Leather Archives & Museum

Leather Archives & Museum Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) is a library, museum and archive located on the North Side of Chicag
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All s*xual orientations and genders are included, and the scope is worldwide! The library houses twelve thousand books and fourteen thousand magazines, plus scholarly publications, films and electronic resources. As for the museum collection, it's full of original erotic art and artifacts from alternative s*x organizations and individuals. The archives (viewable by appointment) contain unpublished papers and records from notable B**M activists, artists, businesses and organizations.

ISO……stop in and check out our newest exhibit, featuring kink personal ads from publications that catered to fe**sh enth...
08/23/2023

ISO……stop in and check out our newest exhibit, featuring kink personal ads from publications that catered to fe**sh enthusiasts. The heart wants what the heart wants, and in a world before apps love found a way. (Or lust, perhaps.) We are here Thursdays-Sundays, so pop in and tell us what YOU’RE seeking.

Great events coming up at LA&M. Join us!
08/23/2023

Great events coming up at LA&M. Join us!

Coming up this Friday, from 6-9pm. Free admission, and open to everyone ages 18 and over. Drinks, snacks, music, and fun...
08/21/2023

Coming up this Friday, from 6-9pm. Free admission, and open to everyone ages 18 and over. Drinks, snacks, music, and fun. Come meet other kinksters, bring your friends, and make some new ones! Wear whatever gear you’d like (or none at all…..your choice!)

Thanks to Cine-File for listing our screening of IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES as Crucial Viewing! The screening is tonight...
08/19/2023

Thanks to Cine-File for listing our screening of IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES as Crucial Viewing! The screening is tonight at 7pm at LA&M!

Also check out this wonderful coverage by Cinema Crazed:
cinema-crazed.com/blog/2023/08/13/in-the-realm-of-the-senses-ai-no-korida-1976-lam-film-fe**sh-forum

Get your tickets here:
leatherarchives.org/events/fe**sh-film-forum

08/16/2023

Join the Molson Coors Tap Into Change program from now until August 31st! When you purchase Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Hamm's at Jackhammer during this period, you'll contribute to raising funds for the Leather Archives & Museum.

Cheers to making a difference! 🍻

08/16/2023

Check on the trailer for this Saturday's fe**sh film screening....In the Realm of the Senses, the 1976 film inspired by the true story of geisha and s*x worker Sada Abe. The film depicts a passionate affair between a ryokan housekeeper and her proprietor. With genuine affection, tenderness, and freedom, they indulge in their kinkiest and most aggressive s*xual desires.

This screening is co-presented by Asian Pop-Up Cinema, a Chicago film festival that fosters appreciation for diverse Asian cultures through film and connects the Asian film industry with local students, educators, and film professionals.

Tickets are $10 ($8 for students and LA&M members.) https://leatherarchives.org/events/fe**sh-film-forum

Fe**sh Film Forum continues at the Leather Archives & Museum on Saturday, August 19 at 7pm with a screening of IN THE RE...
08/15/2023

Fe**sh Film Forum continues at the Leather Archives & Museum on Saturday, August 19 at 7pm with a screening of IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (1976), a film inspired by the true story of geisha and s*x worker Sada Abe, depicting a passionate affair between a ryokan housekeeper and her proprietor. With genuine affection, tenderness, and freedom, they indulge in their kinkiest and most aggressive s*xual desires.

This screening is co-presented by Asian Pop-Up Cinema, a Chicago film festival that fosters appreciation for diverse Asian cultures through film and connects the Asian film industry with local students, educators, and film professionals.

Fe**sh Film Forum is a monthly screening series exploring fe**sh, kink, leather, and B**M in cinema across the globe. Single Tickets are $10 or $8/LA&M Members and Students, or buy a 5-Film Pass and see all remaining films in the series—IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, CRUISING, HELLRAISER, THE HANDMAIDEN, and CRISTIANA: DEVIL NUN—for only $40 or $35/LA&M Members & Students!

For more details and to buy tickets, visit leatherarchives.org/events/fe**sh-film-forum

Coming up Tuesday at 7pm central. Join in person or online!
08/06/2023

Coming up Tuesday at 7pm central. Join in person or online!

Hope to see you here at LA&M today at 3pm!
08/06/2023

Hope to see you here at LA&M today at 3pm!

Book fe**shist paradise! $1 per book, $5 per bag of books (plus DVD, VHS, and magazines!) here till they’re gone.
08/04/2023

Book fe**shist paradise! $1 per book, $5 per bag of books (plus DVD, VHS, and magazines!) here till they’re gone.

Join us Sunday for our next Kink Klass. Our original instructor had to cancel due to a family emergency. We are happy to...
08/03/2023

Join us Sunday for our next Kink Klass. Our original instructor had to cancel due to a family emergency. We are happy to have Leather Redux leading us in Living on the Edge 101: Breath and Rough Body Play. The class starts at 3pm and is open to everyone ages 18 and over!

Wow! We announced the campaign to raise the money to replace our doors late Wednesday afternoon. WIthin 6 hours, we had ...
08/03/2023

Wow! We announced the campaign to raise the money to replace our doors late Wednesday afternoon. WIthin 6 hours, we had surpassed the halfway point, and by Thursday morning you had given $6,640! Thank you so much for your generosity.

But wait, there's more.......

Our friends at Jackhammer saw our need, not just for new doors but for an opportunity to make the building more visible and welcoming. They have donated $6,000 to help us achieve this vision! This puts us securely beyond our goal. Thank you so much to Mark, Mike and the team at Jackhammer and 2Bears Tavern Group for this incredible support.

Any additional funds raised over the cost of the doors will be used to clean and powerwash the building, and ensuring that we look our very best.

And the Friends of LA&M group, founded by Peter Fiske and Jim Neuman will continue! Stay tuned for more information on how you can join us!

We look forward to sharing photos of our beautiful new entrance with you soon. And as always, thank you for your generous support! We exist solely because of the work this community has done to create and sustain our work.

Check out JimSupport for their amazing slings!
07/31/2023

Check out JimSupport for their amazing slings!

Don't buy gear assembled by factory workers who don't know what it's for. Buy gear made by craftsmen who get you.

Hope to see you here tonight, 6-9pm!
07/28/2023

Hope to see you here tonight, 6-9pm!

Lots of great summer fun coming up!
07/26/2023

Lots of great summer fun coming up!

The Fe**sh Film Forum has just 5 more films in the 2023 series! From now until August 19, we’re offering a 5-Film Pass t...
07/25/2023

The Fe**sh Film Forum has just 5 more films in the 2023 series! From now until August 19, we’re offering a 5-Film Pass to see all remaining films in the series, screening August-December on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 7pm at the Leather Archives & Museum! 5-Film Passes are $40/General or $35/LA&M Members & Students, and the films included are:

IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (1976)
Saturday, August 19 @ 7pm

CRUISING (1980)
Saturday, September 16 @ 7pm

HELLRAISER (1987)
Saturday, October 21 @ 7pm

THE HANDMAIDEN (2016)
Saturday, November 18 @ 7pm

CRISTIANA: DEVIL NUN (1972)
Saturday, December 16 @ 7pm

Fe**sh Film Forum is a monthly screening series exploring fe**sh, kink, leather, and B**M in cinema across the globe. Single Tickets are also available for $10/General or $8/LA&M Members and Students. For more details and to buy tickets or passes, visit leatherarchives.org/events/fe**sh-film-forum

Stop in Friday from 6-9pm for Gear Night. All (ages 18 and up) are welcome, in or out of gear. Drink, eat and chat up so...
07/25/2023

Stop in Friday from 6-9pm for Gear Night. All (ages 18 and up) are welcome, in or out of gear. Drink, eat and chat up some amazing people!

Coming up this weekend…….join in the fun for Chicago Fe**sh Weekend. Want to compete? Deadline is tonight. Want to atten...
07/17/2023

Coming up this weekend…….join in the fun for Chicago Fe**sh Weekend. Want to compete? Deadline is tonight. Want to attend? get your tickets asap!

Participate

Thank you so much to Cine-File for recommending our screening of SHORTBUS this Saturday at 7pm! Also check out this fant...
07/15/2023

Thank you so much to Cine-File for recommending our screening of SHORTBUS this Saturday at 7pm!

Also check out this fantastic coverage by Cinema Crazed:
cinema-crazed.com/blog/2023/07/03/shortbus-2006-lam-film-fe**sh-forum/

Get tickets here: https://leatherarchives.org/events/fe**sh-film-forum

Shortbus (2006) [LA&M Film Fe**sh Forum] Posted on July 3, 2023 by Felix Vasquez Director John Cameron Mitchell’s “Shortbus” is a movie I’d only ever heard about since its 2006 release but never actually sat down to watch. Nothing really prepared me for what he had to offer in terms of not o...

Cincinnati Leather Weekend is coming up in August! Cincinnati Leather
07/14/2023

Cincinnati Leather Weekend is coming up in August! Cincinnati Leather

We are looking for the next representative of the leather and kink community in Cincinnati. This person will work to grow and maintain the Cincinnati Leather community through visibility, fundraising, and by creating gathering spaces and events. They will do this in concert with the current Cincinna...

Thanks to everyone (some 550+ of you!) who came out for the Kinky Rummage Sale this year. We raised over $8500 for LA&M,...
07/09/2023

Thanks to everyone (some 550+ of you!) who came out for the Kinky Rummage Sale this year. We raised over $8500 for LA&M, and found new homes for some wonderful gear, toys and p**n. And a horn.

Join us for John Cameron Mitchell’s SHORTBUS (2006) screening Saturday, July 15 at 7pm as a part of Fe**sh Film Forum at...
07/09/2023

Join us for John Cameron Mitchell’s SHORTBUS (2006) screening Saturday, July 15 at 7pm as a part of Fe**sh Film Forum at the Leather Archives & Museum. A constellation of genders and s*xualities dazzles in this wonderfully honest comedy-drama by the director of HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH.

This screening of SHORTBUS is co-presented by Pride Film Fest, a festival that showcases the breadth of world LGBTQ film to express the variety and complexity of q***r life across the globe.

Fe**sh Film Forum is a monthly screening series programmed by John McDevitt with to explore themes of fe**sh, kink, leather, and B**M in cinema. Single Tickets are $10 or $8/LA&M Members and Students. Visit leatherarchives.org for details and tickets: leatherarchives.org/events/fe**sh-film-forum

The last day of the kinky rummage sale, and everything is 50% off. We are here till 3pm, but hurry as it’s going fast!
07/09/2023

The last day of the kinky rummage sale, and everything is 50% off. We are here till 3pm, but hurry as it’s going fast!

Day One of the Kinky Rummage Sale is coming to a close shortly. If you didn't make it (or even if you did!) join us tomo...
07/08/2023

Day One of the Kinky Rummage Sale is coming to a close shortly. If you didn't make it (or even if you did!) join us tomorrow (Sunday) from 9am-3pm. Everything remaining will be 50% off on Sunday!

Don’t forget the big sale going on this weekend!
07/05/2023

Don’t forget the big sale going on this weekend!

Join us today from 3-5pm for Dad’s Ice Cream Social!
07/04/2023

Join us today from 3-5pm for Dad’s Ice Cream Social!

Join our whip class today at 3pm. A great way to spend a rainy day!
07/02/2023

Join our whip class today at 3pm. A great way to spend a rainy day!

Hope to see you here tonight from 6-9pm!
06/30/2023

Hope to see you here tonight from 6-9pm!

Today we honor the memory of Chuck Renslow on the anniversary of his passing. You don’t need to look far to see his lega...
06/29/2023

Today we honor the memory of Chuck Renslow on the anniversary of his passing. You don’t need to look far to see his legacy still going strong, here in Chicago and around the world. A list of his accomplishments would be gargantuan…..Kris Studios, Triumph Gym, Gold Coast Man’s Country, International Mr. Leather, the Chicago White Party, Second City Motorcycle Club, and of course, LA&M. He was a pioneer and leader in the fight for civil rights in Chicago’s gay community, successfully pushing forward legislation to prohibit discrimination in the city. And while he has been gone from this world for 6 years, the tremendous impact of his life and work remain with us.
(photo from the Chuck Renslow Collection, Leather Archives & Museum, Chicago)

Three great events coming up over the long holiday weekend! Friday, June 30, 6-9pm - Gear Night @ the Museum Sunday, Jul...
06/27/2023

Three great events coming up over the long holiday weekend!

Friday, June 30, 6-9pm - Gear Night @ the Museum
Sunday, July 2, 3-4:30pm - Kink Klass with Leather Redux
Tuesday, July 4, 3-5pm - Dad's Ice CReam Social

These events are free and open to everyone ages 18 and over!

Coming up this Friday, from 6-9pm. Wear your favorite gear and enjoy some food and drinks while you explore the gallerie...
06/26/2023

Coming up this Friday, from 6-9pm. Wear your favorite gear and enjoy some food and drinks while you explore the galleries!

06/19/2023
06/13/2023

Watch this gorgeous French trailer for Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s QUERELLE (1982), co-presented by and screening Saturday, June 17 at 7pm as a part of Fe**sh Film Forum at LA&M! This decadent fantasy of sailors and leatherpeople explores the intersection of q***rness and criminality, with many q***r people in front of and behind the camera. QUERELLE is Fassbinder’s last film, it’s based on a novel by legendary French author and political activist Jean Genet, and it’s rarely screened in theaters. Don’t miss it!

Fe**sh Film Forum is a monthly screening series programmed by John McDevitt with to explore themes of fe**sh, kink, leather, and B**M in cinema. Single Tickets are $10 or $8/LA&M Members and Students. Visit leatherarchives.org for details and tickets.

Join us tomorrow (Sunday) at 3pm!
06/03/2023

Join us tomorrow (Sunday) at 3pm!

06/02/2023

Address

6418 N Greenview Avenue
Chicago, IL
60626

Opening Hours

Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 11am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(773) 761-9200

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It's Giving Tuesday.....go ahead, we can take it! Load us up.
https://bit.ly/3FHOQLK
Or, Venmo
Are you ready for Santa?
We are a Ruth Arts grantee! Today, the Ruth Foundation for the Arts announces 140 arts organizations have been recognized by two new grants inspired by how artists live, make, and are remembered. We are honored to be among the Fall 2022 recipients. Thank you Ruth Foundation for the Arts !

These funds will help LA&M expand its arts programming to connect people with historic and contemporary kink art and artists from around the world.

Supported by the late Ruth DeYoung Kohler II, Ruth Arts launched earlier this year with a unique nomination process guided by 50+ artists, providing funding to nonprofit arts organizations nationwide.
Join us today at 3pm for our next Kink Klass, Flogging 201. This class will focus on the Florentine technique of flogging. Everyone ages 18 and over is welcome!
Update: apparently official word has gone out to confirm that the event tonight will not take place. I have not seen it so do not know any details. - Gary

Friends, it seems likely that tonight’s community forum is not going to happen due to a medical emergency. (Note that this isn’t an official post declaring that, but just an acknowledgement of all of the posts being made thus far.) If something official is posted we will share it here as well.
Hi all. As many of you know, there is a community meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 7pm to confront the racist actions that happened at Touche last week. I want to be clear that LA&M is not in any way doing this in partnership with Touche. We were asked if our space is available. Community members deserve this opportunity to speak up and share their thoughts and we are happy to have space where this can happen. Apart from that, this is not our meeting, and I know nothing more than what everyone else knows about length, structure, logistics, etc.

I did reach out to ONYX Midwest to ask how we could be most helpful, and I have agreed to livestream the meeting so that others who are unable to be here can join. I will post the information about connecting to the event on the LA&M page on Wednesday afternoon. Please note that we also want people attending to feel comfortable speaking up. Thus in streaming it I will keep the camera focused on the stage at all times, so that audience members are not being filmed. If you are speaking, your voice will be heard in the stream, but you will not be seen and will not be identified unless you choose to do so.

Finally, it is important for you to know that there will likely be media attending the event as well. We will not allow them to film or record in the meeting, but you should at least be aware that they are in the room.

If there are other ways we can make you feel more comfortable being a part of this, please let me know.

(Adding an image just to help this post be seen)
Many thanks to ONYX Midwest for articulating a well thought out response to the recent racist actions at Touche. Join the community discussion on Wednesday at 7pm at LA&M.
Congratulations to our new Mr. International Rubber, Pusckatt Pumera Onyx!
MIR26 begins today! There is still time to join in on the events. Check them out at Mr. International Rubber for details on registration, and a schedule of events. We hope to see you there!
Don’t forget Sunday night’s Halloween Party! 6-10pm. Wear a costume if you like. Everyone over 18 is welcome!
Tonight’s the night! 7pm…..bourbon, treats and the opening of our newest exhibit curated by Anderson.
Join us Saturday night from 7-9pm for the opening of our newest exhibit, The Eagle & Long Live Leather, curated by Leslie Anderson. Admission is free and open to every over 18. We will have drinks (courtesy of 2Bears Tavern Group) and ci**rs. BYO cigar, or purchase one from us!
Today is the day! Join us at 3pm Sunday October 16th for the Chicago premier of this award-winning documentary. Get here early to get your tickets and a seat. The directors will be here as well, and will discuss the filmi following the screening.
Saturday, August 13th…..get that car washed and have a filthy time doing it!
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