Welcome Letter from the Commander

Welcome to the Veterans’ Leather Alliance.

I have the honor of serving as the founding Commander of this organization. I served 12 years in the U.S. Army as a Counterintelligence Special Agent, including combat in Iraq from 2003 to 2004. I got out as a Staff Sergeant, but I’ve never stopped living by the values that the uniform instilled in me—discipline, integrity, and taking care of your own.

I’ve been part of the leather community for a long time—before, during, and after my military service. The first gay bar I ever set foot in was the Providence Eagle in Rhode Island. When our founder Patrick started the Veterans’ Leather Alliance, I leapt at the chance to help out because I knew how many of us are out there: queer veterans who’ve stood watch, carried weight, and come home looking for connection. This organization is built to give us a place to belong—a place where service and leather meet without apology. I believe in the power of leather. And I believe we are stronger when we stand together.

The leather community began with military veterans. After World War II, men who had seen war, who knew structure and brotherhood—many who didn’t want to, or couldn’t, go home again—brought that experience into a new kind of community in motorcycle clubs and bars. We carry that legacy. And we’re here to make sure it’s not forgotten.

The Veterans’ Leather Alliance is proudly inclusive. We recognize and affirm the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ veterans—gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, queer, intersex, and beyond. We know that not everyone’s service was honored the way it should have been. We are here to say: you still matter. You still belong. Trans lives matter. Your story matters.

Whether you served stateside or downrange, whether you wore chevrons or bars, whether you left on your own terms or were pushed out for being yourself, you are welcome here. This is a place where we’ve got your six.

If you’re looking for camaraderie, mentorship, and a way to serve again, you’ve found the right unit.

Stand tall. Strap in. Welcome to the Veterans’ Leather Alliance.

Chad White

Commander, Veterans’ Leather Alliance