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IAC Newsletter – June 1994

  • Steve N.
  • Nov 15
  • 3 min read

IAC Newsletter – June 1994

(International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men & Women in AA)


IAC Logo: IAC Newsletter – June 1994

The June 1994 issue of IACTIVITY is a powerful and deeply personal edition filled with recovery stories, historical reflections, service insights, LGBTQ+ AA meeting guidance, global contact updates, and a full listing of group contributions and roundups. This issue captures the grassroots heart of LGBTQ+ AA in the mid-90s — before websites, email lists, or social media connected the community.




🌟 “Message from IAC’s Treasurer” — by Tom C.

Tom shares his personal journey:

  • Returning to AA after treatment

  • How early service work (Big D Roundup logistics) created purpose

  • Discovering joy in AA connections through IAC

  • His gratitude for meeting hundreds of LGBTQ+ sober members across North America

  • His current service as Treasurer preparing for the 1995 San Diego International Convention


He emphasizes how crucial volunteers and contributions will be to the Hospitality Suite and Dance planned for 1995.


💬 Personal Story: “Something Wonderful Happened Coming Through the Closet Door” — by Gabrielle G.


A beautiful, heartfelt story of:

  • Drinking in straight bars due to fear of gay spaces

  • Coming out in 1983 and losing all her friends

  • Finding LGBTQ+ sober women by chance in a bar in 1984

  • Discovering her first gay AA group

  • Feeling welcomed, seen, and accepted

  • The foundation of fellowship that still supports her sobriety today


She powerfully describes the moment she realized:

“I’ve come home.”

💌 “We Get Letters” — Member Correspondence


This edition includes letters and gratitude from AA members in:

  • California

  • Oklahoma

  • Alabama

  • Germany

  • “Bible Belt” regions where LGBTQ+ AA members feel alone

  • Online platforms (AOL & CompuServe), the “social media” of 1994


These letters highlight how vital IAC was for isolated LGBTQ+ alcoholics looking for connection and meetings.


📖 Tradition Three Reflection — “Can a Special Purpose Group Really Be AA?”


A powerful exploration of:

  • How Tradition Three evolved (“The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking”)

  • Why groups cannot restrict membership (e.g., “gay-only”)

  • The spiritual importance of inclusion

  • What it means to carry the AA message in LGBTQ+ groups

  • How we ensure nobody is ever turned away


This article is one of the earliest LGBTQ+ AA writings addressing how to remain firmly within AA’s Twelve Traditions.


🏳️‍🌈 How to Start a Gay/Lesbian AA Group

A full guide including:

  • Literature to order (AAWS P-16, P-32, M-36, etc.)

  • Naming conventions (protecting anonymity and avoiding affiliation)

  • Choosing formats and meeting types

  • Why groups cannot exclude straight alcoholics

  • How to secure meeting space

  • How to announce a new meeting

  • Registering with IAC and GSO

  • When to begin contributing to IAC (7th Tradition support)


This guide became one of the most circulated documents for new LGBTQ+ AA groups during the 1990s.


🌍 International Updates & New Contacts


Important LGBTQ+ AA contact information is shared for:

  • Edmonton, Alberta (five LGBTQ+ AA meetings listed with formats/locations)

  • Montreal, Quebec (new Gay Activities Committee liaison)

  • Halifax, Nova Scotia (“Live & Let Live” now connected to IAC through new rep Steve M.)

  • Amsterdam, Netherlands (meetings described as very gay-welcoming; multilingual contact available)

  • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Alano Club contact for visiting LGBTQ+ AA members)

  • United Kingdom (LGBTQ+ Roundup planned for September 1994)


This was critical fellowship information at a time when no online directories existed.


📅 1994 LGBTQ+ Roundup Calendar


A full calendar of LGBTQ+ recovery roundups across North America and Europe, including:

  • Courage Roundup (Halifax)

  • Big Easy Does It (New Orleans)

  • Soberfest (Las Vegas)

  • Walk the Walk (Connecticut)

  • Capitol Roundup (Washington, DC)

  • Ohio Roundup (Cincinnati)

  • Feeling Good (San Diego)

  • Edmonton Roundup

  • Biggest Little Fellowship (Reno)

  • Hotlanta (Atlanta)

  • Rocky Mountain Roundup (Denver)

  • Coming of Age (Seattle)

  • Freedom Roundup (Philadelphia)

  • Provincetown Roundup

  • Duderstadt Roundup (Berlin)

  • Florida Roundup (Miami) — 1995


This is one of the earliest extensive LGBTQ+ roundup calendars ever documented.


💰 Financial Reports — Group & Individual Contributions


Contributions between May–June 1994 came from dozens of groups including:

  • St. James Gay Group (DC)

  • Ken Berry Group (Chicago)

  • Des Moines Gay AA

  • Maui Wednesday Night (HI)

  • Hearts Alive (VA)

  • Alcoholics Together (Phoenix)

  • Lambda AA (Traverse City)

  • East Village AA (NYC)

  • Upland Men’s Group

  • Gay Joyous & Free (Anchorage)

  • Rehoboth Beach (DE)

  • Honolulu groups

  • Albuquerque groups

  • Provincetown Roundup

  • Big Apple Roundup… and many more.


This issue also reports:

Directory Sales, Birthday Contributions, and ending balances for 7th Tradition categories.


IAC Newsletter – June 1994

👉 Download the full PDF:


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