Est. 1986
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Join your community in recognizing activists, artists, and authors.
Start your Leather Club today!
Our NLA Purpose and Goals
NLA-International was an association of leatherfolk with a shared philosophy embodied in their statement of purpose within their bylaws. The NLA-I was a 501(c)7 fraternal organization under the IRS code of charities. You will find that they were a diverse group of people from all spectrums of society. Their diversity was their strength. They were a pansexual organization with members around the world. NLA-I supported individuals and organized political activism striving to provide visibility and education to eradicate misconceptions about the Leather and BDSM lifestyle.
Living in Leather was a multi-facet project in its final years. Living In Leather was a charitable nonprofit 501(c)3 dedicated to the establishment of independent clubs, events, and leather recognition awards. Living in Leather offered a diverse amount of club structures to the NLA membership. The Living in Leather Awards were designed to recognize Artists, Authors, and Activists who were progressively bringing positive recognition to their culture. In 2018, Living in Leather was expanded and formed into a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with the intent to preserve the already existing NLA Awards and the Domestic Violence Project (DVP).
Membership & Club Formation
NLA-International was a contemporary BDSM organization based in the United States. NLA-I was a pansexual organization with chapters and members all over the United States and Canada. It was an association of leather people with a shared philosophy. NLA-I and SM/Leather contingents were significant in international gay rights marches and have brought together gay leathermen, kinky heterosexuals and bisexuals, SM lesbians and transgender sadomasochists into an integrated national organization. National Leather Association International is a 501(c)7 Fraternal Organization.
Living In Leather Project
The Living In Leather Awards Committee once managed the submissions, nominations, and nominees that were submitted to the NLA for the Living In Leather Awards. The committee was made up of readers, writers, artists, and leaders who were expected to read and review the works submitted for recognition. The Living in Leather Awards were presented annually at the Living In Leather conference, an annual meeting for the membership to celebrate and promote the culture of leather. All nominees were invited to attend to sell, promote, and present their work to the general membership and public.
Domestic Violence Project
The vision of the NLA-International Domestic Violence Project was to create a national and international network providing information, appropriate referrals, resources, and safe shelters for those in the community who had been subjected to abusive and violent BDSM relationships seeking a way out of those relationships or who require a more extensive support network than is otherwise available to them. The Domestic Violence Project was a project under Living in Leather LLC, a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Various announcements of the Association.
Click on the post cards and scroll for more information on projects.
We were non-profit charity organization dependent on communities, working for you.
Founded in 1986, the NLA International had been dedicated to creating clubs, events, and awarding excellence during its existence. We have a history that is rich, and the experience in organizing grass root clubs across North America and beyond. Now, we have put all our startups online free so you can start a club or event of your design.
Over 39 years existance
THOUSANDS IN DONATIONS
OPERATED ONCE BY VOLUNTEERS
Communications of the Association
First Link
The First Link was the official Newsletter of the Association. We featured our award winners, clubs, affiliates, members, and opinion-editorials by community members. Please click the Icon to read our newsletter.
Past Presidents
Past Presidents of the association.
Start up page
You can now freely download startup materials to create your own club or event in your area, there is NO FEE! If you are asked to join or pay NLA for a chapter, club or membership, do not do so, we no longer have memberships or chapters and we do not charge for this service.
NLA International had a rich history of projects throughout its years. They led in large scale events providing workshops, vendor markets, and speakers that were duplicated by others. They even had an international contest circuit once.
We published statements on censorship, consent, and legislation.
Today, they no longer exist, but they once focused their energy on the core things that have always made up the NLA. They focused on awarding excellence, establishing grass-root clubs, helping others create educational events, and teaching others the difference between abuse and BDSM.
CONTACT OUR ARCHIVE
SEND A MESSAGE