Meet MARIO DIAZ | Queer Event Producer & Actor. Your Gay Uncle.

We had the good fortune of connecting with MARIO DIAZ and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MARIO, how does your business help the community?

As a Queer event producer for over 30 years my main mission is to facilitate connection, joy and spread love. One of the core driving forces of my sex positive work is to dissipate our relationship with shame around sex. This was the motivation that drove me to open my NYC bar, The Cock, in the 90’s.. Our sexuality is a powerful force that drives us, drives our connections, drives our love, our art and also our fear. It’s an unoriginal force that we all share in common and it is a force that we often hide. It scares the hell out of us. We carry so much self doubt, shame and insecurity when it comes to our sexuality. Particularly when you are queer. We have grown up with messages that have been driven deep into our psyche. That voice telling us our sex is bad. That who we are and what we feel is wrong…dirty…perhaps even evil.  And it’s that shame we carry around like a backpack that can slowly destroy us. It holds so many of us back from the joy we deserve, it tells us we are unlikeable, unattractive, unworthy and inadequate… not good enough or even evil. Then our symptoms of anger, our disorders, our addictions and sadness can take over. I suppose I’ve made it a sort of mission in my work to share the message that sex is GOOD, normal…healthy and should be fun and celebrated. No matter how strange, seedy or dirty it may seem…guess what? You are normal, you are good and not alone. I’ve decided long ago to put the sex positivity front and center in my events…but with style, artistry and always with a sense of humor. I wanted to make the sexuality, although extreme to some, light hearted and easy to absorb…quite simply, fun! To create safe spaces without judgement. Places where you can express those urges and not feel shameful. Because you shouldn’t. It’s true that over the years our attitudes and the visibility around sexual preference and identity have evolved but those dangerous messages are still within us. And they still have a stronghold in society. And I vigorously denounce them. It’s time right now to embrace who we truly are. Own it and love ourselves free of shame.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve been a queer event producer for over 30 years now and have recently started my first post pandemic event. I’ve brought back one of my favorite parties, Hot Dog. We’re doing a Queer Beer Bust, Tea Dance every Sunday from 4pm-2am at Hollywoods Iconic El Cid on Sunset in Silverlake. It’s has the most gorgeous patio in LA, so comfortable and breezy…I couldn’t be more pleased with the event. My LA party Big Fat Dick (aka BFD) at Fubar holds the title of “Longest Running Weekly Queer Party in the Country.” Going on 19 years until Covid shut us all down. I actually first started producing events when I was still a wee homo in my Seattle high school days. It was really just about creating something more interesting than what was available. Something with a little more style and a place where my weirdo crew could show off. But NYC was always in my sights so as soon as I graduated I made my way into the big city. And yes, Giuliani was there waiting to put a damper on all of our fun. His “quality of life” campaign was starting to take effect and specifically targeting Queer and Poc businesses and clubs. The down and dirty nightlife that I read about and the sexual freedom that was being celebrated was slipping away and I felt cheated. I made it sort of my mission to bring back the sexy, wild NYC I moved there to be a part of. And then the Los Angeles sun and lifestyle was beckoning me. I always try and keep forward movement so I made the move to LA.

I have a job where I’m surrounded by talent and beauty. It’s a dream job really. Sometimes I can’t believe I get paid to help facilitate such brilliance and creativity. I’ve literally made a career out of having fun. Not many can say that. But I’d say it’s seeing all of the amazing art and performance come to life. Whether it be one of the monthly inspired choreographed dance pieces at my party Full Frontal Disco at Akbar. Or seeing the gorgeous costumes me and my designers create being showcased. But the thing that gives me the most joy is looking out on a big diverse crowd of people with giant smiles on their faces really LIVING their lives. Nightlife can get a bad wrap but when I see that gorgeous sight, I know what I have dedicated my life doing is a noble and wonderful gift. Creating a place for people to connect and have a laugh with their friends. The most important thing if you ask me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite haunts are where I can find my tribe. Spending Hot Dog Sundays at El Cid has been the perfect reintroduction to real social interaction since lockdown. Fubar was one of my favorite bars in LA. It hasn’t reopened since pandemic but I’m praying it does. It’s the kind of down, dark and dirty queer dive bar that is always a good time. I love Precinct DTLA/Rock and Roll Gay Bar, Akbar…the Cheers of LA queer bars as i like to call it, The Eagle…for the hot daddies, Revolver if I want to go hang out in Boystown with all those cuties. And Casita Del Campo, Mexican restaurant in Silverlake is my home away from home. There is a theater downstairs called The Cavern Club where you’ll find some of the best shows in town. The best Drag Queens, plays and all sorts of hilarious subversive talents perform in this theater. It’s where me and my company perform. We just recently finished a sold out run of our show The Golden Girlz Live and it was amazing. It felt so good to be on stage again and we were all really longing for that kind of connection. There really are so many nooks and crannies in LA to discover. Great food, art, great people and the sunny days are what make this city so appealing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my work to all the bold Queer Nightlife Legends and brilliant parties that paved the way and showed me what it meant to be truly free. Those who created safe and unapologetic spaces for our LGBTQIA Tribe to express ourselves, celebrate our diversity and truly thrive. Those nights that inspired me as a bright eyed homo moving to NYC in the 1990’s. Boy Bar, The Pyramid Club, Jackie 60/Mother, Dean Johnson’s Rock & Roll F*g Bar, Michael Schmidts Squeezebox…to name a few. Thanks for your fearlessness and for all the good times. These places were my home and filled my life with community and style. These people were the catalyst for me to open my own bar…The Cock.

Website: mariodiazpresents.com

Instagram: @hotdogsundaysla

Twitter: @mariodiaz

Facebook: @mariodiazlovesyou

Youtube: youtube.com/mariodiazlovesyou

Image Credits
photo credits: Eric Schwabel, Garaje Gooch, Reed Davis & Photo Larry