Who We Are

History

In August of 1998, founder Paul Oberon and a small group of men in southern California began to gather on a regular basis, intending to establish an outlet for gay fathers and their children. Their mission was to create a sense of community, not only where children could interact with gay parent role models in a comfortable setting, but also where fathers (and prospective fathers) could have a forum to discuss the unique problems faced by their sub-culture. The hope was that these gatherings would help them to become more confident parents.


The meetings quickly grew in size. Each gathering included a pot luck meal, where families shared their favorite recipes along with their personal experiences of gay parenting.


Today, The Pop Luck Club has blossomed into the largest known gay fathers organization in the world, with hundreds of families and strong continued growth. As a non-profit organization, PLC sponsors many special events, such as Resource Fairs, where community leaders speak on relevant topics; participation in annual Gay Pride Parades; and joint events with Lesbian Moms. There are also plenty of activities for the kids, including baseball games, amusement park outings and much much more. While it has retained the simple tradition of each member sharing food and stories, The Pop Luck Club has evolved into a substantial voice, helping to support our wonderfully diverse community.


Mission Statement

The mission of The Pop Luck Club is to advance the well-being of gay prospective parents, gay parents and their children. We do this through mutual support, community collaboration, and public understanding. Look to us for the following information and guidance:

If you’re considering becoming a parent, we’re here to provide you with information on:

  • adoption
  • co-parenting
  • fostering
  • surrogacy
  • other means of creating families

If you already have children, we’re here to help you:

  • facilitate social interaction
  • develop mentoring relationships
  • share positive images of gay parenting with the community at large

Our Board Members - 2008

The Pop Luck Club has an 11 member volunteer Board of Directors:

  • Mark Brown
  • John Crabtree-Ireland
  • Mike Farina
  • Jeff Hall
  • Andrew Rakos
  • Larry Riesenbach
  • Robert Robinson
  • John Savittieri
  • Rich Valenza
  • Steve Zikman
  • Tony Zimbardi