Leather Archives & Museum

Reclining Black man, wearing leather pants. He has a thin mustache and chin beard and light chest hair.

Dexter, International Leather Sir 2005, by Ray Castro, from the LA&M collections. #LeatherMen

Chaparro died on March 8, 1999. Did you know Nestor? Email photos and memories of him to the LA&M to help preserve Nestor's legacy in the community archives. 🖤

Man with light skin and a dark long mullet, wearing a t shirt, leather vest with pins and patches, and studded leather arm cuff. She is standing with a woman with a round face and fluffy bob.

Nestor Chaparro (right) was a teacher and leatherman who was involved with many LGBT, civic, and charitable organizations in New York. Chaparro presented on kink and sexuality and was a guest on the television talk show El Show de Cristina.

Black woman wearing white cardigan, corset, gloves and pearls posing with a white Mal wearing a leather harness and cap on a crowded downtown city street. Text: [Sometimes we are consciously aware that exclusion is a bad thing, and we may deny that it is taking place within our feminist or queer circles. We may even resort to tokenism—pointing to one or a few minority members in order to make the case that our movement or community is truly diverse. But in other cases, we are blatantly exclusive. Some feminists vocally condemn other feminists for dressing too femininely, or because of the sexual partners or practices they take up. More mainstream gays decry the presence of drag queens and leather daddies in their pride parades, and there is a long history of lesbians and gay men who outright dismiss bisexual, asexual, and transgender identities. Within the transgender and bisexual umbrellas, there are constant accusations that certain individuals do not qualify as “real” members of the group, or that their identities or actions somehow reinforce “the gender binary” (i.e., the rigid division of all people into two mutually exclusive genders). And in most queer communities, regardless of one’s sex or identity, people who are more masculine in gender expression are almost always viewed as more valid and attractive than their feminine counterparts.]

Quote from Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive by Julia Serano (2013). Photo of the New York Pride Parade (1980s) from the Randy Sauder and Gary DeNichilo collection at the LA&M.

JP died on March 6, 2025. Did you know JP? Donate photos of him to the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archive. 🖤

[John "JP" Paquette by SEBB Atlanta Leather Pride. It is with great sadness that the SEBB/ALP team and staff announce the passing of our friend and brother, John "JP" Paquette. As Mr. Atlanta Eagle 2014, JP joined the ranks of great leaders in our community, donating countless hours to various charities and working with the Eagle staff and clubs alike to affirm the motto that all are welcome. As a former Mr. Atlanta Eagle, it's particularly tough to experience one of our own cross the rainbow bridge knowing they won't be adding their unique voice and energy to the tenets that we strive to uphold in these trying times.]

John Edward "JP" Paquette worked in retail sales and display and was a community volunteer and leatherman. He was titled Mr. Atlanta Eagle 2014.

White woman bound with arms behind on ground, wearing a leather hood and leather underwear and stockings. Text: [From start to finish, someone who allows you to deprive her of her senses gives you an enormous gift of trust. Don't abuse this gift or treat it lightly: choose your words and actions carefully throughout the scene as well as afterwards.]

Quote from Consensual Sadomasochism: How to Talk About It and How to Do It Safely by William A Henkin and Sybil Holiday (1996). Image from Bizarre Fotos Vol 3 (1979).

Lou died of AIDS on March 2, 1991. Donate photos and memories of him to the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archive. 🖤

[FTM 15 In Memoriam April 1991. Two services were held for Louis Sullivan on Friday, March 15, 1991. One was a large service held at the Neptune Society Columbarium. However, and earlier service for approximately twenty people was also arranged aboard a small double tiered boat which departed from Pier 40 in San Francisco. The boat service was powerful precisely because Lou had planned all of the details himself. He had requested a party and a celebration in which his ashes would be scattered in the San Francisco bay. Indeed most everyone felt Lou's presence, and an intermingling sensation that this was the way he wanted things done....]

Lou Sullivan was a visionary gay trans activist, writer, speaker, and organizer who advocated for the recognition of gay trans people.

Illustration of a blonde woman with a perm and two vertical chains. Text: human digest presents kinks. hurt me so good baby I want to feel it. Why I love. Shave her she’ll love it.

Cover of Human Digest Presents Kinks (Winter 1983), from the LA&M collections. #Eighties #HumanDigest

Navy blue round patch with white stitching of New York skyline.

Excelsior MC is a men's leather club founded in 1975. Excelsior's charitable beneficiaries today are: New Alternatives, the Arts Project of Cherry Grove, and the Fire Island Artist Residency. Patch from the LA&M club colors library. #LeatherClubs

Andy died on March 5, 2015. Email photos and memories of Andy to the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archives. 🖤

Andy is a white man with short gray hair and a thick brown mustache. He is wearing a collared shirt, tie and vest and a studded leather sash. He is standing at a microphone next to a similarly dressed butch person.

Andy Anderson (right) was president of the Canadian Leather Alliance, director of the Mr. Leatherman Toronto Contest, and worked with the Toronto Pride Committee, the AIDS Committee of Toronto, and Casey House.

See post text.

Pair of black boots and folded leather garment.

⏱️ March 13, 2026, 5pm-7pm

⭐ Opening reception for Interval: Portraits Thus Far

Allen died on on March 4, 2022. Did you know Burke? Write down your memories of her and send them with any photos to the LA&M to preserve her memory in the community archive. 🖤

[Angie Burke Allen March 4, 2002 by Rik Newton Treadway. It is with sadness Hooker and Boys Ministries informed us the passing of their friend and clubling Angie Burke Allen. Her sunrise was in January 1953 and her sunset March 4, 2022. Our condolences to her wife Jan Dodi and family and friends. May her memory be a blessing to them and all who knew her. We love you baby. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made via Venmo to Overlea-Arts Fest Angela Burke Memorial Artist Fund.]

Angie "Burke" Allen was a member of Hooker & Boys Ministries, a charitable leather club based in Baltimore.

Gelbert died on March 4, 2023. Email photos and memories of Bruce-Michael to the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archives. 🖤

Gelbert is white and has white chest and shoulder hair. He is wearing a leather vest, upper arm band and cap. He is sitting on a bed in a small bedroom. Second photo of two leather title sashes on the bed.

Bruce-Michael Gelbert was a community activist and leatherman. He joined the Gay Activists Alliance at the age of 19 in 1971. He was a performer and journalist of community theater and the opera. Gelbert was interviewed for Indiana Yellow Study No. 6, a film by Vincent Tiley and Bryson Rand.

Lithgow died of AIDS on March 3, 1994. Did you know David? Write down your memories of him and send photos to the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archive. 🖤

[Leather United Chicago Newsletter Vol 5 No 2 April 1994. Passings. Our condolences go out to the family and many, many friends of David Lithgow who left us saddened on March 3rd. David fought a valiant battle with AIDS for several years. All who knew him knew that he was honest, tough, willing to fight for what he believed in, and a very caring and loving man. David had been a member and past president of Chicago Hellfire Club before his resignation due to his deteriorating health, and he and his partner, Don Ferreira have been long time members of LUC. He was a hell of a man and I am proud to say I knew him. I for one will not soon be able to fill the void his passing has left in my life.]

David Lithgow was a former president of the Chicago Hellfire Club and a member of Leather United Chicago.

Haruki Yukimura died on March 3, 2016. Photo by Harukumo taken in 2012. Archive photo and memories of Haruki in the community archive. 🖤

Japanese man with a gray mustache wearing a tshirt.

Haruki Yukimura was a rope bondage video producer and photographer. He began working for S&M Sniper in 1982 and taught workshops internationally between 2012 and 2014.

Lynette died on March 3, 2015 at the age of 59. Email photos and memories of Lady Lynette to the LA&M to preserve them in the community archive. 🖤

Lynnette is white woman with straight auburn hair and bangs. She is wearing a white blouse.

Lady Lynette was one of the co-founders of Oklahoma OKPET and the Oklahoma chapter of the National Leather Alliance. Lynette was interviewed by Sarah Humble in 2014.

Ad for Dandyland Pink Party at Jackhammer, March 7th from 2-7pm.

This Saturday you'll find us at @dandyland.bsky.social at @jackhammerchicago.bsky.social and our morals won't be the only thing loose! Stop in and check out this amazing erotic art and gift market, and enjoy the queer celebration!

SAT, MAR 21 at 7pm, FETISH FILM FORUM presents BOTTOM, a documentary about a man who tracks the number of loads. Preceded by "Money Shot Blues & How to Fake Ejaculation," an autobiographical short exploring the director's first mainstream porn shoot. TIX: leatherarchives.libcal.com/event/15518555

Ad for program, text in post.

LA&M is excited to announce the Ron Ehemann Community Leather & Kink Archive Grant Program, helping local communities create capacity to preserve their history. Applications are due April 15th. Visit leatherarchives.info/community for details!

Thanks for coming in!

Excited to announce the 2nd annual Chicago Leather Pride Weekend, celebrating our amazing leather, kink and fetish communities. Visit us online at chicagoleatherpride.org and get your tickets today! #clpw #chicagoleatherpride #leatherarchives

White man wearing a leather jacket and cap licks the boot or leather pant leg of someone standing. Text: [The sexual is unpredictable, irrational, sneaky, and far-reaching. Worse still, it is completely resistant to simple legalism or clear philosophical categories. Most sexual imagery does not have one interpretation but a range of multilevel impacts depending on context, personal taste, and hidden symbolism.]

Quote from Puritans, Perverts, and Feminists by Dorothy Allison (in Skin: Talking About Sex, Class and Literature, 1994). Photo from Toy No 60 (1988).