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IAC Newsletter – November 1985

  • Steve N.
  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

IAC Newsletter – November 1985 (Newsletter No. 9)

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


IAC Logo: IAC Newsletter – June 1985

The November 1985 issue of IACTIVITY is one of the earliest and richest historical documents in LGBTQ+ AA service. It includes a powerful year-end report from the IAC Deputy Chair, an original New York Times article covering LGBTQ+ participation in AA’s 50th Anniversary Convention, a reprint of Bill W.’s remarks on the gay member who shaped Tradition Three, the landmark essay “Acceptance Is a Two-Way Street,” and early IAC organizational details — including committees, officers, and its emerging five-year history.


🌟 Deputy Chair’s Year Report — Montreal 1985 Convention


Deputy Chair Alan D. Hulsman delivers a detailed report on organizing LGBTQ+ AA involvement at the 50th Anniversary International AA Convention in Montreal, including:

✔ Meetings and Workshops

  • Two LGBTQ+ workshops

  • A three-speaker AA meeting

  • LGBTQ+ participation included in the official Convention Program Booklet


✔ Hospitality Suite

A fully staffed International Hospitality & Information Center was created, open to all Convention attendees.


✔ Saturday Night Dance

A widely attended LGBTQ+ AA dance featuring:

  • Disco

  • Lights

  • Laser show

  • “Live and Let Live” theme


✔ Tasting of Fellowship and Unity

Alan reflected on:

  • Thousands of letters and calls received in the prior year

  • Supporting LGBTQ+ members with special needs

  • Helping Roundups with programming and Traditions

  • Deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve


This is the most complete surviving account of LGBTQ+ AA’s presence at the 1985 Convention.


📰 New York Times Coverage — “A Planet of Alcoholics Adores AA”


Reprinted in full is a July 8, 1985 New York Times article covering AA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.


Highlights include:

  • 44,000 sober alcoholics from 50+ countries

  • AA’s expansion beyond its middle-aged male origins

  • Rising participation by women, Black and Hispanic members, and young people

  • A workshop titled “Gays in A.A. — Are We Really Different?” attended by over 1,000 people

  • Moving quotes from LGBTQ+ members


Notably, George F. declared:

“I’m Black and I’m beautiful and I’m gay and free — and I ain’t drinking.”

This article is one of the earliest major media acknowledgments of LGBTQ+ AA.


📜 Bill W. on the Early Gay AA Member Who Inspired Tradition Three


This issue includes one of the earliest written publications of Bill W.’s retelling of:

  • The gay alcoholic in the 1930s who asked Dr. Bob if he could join AA

  • The Akron group’s fierce debate

  • The question that changed AA forever:

“What would the Master do? Would He turn this man away?”

This became the foundation of Tradition Three: “The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.”

This story is priceless to LGBTQ+ AA history.


❤️ Feature Essay — “Acceptance Is a Two-Way Street”


A powerful essay reflecting on LGBTQ+ AAs and unity within the AA Fellowship. Themes include:

  • LGBTQ+ AA growth since the early ’70s

  • The importance of participating in service (GSRs, central office volunteers, Twelfth Step work)

  • Moving beyond resentments and isolation

  • Inviting non-gay AA members to speak at LGBTQ+ meetings

  • Communication as the bridge between misunderstanding and unity

  • The reminder:

“Resentments and isolation kill us. Service and love keep us alive.”

This is one of the earliest essays promoting unity between LGBTQ+ AA groups and the wider Fellowship.


🕊 In Memoriam — Two Early LGBTQ+ AA Pioneers


This issue honors:

Barry L.

  • 33 years sober

  • Speaker on “Historical Perspective: Homosexual Men and Women in A.A.” at the Montreal Convention

  • Early LGBTQ+ AA member and historian


George D.

  • 19 years sober

  • Founding member of IAC

  • Founder of multiple LGBTQ+ AA groups

  • Central to LGBTQ+ AA outreach in the formative years


Their contributions shaped the early decades of gay AA service.

🏳️‍🌈 IAC Updates & Organizational Structure (1985)


This is one of the earliest published descriptions of how the IAC functioned:

Newly Elected Officers

  • Chair: Alan H.

  • Deputy Chair: Elaine N.

  • Treasurer: Bob D. (Toronto)

  • Secretary: William R. (Toronto)

  • Past Chair: Patrick J.


Standing Committees

  • Loners Correspondence

  • GSO Liaison

  • Newsletter

  • Public Information

  • Lesbian Outreach

  • International Directory

  • Literature


The IAC notes that it may be approaching its fifth anniversary, with origins dating back to Nancy T.’s early directories and the Washington Roundup in 1980.


🎉 Roundups — Late 1985 Calendar


Two Roundups remained in 1985, both held over Thanksgiving weekend:

  • Big Apple Roundup – New York City

  • Houston Roundup – Texas


Members were encouraged to send news and history for future issues.


IAC Newsletter – November 1985

👉 Download the full PDF:


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