Leather Archives & Museum: 25 Years
The official catalog celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Leather Archives & Museum. The catalog features essays, collection photographs, and highlights over the LA&M's institutional life.
The official catalog celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Leather Archives & Museum. The catalog features essays, collection photographs, and highlights over the LA&M's institutional life.
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:<br />
TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF LEATHER HISTORY AS EVIDENCE<br />
When I reflect on twenty-five years of <strong>Leather</strong> History at the LA&M, I see evidence:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Evidence that we can achieve great things when a community comes together working<br />
toward one goal<br />
Evidence that we grow by leaps and bounds when we pay attention to inclusiveness<br />
Evidence that kinky people under 35 thirst to know where they came from<br />
Evidence that people and organizations donate collections and resources with many<br />
different motivations and they are all valid.<br />
Evidence that we can fuck and care at the same time<br />
This evidence confirms what I already know about the history of the LA&M. This institution<br />
was built by a community from the ground up. More importantly, this evidence provides<br />
clues about the next twenty-five years of <strong>Leather</strong> History and the LA&M. As society<br />
demands justice for all, as kinky people continue to seek sexual freedom and<br />
enlightenment, as scholars fill their journals and lectures with leather culture, and as sexual<br />
adventurers seek acceptance of their fierce independence, evidence is always key.<br />
In the next twenty-five years, evidence will be used as a weapon against anti-sex rhetoric<br />
and hearsay. Evidence will be used as a tool to disprove harmful stereotypes. Evidence<br />
will be used as a light to illuminate beautiful people and organizations that are still hidden<br />
and concealed. Evidence will be used as a loudspeaker to amplify who we are, what we<br />
do, and the undeniable pride in ourselves. The LA&M was built to acquire, save and<br />
provide access to this evidence. I am agog to witness the amazing things we will achieve<br />
together using our evidence.<br />
Happy <strong>25</strong>th Anniversary LA&M!<br />
Rick Storer<br />
Executive Director<br />
July 2016<br />
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