Meet the Core Group of Officers

Great Outdoors was started in 1977 by Greg and Paul. Among many discussions, they wondered if it would be possible to offer another place where Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender people would socialize outside of the bars. Paul, a catholic priest, was also anxious to offer some spiritual values. He suggested to Greg that it would be interesting to introduce the gay world to the phenomena of great outdoors: camping, hiking, getting dirty. As an example, Paul took Greg for a drive up to the Big Sur coast. Greg loved Big Sur and Great Outdoors was born.

First they came up with a marketing slogan: "OUT OF THE BARS AND UNDER THE STARS". Then they established the basic values of the program: It would offer various outdoor activities with varying ability requirements and durations. They would make certain that everyone could participate regardless of their economic situation. To do this, they kept annual dues as low as possible and established a scholarship program for those who couldn't afford even that. They also made it so that non-member prices to attend the outings were reasonable and low. They tried to offer many opportunities for including people restricted by age or disability.

Their first test outing was July 4 weekend at a campground in the Los Padres National Forest. They offered a fee for each person which included provision of food and some supplies. They arrived at the campsite for the weekend and refrigerated the food in an nearby mountain stream. They established a latrine, organized tent sites, opened a fire pit. On Sunday morning, Paul conducted a worship service. Standing on top of a boulder with the tops of pine trees below and the Pacific ocean in the rear he was surrounded by the sounds of nature. Both men and women attended and the ages ranged from young adults in their 20s to gentlemen in their 50s.

Mistakes were made, but they learned from them. They received a marvelous response from all participants.

Greg and Paul returned to Riverside to spend the next two years developing the governing structure of the organization so that its members could keep the organization on track doing what it set out to do. Greg did the leg work: promoting the organization, finding locations and activities.  He also started the GO! magazine assembling it on Paul's kitchen table. He obtained the original design for the Great Outdoors logo. This original design was simply the words Great Outdoors with a mountain in the back ground and a cloud to the right. Sun rays emanated from the G of Great. As new chapters started, they would add various elements to the logo. Los Angeles used palm trees in their chapter logo. Orange County/Long Beach added a rainbow and an extra cloud into which the rainbow disappears. Riverside added a Hot air balloon and Santa Barbara added dolphins. All of these elements were incorporated into the corporate logo so that all chapters are represented.

In 1981, the structure of the organization permitted it to be governed by a new group of people so that Greg and Paul could step back. They retain great affection for the organization and are happy that the organization survives and retains the same fundamental values which they instilled into it.

At the time the leadership changed, there were chapters in San Diego, Palm Springs, Orange County, San Bernardino, Pomona, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Phoenix. Since then, some chapters have ceased to exist and some have merged. Some have become other organizations. Here's to many more years of outdoor fun. This history was submitted by Father Paul Breton from San Bernardino.