Friends--

“Do you think we have enough?" a concerned member leaned in and asked me as we both looked upon the sea of those who attended our annual BBQ at this year's EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Our view was in stark contrast to NGPA’s (then GPA) early days of meeting covertly on the show grounds near the FAA hangar – necessary not only to protect members’ identities, but also, because there was simply no other option.

While our group no longer meets covertly, I know there was a thought on the minds of many (me included) about whether the vibe was going to be any different this year. It was... we found out who our friends are.

Family after family, wife/husband duos, industry leaders, and so many others (including EAA themselves) stopped by to express their support and share a general thanks for our visibility... people I am humbled to admit I would never have expected. I’ve often viewed AirVenture as an incognito advocacy event, given the opportunities to connect with the greater LGBTQ+ community. This year, those who once would have done a discreet drive-by stopped to sit down. The lone gay person among their friend group didn’t have to “catch up with them later” - they brought their friends along. What began as a way to quietly find one another has grown into openly celebrating that we belong.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered this past week! We absolutely, unequivocally, without any doubt (hope you get the point) could not have done it all ... 9+ days maintaining a campsite, over 56+ hours connecting with members and attendees at the booth, hundreds of meals served throughout the week, set-up/tear-down, and so much more... Special thanks to longtime ally and supporter, Avemco, for sponsoring in part this year’s BBQ. (Fortunately, we did have plenty to go around for the estimated 300 in attendance.)

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to the event. Member contributions make it achievable for us to bring NGPA to AirVenture and keep the event accessible at little to no cost. If you haven’t yet, please consider helping us reach our $5,000 goal with a contribution today: DONATE.

Hope to see you next year in OSH 2026!

With Pride,
Justin