by Jeremy Kinser
Photography by John Skalicky — skalickyphoto.com

Besides being our cover model, Luciano Costa is also one of the Hot 25 people who are making an impact in Los Angeles. The swarthy Brazil-native discusses SoCal Social Club, his networking and activity organization and why it’s important to be of service to your community.

Location: Hollywood
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro
Occupation: Owner/founder of SoCal Social Club and part-time bartender
Single or taken: I'm currently single. My focus at the moment is on my business but that's not to say that I'm not open to exploring a relationship if the right guy comes around.

Why did you move to L.A.?

I moved to L.A. for the challenge and because I've always felt an unexplainable draw to California. Maybe because it also unconsciously reminded me of my homeland or because I just instinctually felt it was the right place for me to be in this chapter of my life.

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

Behind this hard exterior, I'm very much a softy. I'm also extremely passionate, pensive, sensitive, competitive, protective and nostalgic. And according to my zodiac sign—Sagittarius—I can also be a little flirtatious.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Although I'm temporarily sidelined due to an ankle injury, I enjoy playing basketball, volleyball, running, hiking, weight training and pretty much anything else active. I also love music, travel and photography and one day I will learn how to speak Italian.

You’re very active in community service. Describe what you do exactly.

I have organized fundraisers such as Hoop Dreams, which helped pay for five Southern California-based basketball teams to compete in the Gay Games; utilized one of my mixers to support One Heartland, a summer camp for children afflicted by HIV/AIDS; and recently partnered with other organizations to help clean up the L.A. river. One of my goals with SoCal Social Club is to participate in more hands-on service projects that give everyone a sense of accomplishment and give back to the community in which we live.

How important is it for you to give back to the community?

I find that it's important to participate in the community regardless of how you classify the term—gay or straight, black or white, town or country. We are all part of many different communities, small and large, and we should all give a little back when we can. We don't need to do a lot, we just need to do something. Appropriately, Michael Jackson's songs "Man In The Mirror" and "Heal The World" have always touched a special part of me.

Tell me about your organization SoCal Social Club.

SoCal Social Club is a social networking and activity club for LGBT professionals in Los Angeles. Our mission is to connect upwardly-mobile individuals and to enrich our lives with a variety of positive experiences in a sophisticated and welcoming environment. We are not a dating service nor a place to find the next hook-up. Because SoCal Social Club is a membership club, our members benefit from a social calendar that they know will be attended by people who are equally invested in the idea of making new friends, developing new contacts and sharing unique experiences with one another. SCSC members are encouraged to discuss and network professionally at all our functions. On the horizon for SCSC is expanding members' entertainment options and introducing them to unique bars, restaurants, and venues throughout the area, including the music, comedy and arts scene.

What inspired you to form it?

I was inspired mostly by my friends and peers who I heard repeatedly complain about the lack of quality and substance in today's gay nightlife. Everyone seemed to be searching for a better way to engage with others in meaningful ways, outside of the typical and tedious bar scene. I was also inspired by my personal curiosity to discover what Southern California has to offer. One idea led to another and eventually I decided to combine them all under one umbrella, and SoCal Social Club was born.

What has the response to the Club been like so far?

We have had a very positive response. Without advertising, SCSC has relied on word-of-mouth and social networking to spread the word. We've grown very quickly from 150 members, consisting of my friends and personal contacts, to a few thousand.

How can our readers become members?

To join as an official club member is very easy. All you need to do is visit our website — SoCalSocialClub.com — and register on the home page.