The Oedipus Motorcycle Club was founded in Los Angeles in 1958 for the purpose of "providing a safe and comfortable environment for motorcyclists in the gay community. Our focus is on motorcycling and motorcycling related events. Oedipus provides support for local gay community events that involve motorcycling and motorcyclists. Oedipus members and officers are dedicated to the preservation of the time-honored history and traditions of this great organization."

Oedipus MC is the second oldest gay motorcycle club in Los Angeles and one of the oldest still existing today. The club was a member of the Council of Southern California Motorcycle Clubs and was involved with other Los Angeles clubs, including Satyrs MC. Club activities ranged from group rides and charity events to weekend getaways and road trips. Oedipus MC was well known for their elaborate events, particularly the twice-yearly Coronations of the new club president, “Oedipus Rex”, and the annual Grecian Games, a combination of motorcycle riding competitions and physical challenges.

Gay motorcycle clubs came into existence in America during the 1950s, at a time when homosexuality was illegal and widely ostracized. These clubs, which took their inspiration from post-WWII road culture, offered gay men a sanctuary where they could comfortably gather in groups without fear of persecution. At the height of their popularity, there were more than 20 gay motorcycle clubs in the Los Angeles area.

These clubs sometimes overlapped with leather and BDSM communities and some motorcycle clubs developed hand in hand with local leather groups. Both offered distinctively gay avenues for self-expression and sexual self-awareness. As the number of gay motorcycle clubs grew, so did their efforts in the fight for gay rights. They publicly championed gay rights, promoted safer sex during the AIDS epidemic, and campaigned to strike down discriminatory laws. In more recent years, the clubs have opened their doors to the wider LGBTQ community. Though membership in motorcycle clubs has declined since the late 20th century, their position as an influential subculture in LGBTQ history remains.

Oedipus Motorcycle Club. “Our Mission.” Last accessed July 23, 2021. http://oedipusmcla.com/about-us/

Solis, Gustavo. "Stories from L.A.’s pioneering gay motorcycle clubs are told through USC’s ONE Archives." USC News. June 29, 2021. https://news.usc.edu/188105/los-angeles-gay-motorcycle-clubs-lgbtq-stories-usc-one-archives/

Kraft, Kate. "Los Angeles Gay Motorcycle Clubs, 1954-1980: Creating a Masculine Identity and Community." Thesis. Yale University, 2010. http://worldoftomoffinland.com/insider_trading_tof/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2010-senior-essay-kraft-kate-los-angeles-gay-motorcycle-clubs-1954-1980-1.pdf