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In a city like Puerto Vallarta—which has opened itself to the world as a premier LGBTQI+ destination and a melting pot for diverse individuals from across the globe—one would expect to find free expressions of identity flowing through its streets, unburdened by taboo or judgmental stares. Nevertheless, certain segments of the community remain largely undiscussed in the public eye, including those who identify with the Kink and Leather subcultures.
This conversation is gradually opening up at Playroom (Venustiano Carranza 370, Romantic Zone), an inclusive gaming cafe-bar welcoming all identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. The venue hosts a Kink & Leather Social every Thursday at 7 p.m., an initiative spearheaded by owners Cooper and Tony, alongside Mr. Leather Vallarta 2025, Keith Ramsey, who is representing Puerto Vallarta at the International Mister Leather competition in Chicago, this May. These gatherings invite practitioners, those interested, or the simply curious to meet, share experiences, exchange information on safe practices, and socialize in a secure, pressure-free environment.
I met with Cooper and Keith to discuss their initiative and deepen my understanding of the subject.
“The leather community emerged in the 1940s among gay US veterans returning from World War II who built alternative spaces representing masculinity and sexuality, and with the rise of gay motorcycle clubs, in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago in the 1950s. The leather aesthetic of motorcycle and military gear was later popularized by Tom of Finland, an artist who depicted military and police figures in leather as a fantasy. His art was highly sexualized, and the gay leather community embraced it, as a culture that enjoyed the fantasy of dressing in leather military and police attire, explains Cooper, who, in addition to being an entrepreneur, has a background in sexology.
In the queer community, the term “Leather” serves as an umbrella term encompassing fetishes for clothing materials such as leather and rubber. Conversely, “Kink” refers less to a style of dress and more to “unconventional” or “non-normative” practices that explore fantasies, fetishes, and intense desires to heighten intimacy and pleasure, distinguishing itself from traditional or “vanilla” sex. It covers a broad spectrum, including BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sadism/Masochism), and is fundamentally rooted in informed consent.
“In the Kink world, there is often a theme of power exchange where one person is dominant and another is submissive, which generally includes some form of physical sensation or ‘punishment.’ Everything that happens must be consensual. It is vital to build a bond of trust so that the agreements of the practice are respected and it does not devolve into abuse,” Keith emphasizes.
Both Cooper and Keith acknowledge that these communities often carry a certain stigma due to a lack of information. For Keith, discovering his attraction to this world felt like a “second coming out.” However, while living in San Diego in his 30s, he immersed himself in the community and discovered many others shared his interests. Now, based on his experience, he aims to help those looking to integrate into the scene to do so safely.
Similarly, Cooper’s formal study of kink at the university level allowed him to understand it as something practiced with consent, intentional boundaries, and open discussion. “That taught me that there are other ways to enjoy sensations, our bodies, and experiences. Although they are taboo, practices like bondage and spanking are like any other type of ‘play’ we engage in. Some of the sports we play are violent, yet no one questions them,” he notes.
The Keyword: Consent
In a safe space and practice, there must always be consent. Typically, a “safe word” is established to stop the activity (a common term being “red”) or to lower the intensity (“yellow”) like a stoplight system cars use on the street.
“One of the most important things when playing with someone is that you have to trust them. You have to be certain they will respect the safe word and that they have enough experience not to do something that will hurt you. That is why we are trying to open the conversation during our Thursday Socials—to teach people how to have safe practices while offering a space to meet and build that trust,” Keith asserts.
The social is open to everyone, as Kink and Leather are not exclusive to any single identity, sexuality, or experience level. All spectrums of the community are welcome, including trans individuals, women, and non-binary people. The weekly meeting, which began in late 2025, has already featured demonstrations of electro-play, impact play, and bondage. Other fetishes, such as latex attire and the Puppy community, are also encouraged.
Puerto Vallarta in Context
Both Cooper and Keith agree that while Puerto Vallarta receives a large community seeking to enjoy their sexuality freely, those attracted to Leather and Kink are less visible compared to cities like Mexico City or Guadalajara. This does not necessarily mean they do not exist; rather, it indicates there is still work to be done regarding visibility.
“For me, this is part of sexual positivity and accepting who I really am. This is a part of me, and I want to fully own my sexuality. It is no stranger to wear a ‘puppy mask’ than anything else we do in the community with our masks, my leather gear, or drag… anything different is easy to point at and call ‘weird,’ but we need to be more open about it,” Keith concludes.
For more information regarding the Kink & Leather Social, follow Playroom’s pages on Facebook and Instagram.
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