Historical Note
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Processing Information
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Contributing Institution:
ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title:
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Club Los Angeles records
Creator:
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Club Los Angeles
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2021-004
Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/9/resources/3127
Physical Description:
38 Linear Feet
36 boxes.
Date (inclusive): 1972-2013
Abstract:
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Club Los Angeles is a members-only club for gay men dedicated to "providing information and education about safe, sane, and
consensual bondage, discipline, kinky and sadomasochistic (BDSM) sex between adults." Founded in 1983,
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is the oldest gay leather club in Los Angeles and holds regular meetings, educational demonstrations, and public programming.
The collection contains documents, educational materials, correspondence, membership records, photographs, videos, computer
disks, ephemera, and textiles.
Language of Material:
English
.
Historical Note
Leather culture in Los Angeles dates back to the 1950s and is thought to have its roots in the biker culture that emerged
in Los Angeles after WWII. Leather culture is defined by practices and styles of dress organized around activities, sometimes
sexual in nature, that involve leather garments and accessories. Leather culture is most visible in gay communities and most
often associated with gay men, but it is also reflected in various ways in lesbian, bisexual, and straight communities. The
more specifically homoerotic aesthetics of men's leather culture drew on other sources as well, including military and police
uniforms. This influence is particularly evident in the graphical illustrations of leathermen found in the work of Tom of
Finland.
Many people associate leather culture with BDSM practices. But some do not associate their leather lifestyle with BDSM, and
simply enjoy the sensory experience of leather. BDSM is an umbrella term that refers to a spectrum of sexual behaviors and
preferences that are grouped under the general headings of bondage and discipline, domination and submission, and sadism and
masochism.
Though the club itself is private,
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Los Angeles and its member are very active in representing leather and BDSM culture to the public. They participate in pride
parades across Southern California, including Christopher Street West Pride Parade in Los Angeles, Long Beach Pride, and Orange
County Pride. They also participate in Los Angeles Leather Pride weekends and similar events.
New members are nominated by existing members and approved at member meetings. Members must participate regularly in club
activities as well as the social aspects of the group. In recent years, the club has made a concerted effort to expand the
diversity of its membership, aiming for a club that "more closely resembles our home-town and the evolving nature of our scene."
References:
https://www.avatarla.org/
http://www.leatherpedia.org/leather-culture/
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Photographs and videos in the collection may not be duplicated or published. References to members of the club must be first
name and last initial only, no last names may be used. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must
be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian
Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright
holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of
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Club Los Angeles acquired through a series of donations between 2011-2018.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder #, or item name],
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Club Los Angeles Records, Coll2021-004, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Processing Information
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the California State Library. Collection processed by
Beth McDonald, 2021.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains documents, educational materials, correspondence, membership records, photographs, videos, computer
disks, ephemera, and textiles related to the business, events, and members of the
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Club Los Angeles.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in five series. Series 1: Records; Series 2: Educational Materials; Series 3: Photographs and Negatives;
Series 4: Media; Series 5: Realia and Textiles
Subjects and Indexing Terms
BDSM (Sexual behavior)
Fetishism (Sexual behavior)
Gay men -- California -- Los Angeles
Gay men -- Sexual behavior
Gay men -- Societies and clubs
Leather lifestyle
Sadomasochism
Sexual health