GAMMA

Milwaukee GAMMA was organized -- either in summer 1976 or fall 1978, depending on conflicting sources -- as an alternative to the city’s gay bar scene.  

Founders Randy Reddemann and Jon Russo envisioned a friendly place where gay men could meet, socialize, and build community. In its early years, athletics were at the heart of the organization. Volleyball, softball, and flag football were popular during the warmer months, while winter brought card games, board games, potluck dinners, and house parties.

Over its more than 45-year history, GAMMA has evolved in response to the interests and needs of its members. While athletics are no longer the organization’s primary focus, sports and recreation remain part of its programming. Today, MKE-GAMMA offers a broad mix of social, recreational, and cultural activities designed to appeal to a diverse membership.

Regular events include Dining Out, Fish ’n Sip, Lunch Bunch, card-game nights, karaoke, hikes, and FrontRunners. The organization also sponsors special events such as theater outings, holiday parties, harbor cruises, painting parties, museum visits, and house parties. During warmer months, biking, camping, and hiking are popular; winter activities have included skiing and other recreational outings.

The origins of the name “GAMMA” have never been entirely clear. Some early members recalled that it may have stood for “Gay Athletic Milwaukee Men’s Association" or "Gay Activities / Men's Mutual Alliance,” while InStep Magazine identified the organization as “Gay Athletes Metro Milwaukee Area.” The organization itself has never publicly confirmed the meaning of the acronym.

Although GAMMA was originally organized primarily around gay male social and athletic activities, the organization has made efforts over the years to broaden its membership. Recruiting and retaining women, particularly lesbians, proved challenging. Occasional efforts attracted a small number of women, but participation often did not continue, in part because there were relatively few women involved and limited programming specifically oriented toward them.

Like many long-running community organizations, GAMMA has also experienced changes in its membership. Some longtime members have remained active as the organization has aged, while attracting younger members has presented an ongoing challenge. Activities that once defined the group, such as volleyball, are now less prominent than they were during GAMMA’s first two decades.

In 2019, Randy Reddemann returned to Milwaukee after forty years.  He reconnected with the GAMMA community, rejoined the Board of Directors, and was quickly elected president of the organization.

However, the GAMMA he left behind in 1979 has changed significantly.  In the 1970s, GAMMA was fueled by the wild and unchecked energy of youth. The GAMMA of the 2020s is fueled by the positive power of face-to-face friendships and social networks. Under Randy’s leadership, GAMMA has become a sanctuary for seniors who felt unseen. Most members are now retirees between age 65 and 85.

What has remained constant, however, is the organization’s original purpose: creating opportunities for LGBTQ people to meet, socialize, and build community outside the traditional bar scene. Today, GAMMA remains active, typically offering 15 to 20 events each month. 

Fifty years later, GAMMA continues to adapt while maintaining its role as a social and recreational gathering place for Milwaukee’s LGBTQ community.