CONSENT CALENDAR
RESOLUTION: HONORING THE LEATHER ARCHIVES AND MUSEUM'S 30th
ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, in August of 1991, the National Gay and Lesbian Archives was founded in Chicago by Chuck Renslow and Tony DeBlase to preserve, uplift, celebrate, and collect materials of historical and cultural significance to the LGBTQ community; and
WHEREAS, the organization, responding to the needs in the community for a dedicated archive specific to the kink and leather communities, shortly thereafter changed its name to the Leather Archives & Museum, also known as the LA&M; and
WHEREAS, the LA&M's mission to collect, preserve and make accessible the history and culture of the leather and kink communities has made it an international destination for scholars, researchers, writers, artists and filmmakers, drawing over 7000 visitors annually; and
WHEREAS, the International Mr. Leather festival, founded and held annually in Chicago and one of the largest leather events in the world, supports the LA&M with festival proceeds and retains its material archives at the LA&M; and
WHEREAS, the LA&M moved into its current location in Rogers Park in 1999, and continues to serve as a community gathering place for the queer kink community, a gallery space presenting the work of contemporary and historic queer and fetish aritsts including iconic fetish artist and Chicago native Dom "Etienne" Orejudo, and a working library, archive, and research space; and
WHEREAS, educational programs run by the LA&M help to connect the public and the queer and kink communities with the history of marginalized individuals and organizations that has historically been neglected or overlooked by scholarly research; and
WHEREAS, the LA&M is a non-profit governed by a board of directors made up of leaders in the leather and kink community, a longtime Chicago establishment of cultural and historical significance, and an inductee of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame; now therefore:
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled here on this 14th day of September, 2021, do honor the Leather Archives & Museum on its 30th anniversary, and extend our congratulations and good wishes for its years of contributions to our City; and
Andre Vasquez, Jr. Alderman, 40th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution shall be prepared for presentation as a token of our esteem.