GALS Just Want to Have Fun: A Lesbian Fishing Group for Chicago

“It was just an idea and we just went for it, and it turned out to be a heck of a lot of fun.”

GALS (the Great Angling Lesbian Society) was founded in 1994 by Sherry Pethers and Susan McCann. Sherry and Susan met in the late 1980s at a house party in the late 1980s. Sherry moved up to Chicago where she worked at a law firm while Susan worked in corporate America. Looking for ways to destress, they decided to form a fishing club and advertise in the gay papers.

At its largest, GALS boasted over 60 members. Anybody who they got their name and address, they sent out a “dear Jane” letter welcoming them. They set up a voicemail network where you could call in to leave messages about where you were fishing so other people could join. GALS grew to include fishing trips, training seminars, and various other activities. The GAL ...