History - NLA International

National Leather Association- International was the first SM organization to tackle domestic violence directly. The NLA-International Organization created the National Leather Association International Domestic Violence Project in 1998 and is one of many projects within the NLA-International organization. During its history, NLA-International DVP has made it one of its primary objectives to distinguish the differences between SM and domestic violence.

NLA-International DVP has played an instrumental part in providing educational workshops to BDSM groups and mainstream domestic violence programs, shelters, social workers, and law enforcement. One of NLA-International DVP’s tasks during its earlier days was to transcribe their workshops, audiotape them, and send their materials to all of the country's national mainstream domestic violence groups. As a result, many mainstream domestic violence groups started using the NLA-International DVP’s materials within their own programs. You can still find these materials in use today.

In 1998, Jan Hall became the first Domestic Violence Chairperson. One of her most significant accomplishments while residing as the NLA-International DVP Chairperson was to draft and gain widespread approval on what has now become known as “NLA-International’s Statement on Domestic Violence.”

In 1999, Lady Victoria Knight became the second NLA-International Domestic Violence Chairperson. In an effort to continue Jan Hall’s work, Victoria Knight created and published several small pamphlets intended to help make the distinctions between SM and abuse. By the end of 2001, a total of 12 pamphlets were created and distributed widely throughout the Leather/SM/Fetish and mainstream communities.

In February 2003, boy Joey and Keith Pollanen were appointed as Co-Chairs of NLA-International DVP. Boy Joey resigned as the NLA-International DVP Chair in May 2006. It is unknown when Keith Pollanen resigned. Some of the many accomplishments during boy Joey’s term was the creation of the NLA-International Domestic Violence Project website launched in 2003 and the creation of NLA-International Domestic Violence Project pins and banner in 2004.

In 2018, a committee was formed to create Living In Leather as a 501c7, moving the Domestic Violence project under that entity to allow donations to be tax-deductible. It also allows the project to seek grants, make a more significant change, and reach further than it had in the past.

Many groups, individuals, projects, coalitions, and law enforcement officials have helped NLA-International DVP flourish over the years. Through the Living in Leather LLC, NLA-International hopes that  DVP continues its work to help individuals KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.