Leather Archives & Museum: 25 Years (1991-2016) [digital]

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