Yair Lopez is a proud Latino leather man born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He will be running for a new title, He has been appointed Mr. Cachondo 2023 for bringing recognition to the Latino side of the leather world, by Leo Iriarte. He is currently obtaining his master’s degree in social work. His strong passion for erotic art helped him create a bond with the leather community by documenting leather bar culture and kink/fetish events through his photography. He has photographed nights at Eagle LA, Bullet bar, Falcon north, and events like Off Sunset and Folsom to name a few. In 2020 he co-created PERVERSO Zine with friend Xavid, a magazine by and for Latino men that aims to create space for body positivity and inclusivity by highlighting and celebrating diverse bodies. PERVERSO Zine is an official “CACHONDO for the arts and funs” sponsor. Since then, he has been working on other projects like Full of Fire, a photobook of his trips to San Francisco’s Folsom Street Fair, where he feels at home. Yair will also be featured in an upcoming documentary which chronicles the year-long involvement of 9 Latino trailblazers in the Los Angeles LGBTQ leather community, Encuerados, directed and filmed by Orlando Bedolla.

Yair is an open-minded person who is always looking to explore new things, he indulges in cruising at different parks, burying his face in ripe pits, playing in gloryholes, drinking piss from the tap, and having sex in public. He is also a strong sexual health advocate for PrEP and HIV/STI advocacy. Recently, he led a HIV awareness campaign, through Somos Familia Valle, focusing on Latino queer and trans men to increase testing and fighting stigma in the San Fernando Valley. In 2023, he will be leading the second year of this grassroots effort with a focus on mental health and body positivity.