2015 – Atlanta
2014 – Philadelphia
2012 – Nashville
2011 – Los Angeles
2010 – Great Lakes, Ontario
2009 – Atlanta
2008 – San Fransico
2007
2006 – New York City
2005 – Phoenix
2004 – New Orleans
2003 – Boston
2002 – Los Angeles
2001 – Chicago
2000 – Washington DC
1999
1998 – New York City
1997 – New York City
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
In 1997, John Weis and his NYSMA colleagues joined forces to produce the first Leather Leadership Conference. Their goal was to produce training sessions for current and potential leaders of the SM/Leather/Fetish community. The first conference, held in NYC, drew more than 40 participants.
Elated, John sought input from others and continued the concept. In 1998 the LLC II conference, also in NYC, drew 125 people and produced two policy statements, “The Difference Between SM and Abuse” and “BDSM Education”.
In 1999, the conference moved to San Francisco, attracting approximately 275 participants. At the same time, the informal Board of Governors decided to formalize the organization. Leather Leadership Conference, Inc. was incorporated, and and its 501(c)(3) status was approved by the IRS in 2005 retroactively to 1999.
A record number of 306 participants attended LLC 2000 (LLC-IV) in Washington, D.C. The conference introduced several new twists, including the very successful poster sessions and the establishment of a permanent website for the organization. Planning to expand the Leather Leadership Conference, the Board voted to expand to nine positions. Openings were announced and nominations were solicited, with selections to be made in June.
LLC Philly just topped the 2000 record with 312 with a multi-venue conference. There was also an amazing international leather panel as well as a panel presentation by Onyx. LA&M was also there for a fireside chat and a SKYPE interview with Jack Fritzer, Folsom Forever Documentary from Third Rail Media & Dorjan Williams and many innovations. Beneficiaries of LLC will be the William Way Center and the LLC College Scholarship.
Each yearly conference since has added new, interesting and successful ways for community members to gain leadership skills and to network with one another.
2012 there an election/term change voted on. New Board members are elected to terms of one year and may run for an additional two three-year terms. It gives the new member to come up to speed and work with the existing Board and work together and support the culture of LLC before committing to a second longer term.
We know that not everyone can come to LLC. So 2014 saw the addition of the new Do-it-Yourself track (The DIY Track) which will take one LLC track per year, have it completely ASL interpreted and video-taped so the track participants can ‘take it home’ and share each track with their communities.