What Is TKLA?

Trans Kink Los Angeles (TKLA, formerly known as trans.ties) is a Los Angeles, California based kink organization for trans people. We began in 2023 as trans.ties: a shibari (rope play) study group hosted in a living room in West Hollywood, capped at eight attendees. Since then, we have grown considerably.

Today, TKLA hosts events across Los Angeles: some classes, some jams, some parties. Our name and scope have changed, but the heart of what we do has not. We are still, at our core, a space built by and for trans people who deserve to explore kink, rope, and sexuality on their own terms.

Why We Exist

Even as we grow, TKLA remains committed to our original mission: creating safer spaces for transgender people to study and play.

We exist because transgender and nonbinary people deserve an environment designed with them in mind, and one where they can practice activities and arts that are inextricably linked to the state of our bodies, without having to navigate spaces that were not built with us in consideration.

Our change in name and spirit since then reflects our growing commitment to hold the space for trans excellence to be celebrated in kink and sexuality as a whole, no longer just in rope. We work to connect these individuals with each other, and to build communities and lasting, meaningful connections.

We Believe

On Kink:

• Kink is for every body and everybody.
• Kink is political, and always has been.
• Responsible kink is trauma-informed, accessible to all bodies, anti-racist, and gender inclusive.
• Responsible kink play is informed by learning its history.

On Consent:

• Everybody has the capacity to harm and to be harmed.
• No means no, and once is enough.
• Consent must involve discussion of risk.
• Consent must be appropriately specific to the plan.
• Consent must involve the participation of everyone involved.
• Consent must consider the relevant power dynamics at play.
• Mistakes happen — but harm is real, and responsible players will participate in processes to minimize the impact of a mistake.

TKLA is proud to be a space where those who repeatedly and consistently harm others with no accountability taken are not welcome. TKLA as an organization leaves room for restorative justice and is proud to support its members in their quests to become more skilled, ethical, considerate, and otherwise effective communicators and players. TKLA does not afford additional chances to those that harm others repeatedly with no effort to take accountability or pivot their styles of interaction in the spirit of avoiding future similar mistakes.
TKLA operates on the understanding that everyone is capable of harm, and everyone is capable of being harmed. TKLA commits to educational efforts in the spirit of preventing as much harm as possible, and creating a productive and healing way forward for when harm does take place.

The Logistical Stuff

TKLA's policies are an extension of our mission. Our policies reflect the commitments we make to each other as part of this community. You are not required to share our beliefs, but attendance at TKLA's events requires respecting the commitments we're making to the health, safety, and happiness of the rest of the community.

On the health of our community:

TKLA requires its attendees to have the most recent COVID vaccination, or to be excused from this requirement on an individual medical basis. TKLA encourages and provides resources for this and other vaccinations (in addition to other healthcare support where requested).

We understand that for many, vaccination is more complicated than "just get a shot". We know that vaccinations can mean time lost to immune responses – a particular challenge for parents and folks who are economically precarious. We know that trust in vaccines is impacted by a long legacy of medical racism, fatphobia, ableism, homophobia, and all of the ways in which institutions tend to amplify prejudice. We also know there can be financial barriers

Vaccinations are not perfect, and they remain one of the best ways to care for each other. Thank you for helping us keep this space safer for those that need it most. We accept a large variety of documents as proof of vaccination. This can include the vaccine card, a digital record, a reciept, etc. We're not picky about paperwork. We just care that you got it, and we're prepared to help you get it and fight whatever barriers may be in your way.

At many of our events, TKLA requires masking. We choose venues with other covid prevention resources (like air filters) as well. TKLA provides safer sex materials at events where it's relevant.

On money and pay transparency:

TKLA values fair pay of its staff, and fair access to its guests. Transgender people are a demographic that is often exploited for free labor, and as a result, transgender people earn less than their cisgender counterparts. TKLA refuses to be part of this trend.
For this reason, TKLA will always host at least one event monthly where no payment is required to enter. TKLA believes kink (and more specifically, kink education) should be accessible, and financial barriers should never be the reason someone cannot participate.
While we value financial accessibility for our guests, we are one of very few kink organizations in LA that pays its staff. TKLA will always pay each of its staff at least 5% of total ticket sales, or $10 — whichever amount is higher, for their support at our events. When you pay for a ticket, your ticket pays the staff.


Typically, TKLA splits the earnings with the venue half and half.
Pay example :

Event earns 1000. 5 staff. Each staff earns $50, and $500 goes to the venue. TKLA makes $250.
Event earns 100. 5 staff. Each staff member would earn 5$, but we pay 10$ instead because 10 is higher. $50 goes to the venue. $50 goes to the staff. TKLA earns nothing for this event.
Event earns 50. 3 staff. Each staff member would earn 2.50$, but we pay 10$ instead because 10 is higher. $25 goes to the venue, $30 goes to the staff. TKLA digs the additional $5 needed out of the oversale from a previous month to ensure staff are paid.
Make sense?
When TKLA has extra budget after paying its staff, TKLA will use it to support the training of its staff (classes, certification, etc). Most recently, we paid for the CPR certification for our entire staff.

Trans-First Spaces:

TKLA prohibits cisgender people at its events unless otherwise specifically noted in the event description. Our spaces are built for trans and nonbinary people, and the exclusion of cisgender people is intentional. Sometimes (largely, at play parties), we may allow cisgender people as the guest of a transgender person. We designed it like this as a built-in vetting mechanism to ensure that any cisgender people that enter our spaces are chill.

The sassy part

You're right, our events do discriminate against cisgender people. If you can't get in to one of our cis-allowed parties, that tells us that there is no trans person in your life that's willing to be responsible for your behavior at a kink party. If this is you, your exclusion is intentional.

You're right, our events do discriminate against people that do not care enough about the health of their community enough to get a vaccine. We've made it clear that exemptions exist for those that can't get a vaccine for a medical reason. This policy is written to protect our larger community, including our immunocompromised guests and staff. I know it's another annoying errand to run. I know shots are scary and they hurt. If you don't care enough about the health of your peers to get a vaccine, or at least communicate that you can't get one for whatever reason, your exclusion is intentional.