This article by Will McWhinney was first published in the January/February 2002 issue of the GLS TRACKS newsletter, on the 15th anniversary of Angeles Chapter Gay and Lesbian Sierrans becoming an official activity section of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter.
As we approach the season of Pride celebrations this year, we thought it was a good time to reread this article, to remind us of where we came from, and how much things have changed since the 1980s, socially, politically, and even the language we use.
By Will McWhinney
At the ripe age of 15, the Gay and Lesbian Sierrans Section is a major force in the Angeles Chapter, a wellspring of skilled outings leaders and passionate conservation activists. But such was not always the case. It took three years of hard work to overcome the negative attitudes of a few members before the GLS could gain status as a section. And along the way GLS activists found more friends than foes among the Chapter’s many groups and sections.
Murray Aronson, Don Thompson, and Kathy Andeway met early in the summer of 1986 to talk about the idea of starting a Gay & Lesbian Sierrans section in Los Angeles. The Bay Chapter had just authorized a GLS section there, so why not have one in the Angeles Chapter too?
The trio attended a meeting of the Angeles Chapter Executive Committee. ExComm members were receptive to the proposal and encouraged them to pursue it by first obtaining approval from the advisory Chapter Council, composed of representatives of all the chapter groups and sections. The council chair was enthusiastic and the item was placed on the agenda for the July 25 Chapter Council meeting.
It turned out to be a surprisingly contentious meeting. Kathy, Don, and Murray explained the proposal for the Gay & Lesbian Sierrans. “Many gays and lesbians want a group where we can be more comfortable while supporting the goals of the Sierra Club,” Murray later wrote. “We are not interested in an exclusive group. We are interested in establishing a group where gay people can be more welcome without having to explain, apologize, or feel awkward. The GLS would be an outreach to the gay and lesbian community and strengthen the ecology and conservation constituency.”
The proposal received little support. Council members were worried that establishing the section would entangle the Club in gay politics. Someone said that people would resign from the Club if it were approved. Another mentioned that the Bay Chapter GLS had marched in a Gay Pride Parade in the name of the Sierra Club. One member proposed that, to distance the Club from gay controversies, the GLS be named something generic such as “Alpha Section.” After this long and passionate discussion the proposal was tabled until the September meeting.
Murray wrote a letter that was published in the Southern Sierran announcing the proposed GLS section and asking interested persons to contact the organizers and attend the September meeting. The announcement generated scores of letters and cards from interested gays and lesbians, several letters from supportive straights, and a couple of nasty notes in opposition. Apparently there was a need for a GLS.
Organizers arrived at the September 22 Chapter Council meeting bolstered by several supporters in attendance and a mailing list of 40 households in their back pockets. Council Chair Mike Feldman temporarily stepped down so that he could argue more vigorously in favor of the proposal. After another lengthy discussion rehashing all the negative aspects, Feldman’s motion to “create a committee to investigate the need for and interest in the creation of a GLS section” was defeated by a vote of 12 to 3.
The loss was very discouraging for the hopes of the GLS founders. ‘Frontiers’ Magazine reported “perhaps the most curious defeat for our community came at the Sierra Club L.A. Chapter when it voted down a proposed gay and lesbian section. Organizer Murray Aronson described the action as ‘disappointing’ and described the meeting as ‘full of bigotry.’” In ‘Update’ magazine, Murray was quoted as saying, “Mother Earth needs gay and lesbian helpers too.”
When one-time Chapter Chair Bob Marshall heard of the controversy, he wrote a letter to the Southern Sierran decrying a repeat of political and ethnic bigotry he had seen in the Chapter’s past, supporting the GLS cause, and coming out personally. Among his comments he said, “When I dropped out of Sierra Club activities, I had several reasons. Perhaps most important was that I had come to a time in my life where I wanted increased social contact with other gay people. The Angeles Chapter could not offer this. Apparently now, two decades later, it still won’t.” (Bob later became involved with the GLS and served as the first section chair).
In retrospect, organizers realized that the proposal had been brought up prematurely. They vowed to solidify their plans and marshal support from other Chapter entities. A letter went out to the mailing list announcing a meeting at Plummer Park in West Hollywood on November 15 to decide on the next step. Should they pursue forming a GLS in the face of opposition and, if so, how should they proceed? The answers turned out to be ‘Yes!’ and ‘Full Speed Ahead!’ Murray said, “If we want to be a Sierra Club section, then we should act like one.” An ambitious schedule of events, outings, and meetings was planned, along with a newsletter to keep everyone informed.
The first proto-Gay & Lesbian Sierrans event, titled High Tea and Chaparral, was a trip on December 21, 1986, to the L.A. County Natural History Museum. Turnout was small, but everyone had a good time. “The Angeles Chapter hasn’t ‘approved’ us yet, but we are going ahead,” said Murray.
Everyone who was interested in the GLS proposal—a list that had by now swelled to 95 names—was invited to a general meeting held January 5th. At that first meeting Dick Hingson (who later served as Chapter Conservation Coordinator) was elected interim leader and Steve Green became treasurer. Maria Elena Gonzales, Tamar Kass, and Karen Renz rounded out the first GLS board.
The first GLS hike was in Point Mugu State Park on January 25, 1987. “Note: this is not an official Sierra Club hike; our group’s ‘approval’ is pending,” read the announcement. Murray Aronson and Peter Geissler, both rated Chapter leaders, hand-wrote waivers at the top of the sign-out sheets. Fifty-five people promised never to sue for whatever “injuries, mishaps, complaints, etc. may befall them prior to, during, or after a GLS activity.” Then they headed up Big Sycamore Canyon to Deer Creek Junction for lunch before heading back via the Overlook Trail. If the GLS founders had doubts about their quest for recognition, this success encouraged them. Remarkably, at least eight of the attendees at that hike are still involved with the GLS 15 years later.
More outings were planned. Maria Elena and Asher Waxman led a hike up Josephine Peak. Tom Bistranski and Dick Hingson conducted the first annual Anacapa Island Trip. There was the first (and last) annual Day Before Mothers Day Bunker Hill Climb and Museum Tour. Beth Epstein led a climb of Strawberry Peak.
Conservation projects were organized. Ingeborg Prochazka took crews out trail building and adopted the Backbone Trail. A cleanup was coordinated with the Friends of Runyon Canyon. Murray, Ingeborg, Kathy, and R. Walter Fey put together a Conservation Committee.
At the same time GLS organizers were writing letters to the national Club, conducting meetings with Chapter officers, drafting bylaws, and getting publicity. Despite the rejection, support for the GLS was widespread. The Natural Science Section was very supportive. So was Chapter Chair Elden Hughes, who said, “The real reason the GLS should be approved is the Sierra Club will be a better place for it.” A letter from the entire ExComm of the Bay Chapter recounted the many beneficial activities of their GLS and said, “Our chapter debated [GLS recognition] for over a year, finally authorizing a GLS section in January of 1986 by a vote of 7 to 2. As in the Angeles Chapter, many emotional arguments were made by both sides. We, the Executive Committee which authorized the GLS section, feel that it represents the club well, recruits new members to the Club, and gets them involved with conservation efforts.”
Murray kept the Chapter Council informed of our activities, and after a year the GLS board felt it was time to resubmit their proposal. “There are very confident feelings that our chances are good for getting ratified as a new section before 1988,” the newsletter editor wrote in the October issue. It turned out to be false confidence. The new council chair, Howard Baker, was firmly against the formation of a GLS.
At a Chapter Council meeting on October 26, 1987, a GLS petition was submitted—and the council refused to even agendize it. According to minutes from the meeting, “A delegation of individuals [Dick, Ingeborg, Don, and Kate Uccel] interested in establishing a Chapter gay and lesbian section asked the council to reconsider the action it took last year to oppose formation of such a section. The chair ruled that since the vote last year had been decisive, since the issue is divisive, and since few votes were likely to change in the interval after the last vote, that he would not place the question on the floor. He asked if any council delegate wished to move to take up the matter; no one did.”
Many in the GLS were disappointed by this second rejection and wanted to give up. But Murray refused. He wanted to continue for another year and then push again. So the GLS redoubled its efforts.
Allies on the ExComm passed a measure: “As per their request for accounting for new Sierra Club members, the Gays and Lesbians, a non-entity as to the Sierra Club, will be given a FRIP number. No recognition by the club is expressed or implied by this action nor are they to receive any of the money from this program.”
Organizing and outreach continued. The next chair of the Chapter Council, Robin Ives, met with the GLS to show his support and promised to agendize the GLS petition. At the Chapter Banquet the GLS filled up a table and a half and reported being treated warmly. Dick Hingson and Beth Epstein formed a Recognition Committee and along with Murray visited almost all of the chapter entities to explain our proposal. The climbing sections were especially supportive—Maris Valkass and Dick Akawie, in particular, showed great kindness and courage by speaking up for us in the Council. Sid Adelman and the board of the Natural Science Section supported us. Still, there were some who opposed the proposed GLS section for various reasons.
While pursuing section status, GLS activists stayed very busy. They gathered signatures for petitions, including 1,500 for the Wildlife, Coastal, and Park Initiative (Prop. 70). They built trails, including a section on Mount Islip. And they adopted and cared for a swath of desert land.
In the outings department, traditions sprang up fast. The annual Anacapa Island Trip, Death Valley Car Camp, and Mt Whitney Climb were all repeated. The first conditioning hike in Griffith Park was scheduled for July 22, 1988. A combined outing was scheduled—the Gay & Lesbian Hike-Bike-Run-Swim Picnic Party—with Different Spokes, Frontrunners, and the West Hollywood Aquatic Club. A car camp at Big Sur was co-led with the Bay Chapter GLS. When it came time to name the GLS newsletter the obvious name was “Tracks.” “Why ‘Tracks?’ Because that’s what this group has been making,” the editors explained.
At the end of September it was time to bring back the petition for the third time. Dick Hingson made a presentation to the Chapter Council, which was followed by a “lively and positive discussion.” The voting was set for the next meeting. On October 16, 1988, the Council voted 17-10-1 to endorse the formation of a GLS committee. The main roadblock had been cleared; after three tries we were ready to get our official recognition.
The ExComm met on November 3. Dick Hingson “spoke on the purpose and history of the GLS, noting their conservation efforts. He stated they would not have a political agenda.” With Murray and Dick watching, the ExComm voted 7-1 to give the GLS committee status.
Now that the GLS was official, everybody had to follow Sierra Club rules, including the requirement for two rated leaders on every hike. To begin with the GLS had only five O-rated leaders and one I-rated leader. The call went out for leaders. Andy Fyfe, Beth Epstein, Brad Keistler, Dick Hingson, Ingeborg Prochazka, Janis Bowbeer, Jane Roosevelt, Joni Cody, Karen Renz, Kate Uccel, Lauren Weinberg, ‘Sue Lucille,’ and Tom Bistranski were among the many went through the rating process to allow the GLS to continue leading a variety of trips.
The GLS didn’t rest on its laurels but rather became even more active. A very successful New Year’s trip to the Grand Canyon trip was led by Steve Green and has become a nearly annual event. Susan Lucille began leading her famous mule pack trips. A GLS team competed in Run for Pride. Volunteers staffed a booth at the Christopher Street West Pride Festival and collected 300 postcards in support of the Desert Protection Act. Membership increased to 195. Tragically, in the midst of this success, R. Walter Fey, one of the GLS’s founders and a recipient of the Chapter Conservation Award, died of a sudden heart attack.
In October of 1989 the ExComm approved the proposed bylaws and granted the GLS self-governing section status.
After the GLS was finally recognized, Murray wrote a letter to the Southern Sierran expressing thanks. “The negative moments are just that and they’re fading away. The warmly positive feelings and actions endure. We have good caring people in Gay and Lesbian Sierrans. We have good caring people in the Angeles Chapter. I am glad I had the opportunity to learn about the workings of the Club and more importantly, to get to know some wonderful folks. I am proud to be a member of the Sierra Club. Let’s go from strength to strength as we work for the betterment of Mother Earth—and enjoy it too. Happy Holidays, daughters and sons of John Muir!”
Acknowledgements:
This article could not have been written without the contributions of Murray Aronson and his GLS archive, Mike Brostoff, Janis Bowbeer, Susan Lucille, and Steve Green. Thanks to Sharan Street for her editing.
