Preventing Domestic Violence in the Leather/BDSM/Fetish Community

by

Copyright © NLA-I

National Leather Association-International's Official Statement On Domestic Violence

The National Leather Association-International (NLA-I) calls on the leather/ SM/ Fetish community to take lead in reducing domestic violence through education. No group is free of domestic battering and abuse; but fear, denial and lack of knowledge have slowed public response to this serious social problem. The NLA-I is committed to reducing this violence by attempting:

1. To show that community action can reduce violence.
2. To hold batterers accountable for choosing to be violent. To encourage victims to take legal action. To deny drugs or alcohol use as an excuse for battering. To encourage the batterer to seek treatment and the victim to seek support.
3. To listen and support those who have the courage to tell us... to help them end their shame and isolation.
4. To educate the legal and social service system about the difference between consensual SM and domestic violence, to encourage their appropriate intervention.
5. To take the responsibility of educating our community about the forms of domestic abuse and its extent and severity.
6. To promote information about where to go for help. Domestic violence takes many forms: physical violence, isolation, out right or subtle psychological and emotional abuse, economic control, sexual abuse and destruction of personal property. Non-consensual manipulation and assault are not part of SM. The NLA-I advocates relationships based in personal responsibility, honesty and integrity...in which power and pleasure is derived from mutual respect.

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

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