El Valentino embody for your upcoming event?

So when we started the party, one of our most considerable disagreements was about the dancers. For me, having a diverse and welcoming cast means we welcome ALL body types. Sometimes people think that if they exclude traditional go-go dancers (thin or athletic builds), they make their events more inclusive. But I disagree. Excluding people and not welcoming everyone is the exact opposite of inclusion. I love giving the spotlight to others than just Hispanics. Yes, it's a Hispanic night, but I love having all types of people. I've been a massive fan of Dre for so long. El Valentino is a proud, husky dancer who brings sexy bear energy to every party. Christopher is a new dancer on the scene with a great personality and a different look. I'm excited to see him blow up. I always love giving new people a chance to go-go for the first time.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dre (@dretheecyborg)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Christopher_Face (@christopher_face)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by El Valentino (@el.valentinox)

7. What are you most excited about during the Mr. Leather pageant? Will you be competing this year?

I am excited to showcase who I am. I have been getting ready for this, at this point, for 3 years, and I feel prepared to not only represent myself but also represent my title. I love and am proud to be from Los Angeles and how this is a melting pot, and I'm ready to put that on stage. I'm ready to show how we can respect traditions while updating them and making them more inclusive and welcoming to more people.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr. CSW 2023 (@chrisdiva)

8. Can you talk about your Perverso events during Leather Pride?

This party is going to be a more extensive and kinkier party than any of the Perverso parties we've had: We have two special guests, Karlo Shigeo Ishibashi, and Bound Nipples Slut. Karlo is from East Los Angeles and has been part of the leather community for 4 years. He specializes in flogging, impact play, and electro play. Whether he's flogging, spanking, or caning, he likes the feeling of having the trust of someone in his hands. He likes assuring whoever he plays with that he's starting them off easy and then seeing how much they can take. He's also great at adding the aftercare into the middle or end of a beating. It can be a hug, kiss, or a vibrating or scratching sensation that can be enjoyable and feels safe while also stimulating. Bound Nipples Slut and his husband have been exploring public Shibari bondage together for the past 4 years. They've been into rope bondage since before Bound Nipples Slut knew he was gay. After leaving the U.S. Army, Bound Nipple Slut moved to Los Angeles and married his husband. They have learned and practiced Shibari with Master Tyger Yoshi. Their kinky adventures can be followed on Twitter: @hornyelloworm. Lastly, our go-go dancers are the hotties, and D.J. Spoke will play the hottest Hispanic tracks.

9. You have accomplished a lot in your 20s. Where and how would you like to see your brand extend?

I would love to be able to produce more events that unite different communities within the LGBTQ+. I want to take Perverso to other venues and be able to give people who might not often feel represented a night in their local bar. I want to bring back my podcast for an additional season to continue spotlighting what makes us the same, even when we think we are from different communities. I want to highlight people who have made a difference in the community.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mr. CSW 2023 (@chrisdiva)

10. Who are some queer staples in your community that have inspired your growth?

So there are 6 people: Aric Wilson, Gabriel Green, Michael Lara, Chad Onyx, Leonardo Iriarte, and Gerald H. Aric took me under his wing and taught me a lot about not only the leather community but also how to build community. He has become that father who tells me when I'm wrong or hypes me up when I'm making him proud. Gabriel and Michael are pillars of our community. They have cemented themselves in the heart of the community. They help set up and sponsor LALC and Bullet Bar Pantry assistance, a resource for those needing food supplies, clothes, or toiletries. Gabriel and Michael have always been accessible and easy to talk to. When I see them, I see the future I hope to achieve. Chad is proud of being a person of color and is not apologetic about it. He knows how to stand up for other people of color. That takes a lot of strength that I wish I had, but I'm working on it. Leo has had his Hispanic party for a while, has always been proud of his culture, and has mixed it with his love for leather.. and I'm hoping to follow in his footsteps in my own way by breaking down my own doors like he did. Gerald is a man of little words, but he always offers words of wisdom whenever he speaks. He is someone who seems unbreakable yet has the kindest heart. Having him welcome me and give me advice has been incredible.

These people are strong men of color who have been trailblazers in the leather community. They have all inspired me in so many ways.

11. How have you seen Leather Pride grow since you joined the community?

I see a growth in inclusivity and how we welcome others. In the last few years, more events have been catering to different sub-communities. I see us starting to address various issues, trying to ensure we are being as welcoming as possible to the new generations. We are changing our language to be more inclusive. And having event nights like mine might make it so everyone can be seen within the community.

12. Strictly from a participant's point of view, what are you most excited?

Here are my must-go-to events:

Mar 14th CHEWI'S KENNEL
Mar 16th OFF SUNSET FESTIVAL
Mar 17thPERVERSO
Mar 18thLOST PUPPY
Mar 19th RELEASE!: THE L.A. LEATHER PRIDE 2023 KICK-OFF PARTY
Mar 26thRELEASE!: THE MR. LOS ANGELES LEATHER 2023 CONTEST
Mar 25thMEAT RACK – OFF THE HOOK