Michele A. Buchanan was born in 1962 and received her Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research in 2003. Prior to attending the New School, she taught high school English and also worked in a bookstore. Her thesis was entitled Leather is Thicker than Blood: Identity Formation among Organized SM Practitioners in New York City. She is a self-identified Leatherwoman and has been active in the New York scene for many years.

As an African-American Leatherwoman she was concerned with the issues facing both queer and kinky people of color within the scene. She was one of the original editors (credited as “Antoinette”) and co-founders of the magazine, Black Leather in Color, one of the first fetish magazines written by people of color for people of color. She was also an associate editor for the New York Leather and S/M newsletter. Michele and Leonard Dworkin were partnered during a ceremony on December 14, 1996. Together, they hosted and organized many kinky social events and were dedicated activists within the S/M community. They remained a couple until his death in 1998. Michele passed away in December 2014

Black Leather In Color, frequently written Black Leather... In Color, and sometimes referred to as B.L.I.C., was the first SM/Leather magazine in the world written by and for people of color (and their friends), and to date remains the only publication of its kind. Based in New York City and started by a collective led by Michele Buchanan, S. Guy Giumento, Lidell Jackson and Darrell Perry, its first issue appeared in Winter 1993/1994. A total of 8 issues were published, the last appearing in Fall/Winter of 2000.

The magazine, rich with its erotic fictions, poetry, personal reflections, political analyses, and hot photographs, made visible an important segment of our community. Since it has ceased publication, Black Leather... In Color has yet to have a successor among leather periodicals; however, this is not meant to imply that B.L.I.C. has had no offspring. In giving visibility to those living at the intersection of leather and race, B.L.I.C. helped to make it known to people of color that leather is a viable lifestyle for them as well. As such, it has helped to carve out a space allowing many people of color to come out into leather and kink in the last two decades. B.L.I.C. has helped to create a distinct voice for people of color in the kinky community. Further, it has made the larger leather community realize that this voice merits attention. While, B.L.I.C. itself temporarily served as that voice, it also paved the way for organizations such as ONYX.

Judy Tallwing McCarthey is a visual artist, American leather activist and the first International Ms. Leather, a title she earned in 1987. While the contest was originally envisioned primarily as a one-night fundraising event, being International Ms Leather immediately started to become a year-round commitment. Judy began holding fundraisers in various cities and used her visibility as a titleholder to draw attention and money to various worthy causes.

The community activism and outreach is a precedent set by Tallwing that is now an integral part of what it means to be International Ms. Leather. In 1987, she was the leather community’s keynote speaker at the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

Mr. Ebony Leather began in 1997 in San Francisco, and moved to Chicago in 1998. After Thornton and Adams stepped down, the contest was produced by Don Thompson and then Cain Berlinger until 2003. The contest was hosted at the Leatherneck bar in 1998, at the Cellblock from 1999-2002, and at the Palmer House Hilton hotel in 2003. Titleholders include Davien O. Nelson (1997), Andre J. Marcial (1998), Ariq Robinson (1999), Ric Morris (2000), Hilary Napoleone-Williams (2001), Vince Edd (2002), and Peter Mitchell (2003). The winner of the contest competed in the following year's International Mr. Leather competition. The Mr. Ebony Leather contest was succeeded by the Leatherman of Color contest, produced by the Men of Onyx in Chicago, IL beginning in November of 2004.

Viola Johnson is a leather woman, vampire, and author who has been active in the leather BDSM scene for over three decades. A mentor and confidante to many in the fetish world, she has a special fondness for the ‘boys’ of our community and those who choose to serve as slaves and submissives. Viola is the wife of Jill Carter, International Ms Leather 1996.

Viola Johnson had the distinction of winning the Lifetime Achievement Award from Pantheon of Leather and the National Leather Association, making her the only person to receive both awards in the same year. In August of 2007 she was honored with the first Lifetime Achievement Award given by Black Beat. Viola Johnson is also the recipient of The Pantheon of Leather Woman of the Year award, The Jack Stice Award, and The Slave Heart Award. In January 2012, Viola Johnson received within 8 days of the Master Steve’s Golden Paintbrush Awards at Southwest Leather Conference in Arizona and the Leather Leadership Award at the Creating Change Conference in Baltimore sponsored by the Gay & Lesbian Task Force.

Viola Johnson Is the author of two books, Dhampir and To Love, To Obey, To Serve. Currently, she Is working on her third book, a follow up of To Love, To Obey, To Serve.

Ron Moore, the first Black International Mr. Leather (IML) 1984, and his sister, Genelle Moore, the second Black International Ms. Leather 1987, were the first brother and sister to win international leather titles.

Jack Thompson is the first Transgender Man of Color to win the International Mr. Leather (IML) title. Thompson is the fifth Black man to become IML with Ron Moore being the first in 1984, D Cannon in 1991, Ramien Pierre in 2014, and James Lee in 2018.

Velvet Storm, Ms. NJ Leather 2017, is a proud Puerto Rican leather woman dedicated to education, advocacy & fundraising for community. Velvet was the first - and only- Leather Woman of Color which took place in 2019.

Both Jack Thompson and Velvet Storm were sashed Leather Man & Leather Woman of Color 2019.

Mistress Mir, also known as The First Lady of Dominance in the Leather Community, has been active in BDSM and Leather Communities for 45 years and was trained in the Old Guard tradition.

Known as Princess Royale Makeda in the Imperial Court of New York, she has served as a Board Member of the Imperial Court, Elder of Lesbian Sex Mafia, Folsom Street, Mistress of ceremonies, Auctioneer and Presenter of Black Beat, Dressing for Pleasure, Beyond Vanilla, TES, NCSF, Woodhull Foundation and Judge and Tally Master for several Leather Contests through the years. Princess Royale Makeda is continuing her charity work through the LGBT community in fund-raising, which she donates to social services and health support organizations. She has been giving presentations in health care facilities for over 12 years. The Imperial Court has been a champion for important issues, from Pre-Stonewall activism to the HIV-AIDS crisis.

Jill Carter, IMsL 1996, has been active in the leather lifestyle for over 40 years. In 1996 (in Philadelphia), she became the tenth International Ms Leather and the first African American woman to win the title. Her platform during her title year was “Saving our Leather History” and she mobilized the community with her “Each One Teach One” slogan. Everywhere she traveled she asked, and communities responded, donating both money and memorabilia to the Leather Archives. Her “Just Give Me One Dollar” speeches around the country raised awareness and funds for the then very young organization. At International Mr. Leather 1998, her speech raised enough money to pay the deposit for the building that now houses the LA&M.

Vern Stewart was a writer, columnist, and event producer. He was known for his biting humor in a column titled OIC. Vern moved to Washington, DC in in the 1990’s and gained the tag Wicked Witch of the East, leaving the title of Wicked Witch of the West to his best friend and cohort Mr. Marcus Hernandez in San Francisco, CA. He was the long-time coordinator for the DC Eagle and NYC Eagle contests. Vern received the Pantheon of Leather Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

”Mister" Marcus, as he was commonly known, was a veteran, a father, a friend, a mentor, a writer (38 years as the leather columnist for the Bay Area Reporter), a leatherman, and icon. Some of his titles, whether official or unofficial, included Marcus the Merciless, Hatchet Q, and Emperor 1 A.N. (After Norton).

Les Harrison was a renowned Philadelphia drag performer known for her impersonation as Shirley Bassey. Harrison was one of the first Black drag queens to integrate nightclubs in Philadelphia, a scene that had been segregated for years.

Harrison was a leather garment maker at The Leather Rose, which later became Franny's Place on 13th St, in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood.

Shawna Evans was an actor, playwright, teacher, mentor, and leather craftsperson at Franny’s Place on 13th St, Philadelphia.

Onyx Pearls is a letter organization that provides a social environment for people of color who align with and/or have a connection to the spectrum of womanhood to explore their sexuality safely.

Mama Vi and her wife Jill Carter started and host The Carter Johnson Leather Library in Indiana as well as a variety of other outposts. Sections of the library are often taken to events so that the public can learn from original source material about leather and sexual history. The original collection began in Willow Grove, Pa.

The Carter-Johnson Leather Library is the largest privately owned repository of the BDSM, Kink, Leather, and Sexual Histories, with items dating as far back as the 1700’s.

Amid the groundswell of the George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests that rang loudly across the nation and globe in 2020, a group of passionate folks in the Leather, BDSM, and Kink Communities banded together to bring antiracist activism to our own Leather/Kink Lifestyle Community through a series of several virtual town halls; “Navigating Racism During Two Pandemics.”

This diverse group of strong BIPOC Leaders and fierce Allies and Advocates lived in different states, belonged to different organizations, identified across the gender and sexuality spectrum, and did their kink, fetishes, and relationships differently. However, their shared passion and commitment to bring social justice awareness to our consciousness created a bond that built The Leather Solidarity Collective.

The Leather Solidarity Collective (LSC) is a group of people in the Leather Lifestyle whose mission is on-going collaboration in efforts to abolish systemic racism and human rights discrimination. We welcome people of all races, genders and sexual orientation interested in Leather protocols, BDSM, and social justice/human rights activism.

LSC commits to provide a safe space for members to celebrate individual uniqueness and learn to recognize differences through education and highlighting voices.

Perverts of Color is a zine celebrating the diversity of perversity, created by JAKI RIOT (They/She), a Sex Educator since 2007 and creator of the Mean Mommy Kink Podcast since 2021.

Leather Lap/Top Variety Show was an online variety show hosted by the Leather Archives & Museum during 2020 Covid-19 shelter-in-place. Organized and produced by Choc Trei and Heather Raquel, the Leather Lap/Top Variety Show hosted a multi-faceted show centering QTBIPOC guests, ranging from singers, drag performers, and contests, to interviews with “living legacies.” LA&M provided support and an archive highlight during each show.