The History of Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous

The History of Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous documents the history of gay people in Alcoholics Anonymous. The book includes interviews of influential gay and straight AA members, and covers the traditions and key events in AA's history. It also offers advice on becoming an ally to LGBT people on the road to recovery.

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The History of Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous documents and honors the ways thousands of LGBT people have carried Alcoholics Anonymous' message. This illuminating chronicle includes interviews and documents that detail the compelling history, recovery, and wisdom of gay people in AA. The book examines the challenges AA faced as the fellowship endeavored to become a more inclusive and cohesive community. The first-person accounts narrate the important work of influential gay and straight AA members that led key events in AA’s history. The author includes material on the steps and traditions of AA, and on becoming an ally to LGBT people on the road to recovery.

Topics in The History of Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous include:



the gay origins of AA’s Third Tradition

a comparison of treatments for alcoholism and homosexuality

compelling portraits of sober gay life in the 1950s and 1960s

the debate in AA over meetings for gay alcoholics

interviews with members and co-founders of the first gay AA meetings

the history of the first gay AA/Al-Anon conference

interviews with pioneering gay addiction professionals

the history of AA pamphlet “AA and the Gay/Lesbian Alcoholic”

Alcoholics Together, and why a parallel AA organization for gay alcoholics formed in southern California

strategies AA’s gay members developed to make their meetings simultaneously safe and public—and why some of them are still necessary today

much more


The History of Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous is an enlightening book for members of the LGBT and heterosexual recovering community, alcoholism and addiction professionals, as well as physicians, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, clergy, historians, sociologists, educators, students, and anyone interested in learning more about AA or this aspect of the community’s history.