Beginnings

In the late 1980's/early 1990's, gay and lesbian rowing first began to organize – in some cases as simply as a gay-identified crew that competed together briefly but did not last. However, there were also teams that established and started putting down roots, such as DC Strokes Rowing Club (DCSRC). DCSRC was founded in 1991 by some men and women from Frontrunners who were looking for a cross-training activity.

An early milestone for galvanizing the community was the 1994 Gay Games, held in New York City. The host city, through a local organizing committee, had offered to include a rowing event. However, about a year out, rowing was withdrawn. DCSRC, then 3 years old, decided that it would organize and conduct a rowing event. Thus, the first Stonewall Regatta was held during the Games in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. About 100 people from around the US and abroad competed; many were unaffiliated and formed into boats just for that day. However, there were a few crews, such as the Boston Independents, a lesbian contingent from the Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club, and of course, DCSRC. 

At this event was the first discussion of building a national network of gay and lesbian rowing teams, with representative interest from rowers in Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The following year, DCSRC brought the Stonewall Regatta back to DC, where it has become an extremely successful and well-attended Regional Event. 

The inclusion of rowing at the Amsterdam Games is what really triggered gay and lesbian rowing to emerge on a broader scale. Starting in 1996 and continuing in 1997, teams began to form around the US, including in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh. Other cities that already had established groups, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle stepped up their organizing. Some of these teams participated at Stonewall as a warm-up for the Games. 

In Europe, teams formed in countries such as Denmark, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. It was around this time that communications resources began to be created with links to as many teams in the US and Europe that had sites, and an international g/l rowing list-serv.

Rowing at the 1998 Amsterdam Gay Games was an enormous success. Initial estimates were for 150 rowers but final attendance passed the 300 mark. Netherlands, Austin, Germany, Chicago, San Francisco, London, and Seattle all fielded more than twenty rowers in their team. There were 100 borrowed boats and over 80 local volunteers mostly from the Royal Dutch Rowing Association, of which only 5 were gay.

Since Amsterdam there has been a significant increase in events around the world. There are regattas in Amsterdam and Berlin and Copehagen that attract competitors from Europe and even some from North America. In the US, the Stonewall Regatta is held annually, with continued participation from g/l teams, and Row Team Austin holds an annual rowing retreat to enable not just competition but a sharing of knowledge and experiences. 

Lambda Rowing International

Beginning in 2000, steps were taken to try to realize the vision that began in 1994 at the first Stonewall Regatta. A committee of rowers representing a number of teams from around the world had been working to more formally organize on national and international scales to create a lesbigay rowing federation. The end result was Lambda Rowing International (LRI). Through email, conference calls, and meetings held at the different rowing forums, the committee had strengthened the long-established network of teams, promoted awareness of lesbigay rowing opportunities, and defined the mission and purpose of LRI.

LRI established itself as an umbrella organization for local lesbigay rowing organizations in the US, Canada, Europe, and Pacific. LRI had a dual purpose: to assist in the organization and coordination of national and international lesbigay rowing regattas, and to act as a resource for the gay lesbian community. As the scope and purpose of LRI evolved, it became apparent that its name needed instant recognition. As a result, the Gay and Lesbian Rowing Federation replaced LRI.