Leather culture is a critical part of LGBTQ+ history — born from resilience, camaraderie, and the search for belonging. Following World War II, many gay veterans who had served their country returned home to find rejection from mainstream society but discovered community and purpose within the emerging Leather scene. These spaces offered brotherhood, ritual, and structure at a time when queerness was criminalized. During the height of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the Leather community became a network of caregivers, advocates, and fundraisers — embodying loyalty and compassion through action. Its influence extended into art, fashion, and music, shaping the very aesthetic of queer liberation.

The 1970s marked the formalization of the leatherboy identity, as boys embraced service, learning, and devotion as central to Leather life. Since the earliest days of the modern Leather movement, boys have held a vital place alongside Daddies, Sirs, and Masters, not as lesser, but as essential partners in service, mentorship, and mutual growth. The boy identity reflects humility, dedication, curiosity, and the willingness to serve and learn. These values have created bonds of family, respect, and accountability that have shaped the Leather and kink communities across generations. In modern history, the leatherboy spirit continues to evolve, reminding us that strength, vulnerability, and community are not opposites but essential parts of our shared queer story.

We acknowledge our leather history and commit to creating our own. Creating a Leatherboys club in Virginia is about more than title or tradition; it’s about visibility, education, and belonging. This space allows boys of all identities to connect, serve, and lead within a supportive community that celebrates consent, inclusion, and the diversity of Leather experience. A leatherboy club aims to uplift the boy spirit by building bridges between clubs, supporting community service, and preserving the history of those who came before us while mentoring those who will follow.