THE INTERNATIONAL - Celebrating 30 years!
A Short History
Black Tie Club International was formed by Robert Gregson in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1990, with 18 Members wiith the objective of promoting good fellowship, excellent cuisine, and fine wines. Other Chapters began to form in other major cosmopolitan areas, and there are now 17 Chapters with almost 1000 Members. This makes the Black Tie Club International one of the largest LGBT organizations in North American history. Robert Gregson was succeeded in 2006 by Len Olds who served as International President until 2018. The current International President, Gary Dougan is actively planning a further expansion of Chapters.
Every Chapter hosts at least two black tie cocktail parties and dinners per year. All Members receive an invitation to their own events. And if Members of other Chapters are traveling in an area in which an event is being held, they may also attend. Each year one Chapter and the International jointly host an annual event, nicknamed the 'Convergence' which is usually a four-day affair to which all Members are invited.
International President Gary Dougan and Husband Charlie Priest
The Black Tie Club International has jointly hosted the following annual events:
1996 ~ Puerto Rico
1997 ~ Seattle
1998 ~ Puerto Rico
1999 ~ San Miguel, Mexico
2000 ~ Palm Springs
2001 ~ Fort Lauderdale
2002 ~ Washington, D.C.
2003 ~ Las Vegas
2004 ~ New Orleans
2005 ~ San Francisco
2006 ~ New York City
2007 ~ Toronto
2008 ~ Dallas
2009 ~ Palm Springs
2010 ~ Rehoboth Beach-Lewes
2011 ~ Palm Beach
2012 ~ San Diego-Laguna Beach
2013 ~ San Antonio
2014 ~ New Orleans
2015 ~ Albuquerque
2016 ~ Fort Lauderdale
2017 ~ Washington, D.C.
2018 ~ Los Angeles
2019 ~ Rochester-Finger Lakes
2020 ~ Black Tie Club Annual Convergence cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic.
2021 ~ Phoenix-Scottsdale
2022 ~ Atlanta
2023 ~ Dallas
The Black Tie Club International will join with the following Chapter hosts for our annual events in:
2024 ~ Toronto
2025 ~ San Francisco