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Guide to the Golden Gate Business Association Records, 1978-1984
1990-06
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Table of contents
Title: Golden Gate Business Association Records,
Date (inclusive): 1978-1984
Accession number: 1990-06
Creator:
Golden Gate Business Association
Extent: .33 linear feet
Repository: The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
San Francisco, California.
Shelf location: Housed at the GLBT Historical Society
Language:
English.
The Records were donated by Arthur Lazere, past president of the GGBA in 1990.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the GLBT Historical Society.
[Identification of item], Golden Gate Business Association Records, 1990-06, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical
Society.
The Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA), founded in 1974, is a business association for lesbian and gay small business
owners and professionals. GGBA's mission is "...to bring together lesbian and gay business and professional people and their
friends to foster/create/enhance/encourage working towards a better business environment and community by meeting the needs
of the members and by serving the broader community." Despite being the first gay and lesbian business association in the
United States, GGBA did not publicize its connections to the gay and lesbian community until 1979. Rich Stokes served as the
first president.
GGBA experienced steady growth in its membership during the 1970's. Membership grew to 150 by 1976. Two years later, when
associate members could join, GGBA had 300 members. By the end of the 70's there were 600 members. Latest information concerning
membership is from 1982, when GGBA had over 700 general and associate members. According to the GGBA's records, general members
included business owners or self-employed professionals. They had free listings in the GGBA's Buyers Guide and Directory,
telephone referral service, advertising support, and group insurance plan coverage. Associate members were business owners
or professionals employed by someone else. They received advertising discounts in the buyer's guide;, a monthly newsletter;
and invitations to monthly meetings, the annual installation dinners, and other social events.
As it membership increased, GGBA also became a community, political, and charitable force in San Francisco. Cognizant of its
community focus, GGBA's directors formed the Community Relations Committee in 1979. This committee sponsored numerous events
such as blood drives, tea dances, and KQED (San Francisco public TV and radio) Pledge Nights. The committee also cosponsored
the San Francisco Police Awareness Training Program, which introduced new police officers to the successes and problems of
the gay and lesbian community. Another sign of GGBA's growing community importance was that many local political leaders came
to the association's events and installation dinners. Former Mayor George Moscone was the guest speaker at the 1977 Installation
Dinner; and former Supervisor Harry Britt officiated at the 1982 Anniversary Dinner. Also founded in 1979 was the GGBA Foundation.
This foundation raised funds for GGBA award recipients. One of the earliest (since 1978) was the Gay Pride Parade. Other organizations
funded included the "San Francisco Aids Foundation, Operation Concern, Community United Against Violence, Bay Area Physicians
for Human Rights, and the Eureka Valley Theatre Co. ..."
In the early 1980's, GGBA became involved with the passage of California state bill AB1. This bill sought to outlaw workplace
discrimination based on sexual orientation. GGBA activists contacted other business organizations to enlist grassroots support
for the bill. One significant accomplishment for GGBA was the support of the conservative San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
for AB1. Also, GGBA's support for women's groups such as Bay Area Career Women and Bay Area Physician for Human Rights led
to more business and professional women joining GGBA and the election of Laurie McBride, GGBA's first woman president, in
1983.
As GGBA's membership, business, community, and political influence grew, a number of leading San Francisco businesses and
corporations joined the association to market their products to the gay and lesbian community.
Arthur Lazere, GGBA's president from 1979 to 1981, help found the National Association of Business Councils (NABC) in 1980.
The NABC is a national organization of gay and lesbian business and professional people.
The Golden Gate Business Association Records document the correspondence of Arthur Lazere (1979-1984), its president from
1979 to 1981. The correspondence, arranged chronologically, include both incoming and outgoing correspondence of Lazere with
other GGBA board members; gay and lesbian business and professional members and associates. Also, there is some correspondence
with San Francisco City officials, and members of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
The minutes of the Board of Directors of GGBA are arranged chronologically, spanning 1978 to 1983. The Financial records are
arranged chronologically spanning 1978 to 1984. The financial records consist of income tax returns, preliminary budget and
budget balance sheets, and statements of financial condition. One document titled "Committee Recommendations" lists the duties
of GGBA's executive director, executive secretary, and interim administrative assistant.
The Committees' Reports folder, [1982-1985], has the correspondence and reports of the many committees of GGBA. The committees
of GGBA reflected the association's business and professional goals of providing better service for its members, promoting
gay and lesbian businesses, and serving the gay and lesbian community. The committees included hospitality, public relations,
philanthropic (GGBA Foundation), issues, ethics, advertising and press relations, membership, member services, and programs.
Meetings are divided into two folders. The first folder includes GGBA meeting notices arranged chronologically from March
1979 to October 1982. The second folder lists invitations, programs, and weekend retreats GGBA held from 1979 to 1984. The
retreats were held in Mendocino County, or at the Russian River. Also, in the second folder there are programs from past GGBA
installation dinners. These programs provide biographical information about past GGBA directors. The 1984 program also has
a historical sketch of GGBA.
The Buyer's Guide, Planning and Promotional folder contain information concerning the GGBA Buyer's Guide and Directory. Published
every 6 months, the buyer's guide was free to members. It listed gay and lesbian businesses, professions, and services. The
latest information about the guide, from 1983, mentions that it had over 500 listings and that over 7,000 copies had been
distributed both locally and nationally.
Title: National Association of Business Councils - Records
Identifier/Call Number: 1990-16
Title: Arthur Lazere Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 1993-09