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GAPSN Member, Steve Ginn
Updated Feb 2003
In the mid-70's, after returning to Los Angeles from a year of living in Denver (the only time Steve has lived somewhere other than in Southern California), a friend told Steve Ginn about a gay/lesbian chapter of ACLU that was forming in Los Angeles. At the time it was the first chapter of ACLU devoted mainly to gay and lesbian issues.
Steve has served as secretary in the Gay Rights Chapter (the name was later changed to Lesbian Gay Rights Chapter) of ACLU for two years, during which time the GRC had the fastest growth rate of any ACLU chapter. This was during the period of the Anita Bryant's national anti-gay campaign, which helped draw gay rights activist to the organization. A highlight of this period was a banquet held at the Hollywood Palladium, attended by over 500 guests (3 guesses on who was in charge of tickets/seating), honoring (at the time) Assembly Speaker Willie Brown for being instrumental in getting passed one of California's early state legislations on gay rights.
It wasn't until 1989-1990 that Steve first heard of GAPSN. They had recently changed the organization's name from GARP to GAPSN when Steve attended one of their potluck socials and became a member (afterwards becoming a lifetime member). During the early years of GAPSN, they were trying to build up a treasury and they held numerous fund raising events. Even before Steve became a board member, Steve must have worked on every one of those fund raising events.
In the early 90's Steve served for two years on the GAPSN board as secretary. When "A Place For You" was established, Steve was trained as one of the senior facilitators, remaining with the program until it became dormant due to the lack of need and participation. A few years later, when GAPSN formed the Classic group, Steve became an active member and has remained so even though the Classic group now has few activities.
Steve serves as GAPSN's secretary in 2002.
