About Us
Understanding where we come from to guide where we're going.
Our Mission
The Leather Heritage Project preserves and shares the history and culture of leather communities while advancing public understanding of LGBTQ history and community life through education, exhibitions, and partnerships that foster belonging and intergenerational connection.
Our Vision
A future in which leather communities are recognized as an integral part of LGBTQ social history, and where the next generation feels welcomed into a tradition rooted in care, mentorship, and chosen family.
Why This Work Matters
Leather communities have played a vital role in LGBTQ+ history—from founding some of the first gay motorcycle clubs in the 1950s, to leading AIDS service organizations in the 1980s and 90s, to continuing traditions of mentorship and mutual aid today. Yet much of this history remains undocumented, at risk of being lost as the generation that lived it ages.
The Leather Heritage Project works against this erasure. We believe that understanding our history—the struggles, the triumphs, the everyday moments—helps us build stronger communities today and provides a foundation for those who will come after us.
Our Approach
We approach this work with deep respect for the communities whose history we celebrate. Our projects are developed in partnership with community members and established institutions so that stories and materials can be cared for responsibly and shared in the right places. Rather than duplicating archival work, we focus on convening people, recording oral histories,supporting community programming, and bringing high-impact exhibitions into local spaces.