HISTORY
- The Tarheel Leather Club was founded on April 1, 1990 in Greensboro, NC by
nine individuals. Those Founding Members are: Bill C., Kevin D., Nick D.,
Richard G., Stuart N., Michael P., Henry P., Randy T., and David W. We
were the first leather/SM fetish club in Greensboro. Two of our Founding Members
were among the founders of the Triad Health Project,
one formerly headed the Southeast Leather Contest. Two of our members were
on the board of directors of the National Leather Association, two are
published authors, and a former member produced the first documentary of a
leather club (See the Video page on this site). Another is the current
producer of the NC Leather Contest. Shortly after our founding, we
created the “Beat Jesse Campaign” to organize the national
leather/SM fetish community to oppose the reelection of Jesse Helms to the
US Senate. Since then we have been actively involved in community affairs
from fund raisers for local and regional groups such as AIDS service
organizations to regional and national groups such as helping with the
display of the “AIDS Quilt” and the “March on
Washington.”
- In 1991, TLC won the Leather Journal's “Club of the
Year” award and a member won both the “Southeast Regional Man of
the Year” and “Man of the Year” awards. In 1993, another
of our members won the “Southeast Regional” award and yet another
was awarded “Business Person of the Year” by the Leather
Journal. In 1996, a TLC member was named “Regional Leather Person
of the Year.” Members have held numerous titles,
including: Mr. Leather Charlotte, Mr. Coastal Carolina Leather, Mr. Carolina
Leather, NC Leather (3), Southeast Leather (4), and Southeast Drummer.
- TLC is proud to be an active member of the Southeast Conference of Clubs,
the National Leather Association International, the Names Project, and the
Leather Archives and Museum.
- Our members are in demand as speakers to various organizations throughout
the country, as well as judges for various contests.
- In 2001, we became Tarheel Leather Club, Inc., a not-for-profit
corporation registered in North Carolina.