The information you get on the Old Guard , old School or Leatherman will reallty depend on who you talk with. My understanding is the origions came from Men who served in the military. The learn to accpet the discipline and structured life the military offered and instiled in men. Those he found a strong bound in this background found ways to carry that discipline and structure into civilian life. As the gay community in CA began to open up a bit and reach out for like minded individualks they found a bond in this 'lifestyle'. Over the years things became more formal and structured as the people involved natually gravitated to such an orderly structure. Their was a semi formal system of apprentacing once you entered the lifestyle to learn what was expected of you. I am unsure as to names ot titles used at this point. I have never really gotten a consistant answer on that.

The biggest changes came about when the lifestyle started having non gay people wishing to join the lifestyle. Much of the foundation for the gay, quasi military leatherman just did not apply to the straight singles or couples who began joining. The teaches they had come to accpet had to be re invented and re applied to popele not really into the same mindset they were. It cuased a bit of friction isnde the lifestlye. The newer straights were seen as day trippers into the lifestyle but many long involved in it.

With the advent of the Net and the amazing ability to disperse infor,mation the changes came much quicker and with much more confusion. The standers of the older order were quickly rewritten. Often just to suit the taste and interest of those recently joining. So whats was brand new and really differnt today quickly becomes right and accepted online. So the correct history of customs and manners in the older order can be hard to find. Especially if they feel no real desire to share with the newer lifestylers.