I woke up this morning, still in a haze. The Kick-Off event last night for FMLA was incredible. Beyond what I could have expected. The energy, the feelings, the brotherhood, the support...everything I could have wanted.
As I stood in the Antebellum Gallery, amidst the Art of Drummer Exhibit, I must admit, I was nervous. I care so much about the concepts of FMLA and giving LA that heart and sense of brotherhood for all that it needs so badly. People began to arrive and I introduced myself. There was some trepidation and curiousity amongst some of the attendees, but that was expected. As the event moved on I noticed something. Everyone was talking to everyone. Whenever someone started to slink away from the group and get insecure, people would swoop in and make that person feel supported and welcome. This is what I believed, we in LA, were capable of. Taking care of each other and supporting one another. We just needed an excuse and a space. That trepidation melted away and people were just "being" with each other. The diversity of the group was just as I had hoped. All experience levels, sizes, fetishes, people in gear, some without any at all...men united by a common mind-set and a yearning for more.
I am now more inspired then I was before. Seeing my fetish brothers thrive and welcome others into the fold, filled my heart. It may sound cheesy, but it's true. It works, in LA of all places. Now, we can reach out to those who are nervous or skeptical of being accepted or having their knowledge and experience valued, and say, we are here. We support you and are here for you., If you want to be a part of us, you simply have to show up and you will be welcome.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
FetishMenLosAngeles (FMLA) Kick-Off Event, Saturday April 27th
PRESENTS
THE KICKOFF MEETING OF
FetishMenLosAngeles (FMLA)
CIGAR BAR HAPPY HOUR
SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH
5PM TILL 8PM, at
$5 REQUESTED DONATION (nobody will be turned away for lack of funds)
All funds go to the gallery to thank them for the use of the wonderful space.
Guest speaker: RICK CASTRO
gallery owner & photographer for DRUMMER Magazine,
1990 thru 1999
CO-HOSTED BY
the men of FetishMenLosAngeles, the newest
all-brotherhood affinity group for Gay FetishMen
in Southern California
BRING YOUR FAVORITE STOGIE
NO HOST BAR
RED WINE
WHISKEY SHOTS
$5 EACH
MEET HOT LEATHERMEN
NETWORK WITH LIKE-MINDED GAY FETISH MEN
CHAT & VIEW KINKY ART
SMOKE A STOGIE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL PATIO:
ON EXHIBITION:
THE ART OF DRUMMER
ORIGINAL ARTWORKS FROM
THE GRANDDADDY OF ALL LEATHER BDSM PUBLICATIONS
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Mission Statement
Hello! My name is Jeremy and I live in Los Angeles. I recently won
a Leather Title, Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2013, and then competed for Mr. Los
Angeles Leather. During this time I was flooded with invites to events and met
tons of people. It was really overwhelming. I had been trying to break in to
the Leather Community for 10 years. I was untrained and didn't have a lot of
experience in the beginning. It was very hard to make friends or really feel
welcomed. Now, I did eventually feel that way, but I had to win a Leather Title
first.
I thought to myself through this process how many people we, as a
community, have lost because there was no "welcome committee". I, who love this
world and the lifestyle, left at one point because I felt there was no place for
me...no one to show me the way...no one to mentor me.
I was wrong, there was just no way of finding them among the crowd.
This is my goal. Create a place where sweet guys just want to help each other,
have some fun, learn new things, hone skills and support each other. This is
what FetishMenLosAngeles is all about. Experience level, amount of gear you
have, how many rules you know....none of this matters here. We welcome all and
support our brothers, no matter where they stand or what they know.
I thought this dream too idealistic for modern Los Angeles. I just
didn't think it could work in a big city. Then I was introduced to Papa Tony
and he showed me the workings of FetishMenSanDiego. It was then, I was truly
inspired and knew it could work here too. It would be hard work and slow in the
beginning but eventually we will have a group of like-minded individuals that
want that feeling of brotherhood, of community.
So join me in creating this new world. It is time for us to be a
community that has its arms wide open. I believe that is what we have been all
along, we just didn't know how to actualize it. Now is our chance to welcome
the next generation, to connect with others and pass down our knowledge. And,
perhaps, learn a few things ourselves. Now is our time! Welcome to the birth
of FetishMenLosAngeles!
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