While West Hollywood prides itself as being a dog-friendly community, it’s clear from this past weekend’s events that North Hollywood is the pup-friendly community.
In the video posted above, comedian Ben Kawaller visits the first annual L.A. Puppy Pride (and the third annual puppy contest), which took place last Saturday at Metropolitan Community Church in North Hollywood and was followed by a party at Bullet Bar, also in North Hollywood.
While Puppy Pride opened on Thursday at Bullet Bar (which also hosted a Friday event), it wrapped up on Sunday with a closing party at the Eagle L.A. And the winner? Pup Rush.
Matthew Mullins, aka Pup Pup Ash-Tray Boner Kain, and his lover and handler, Dan Lovell, are the producers of the event. Mullins describes it in detail on the L.A. Puppy Pride Facebook page.
“We saw pups from Seattle, Atlanta, San Francisco, Austin, New York, San Diego and even Cleveland out here just to show support for this little opus of ours that every single pup is a part of in Los Angeles,” Mullins said. “These are pups doing what they do best, showing their love for one another with an open mind and their paws out reaching towards a better future for our pack.”
“North Hollywood is a pup-friendly community?”
I didn’t get that at all! There was nothing “friendly” about these interviews; the reporter was being a huge bully to those guys!
Props to all of the people who were interviewed, especially Mr. San Diego Leather, who took it all in stride and was really trying to laugh along, even though he seemed fully aware he was being made fun of.
I could have made a better, snappier, shorter and more effective video with my hands behind my back. Who the fuck starts and interview and doesn’t even know where they are? And then it slides swiftly down hill from there. You’re neither comedian nor journalist… I think the term best used to describe you is a HACK that has never stepped back from their “humor” to recognize that there are plenty of ways to make entertaining, humorous consent without being a bozo towards marginal communities. I almost didn’t comment because I don’t think anyone deserves to give this video more… Read more »
What a disrespectful and disgusting person. Totally condescending and rude. Comedian/gay FAIL!
Wow. That reporter/wanna-be comedian was awful and rude to those guys.
Ben, you are not funny. You are mean. Unfortunately you missed the entire point of the competition and chose to laugh AT the community and mock individuals who are brave and open about an intimate part of their lifestyle and sexuality. There is a reason that people came from across the country for this pride event. It is because close-minded individuals, like you, are too frightened to understand our community and we can only express this part of ourselves in a protected environment. You violated our safe space. Rather than kink-shame us, you should have attempted to understand us. I… Read more »
Ben, you are not funny. You are mean. Unfortunately you missed the entire point of the competition and chose to laugh AT the community and mock individuals who are brave and open about an intimate part of their lifestyle and sexuality. There is a reason that people came from across the country for this pride event. It is because close-minded individuals, like you, are too frightened to understand our community and we can only express this part of ourselves in a protected environment. You violated our safe space. Rather than kink-shame us, you should have attempted to understand us. I… Read more »
Some of the most important people in my life wear pup masks or get into head space. I also embrace Handler and Dog space, and plan to explore that a little further, thanks specifically to this SCHLOCK JOB of an interview. Someone who has graduated from Harvard SHOULD KNOW BETTER than this, and was obviously not paying attention much while there to understand that his training in critical thinking, logic and ethics training was to prepare him for how not to behave this way, and if he were to see this in others, have an understanding of all the ways… Read more »
Wow, fails as journalism, fails as comedy.
Don’t see the brightest future for this guy.
Honestly I feel the last quote is probably a misquote since I absolutely adore that person’s views on pup life. Not every pup in Los Angeles was a part of ‘this little opus’ and there are many ‘packs’ all across LA let alone the world.
LaPup, for one helps bring to light what being a pup is about, as well as celebrates pup dynamics for the pup community.
Some informed commentary for once.
I’m not from LA but I am a Pup and this person is Not funny at all, and every LA Comedian should Dog him until he apologizes to the LA Pup Community.
Signed
PupDear Canu
The apology he gave was not even truthful or respectful. It was once again comedy driven asking people to “Laugh at themselves” This should be removed from the website
This video and article is a joke to journalism. It is blatantly biased and way out of line. Comedian or not.
To confirm, is Gay Life LA for everyone in the LA gay community? The name of the site suggests so, but the video says it’s for those who like to live inside their heteronormative, vanilla box and pretend other people’s lives, actions, and feelings are below them. Ben comes across as rude, arrogant, and condescending. If that’s what Gay Life LA intended then kudos, mission accomplished. If not, then he seriously missed the mark and either he or Gay Life LA ought to issue an apology to LA Puppy Pride and its participants for casting them in such a negative… Read more »