Who we are
About Us
Steve Maidhof’s vision…
Our founder once said that we “have the remarkable opportunity to learn from each other, sharing ideas, philosophies, knowledge, and concerns, and to use that knowledge to build a community that can resist the erosion of our civil liberty to engage in any form of
Safe, Sane and Consensual erotic expression between adults.”
And that is exactly what we will strive for!
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I About Us
Thanks for visiting Living In Leather!
Living In Leather LLC is a project-based in the United States. The Living In Leather Project is an extension of the NLA International association of leather peoples with a shared philosophy. With a focus on fostering and building clubs and events throughout the world, especially in communities with a need for education and support of alternative lifestyle relationships. Recognizing the culture of leather through art, literature, and the recognition of the people who dedicate their lives to the Leather and BDSM world. Living In Leather LLC is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
The Living In Leather awards committee manages the submissions, nominations, and nominees that are submitted to the NLA for the Living In Leather Awards. The committee is made up of readers, writers, artists, and leaders who are expected to read and review the works submitted for recognition. The Living in Leather Awards are presented at the Living In Leather conference, an annual meeting for the membership to celebrate and promote the culture of leather. All nominees are invited to attend to sell, promote, and present their work to the general membership and public.
I Mission & Purpose
- To maintain our national/international communication, information, education, and support network for all members of the Leather/BDSM/Fetish community.
- To role model the power and pride of all adults who engage in Safe, Sane, and Consensual sexual expression and encourage those who fight for the decriminalization of all sexual acts between consenting adults.
- To support individual and organized political activism, visibility, and education to eradicate stereotypical beliefs, misconceptions, and media misrepresentation about the Leather/BDSM/Fetish family in the community at large.
- To continue providing, through publications, educational material, and conferences, a forum for the sharing of knowledge, viewpoints, and practices of a diverse network of people.
- To promote the success and welfare of individuals, organizations, publications, and businesses within our community, especially against threats to their freedom of expression, freedom of the press, rights to free association, and right to equal protection under the law.
- To welcome women, people of color, transgender, the deaf, the physically challenged, and others who have traditionally been discriminated against or poorly represented within the Leather/BDSM/Fetish community.
- To attend, promote, and support fundraising for deserving defense funds, projects, and clubs, organizations, and charities, which have given direct service to the Leather/BDSM/Fetish community.
- To continue preserving a record of our history, traditions, and culture.
I History
It was the end of May in 1986, and International Mr. Leather contestant Steve Maidhof was flying home to Seattle from Chicago. He had not won a title, or even placed as a runner up. But the experience had been exhilarating and energizing. He wanted to DO something, and he had an idea. When he got home, he gathered four of his leather friends and proposed an outlandish idea. At the next meeting, the five men were joined by three leather dykes. This naive core of eight enthusiastic leather people decided to organize history's first full-fledged leather/SM/fetish conference, and they intended to pull it off in less than four months.
Not only did they do it, but they did it outstandingly well. Living In Leather I, billed as a National Conference for Lesbians and Gays of the Leather Lifestyle, was an unbelievable experience to all 99 of us who attended. Sessions were held at the Seattle Center, under the shadow of the Space Needle, and included 16 varied program sessions, a few of which were limited to "female participation only," as well as an exhibit of art and photography and a vendors gallery. There was a rousing keynote address by Pat Califia.
Naturally, many more than the core 8 worked on the event. Over the early years, many leather men and women moved in and out of various levels of activity in the National Leather Association. LIL II, riding on the massive success of LIL I, was held at a Seattle hotel. It was very popular and hugely successful from the perspective of the 196 persons attending, and the number of program sessions increased to 23, five of which were repeated for the convenience of those frustrated by concurrent sessions. However, though a "cultural" success, this conference was a financial disaster that nearly bankrupted the new organization. But they did not fold their cards. They vowed to make it work, and they did.
In conjunction with the 1987 Gay and Lesbian March on Washington Barry Douglas, representing GMSMA, with the assistance of many others, organized a National Leather Conference to be held the Saturday before the March. NLA was invited to organize the workshop sessions for this conference held in the Department of the Treasury's large conference hall. The next day thousands of leather men and women marched behind the banner reading "Safe-Sane-Consensual" This was the first time that those three words, which have become a mantra for our community, were used in the way we now know them. The March, and the Leather Conference, were huge successes, and NLA was proud to have been a part of them.
Back in Seattle, early in 1988, Steve Maidhof, who had recently been re-elected to a second term as President of NLA, decided that for health and other, reasons it was prudent for him to resign his office. Vik Stump was elected to replace him as President.
One of the sessions at the National Leather Conference in DC had been a meeting of people in leather/sm/fetish organizations to discuss the formation of a nationwide umbrella organization. It was apparent that the idea needed further investigation, and another conference to focus on this topic was scheduled for February 1988 in Dallas. The Dallas Conference was well attended, but it became very divisive when two factions debated vehemently about whether or not individuals should be allowed to be direct members of the new umbrella organization. Nearly two-thirds of the two days available were spent in a heated debate on this one point. Finally, a compromise was reached, giving an organization in which two-thirds of the control would go to member organizations and one third to member individuals. We also managed to prepare a draft Statement of Purpose for the new organization that was unanimously approved. Finally, an Interim Steering Committee was elected and charged with developing the organization, which was provisionally called Safe, Sane, Consensual Adults-- SSCA. Stacy Dennon and John Ferrari were selected as Co-chairs of this committee.
1988 was busy for NLA. With the birth of the second chapter, NLA: BC in Vancouver, and a considerable increase in membership from outside the Seattle area, it became apparent that the organization had to truly function "Nationally." To this end, they created the National Advisory Council with membership, including representatives from all chapters and affiliates, as well as at- large members. The council was assigned the task of converting the governing structure of the organization to be national in scope.
As plans for LIL III developed, it also became more and more evident that the target audience had to be redefined. Lesbians and gay men had started the organization, but heterosexual and bisexual men and women had participated since the first LIL, and their numbers, and interest, continued to grow. Thus the language of the organization was changed to be more inclusive of people of all genders and orientations. Therefore LIL III was called the National Conference for Men and Women of the Leather/SM Lifestyle. LIL III was back at Seattle Center and was a rousing success in all aspects, including financially. Three hundred sixty-six persons attended 20 program sessions, a knockout fashion show, and a closing party featuring Lynn Lavner. Judy Tallwing McCarthy was the keynote speaker.
From fall 1988 to early 1989, the acrimony of the Dallas conference continued both from without, targeted at the Interim Steering Committee (ISC) of the Safe, Sane, Consensual Adults (SSCA), and within the committee itself. In an attempt to be more inclusive, this board expanded its membership. Jim Richards replaced John Ferrari as a male Co-chair, and there were some resignations from the committee. But acrimony still was more prevalent than progress.
In early 1989 the ISC of the SSCA met with NLA's National Advisory Council to discuss common interests and objectives. The parent body of NLA, which was formally designated the NLA Seattle chapter, distinguished officially from the NLA National level, and most members of the ISC of the SSCA was added to the National Advisory Council (NAC). Jim Richards and Judy Tallwing McCarthy were selected as Co-chairs of NLA National, and Vik Stump continued as President of the Seattle chapter. The membership of the NLA also approved bylaw amendments changing the statement of purpose to one very similar to one adopted at the Dallas meeting. Meanwhile, the SSCA steering committee wrote to its mailing list (there was not much of a membership structure) proposing a merger of the SSCA into NLA National since these organizations had such similar objectives. Little objection to this was formally received. In October, revised bylaws for NLA National were accepted by the National Advisory Council. These included the SSCA statement of purpose and the organization/individual proportional guidelines for the new governing National Council consistent with those set in Dallas. Once the bylaws had been finalized and reviewed by an attorney, they were being submitted to the membership for ratification.
Living In Leather IV was held at the Coliseum in Portland, OR. Nan Borrows presented the keynote address, and there were 24 program sessions. Again, the conference was a massive success, with 416 persons attending the first LIL to be held outside Seattle.
A call for nominations for at large representatives to the new National Council went out in early 1990, and ballots for approval of the bylaws were mailed on Apr 28. The July 1990 First Link announced that the bylaws had been ratified by 89.27% of the members voting. With this ratification of the bylaws incorporating a structure in keeping with the guidelines established from the Dallas conference, the SSCA merged finances and mailing lists with NLA National and ceased to exist as an independent entity.
At the time of the call for nominations, there were 40 chapters and non-profit affiliate members of NLA. Each of these is entitled to designate a representative to the National Council (NC). Fifty-two persons were nominated to fill the 40 at-large seats on the council, which is obligated to meet twice a year. The ballot was due by Sept 23, and the NC would hold the first meeting at LIL V. The ballot also included the first nationally elected Co-chairs of NLA (the NAC had selected Jim Richards and Judy Tallwing McCarthy). These were Jim Richards and Shannon Thomas Kennedy.
In August 1990, it was discovered that the treasurer of NLA had diverted several thousands of dollars of the organization's funds to pay his bills. He left shopping bags full of poor records on the secretary's doorstep and was not heard from again. Jan Hall served as interim treasurer and worked on these records. The total of missing funds was finally determined to be $17,922.00. Procedures for handling cash were severely tightened, including strict procedures for signatures on checks and review of bank statements by a variety of individuals.
Living in Leather V was again held in the Portland (OR) Coliseum. This year 626 persons attended 28 program sessions. Troy Perry presented the keynote address. For the first time, the Mr. & Ms. NLA contest was a part of the LIL weekend. The May 1991 First Link announced the resignation of Shannon Thomas Kennedy as Co-chair of NLA (she also resigned as director of LIL VI and as a member with no reason given).
The Executive Committee selected Judy Tallwing McCarthy to serve as a female Co-chair until the next NC meeting. OnMay 26, Jan Lyon was elected to serve as a female Co-chair of NLA until the 1992 elections. The June/July 1991 First Link contained the first published draft NLA Statement on Domestic Violence. The difference between SM and domestic violence has been an essential topic for NLA since its inception. Jan Hall and other dedicated members have worked to get this statement prepared and accepted and will work in future years to get it widely distributed. There were 47 seats for at-large members on the NC, but only 31 of the persons nominated agreed to have their names placed on the ballot. All 31 were declared elected, and 16 seats were vacant. In a close election, Chuck Higgins was selected to serve as a male Co-chair for the next two years. Living in Leather VI was held in Chicago, a move onto the continent's heartland! The attendance was the highest ever, but not as high as we had been hoping (pre-event publicity had been lousy!) Though the programs were excellent. The vendor space was smaller than needed. The Executive House lacked the large areas for socializing that had been available at both the Seattle Center and Portland Coliseum; thus, much of the feeling of camaraderie shared by those attending previous LIL's was lost to those at LIL VI.
At it's October 1991 meeting, the National Council responded to complaints from members in Canada (where our second oldest chapter was located) and other nations outside the USA. The NC voted to change its name to the International Council (IC). The NC also agreed to refer to the main office of the organization as the "International Office" rather than the National Office. Bylaws changes must be approved for the first of these to become official. On Nov 11, 1991, Steve Maidhof, founding "Daddy" of NLA, died from complications due to AIDS.
"During its Aug 2, 1992, meeting the Executive Committee, It was reported that the NLA had 900 individual members, 29 chapters and Chapters in Formation, 39 Organizational Affiliates, and 33 Commercial Affiliates."
Living In Leather VII was held in Chicago at the Blackstone Hotel in October 1992. Pat Bond, the founder of The Eulenspiegel Society, delivered the keynote address, and 46 program sessions were held. Attendance was 650, larger than ever before, though not by the margins hoped for in all, it was quite a successful LIL. Through the instigation of Chuck Higgins, the current male Co-chair of NLA, the organization picketed the British Consulate in Chicago, distributing information about the "Operation Spanner" defendants. Chuck subsequently organized a significant fundraising effort, under NLA auspices, to raise funds for the appeal of the Operation Spanner case to the European Court of Human Rights. The objective is to raise $80,000, half of the amount needed to present the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
None of the females nominated to replace Jan Lyon as Co-chair accepted the nomination. However, the International Council elected Sally Mallard Huber to this position. In early 1993 NLA-International established a mailing address, an international office, with a paid part-time office manager, in San Francisco, CA. The office proved to be too high a drain on resources and was closed in April 1995. In May 1993, an NLA planning conference was held in San Francisco. The International Council had grown too large to be practical, and various forms of reorganization were discussed. From this grew a drastic rewrite of the bylaws. By these, the International Council was eliminated, and its authority divided between the members at the annual meeting and the Executive Committee, renamed the Executive Council. The Bylaws were approved, and the new Executive Council held its first meeting at LIL VIII. The new bylaws also formalized a new name of the organization “NLA-International.”
Living in Leather VIII was held at the Sheraton Astrodome Hotel in Houston, TX, in October 1993. Attendance was excellent, as were the quality and quantity of sessions presented. Peri Jude Radecic delivered the keynote address. Albert Kraus began his two-year term as a male Co-chair. Earl Resch resigned as treasurer, and Lenny Broberg agreed to serve as interim treasurer and to strive to get the records in shape.
Living In Leather IX was held in Toronto in October 1994. The keynote speaker was Tom Warner, a member of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. K.T. Chase took office as a female Co-chair of NLA.
Living In Leather X was held in Portland OR in October 1995. Mark Frasier becomes a male Co-chair. Tony DeBlase and Woody Bebout are keynote speakers.
Living In Leather XI was held in Portland, OR in October 1996. Jan Hall becomes a female Co-chair. The International Mr. And Ms. NLA titles are terminated.
Living In Leather XII was held in Portland, OR in October 1997. Mark Frasier becomes President, and Jan Hall becomes Vice President and President-elect.
Living In Leather XIII was held in Dallas, TX, in October 1998.
Living In Leather XIV was held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 1999.
Living In Leather XV was held in Seattle, WA, with all events held under one roof at the DoubleTree Sea-Tac Hotel in October 2000. The keynote speaker was Gayle Rubin. The conference featured over 70 workshops, nightly dungeons, over 40 vendors, and about 550 in attendance. Cultural events included featured artist, Jeff Hengst, as well as readings and book signing by a diverse collection of noted authors.
Tony DeBlase died peacefully in Portland, OR on Jul 21, 2000
2001- Living in Leather XVI July 5th – 8th – Chicago, IL –Canceled. Unfortunately, the LIL Committee had lost key members, and although we had the support of our members and willing vendors, it was decided to cancel LIL XVI and focus on LIL XVII. No pin was commissioned.
2002 Living in Leather XVII - Jul 4 – 7th – Dallas, TX – Radisson Hotel - This was the last LIL that was a standalone event. Over the coming years Living in Leather would be reduced to only the meeting of the NLA-International membership and board. A pin was Commissioned.
2003 Living in Leather XVIII - Held in Indianapolis, IN – The Chapter took space for the meeting during the GLLA event weekend since NLA-Indianapolis was at that time co-producers. Saturday meetings only – Gary Park was interim President. No pin was commissioned.
2004 Living in Leather XIX - Held in Columbus, OH, was hosted by the Columbus Chapter. There was a Friday Meet &Greet. At this point, Rafe was President and Tammy Nelson Vice President. Saturday morning, there was an International officer meeting w/Chapter Officers/Reps. All others attended a “What Can We Do/Where Do We Want To Go” discussion meeting. Saturday afternoon was the Annual General Meeting, and Saturday night was a Play Party hosted by the Columbus Chapter. No pin was commissioned.
2005 Living in Leather XX - Scheduled for September 16th - 18th in Oklahoma City, OK. This was to be the resurrection of our Living in Leather event. The logo designed is the Phoenix to give a sign of its rebirth. There were members from all chapters that were part of the committee. The Annual General Meeting was canceled again, as communications were not reliable and deadlines were unable to be met. This pin was never commissioned.
2006 Living in Leather XX OKC – Hosted our 20th anniversary the first weekend of May. The Annual General Meeting was held in conjunction with the Chapter's event TRIBAL FIRE. Jan Hall as interim President; Bill Reed, interim Vice President. All Committees had meetings with the Officers. The Chapters gave input and clarified their desires to continue the NLA-International by the end of the Annual General Meeting. Vince Andrews announces his intentions to become President to the Membership. Vince assured the Chapters Membership that NLA-I would undergo a much-needed overhaul and revitalization during his term. No pin was commissioned. Shortly after elections, the Board of NLA-International agreed to co-host the Annual General Meetings in conjunction with Chapter events. NLA would put Living in Leather on our materials and would consider the meeting as Living in Leather but only in name. The event itself was tabled until the Association could decide how best to revitalize it. Vince would be elected in the summer of 2006, with the agreement to stager future elections of President and Vice President, along with a requirement of a one-year membership for nomination.
2007 Living in Leather XXI -Columbus chapter – Hosted our 21st Anniversary in Columbus, OH, in conjunction with their Chapter’s 15th Anniversary celebration August 10th – 12th. The event was hosted with play spaces, workshops, and vendors. Lifetime Achievement winner Hardy Haberman gave the keynote. The Annual Meeting took place on Sunday during the event. Vince Andrews was President; Bill Reed was interim Vice President. No pin was commissioned.
2008 Living in Leather XXII NLA-Dallas hosted our 22nd Anniversary in conjunction with the Beyond Vanilla event the last weekend of September. Beyond Vanilla was an event given to the NLA Dallas by an older gay men’s group. It grew to be a mirror event to the old Living in Leather events that the NLA-International put forth in its past. The Annual General Meeting took place on Sunday during the brunch. Our keynotes were Ricci Levy of Woodhull, Rick Storer of the LA&M, and Lillith Grey, founder of Fresh Leather project. 2008 was the first year of the new NLA-I Writers Awards. Vince Andrews was re-elected President; Bill Reed Vice President elected. The Logo was only for T-Shirts, no pin was commissioned.
In 2009 Living in Leather XXIII was held in Houston, TX, and held in conjunction with Spring Iniquity XVIII, NLA-Houston’s first Convention rather than Club Run. The event took place in April and included play parties, vendors, and workshops from presenters across North America. The event was a great success, and the Annual General Meeting took place on Sunday afternoon. Keynote was given by Caro, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The logo was only for t-shirts, no pin was commissioned.
2010 Living in Leather XXIV Oklahoma City, OK – Held in conjunction with NLA-OKC ‘s Tribal Fire IX event. The event offered excellent workshops, vendors, and play parties. The Annual Meeting was held on Sunday. Vince Andrews President; Lady Kate Redmond was elected Vice President. Hardy Haberman gave the keynote for our Lifetime Achievement winner Jim Richards. This keynote was printed in the LINK newsletter for all to read. The logo was only for t-shirts, no pin was commissioned.
2011 Living in Leather XXV Houston TX
2012 - Living in Leather XXVI was held in Dallas TX
2013 - Living in Leather XXVII was held in Oklahoma City - Held in conjunction with NLA-OKC's Tribal Fire XII.
2014 - Living in Leather XXVIII will be held in Dallas TX
2015 - Living in Leather XXIX was held online as a voice meeting.
2016- Living in Leather XXX was held in conjunction with NLA-Houston's Spring Iniquity on 4/9/16.
2017- Living in Leather XXXI was held in conjunction with Oklahoma Leatherfest, operated by the second incarnation of the NLA OKC on 4/23/17.
2018- Living in Leather XXXII was held in Reno Nevada by the NNV chapter at Revelry on 10/21/18.
2019 -Living In Leather XXXIII, LIL Returns with a new image and as a stand-alone LLC. It would be hosted with the Woodhull's Sexual Freedom Summit in Alexandria, VA, on 8/15/19.
2020 – Living in Leather XXXIV for the first time was held online. Initially, it was scheduled to be hosted in conjunction with the Atlanta GA event, Leather History Project, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LIL was moved to online only. This would also be our first year for the Artist Awards.