The Tarheel Leather Club was the first leather/SM club in Greensboro and has remained true to its leather straps for over a quarter of a century now. Our members are in demand as speakers to various organizations and presenters at many events throughout the country as well as judges for several contests.
TLC was founded on April 1, 1990 in Greensboro, NC by nine individuals. Those Founding Members are: Bill C., Kevin D., Nick D., Richard G., Stuart N., Michael P., Henry P., Randy T., and David W.
Two of our Founding Members were among the founders of the Triad Health Project, one formerly headed the Southeast Leather Contest. Two of our members were on the board of directors of the National Leather Association, two are published authors, and a former member produced the first documentary of a leather club.
Shortly after our founding, we created the “Beat Jesse Campaign” to organize the national leather/BDSM/fetish community to oppose the reelection of Jesse Helms to the US Senate. Since then we have been actively involved in community affairs from fund raisers for local and regional groups such as AIDS service organizations to regional and national groups such as helping with the display of the “AIDS Quilt” and the “March on Washington”.
In 1991, TLC won the Leather Journal’s “Club of the Year” award and a member won both the ” Southeast Regional Man of the Year” and “Man of the Year” awards. In 1993 another of our members won the “Southeast Regional” award and yet another was awarded “Business Person of the Year” by the Leather Journal. In 1996 a TLC member was named “Regional Leather Person of the Year”. Members have held numerous “titles” including: Mr. Leather Charlotte, Mr. Coastal Carolina Leather, Mr. Carolina Leather, NC Leather (3), Southeast Leather (4), and Southeast Drummer.
In 2001, we became Tarheel Leather Club, Inc., a not for profit corporation registered in North Carolina. TLC does what it can to support our main charity: Triad Health Project providing funds, man power, food drives and supplies when needed. TLC is also proud of being one of the founding member clubs of the SECC. As a club, we also support the National Leather Association International, the NAMES Project and the Leather Archives and Museum as well as many local charities.