As thousands poured in for the sold out LA Pride Festival, a crowd gathered in the auditorium, laughing and daring each other to try their first time with a zap from a “Violet Wand.” This dazzling sensation of arcing scratches along the skin was just a taste of Erotic City, the interactive adults only area of LA Pride, under the direction of renowned BDSM educator Mistress Cyan.
Erotic City celebrates the leather and fetish side of the LGBTQ+ community, and the area offered LA Pride visitors a wide array of experiences, entertainment, and much more.
Masters and Mistresses from Sanctuary LAX, Avatar LA, and So Cal Men’s Bondage were on hand to expose guests to BDSM in a safe and encouraging environment. Attendees got to learn and feel first hand, sensations like bondage, electric play, flogging, spanking and more.
A surprise hit from Sanctuary LAX was a ride on the Sybian, a vibrating, saddle sized apparatus, straddled by the rider. At Avatar LA, visitors took selfies in the standing steel cage. For those not eager to experiment with kink, California Men raised over $700 for AIDS Walk by offering 20 minute massages to LA Pride guests.
Returning this year was the puppy play mosh pit. As humans in doggie masks barked, guests could pet them, give belly rubs, play fetch, or even join in the ball pit. Right outside, Marky Make Up airbrushed additional body paint accents for pet play, role play, or just to have some fun.
For those craving gear for their new kinks, Erotic City also provided independent vendors who specialize in crafting fetish gear. Firebird Leather offered floggers, paddles and fancy headdresses. Deviant leather offered handmade restraints and harnesses. Laced Up Corsets cinched up patrons and brought out sizzling curves. New this year was Kinky and Geeky Pins with their line of pop culture characters parodied in fetish garb or kinky situations. Right outside the auditorium was the Bullet Bar Cigar Lounge, also offering leather essentials for the new and experienced in kink.
Tom of Finland Foundation presented an erotic art exhibit with 12 guest artists present to sign copies of the new book “My Gay Eye” and discuss their inspiration from the legendary artist, Tom of Finland. One side of the exhibit featured a mural sized banner depicting the famous Stonewall Riot on a backdrop of newspaper clippings from “The Advocate” and other Gay publications. Many stopped for selfies with the banner, and pics of the erotic art created by artists from the foundation like Van Jazmin, Miguel Reyes, and Ruben Esparza.
“The Leather Journal”, the longest running leather publication, displayed a history of LA Leather with photos and news articles from the archives. Dave Rhodes, owner and publisher was on hand to meet people and answer questions about leaders in leather culture and past events.
Throughout the day, Erotic City delivered daring stage acts and kinky performances. But at night, Summer Love and the Platinum Boys stole the show. The traveling male exotic dance review shocked Erotic City citizens in ways as intense as a violet wand. Summer Love acted as a catalyst while her men displayed impressive pole dance moves and enticed audience members on stage for lap dances.
“Many kind thanks to the new citizens of Erotic City for coming this year!” Exclaimed Mistress Cyan, Christopher Street West Board Member, Sanctuary LAX Headmistress, and Director of Erotic City. “Thank you to all who volunteered to perform onstage and at the tasting booths. Huge thanks to our presenters and vendors. Our goal is for LA Pride attendees to have an experience rather than an event. From the crowd’s response, we have delivered an experience unlike any other and a memorable one at that!”
Plans are already in the works to make Erotic City at LA Pride’s 50th Anniversary next year the best ever. For more information on vending and sponsorships at Erotic City 2020, call Mistress Cyan at 310-910-0525.
