Great Lakes Harley Riders

When Harley-Davidson announced the 90th Anniversary Homecoming, several gay and bisexual Harley riders in the Milwaukee area thought it would be a good opportunity to meet other Harley riders coming “home” for the celebration. 

Joseph "Papa Joe" Mallien (1935-2025) and Lee Scherz were the driving force behind Great Lakes Harley Riders. With advice and assistance from The Leather Journal, they spread the word.

The gathering was intended to be a one-time event. Instead, it became the beginning of Great Lakes Harley Riders (GLHR).

The 90th Anniversary Homecoming brought 60,000-100,000 people to Metro Milwaukee. Ten separate official rides embarked on a nine-day cross-country journey that led them to Milwaukee. The sheer volume of riders actually shut down I-94 to non-motorcycle traffic.

Meanwhile, the GLHR group brought 20 men together for the first time. When the anniversary celebration ended, they decided they wanted to stay in touch. They also wanted to continue using the Great Lakes Harley Riders name and post office box to connect with other gay and bisexual Harley riders in their area.

Most of the original Riders had seen the traditional motorcycle club scene and were not interested in creating another organization with that kind of structure. Instead, GLHR was established as a confidential network of gay Harley riders. To avoid the formal structure associated with a motorcycle club, the group decided it would have no formal membership—only Riders.

There would be no dues, bylaws, elected officers, patches, T-shirts, required meetings or other club obligations. As something of an afterthought, every Rider was considered a president and could chair any committee he wanted to create.

The informal structure suited the group. Riders stayed connected through a roster containing telephone and email information. Although Great Lakes Harley Riders technically had no formal organizational structure, the network continued to grow. Over the years, GLHR connected with more than 400 bikers. Eventually, about 150 men from three continents were involved, supported by a website and newsletter.

Harley riders from across the United States and Canada began contacting GLHR to ask whether there were local chapters or whether the group could help them establish gay Harley riding clubs in their own communities. At first, GLHR provided assistance where it could, but members were reluctant to expand beyond the Great Lakes region. They worried that becoming too large and geographically dispersed would make the network difficult to manage and eventually require the rules, dues and formal structure they had deliberately avoided.

That philosophy eventually changed, and Harley riders from outside the Great Lakes region were welcomed into the network.

At its core, GLHR existed to help gay and bisexual Harley riders find riding companions with whom they could be open about their lives. Many people who contacted the group were surprised to discover that they were not the only gay man who owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Riders and their new friends were free to organize their own activities without required meetings, regulations or other obligations. Using the roster, email group and website, Riders arranged local rides as well as trips to major motorcycle events and destinations such as Sturgis, Daytona and Laconia.

The concept was unfamiliar to people accustomed to the traditional motorcycle club model, with its formal organization, meetings, rules and established rides. GLHR intentionally offered something different: a network built around riding, friendship and privacy rather than organizational structure.

A facilitator maintained the post office box, screened prospective Riders and distributed the roster several times a year. The facilitator also maintained the organization's central records. The roster contained only limited information: a first name or road name, city, state, motorcycle model and year, telephone number and email address. Riders were expected to make personal contact with one another if they wanted additional information.

To join the network, applicants had to demonstrate that they owned a roadworthy Harley-Davidson motorcycle and sign a privacy statement before receiving the roster. At the time, there was a $10 registration fee to cover expenses through the end of the calendar year. Riders were subsequently asked to reaffirm their desire to remain on the roster and make a $5 contribution toward postage and copying costs.

The group maintained a public website, gayharleybikers.com, and an email group that allowed Riders to communicate quickly and confidentially with one another.

New Riders were encouraged to submit a short biography describing themselves, their experiences, interests and affiliations, along with photographs. These could be published in the newsletter and, with the Rider's permission, on the website. Riders could choose whether to include their real name or address in their biographies. The newsletter and website did not accept personal advertisements.

GLHR also maintained specific eligibility requirements. Non-Harley riders were not eligible to join, just as other motorcycle owner organizations have requirements based on the motorcycles their members own. GLHR's focus was specifically gay and bisexual Harley-Davidson owners.

Although the network was primarily composed of men, GLHR stated that it did not have a formal policy excluding women. Women who owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles could apply to become Riders.

The original concept behind Great Lakes Harley Riders was simple: create a confidential way for gay and bisexual Harley owners to find one another, make friends and ride together. Rather than building another traditional motorcycle club, GLHR created a network that allowed its Riders to maintain their independence while connecting with a larger community of gay Harley enthusiasts.