History of Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous: From the Beginning

Emotionally exhausted and in need of a good, stiff drink: that's how I felt after reading the meticulously researched and respectfully written The History of Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous (From the Beginning). But instead of heading to my nearest queer watering hole, I just went to sleep. That's good advice -- and a far better coping mechanism than a night of smug boozing for those who make the long, sobering trek through all 286 pages (assuming you read the bibliography and the index -- which you should; more on that later).

The back cover informs us that today, "Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for gay people convene regularly in more than 60 cities in the United States and in 20 countries worldwide." Unfortunately, it wasn't always that way; but unlike many stories about the struggle for GLBT rights in the mid-twentieth century, AA was relatively quick (if initially reluctant) to first acknowledge the presence of gays in their midst and then offer gay-specific meetings. As its subtitle (From the Beginning) implies, the book spends a great deal of time (too much, in fact) exploring the origins and early years of gays & lesbians in AA.

While the extensive back story is certainly fascinating (and necessary), the lack of modern-day insights and testimonials is a glaring omission. Those currently struggling with both alcohol as well as their sexuality are not particularly well-represented by stories that took place several decades ago (as addiction tales go, the song remains the same -- but AIDS, the Internet and a host of other factors have certainly impacted the topic). Although it's clearly meant to be a book that concentrates on AA's formative years, the organization's history is still being written. Still, anybody currently struggling with addiction will inevitable see some part of themselves in Chapter 4 (Five Views of Sober Gay Life in the 1950s and 19602).

I would like to have seen testimonials from individuals other than "lesbians and gay men with long-term sobriety." Although their success stories are admirable and inspirational, the book (like most recovery literature) meekly skirts around off-the-wagon incidents and temptations that are, more often than admitted here, a conspicuous part of the process. There's something suspicious about touting a program's ultimate success without fully communicating the unvarnished truth about the winding road to long-term sobriety. And one more thing (while I'm bitching and nitpicking at those brave, queer alcoholics): there's very little to no mention of bisexuals and transgendered folk (and no entries in the bibliography -- although gays and lesbians certainly have their share). Several times over, author Audrey Borden demonstrates skill and determination in uncovering hidden truths, forgotten details and hard-to-find players in the story; how difficult would it have been to cast a wide net by throwing a bone to a few 1950s-era switch hitters and dudes in frilly housecoats? They certainly have stories to tell, and it's a safe bet they'd be worth reading.

That said, though, there's a tremendous amount of information here to challenge, inform and inspire. Borden does a particularly good job revealing that from the very, very beginning, there was a gay/lesbian presence in AA (Marty Mann, founder of the National Council on Alcoholism and the "first lady of Alcoholics Anonymous, was a lesbian). Chapter 3 explores how a not particularly enlightened medical community linked alcoholism with homosexual tendencies -- and sought to cure both with, among other things, two-for-one shock treatments. There's also interviews with members and co-founders of the first gay AA meetings and pioneering addiction professionals -- as well as the "gay origins" of AA's Thirteen Step. Taken as a whose, it's a compelling read and a fitting tribute to those brave enough to show up at a meeting and take the anonymity away from addiction by greeting others with the now-familiar "My name is. . ."