CLAW 2021 in Los Angeles

Durk Dehner, Peter Fiske

CLAW 2021 was held 24th-28th November at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles has come and gone. The crowd size at the Leather Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony looked like it was close to those of the induction ceremonies held in Cleveland. It is also pertinent to note that CLAW was last held in Cleveland over two years ago so many were happy to get their CLAW fix.

Big events were the Vendor Market, presentations and skills classes, Thanksgiving dinner for early arrivals, Avatar hosted seven Hercules dungeon parties which covered 35 hours, Titleholder Dinner, Bound and Beautiful and numerous silent auctions.

LA 30 and Tom of Finland Foundation hosted a Cocktail Reception on the 35th floor.

There was a BLUF Dinner on Friday night, B&B Corps Parade of Colors, Testosterone – Friday Opening Party by Nasty Kink Pigs plus other parties, Sanctuary Studios LAX and Avatar supplied most of the dungeon equipment for presentation and dungeon parties, the Barracks hosted the Fetish Alliance party, seven parties hosted by LA’s Payasos throughout the weekend including Encuerado and Clownfucker, and 12 different Speed Dating sessions

Included was Tom of Finland Foundation’s Kinky Art Show with 168 pieces by 38 artists.

CLAW/ToFF “Kinky Art”

The weekend also included Dominate dance, cigar parties, various video presentations of which some made their debut at CLAW, Pet Play Community Mosh, International Leather Family Dinner, Bad Boys Spanking Party, Original Pride documentary on the Satyrs Motorcycle Club, Leather Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Anthony John Productions’ Mister – The Tea Dance, and the closing party – King And Queen Roast by LA drag queens and porn stars.

Shoppers in the Vendor Mart

Several presenters were Rick Boehle, Jesse Rosenberg, Andrew Winters, Hardy Haberman, Ashtray Boner Kain, Matthew Jensen, Chris Wright-Garcia, Joe Gallagher, Dave Rhodes, Joel Royal, JR Raymond, Sarah Beth, Payaso Chipa Guasu, Bob Joel, Race Bannon, Drew Kramer, Durk Dehner & Sharp, Carolyn Meeker, Jeremy Rigger, Gordon S. Morris, Peter Fiske, Al Parso-York, Bob Miller, Boy Shannon, Rostom Mesli, Slave Phil, Shibari Sean, Todd Harris, Jim Neuman, Robert Green, AJ Earl, Ellen Friedman, Pup Kodi, Kristofer Weston, Amp Somers, Domenic Ford, Stephan Ferris, Jack McGreal, Jim Ward, Paul King, Ben Graham, Sarah Beth, Bear Mike and Bear Marvin, and many others.

There was more than usual for the Leather Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday afternoon with two years of inductions for emcees Gabriel Green and Durk Dehner to present. The 2020 inductees were Jim Ward, Pauline Reage and MLC Munich and the 2021 inductees were Jack Jackson, Jack McGeorge and SM Gays. Special tributes were made to the Satyrs Motorcycle Club and Daniel Dumont. The inductees for the next Hall of Fame induction, to be held at CLAW 2022 in Cleveland in April, are Rex, GMS/MA and The 15 Association.

Bob Miller, President and Executive Director of CLAW and filmmaker Jack McGreal at the premier of “Leatherboy” in LA.

Several Leatherfolk were pondering names for the anachronism CLAW for Los Angeles. Someone suggested LA Leather Awareness Weekend – L.A. LAW, while others came up with CLAW – California Leather Awareness Weekend. It might well become CLAW LA if producers decide to do it again next year [fingers crossed].

CLAW XXII will return to the Westin in Cleveland on its normal weekend, 27th April – 1st May 2022.

COMPLETE ARTICLE BY DAVE RHODES

Published: 22nd December 2021

Categorised in: News