By the late 1970s, cities in the United States and Canada had gay and lesbian bowling clubs. Inspired by an article published in The Advocate on August 9, 1979, about gay sports in America, New York bowler Leo Gender began to promote the idea of inter-city bowling tournaments. Bowlers David Theiss of Milwaukee, Tom Hack of New York, and John Hammett met in Los Angeles and decided to merge their individual city tournaments. Hack suggested they call it the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO). With Tom Hack chosen as IGBO’s first board president, the group held its first annual tournament in 1981. Bowlers travelled from 13 different cities to convene—and bowl—in Houston, Texas.

IGBO grew exponentially during its early years. In 1983, 27 cities participated, and the American Bowling Congress acknowledged IGBO’s competitions. The next year, 29 cities sent 44 bowling leagues to Seattle, making IGBO the largest such sport organization in the world.

In 1984, IGBO directors officially implemented a program of activism. New agendas included providing HIV/AIDS information to bowlers, encouraging more women members both locally and nationally, establishing strategies to inspire future organization leaders, and donating tens of thousands of dollars to causes in their home cities.

By 1988, IGBO was losing bowlers to the AIDS epidemic. The next year, teams began listing names and constructing AIDS quilt sections, first shown at the 1990 tournament. By 2005, the quilt was so large it could only be fully exhibited at Milwaukee’s vast Midwest Airlines Center.

Although initially organized for friendship and fun, IGBO gained in stature as it grew in numbers. Its presence, size, and recognition not only played a crucial role building community but also helped promote a wider acceptance of LGBTQIA people everywhere.