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The Defenders, Dignity's Outreach to the Leather/Levi Community

Submitted by dignityusa on Mon, 06/16/2008 - 13:34

Integrating Leather Sexuality with Christian Spirituality

An affiliate of DignityUSA

About The Defenders

The Defenders is a club for individuals who value and wish to celebrate both their leather "lifestyle" and their Christian spirituality. Contrary to common belief, the two are not mutually exclusive. The Defenders believe that the leather experience can, when integrated and spiritually informed, actually produce a richer spirituality for us, and for the Church.

We strive to provide a space that leathermen and leatherwomen will find welcoming and familiar, yet unique in its spiritual dimension.

History

The Defenders was established in 1981 in New York City as an affiliate of Dignity New York. By 1987, we had become a national organization. Today we are one of two Leather clubs with a presence from coast to coast.

Our Purpose

  • To provide fellowship within the leather community that fosters an individual and collective integration of our spirituality and our sexuality.
  • To encourage a constructive interaction and understanding between the leather community and the Christian community by example.
  • To support the mission of Dignity.

Affiliations

The Defenders has been affiliated with DignityUSA from the beginning and maintains close ties to this very day. Each Defenders club is associated with a local Dignity Chapter. The primary mission of Dignity is to respectfully dissent from the position of the Roman Catholic Church that homosexuals must be celibate to be followers of Christ. Although its primary interaction is with the Catholic Church, Dignity Chapters welcome men and women of all spiritual traditions. We are a bridge between the Leather Community and the Christian Community.

If you would like more information about Defenders USA or any of its local clubs, please send your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and the local club you are interested in to:

Defenders USA
c/o DignityUSA
PO Box 376 
Medford, MA 02155
(www.dignityusa.org)

Or e-mail your request to Thomas Gregorios at Gregorios@tds.net

 

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