Gay Atheists League of America (GALA)
American Gay Atheists

1982 - 1995

      

This was a Houston-based group that evolved into one of national influence,
led by Don Sanders. The newsletters got wider in their focus, Houston,
then Texas, then national (AGA).

Sanders died on May 17, 1995, preceded in death by his partner,
Mark Franceschini, on August 24, 1992, who was also an officer in AGA.

Newsletters
courtesy of U of H LGBT Resource Center

GALA, Houston newsletters:
8106, 8107, 8108, 8109 PDF
8206 PDF
8207, 8211 PDF
8301 PDF

GALA, Texas newsletters:
8207, 8211 PDF
8301 PDF





American Gay Atheists newsletters (AGA)
8304, 8305, 8308, 8311 PDF
8407, 8409, 8410 PDF
8511, 8607, 8610, 8702 PDF
8810 PDF
8901, 8902 PDF
8903, 8904, 8905, 8906, 8907, 8908 PDF
8910, 8911, 8912 PDF
9001, 9002, 9003, 9004, 9005 PDF
9006, PDF
9104, 9106 PDF
9108 PDF
9202 PDF
9207-08 PDF
9209 PDF
9210-11 PDF
9212 PDF

9301 PDF

KPFT, Lesbian & Gay Voices: 8/6/93, 18 min, interview with Don Sanders,
National Director of American Gay & Lesbian Atheists,
LISTEN

 

 

Principal Officers
and partners

Don Sanders Obituary 1937 - 1995
Mark Franceschini  1956 - 1992

They certainly attracted the lightning. They had a lot to rage about in those times. Not only were fundamentalists attacking us as people, but the community was also fighting the spread of AIDS. And the fundamentalists pretty much said “You made your bed, you can die in it.” Don and Mark zeroed right in on what they felt was institutionalized hatred, devoid of compassion. -- Brandon Wolf, Oct 2017

 

Clippings

1981

   

above is from the San Francisco chapter

1982

   

   

1983

with their Houston Pride Parade entry they could not have gotten more publicity if they tried

   

     

  

1984

1985

1986

1987

   

1988

Below, Mr Sanders also had other interests....

meanwhile, in Dallas...

1989

   

   

Read article Sanders contributed to the June 1989 issue of American Atheist: PDF

1990

     

Pride Festival 1990

below, Mark Franceshini (at right) at Gay Atheists table; he was vice-president and Don Sanders' partner

above and below, Don Sanders (in grey shirt) at Gay Atheists table

   

   

1991

another controversy...
Crossroads '91

  

Also see the AGA Newsletter 9106

1992

The July 24, 1992 issue of TWT had the last listing for AGA

1993

1994

1995

I found this flyer online, from the San Francisco GALA, I do not
think the group had any direct connection to the Houston one