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The Passive Partner

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Although this project has focused exclusively on Gay Motorcycle Clubs as a subcultural formation, it’s worth considering how these queer organizations relate to (and differ from) their straight counterparts. “Straight” clubs can be categorized by the “aims” and organizational structure of the group or club. Clubs catering to riders' rights such as the Motorcycle Action Group, and charities like The Royal British Legion Riders Branch are highly popular, and “make up the majority of registered motorcycle clubs (Drew 110).” Most of these clubs produce national or local club magazines and host events like meetups and joy rides. There are also religiously oriented clubs including the Christian Motorcyclists Association, “a biker ministry,” and charities such as Freewheelers EVS, which use motorcycles to provide an out-of-hours emergency medical courier service. In addition to those already mentioned, America’s motorcycle culture contains clubs which attract membership from specific groups, such as the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club for law enforcement personnel.

It's interesting to note that the Satyrs and other Gay MCs have chosen to use an abbreviation; MC and MCC are both used to mean "motorcycle club" but have a special social meaning attached to them. “MC is generally reserved for those clubs that are mutually recognized by other MC or outlaw motorcycle clubs" (Drew 56). Examples of well-known MCs with branches in Los Angeles include Hells Angels, the Mongols, Devil's Disciples and more. The abbreviations were created from the point of view of the “outlaw” or “one percenter” motorcycling subculture, a perspective popularized by televisions shows like Sons of Anarchy (link needed).” The history of “one-percenters” in relation to the American Motorcycle Association reveals quite a bit about why American gay MCs like the Satyrs chose to take on the “outlaw” name and image.

The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) began as a whites-only organization [TRANSITION? SHOULD THIS GO BEFORE PARAGRAPH 2?]. From its inception in 1924 until 1956, the AMA prohibited African American, Latinx, or Asian motorcyclists from joining the club and from participating in its organized events (Youngblood). There continues to be a stigma around the AMA today, and numerous “clashes” have occurred as AMA-affiliated organizations come into contact with so-called “one-percenters.” The term one-percenter was coined after the 1947 riot in Hollister, California. The AMA is said to have responded that “99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens, and the last one percent were outlaws" (Youngblood). The AMA now says they have no record of such a statement to the press and call this story apocryphal; fact or rumor, we think the cat’s out of the bag on this one. Having witnessed the prohibition of non-white riders from joining the AMA firsthand, queer motorcycle organizations chose not to register, taking up the MC abbreviation in an act of resistance and rebellion. Some clubs have since registered with the AMA for legal protection, but many continue to persevere without the protection of America’s largest riding association, proudly wearing 1% buttons and MC patches on their jackets.

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