The Gay Outdoor Club Nears Its 50th Anniversary of Breaking Stereotypes
Historically, outdoor activities such as hiking, walking, and climbing have often been dominated by cisgender, heterosexual individuals, which has led to a lack of representation in outdoor activities for the LGBTQI+ community. With instances of homophobia and sexism on trails across the world, those in the community may have been deterred from their favorite hobbies. But for the past 50 years, the Gay Outdoor Club (GOC) has created a welcoming LGBTQI+ club for people across the UK, where like-minded individuals can embark on a trek in a safe, welcoming environment.
The Gay Outdoor Club was founded in 1974 by Reg Connolly in a Pub in Soho, with just five members, and a mission, they summited Snowdon (a mountain in Wales), and the club was born. Over the years different branches have popped up across the UK, and now the club has over 1,500 members. People from all walks of life have been able to find a community in outdoor spaces across the country, having local gatherings in daily walks to weekends away across the country and annual holidays abroad. Next year, 2024, marks the club’s 50th anniversary years, but at its 49-year mark, it is still the UK`s biggest and oldest LGBTQI+ outdoor walking group.
Fifty years is a great feat for any club, but the GOC is actually quite young compared to many other outdoor clubs around the country. Prior to this point, all outdoor clubs were mainly filled with straight men, and because of the stigma held towards LGBTQI+ people, often very exclusionary. Although there continues to be unnecessary hatred towards the community, over the last 50 years we have witnessed so much change for the better.
On the upcoming anniversary, David Millar of the GOC marketing committee spoke to Vacationer about how much has changed in the past fifty years. “We have seen enormous benefits to LGBTQI+ people – legislative, cultural, and commercial – since 1974. We can, and do, advertise more widely, gaining new members and developing social events to augment our walks. Many members are now enjoying equal rights and hence all the lifestyles and choices previously only available to straight people.”
GOC has evolved from a place where advertising may have made people wary, to one where members can celebrate their identity side by side and continually recruit new members. In the time the club has existed, the members celebrated the legalization of same-sex marriage in the UK, the equality act that protects LGBTQ people from discrimination, and the countless pride marches that have only become bigger, and more inclusive as the years go on.
As the GOC has expanded, it has collaborated with other groups across the country, taking walking and cycling trips abroad. With the help of Stonewall, it continues to seek ways to diversify its membership, recognizing the importance of inclusivity and diversity. In 2014, the GOC became a registered charity. After that, the charity, club, and members endured the COVID restrictions and successfully had as many events as possible before coming back in full force across the country.
The GOC has also recently been featured, in the ITV Coast & Country programme in Wales. On the show, Allyson Evans, a member of the South Wales and West GOC branch said, “I think it’s really important for LGBT people just to meet up together, especially for people who are just coming out, you know, for them to join other LGBT people… you know, you still hear of things in the news, which are awful, concerning LGBT hate crime and things, so it’s just nice to have a nice safe space for LGBT people to meet up.”
As Evans pointed out, the club brings LGBTQI+ people together, joined by shared experience. Millar also mentioned how many people are proud to fly the flag for themselves and the GOC, an organization that welcomes everyone in the community. He pointed out how although the club has plenty of images on its website of members having fun, “members to choose whether to have their photo taken, and no one is required to ‘come out’.” There is so much value in this sentiment, as many people may feel they need to confirm their identity to find community, but at the GOC this isn’t necessary.
So much has changed for the LQBTQI+ community and for the GOC; however, no amount of sexism, homophobia, or heteronormativity in the outdoor space will stop the multi-faceted group from its weekend walks with old and new friends. As the Gay Outdoor Club turns 50, the ever-expanding group is and has increased LGBTQ+ representation in outdoor sports, making it a crucial force in breaking down stereotypes and promoting diversity.
For more information about the Gay Outdoor Club, visit its website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Connect with other outdoor hiking groups and check out our Ultimate Guide to Finding LGBTQ+ Hikers and Outdoor Groups.
