The Queer Jitterbugs started in 2001 with a simple request from the community at the San Francisco Castro Street Fair to join in on the email list the Queer Swing Alert by Burnie.

Since then he has invited other groups and people to join in his mission of dancing with other Queer Folk. The Queer Jitterbugs started doing the monthly swing dance parties as the former group had quit doing the monthly dances. QSwing was in Oakland, but SF was left in Queer swing hiatus by the burned out Swing OUT! Queer Jitterbugs then started the first all Queer by and for Lindy Hop weekly program. Citabria and Inka provided much needed support in starting classes with Burnie. Queer Jitterbugs saw it was important to keep Swing OUT! as a contributing member and invited them to teach with us at the parties.

The enthusiasm for partner dancing grew from there in starting the Queer Ballroom Party. Juan had been teaching in the Bay Area for years and joined his Salsa programs with the group. Will came on board for the Swing program. Two Michael's, Lisa, D. J., Kirk, Sue, Thom, Jesse, and numerous others joined in to continue the Board and help with growing pains. Since then as a collective the Queer Jitterbugs and Queer Ballroom opened up their own dance studio for the community. Most individuals have donated their time and not even paid for the hard work of teaching, promoting, hitting the streets to poster and flyer and lots of other hard work!

Dancing is a great way to meet that special someone! In a day and age where so much dancing in clubs is done without a connection to ones partner we believe partner dancing can help in our interactions as healthy sexual people. Connecting and learning to listen to your partner and lead or follow them into a dance can be used in areas of your life aside from dancing. Dancing can transform your life; It is great exercise, lots of fun, builds self-confidence and physical coordination, and provides a comfortable environment in which to make new friends. Even if you don't like who you are dancing with; It was only 3 minutes (1 song) of your life and you got to know them! No partner is necessary when joining our events! We hope to help you become confident enough to ask anyone to dance!

The Queer Jitterbugs and Queer Ballroom also are developing community connections to push the Gay Games in Chicago and Out Games in Montreal 2006 to include Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, Balboa and Shag!

The Queer Jitterbugs and Queer Ballroom could not fulfill their mission without the old timers (Queer in the closet or not), without Jazz and without the African dance influence we would not have Swing. Likewise, without the groundwork of other groups and individuals before the Queer Jitterbugs and Queer Ballroom same sex partner dancing would not be as it is today in the San Francisco Bay Area!