History of GaL-AA & IAC
1937
The first man to privately admit being gay joins the Alcoholic Squad of the Akron Oxford Group. Bill Wilson told about this in several talks he gave on our Third Tradition and published the story in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, giving more details about the incident in each telling. In a 1968 talk on the Traditions at an open AA dinner immediately prior to the General Service Conference, Bill revealed that the man was a “sexual deviant”. Bill also gave credit to Dr. Bob for resolving the issue caused by the revelation and ensuring that the man would be admitted. To the best of our knowledge, the gentleman retained his sobriety until his death in the late 1950s.
1939
The first lesbian alcoholic to eventually achieve long-term sobriety, attends her first AA meeting. Marty Mann. attended her first AA meeting at the home of Bill and Lois Willson in Brooklyn in March 1939. Even though Marty was to have two “slips” before achieving long-term sobriety in 1940, she always counted her attendance at this meeting as her sobriety date. Her Story, “Women Suffer Too”, appears in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th edition of Alcoholics Anonymous.
1945
By 1945 there were enough alcoholics who were Gay or Lesbian to warrant the question of whether they should have their own meetings. Bill W. put the decision about that off.
1967
The first exclusively “Gay” meeting was held at an Episcopal Church in San Francisco in 1967.
1973
Pressure was building on the General Service office about listing gay meetings in the World Directory. The question went before the General Service Conference in 1973. There was such a hot and heavy discussion that the question was tabled for a year.
1974
It came around again in 1974 at the AA General Service Conference. There the discussion was very rancorous. The most hateful terms about Gay men and Lesbians were thrown about. All other matters that had been on the agenda were tabled while the speeches went on.
It finally all ended when one of the non-alcoholic doctors on the General Service Board went to the microphone and asked, “I understand that when you wanted – when your people’s groups wanted to be listed you didn’t go through all of these shenanigans, Is that true? and there was a chorus of ‘Yes.’ When the women’s groups wanted to be listed you didn’t go through this?” Again the answer was that they had not. Then the doctor asked, “Well, what the hell are you picking on these guys for?” That was the end of it and they put the question to a vote and it passed with only two people opposing the inclusion.
1977
Dr. Jack Norris, then Chairman of the General Service Board, in 1977 to say in part:
We have never discouraged AA’s from forming special-purpose meetings of any or all kinds to meet the needs of interested individuals, but we have been hesitant to consider as groups those that might seem to exclude any alcoholic, for whatever reason.
Many members feel that no AA group is special and, therefore, that no group should be labeled as such or even give the impression that it is “special.” However, the fact is that such groups do exist…These groups feel that “labels” serve the purpose of attraction (providing double identification) and are not intended to imply exclusion of other alcoholics.
1980
At the Capitol Round-Up (Washington D. C., August 1980) it was suggested that the International Advisory Council be formed. The name International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous was agreed upon. Although all disliked the word “homosexual”, they did agree that it described us.
In September of 1980, the New York area folks were in contact with the International Conference of Young People in AA, which is another special purpose group in the AA service structure. ICYPAA agreed to give us some information about how they functioned within the AA service structure. It was IAC’s sense that a similar organization for gay men and lesbians in AA could be organized.
At the Big Apple Round-Up (New York, November 1980) a temporary council was established to serve the gay and lesbian members in AA
1981 – Recognition and Formation
In January 1981, the International Advisory Council was formed. IAC is recognized by the General Service Office and is listed in Eastern U.S., Western U.S., Canadian, and International AA directories under “Special International Contacts.” The GPAA Round-Up (Boston) in May 1981 brought the temporary council together to adopt the Bylaws and to elect officers. On November 28, 1981 the initial IAC Charter was ratified, It was established to serve and have the involvement of the lesbians, gay men and gay people in AA (regardless of how they choose to identify themselves).
IAC’s activities were the following:
DIRECTORY – Compiling, publishing and distributing a world directory of gay and lesbian AA meetings. Suggested donation is $3.00 per copy. Available from IAC, address provided below.
GROUP NEEDS – Providing experience, strength and hope in assisting and supporting gay and lesbian AA groups around the world in such matters as starting meetings, relationships with local intergroup offices and their place within the service structure.
LONERS Correspondence program for gay and lesbian loners, who are AA members not having local access to a gay or lesbian AA meeting but who nevertheless wish to be in contact with other gay or lesbian AA members. The matter of gay contacts among alcoholics in the Armed Services and the incarcerated is also a concern of the Council.
NEWSLETTER – Publish IACtivity, a quarterly newsletter which features current news and information on Advisory Council activities relating to the General Service Office. Provides a forum for sharing by gays and lesbians in AA and includes a calendar of upcoming Roundups and events.
OUTREACH A liaison within the international community of gay-oriented members of AA to promote more effective communications. Specifically of interest are the people of color and third-world gay communities.
ROUNDUP LIAISON Provides support to Roundups and other conferences. Prepares and distributes IAC information to Roundups and makes available an information packet. Maintains an up-to-date calendar of Roundups throughout Canada and North America.
1991 – Incorporated
In December of 1991 IAC is incorporated in Delaware
2010
Discussion began on changing the company name during and following the 2010 International Convention in San Antonio, Texas to better clarify the intent of the organization.
IAC received its Federal Employee Identification Number (EIN) 27-2507455 in May, 2010.
In August 2010, IAC received its tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) and was granted public charity status.
2013 – Name change
Name is officially changed to Gays and Lesbians in Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc. DBA GaL-AA in April 2013
2016
In October 2016, the Executive Committee clarified the Statement of Inclusion to: GaL-AA was established to serve and have the involvement of lesbians, gay men, and others in Alcoholics Anonymous, regardless of how they choose to identify themselves. In selecting the name, careful consideration was given to a variety of combinations. While the name only directly reflects gays and lesbians, we embrace all LGBTQ+ members of the AA fellowship.
2024
This has been a productive year. GaL-AA is working with a committee in Vancouver, planning events for AA's international Convention in July 2025. We revised our By-laws and developed a Policy Manual to streamline, add continuity, and assist with day-to-day operations. We also revised our logo and trade-mark, dropping the tagline, to improve our inclusiveness and demonstrate our interest in the full spectrum of our community. We continued to make improvements in our use of technology by holding a hybrid Town-Hall meeting for the entire membership as part of our face-to-face meeting in Atlanta during June.