Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has long been recognized as a diverse and inclusive fellowship, welcoming anyone who has a desire to stop drinking. However, in the 1970s and 1980s, as the LGBTQ+ community began to assert greater visibility and rights, tensions arose around how inclusivity was practiced within AA.
One of the most notable outcomes of this period was the formation of Alcoholics Together (AT), a support group specifically for gay and lesbian alcoholics, born out of the unique challenges they faced within the broader AA fellowship.
A Need for Safe Spaces in Recovery
The roots of Alcoholics Together go back to a time when being openly gay or lesbian was still highly stigmatized. The LGBTQ+ community, already marginalized in society, often faced additional barriers within AA. While the organization’s guiding principles, particularly Tradition Three, emphasized inclusivity (“The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking”), the reality was that some LGBTQ+ individuals did not always feel safe or fully accepted in traditional AA meetings.
Many gay and lesbian members of AA found themselves in a difficult position: they were committed to their recovery, but they often encountered hostility or subtle discrimination from others in the fellowship. Homophobic attitudes were not uncommon, and many LGBTQ+ members felt uncomfortable sharing openly in meetings. There was also a lack of understanding and support for the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ alcoholics, whose struggles often intersected with the broader social stigma of their sexual orientation.
The Desire for Exclusivity and AA’s Response
In response to these challenges, some gay and lesbian members began forming informal groups to meet and support one another, often in private homes or LGBTQ+ community centers. These gatherings provided a safe space where individuals could be open about both their sexual orientation and their struggles with alcoholism. These early groups offered a sense of community and belonging that many felt was missing from mainstream AA meetings.
However, as these groups began to formalize and request recognition within AA, they encountered resistance. AA’s Tradition Three, while inclusive, also prohibited any subgroup from being exclusive or from placing additional requirements for membership beyond the desire to stop drinking. This meant that any group identifying itself explicitly as gay or lesbian within the broader AA structure was technically at odds with the organization’s traditions.
AA’s stance was clear: while gay and lesbian individuals were welcome, groups could not exclude non-LGBTQ+ members or create a separate identity within the fellowship. This tension between the desire for LGBTQ+ members to form their own space and AA’s inclusive, but non-exclusive, policy set the stage for the creation of a new group.
The Birth of Alcoholics Together (AT)
In response to this impasse, the group Alcoholics Together (AT) was born. AT was created as a distinct recovery community, initially separate from AA, that catered specifically to the needs of gay and lesbian individuals seeking sobriety. By doing so, AT provided a dedicated space where LGBTQ+ people could share openly about their experiences without fear of judgment or discrimination. AT maintained many of the same recovery principles as AA but allowed for the development of a community that was more attuned to the specific social and emotional challenges faced by LGBTQ+ alcoholics.
One of the core motivations behind the creation of Alcoholics Together was the recognition that, for many LGBTQ+ individuals, the intersection of their identity and their alcoholism presented unique recovery challenges. Many had suffered from internalized homophobia, social ostracism, and trauma related to their sexual orientation. In the safe environment of AT meetings, they could explore these issues in depth while also working on their sobriety.
The Emergence of Psychedelics in Recovery (PIR): A Parallel Journey
Much like Alcoholics Together, Psychedelics in Recovery (PIR) grew out of a similar need for safe spaces, but in response to a different kind of stigma. In recent years, the use of psychedelics in therapeutic settings has gained momentum as a potential aid in addiction recovery, yet it remains controversial, especially in traditional abstinence-based recovery programs. PIR was formed to address the needs of individuals who believe that psychedelics can play a role in their spiritual growth and recovery from addiction.
Just as LGBTQ+ members of AA found that mainstream meetings often did not offer the understanding or safe environment they needed, individuals who found healing through psychedelics often felt excluded or judged in conventional recovery spaces. Despite growing scientific evidence supporting the benefits of substances like psilocybin and ayahuasca for treating addiction and trauma, these individuals were often marginalized within the larger recovery community, facing skepticism and stigma.
PIR emerged as a response to this marginalization, providing a community for those who seek to integrate the use of psychedelics into their recovery journey. Like Alcoholics Together, PIR maintains core recovery principles, but it also encourages open dialogue about how psychedelics can facilitate spiritual experiences, personal transformation, and long-term sobriety. For many members of PIR, these substances serve as tools for deepening their understanding of themselves and their recovery, much like the spiritual awakenings sought in AA.
Growth and Impact of Alcoholics Together and PIR
As Alcoholics Together grew, it became an essential resource for gay and lesbian individuals in recovery. Similarly, Psychedelics in Recovery has become a vital resource for those who believe in the potential of plant medicine and other psychedelics to aid their recovery. Both groups serve as crucial reminders that recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process and that safe spaces tailored to the needs of marginalized communities can be essential for healing.
By offering support and understanding that might be missing from mainstream recovery groups, both AT and PIR have played important roles in broadening the scope of recovery. Each community allows individuals to openly discuss parts of their identity and experience that might be stigmatized in traditional recovery spaces, whether that’s being LGBTQ+ or incorporating psychedelics into their recovery practice.
Legacy of Alcoholics Together and Psychedelics in Recovery
The creation of Alcoholics Together and Psychedelics in Recovery demonstrates the importance of evolving recovery models that reflect the changing needs of diverse communities. Both groups have carved out spaces where individuals can address the unique challenges they face, whether related to sexual orientation or alternative recovery practices. While each group emerged in response to stigma, they have also helped broaden the conversation about what recovery can look like.
These groups, though born out of exclusion, continue to promote inclusivity in their own ways—AT for the LGBTQ+ community and PIR for those exploring the intersection of psychedelics and sobriety. Their legacies remind us that the path to recovery is as diverse as the individuals who walk it and that creating safe, welcoming environments is crucial for those on the journey to healing.
