Preventing Domestic Violence in the Leather/BDSM/Fetish Community

by National Leather Association-International (NLA-I) and Victoria Knight
Copyright © NLA-I

Preamble/History of NLA-International's Domestic Violence Project

In 1988, Jan Hall became the first Domestic Violence Chairperson for the first Domestic Violence Project within the leather/BDSM/fetish community. One of the accomplishments she was able to achieve in that position was to draft and gain wide-spread approval for what has now become known as, "NLA-I's Statement on Domestic Violence."

This statement was the only one of its kind; it was specific enough to clearly define NLA-I's stance on Domestic Violence, without being so specific or detailed as to exclude or judge factions of our community like Master/slave relationships. This was a statement that everyone could get behind – no small feat for people from so many different aspects, regions and perspectives. It was quite an achievement and set the standard for many of the domestic violence statements and works that were later developed by other groups and are now in use today.

In 1999, Lady Victoria (Knight) became the second Domestic Violence Chairperson for NLA-I's Domestic Violence Project. In an effort to continue Jan Hall's work, Lady Victoria wrote and created a number of small pamphlets intended to help make the distinctions between SM and abuse. To date there have been twelve (12) pamphlets created, with many more scheduled for completion before the summer of 2001.

Dr. Gloria Brame , a licensed clinical sexologist and noted writer, expressed an interest in hosting NLA-I's Statement on Domestic Violence and the related pamphlets. As a high-profile figure within the leather/BDSM/fetish community and the host of a very large resource rich website, Dr. Brame thought the information would be particularly useful to those that contact her on domestic violence related issues.

If you have questions about the domestic violence material found here, wish to order B&W or color printed versions of these pamphlets, would like to find a speaker or workshop host for domestic violence topics or need contact information for domestic violence prevention, intervention or assistance, please contact NLAIDVProject@aol.com .

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If you are the victim of abuse or domestic violence,
get help now or make a plan to get out.

For 24-hour crisis assistance, please call:
1-800-799-SAFE or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) for the hearing impaired.

Abuse can and does happen to anyone and it is not okay.