Last Updated: 10/30/08

Who Is NELA?

NELA is an organization dedicated to making a safe place in the world for all leather/fetish/SM people through education, advocacy, and charitable giving. NELA stands for New England Leather Alliance, and we were formerly known as NLA: New England. We are an incorporated non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the support, education, and political organizing of the leather/fetish/SM/bondage communities in New England. We are a diverse, pansexual group of adults who share a common interest in Leather, S/M, or similar fetishes (bondage, spanking, etc.) and who want to be active in building our community. We are women and men, transgendered folk, heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual, married and single, young and old. We are from MA, NH, CT, ME, RI & VT. We support the statements of purpose of NLA:I and apply them to local issues. We host local events every month such as classes and outings, produce the semi-annual Fetish Fair Fleamarket, publish this newsletter and more.

What does NLA stand for?

NLA stands for National Leather Association. NELA is a former affiliate of NLA: International. The statements of purpose of NLA:I are, in short, to support the leather community, provide education and public awareness, and fight for the rights of consenting adults to express their sexuality in safe, sane, and consensual manners. Among other things, the NLA provides resources such as educational videos, contact with national speakers, and networking opportunities with activists around the US and Canada.

When Does NELA Meet?

We do not have one set meeting time and place. Instead, we sponsor a different event every month, sometimes a workshop or class, sometimes an outing or social event. We often bring guest speakers in from as far as Toronto and San Francisco. Past meeting topics have included Japanese rope bondage, bullwhip use, making your own dungeon toys, and caning. We sponsor community meetings, activist roundtables, and planning sessions. We have run leather trivia contests and hosted bondage video nights. The event calendar is published in The Scarlet Leather, is available on our Web Site, and can be checked at our hotline message number (617) 876-NELA (6352)

Where Does NELA Meet? Is it safe?

Our events are held in a number of locations in the Boston area, including the Boston Ramrod (Boston's oldest and best leather bar), the Boston Living Center, the Boston Center for the Arts, and even in private homes. We strive for safe, community-inclusive venues. We try to be T-accessible and easy to get to by car, as well.

What Else Does NELA Do?

Among other things, we sponsor and run the semi-annual FETISH FAIR FLEAMARKET ^(TM), the largest leather/fetish event in New England, which happens in July and January. We bring together a hundred top vendors and craftspeople from our local area and from as far away as San Francisco, Arizona, Chicago, and Canada. Thousands attended our last FFF to enjoy the unmatched opportunity to shop and meet people. We also sponsor and organize the Boston Pride Leather Contingent, whereby we invite smaller or financially disadvantaged groups of leather folk (who would not otherwise be able to register or march) to march in the annual Boston Pride parade in one loud, proud section. We host other special events from time to time, including special parties, demo nights, titleholder evenings, and more.

We have a charitable fund that supports the efforts of groups like The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates & Defenders), and persecuted individuals in our community fighting for their legal rights to express their sexuality. Over the past five years we have given over $20,000 in charitable donations. We take part in efforts to educate the public and to fight for laws that protect our rights to love in the manner that we choose as consenting adults.