To see our previous Web site, which is available on the Internet Archive, click here.
Although not a big city, Concord has hosted gay men’s support groups since at least the early 1980s. The earliest known reference is an announcement of a young men’s group that met on Sunday nights in Concord; this appeared in the November, 1982 newsletter for Seacoast Gay Men, itself only 3 years old at the time. Two months later, SGM reported that it was distributing N.H. Services for Gay Men, a paper written by “the Concord Group.” The card seen below joins these items and gives us a name; it was printed in the June, 1983 SGM newsletter. Thanks to SGM for access to their archive for this information.
The group itself would eventually adopt the name “Gay Men’s Professional Association.” This group probably continued to meet until the early 1990s. Expect this to be revised if I learn more.
Around 1993, “Out & Proud,” a support group for gay men began meeting on Friday nights above Foodees downtown. The late Jim Bretz served as the moderator for this group during it’s six-year run. He also answered the phone at the Gay Info Line and was one of the most actively involved people in the state. Out & Proud celebrated its 5th anniversary at an apartment clubhouse in 1998 with about 20 people in attendance. But by May of 1999, as meeting attendance slowly dissipated to 5-6 men per week, Jim announced that he would step down as moderator.
After Jim’s last meeting in late May, the 4 remaining regulars decided that a gay men’s support group was still viable in Concord. During July, the group examined what it was that kept newcomers from sticking. The brainstorming led to only one solution: break free from Concord’s old Friday night formula, remain vigilant of cliques, be welcoming in whatever we do, and find a brighter, friendlier place to meet. Four newcomers had arrived during July to join us still on the ground floor. These 8 men, CGM’s “Founders,” held an election, asking Jeremy to lead the group as its new moderator. Jeremy’s first meeting as moderator was August 20.
By then, it was clear that the original Out & Proud was closed, so only one question remained. Who are we? Jeremy asked that the attendees submit possible names, with a vote to be held in early September. Many names were submitted, but only one prevailed. The first full meeting of Capital Gay Men was held on September 3, 1999. Jeremy was the moderator and Dave was the treasurer. CGM inherited $52 left over from Out & Proud’s treasury. CGM moved into it’s new home, the U.U. Church in Concord on November 12, thanks to the efforts of Mike E.
Like all new groups, CGM had growing pains. Jeremy preferred to let the group grow and evolve on its own, rather than be led by individual vision. Thus, meetings often included a “business segment” to gather input on decisions. By June of 2000, some of these segments consumed the entire meeting time. A workgroup formed to move business decisions offline. A new structure was created to serve as the backbone of CGM, which solved many problems.
