NEW GUARD, NEXT GUARD People think the New Guard came about in the 1980’s, but there were already several "New Guard’s" 1960’s- No exposure to the military; therefore it did not shape sexuality 1960’s- Hippie leather, long hair, 1960’s- groups created around certain sexualities, like handballers 1970’s- several distinct styles 1970’s- leather was a type of uniform for urban gay men 1970’s- 15 Association formed to create a more reliable SM environment 1980’s- More people, more money, more commercialization 1980’s- SM became "trendy" 1980’s- focused on what people saw, not the connection involved in SM 1980’s- AIDS decimated the gay leather community. Because not many were there to pass on customs, the chasm between Old and New seemed much more pronounced than in generations past. 1990’s- integration of the men’s and women’s communities 1990’s- heterosexual people started to attend gay leather events 1990’s- leather contests became a replacement for the MC "runs" 1990’s- educational events became important 1990’s- NEXT GUARD Across the different eras, many have found freedom in formality, individualism through observance of custom, and a sublime order in things non-leatherfolk might consider completely chaotic.