Learn All About Los Angeles’ Hot, Sex-Positive Leather& Gear Party, TUFF

September 28, 2023
JACK

Into gay porn stars? Into live gay events? Into leather? You need to check out the rapidly popularising TUFF Party. This monthly event in Los Angeles is a place for leather enthusiasts and the leather curious to come and mingle and meet each other. This is also a place to meet some of your favorite adult entertainers because this event features some of the industry's hottest performers as its hosts.

The founders of TUFF joined us for an interview to promote this very special event.

Could you tell us what exactly is the TUFF Party? What does it entail?

TUFF has truly become an event that exudes a sense of individuality and self-expression. It's a place where you want to showcase your best looks, stand out from the crowd, and make a statement. What makes TUFF even more unique is its music choices that deviate from the typical circuit party scene. We curate our DJs that reflect the vibe you would experience at parties in London or Berlin — dark, yet irresistibly sexy and groovy.

Our aim is to create an atmosphere that captivates people, not just with the music, but also with the venue, the style, and most importantly, the hot attendees. Every aspect of TUFF, from its marketing to the people who represent the event, has been thought out.

At TUFF, we create an environment where instead of relying on digital interactions like hitting 'woof' or 'tap', you can connect with LA's sexiest individuals, all decked out in leather/fetishwear. It transports us back to the days when we would mingle at bars, lock eyes with someone across the crowded dance floor, and engage in playful flirtation. Our intention was to establish a space where people of all levels of interest in leather or fetish could explore their curiosities outside of traditional settings.

TUFF goes beyond being a mere event; it is an opportunity to unleash your imagination, foster a sense of community, and give you the confidence to embrace your boldest leather/fetish outfits. It's a chance to be unapologetically yourself, even if it means wearing something you wouldn't typically wear elsewhere.

How did you conceptualize it?

After working with the Tom Of Finland Foundation for several years and attending various fetish events catering to both the gay and straight communities, an idea slowly started to develop. The idea was to bring to life something modern, inspired by classic imagery found in the works of Tom Of Finland, Rex, Drummer Magazine, Vintage Colt, and Mandate, as well as the artwork that adorned so many leather posters of yesteryears. Wanting to see something classic and timeless outside of a bar, we chose the historic Hollywood Bardot. Leather-adorned bodies mixed with Spanish architecture create a stimulating juxtaposition of decadence and debauchery.

How is this event part of the adult entertainment industry?

The event itself is sex-positive and allows people to indulge in their fetish fantasies. Since this event originated in Los Angeles, there has been a large presence of adult film workers, sex workers, and others within the LGBTQIA+ community who find TUFF to be welcoming and non-judgmental. Many of the people we have partnered with are figures in the adult industry, including both veterans and newcomers.

How is it a part of the LGBTQIA+ Community?

The event itself is rooted in the LGBTQIA+ community, with Tuff's creators being a gay couple. While Tuff attendees are predominantly gay men, we have seen women, trans, and non-binary attendees at all of our events. Tuff also partners with the Tom of Finland Foundation, donating a portion of the proceeds from partnered events to support the foundation's artists and residency program, permanent collections, archives, museum, and library, as well as TOM House, the only LGBTQIA+ historical landmark in the city of Los Angeles. Tuff is working with Palm Springs Pride as an official event, where we will also be partnering with Mistr, a gay-owned and operated company dedicated to delivering free online PrEP and STI testing to all 50 states in the US and Puerto Rico, to create awareness and provide the community with free and easy access to PrEP.

Who are some of the notable performers you have had appear at your event? What roles do they play?

Adam Russo, Lawson James, Vince Parker, Jake Nicola, Jack Tarzan, are some notable names who have worked with us to spread the word, and Boomer Banks, who will be DJing for us at Palm Springs Pride.

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How can a performer take part?

Send us your dick and hole pics to @tuffparty on IG or tuffparty.com.

Could you tell us about yourselves? Who are the organizers of this event?

We believe in fantasy and mystery, right? Although the event is organized by two gay men who are extremely attractive and hung like show ponies, the event comes to life with the people who are a part of it. A party is only as good as its patrons sometimes, and in events like this, everybody contributes. We ask what you bring to the party, not just what we curate.

How did you come to be a part of the special events industry? Specifically, the gay adult events industry?

Having thrown nightlife events for well over a decade, we've found ourselves working with a broad spectrum of talent, ranging from dominants and sex workers to rockstars, along with queer icons like John Waters, Kenneth Anger, and Bruce LaBruce. We've also partnered with a variety of other nightlife promoters, dancers, models, and fetishwear designers. These experiences have made us well-rounded, inspiring the creation of this event we've become so proud of.

What are your plans for the future? Both yourselves and the TUFF Party?

While still in its early stages, Tuff has already seen an overwhelmingly positive response as a nightlife event in Los Angeles. While the original plan was to establish the event in Los Angeles for a period of time before expanding into other markets, we will soon have a presence in Palm Springs for Pride and are in the works to have a presence in San Francisco in the coming year. A longer-term goal would be for the party to be bi-coastal and everywhere in between. At this moment, the possibilities seem endless, and we are very excited about what lies ahead.