MR LAL KEN HEARST

Mr Los Angeles Leather 2009

On Saturday March 28th the new Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2009 Ken Hearst was selected by a panel of judges. The first runner up was Mr. Regiment 2009 Alex Lindsay and the second runner up was Mark Thompson, Mr. Faultline Leather 2009. The brotherhood award went to Mr. Christopher Street West 2009, Michael Hodges.
Photography by JayPG

lax

Linked up or Locked Out !!!!

LINKED UP OR LOCKED OUT?
By: Kinky Brothers

When the hot, muscular men in black leather stare at you from the pages of Odyssey, do you feel it? Do you feel that mix of fear and excitement that is the leather/fetish scene? Are you nervous when you cross Highland Avenue, leaving glittering discos behind on your first trip to Silver Lake? Maybe you’re headed to a special leather themed party; or maybe you’ve finally got the nerve to go to those dark, mysterious bars your friends are too giggly to walk into. Around your neck is your first fetish item, a shiny chain link and padlock. You hope you’ll fit in.
You arrive and the place is packed with sexy men. Everyone seems to be having a great time, but no one approaches you. The bartender is friendly, smiles and chats, but no one else comes up to you. You wonder if they can still smell the cologne. You scrubbed it off because you know these men are into smelling like men. Nervously, you tug at the chain and padlock, totally unaware the message you’re sending to everyone is, “Stay Away - I Belong To Someone Else.”
So congratulations on having the balls to show up - now your training can begin. Wearing the chain link with padlock or collar signifies you are in a relationship with a Top/Sir/Trainer/Daddy/Master/Mistress/Ma’am. This is often called Mentoring, Erotic Power Exchange, or Dominant and submissive role play. A large part of gaining entry to this world is deciphering all the protocols people agree to follow on their sexual journey together. This can be a very strict, formal protocol or more relaxed, but it is supposed to be agreed upon and consensual. Dominants are the people who may give the collar wearer permission to speak, or be spoken to by others. So if a locked chain isn’t getting you any action, what can you do to send the right signal?
Some people are out and about town wearing a chain link with an unlocked padlock. This means the person is in a relationship, but allowed to roam around and possibly open to hooking up. You may approach and talk with this open collar wearer. You may come across a person wearing a chain link with a padlock and the key still inserted. This means the person is open to being collared by someone or open to a relationship.
The leather protocol for collars is that it is earned by the wearer, who is usually the bottom/boy/boi/puppy/girl/submissive/slave. You don’t just go to the local Home Depot to purchase a piece of chain link and padlock in the hardware department to wear. You earn the collar by performing and/or learning certain duties/exercises/skills over time from a Top/Sir/Trainer/Daddy/Master/Mistress /Ma’am. Being rewarded with a collar fills you with pride and builds self-confidence. It’s a trophy you like to show off in public.
The same rules about wearing collars are applied to men and women, gay, straight or in-between. Many women’s necks and collar bones are not able to carry the heavy chain link and padlock for many hours, so an alternative is to wear a one inch wide collar that is made of leather with an overlay of thin silver metal. There are the Trainers with human “pups” who prefer to purchase their collars at local pet stores. It’s literally a dog collar. Different collar types also allow a leash to be attached, so the person can be lead around.
Being “owned,” even for a night, is a kinky thrill. Communication, knowledge, skills, imagination and trust can begin a sexual exploration that will last a lifetime. Keep the clothes dark and simple, find some boots, and come out to play. Maybe you’ll meet your Top/Sir/Trainer/Daddy/Master/Mistress/Ma’am and really earn your collar to wear. Check out the local leather/fetish retailers to find the appropriate collar among the vast variety: 665 Leather; Mr. S Leather; Rough Trade; Screaming Leather; Stockroom; and The Crypt.