Before the whistles, the woofs, and the yummy chaos descend en masse, let’s take a smidge of time to shine a well-deserved light on a man who managed to turn something dazzlingly daring into so much more. Mr. LA Leather Bear 2025 is a beacon of the queer community, steeped in a whole lot of rawhide realness. And in Mike Klipsch’s peachy keen year holding this title, that crown sat atop a hunky heart that learned how meaningful it is when you show face and show up for your community.

So saddle up for a woof-tastic ride through memories and milestones that make LA Leather Bear Week what it is. From nutritionally balanced bear soup pools to honoring leather legends, Klipsch reflects on a wondrous year chock-full of grit and grin. Join us as we look ahead to festivities that are guaranteed to be just as cheeky and then some. Consider this your warm-up stretch before the boots hit the floor, and the fun begins.

Congrats again on winning Mr. LA Leather Bear 2025 (woof). How did that title personally impact you and the LA leather & bear community?

Thank you! The title impacted my life immensely. Previously, I was not a very social person and somewhat shy.  But I wanted to step outside of that, and the title enabled me to do that. Now, anytime I walk into the Eagle LA, I see a handful of friends happy to see me. Something I thought was out of reach, and looking back a year later, it’s a great reminder of how fast you can create change in your life.

What did your life look like in the year following being crowned Mr. LA Leather Bear?

Right after I won, I started getting ready for LA Leather in March. But a month or so after getting the title, I went to IBC for the first time, which was a lot of fun to see a pool completely packed with happy bears (aka bear soup). Then Pride season rolled around, so I went to represent BearsLA at LA and Weho Pride. I went to as many local leather events, was the tallymaster at the SF Bear Contest, and threw some events at Eagle LA and Bullet. Definitely the busiest I’ve ever been, but I also made the most memories during this year.

Can you share with us all one particular highlight or moment from your title year?

As part of my title duties, I put on a few events to raise money. My first event was called One Night Only: Only Way. I wanted to pay homage to the bars that birthed our culture, and One Way was a leather/biker bar in Silverlake in the 70s that was raided many times over the years until the final raid in 1987. There were a handful of people who came out who had actually been to One Way when it was open, so that was really cool to see their excitement and hear stories about what it was like. I am fascinated by LA leather culture in the 60s/70s, so it was a highlight to show people my leather perspective while also raising some money for the SGV LGBTQ Center.

How did your leather and bear communities support and/or impact your road to the title?

While preparing, I got a lot of advice from current and past title holders, and some friends who have been in the LA leather community for a while. I think most of the support came in the form of just making me feel welcome. Like I wasn’t a poser in my leather.

This year you’re helping run the Mr. LA Leather Bear 2026 Contest Week. What prompted you to take on this responsibility? 

I’ve enjoyed throwing events and being involved in BearsLA, so when Gabriel Green asked if I would like to help him out, I immediately started thinking about poster designs, finding contestants, and thinking about how to put together a fun show. I’ve been shown time and time again that putting effort and work into the LA leather community is always worth it in the end. 

What are you particularly excited about for the upcoming contest and week and its list of events?

I’m very excited to see what the contestants bring on stage at the contest at Eagle Saturday – their looks and stage presence. Meatball is hosting, so you know it’s going to be entertaining and the right amount of off-the-rails. Our contestants have been putting in a lot of work and are excited to put on a memorable show.

We also have our first-ever Bearlympics on Friday, which is a contest and singlet night by our Mr. Bear LA 2026, Matt. It’s going to be a bunch of bears in singlets at Eagle with Love Connie getting everyone riled up. Even if you don’t have a singlet, you should come by!

But I think I’m most excited for the contestant interviews because that’s where we really learn what made them want to run, what they are like in their ‘normal’ non-leather bear life, and what the future will look like with them as the new Mr. LA Leather Bear. I’m excited to hear the questions our other judges come up with.

In your words, what aspects and characteristics make for a worthy Mr. LA Leather Bear contestant?

Being approachable and genuinely good to be around is the baseline for anyone seeking a title, since you’re representing the bar, organization, or community that awards it. For Mr. LA Leather Bear, that means walking the line between being a laid-back, fun-loving bear and having a real understanding of the leather community and history surrounding it, and how those subcultures intersect with your own identity. It’s about taking the role seriously without taking yourself too seriously.

For those contemplating competing in years to come, what words of wisdom or advice would you impart onto them?

I would say, if you’re looking for a great way to dive into the leather community face-first, you should take the chance and run. It’s trite and cheesy, but just by running, you are a winner. You build a bond in that short time with your fellow contestants, and it’s your foot in the door if you want to get more involved to help throw events to raise money for charity. You really learn that nothing is stopping you from getting more involved, and there are always ways for you to contribute.

In what ways do you hope this contest honors and lifts up diversity and inclusion within the leather and bear communities?

I hope this contest honors diversity and inclusion by reflecting the full spectrum of who actually makes up the leather and bear communities, not only in the contest and producers, but in the audience as well. The leather community was built by people who didn’t fit neatly elsewhere and chose to create something of their own, and our events/contests should reflect that.

Can you dish on what goes into preparing our contestants for their big night, from interviews to stepping into that spotlight on stage?

As the current title-holder and a judge for the contest, I want to be surprised when I see their looks and hear their speech, so I haven’t really given advice on those things. Most of how I help them prepare is by helping them understand how the show will run and reassuring them that having fun is the most important and apparent aspect of running for the title.

As a contestant, you are going through all of the leather and gear you have and figuring out who wears the same size as you so you can borrow something from them. You’re looking for people you trust to give you advice about your speech and practice over and over until you feel like a crazy person. Each contestant has some sort of community that rallies around them to help them feel prepared, which is really cute.

With the weekend brimming with events adjacent to the BearsLA and Leather community, which, in your humble opinion, are a must?

Outside of all the BearsLA events happening (Meet & Greet Thursday, Bearlympics Friday, Contest Saturday, and Victory Party Sunday), you can also catch Meatball at their world-renowned Fat Slut event at Precinct on Friday at 9 pm. Go say hi to Meatball, then take the short Uber over to Eagle LA for Bearlympics!

There’s also Leather Beast at Bullet Bar on Thursday, produced by the amazing Quintin, Mr. Bullet Leather 2025. He’s one of the best of our community, so definitely go check out his event every month!

What can folks anticipate with the Meet & Greet as well as other community gatherings?

At the Meet & Greet, you can grab a drink and watch as the contestants and judges get to know each other, then come up to one of us to chat. For judges, we have Francisco Perales, Michael Lara from Bullet Bar, Marquis the Honey Bear, and Alexander Rodriguez from Blade Magazine itself!

How do events like the Formal Leather Cocktails or afterparties add to the overall experience for those attending?

Dressing in formal leather for events like the Regiment of the Black & Tans’ annual Assembly is fun because you get to really show off your gear and be surrounded by people who are immediately on the same wavelength. You know how much work went into earning the leather, putting it all on, and navigating LA traffic just to share a cocktail. A lot of our connections happen at bar events, which is great, but sitting down over a cocktail and a conversation to talk about real-life difficulties and successes are the quieter moments that help build more genuine bonds and strengthen the sense of community beyond the bar.

For our first-timers, what words would you impart on them to help them feel both welcome and excited about taking part in the festivities?

You don’t need to have a full leather outfit or any leather at all to come out and see what the LA leather community is all about – and borrowing/sharing leather is always encouraged! Leather people can look intimidating, but I promise you, most of them are the kindest people you could meet. Just strike up a conversation with someone who looks interesting. There are a lot of people at these events who are happy to answer questions and make you feel welcomed, no matter how you show up.

Looking into our leather-scented years to come, how do you envision the legacy of Mr. LA Leather Bear evolving in the near future?

My hope is that this title continues to carry leather culture forward in a way that stays authentic, accessible, and proudly countercultural. I hope the titleholders continue to remember the origins of the leather community, and how it was built by people creating space for themselves and others when none existed. By honoring that history while welcoming new voices and expressions, the legacy of Mr. LA Leather Bear can remain rooted, relevant, and genuinely representative of the community it serves.

Come join the LA Blade for the Mr. LA Leather Bear 2026 competition at The Eagle LA, Saturday, January 17th, at 9 pm. Our publisher, Alexander Rodriguez, joins the judges’ panel!