I mean really do we need articles about “Andy Cohen is living his best daddy life” or news, information, and guidance about the attacks on our community by the GOP and Red States? You decide.
A long time ago in a gay-laxy many decades away gay and LGBT journalism played a critical role in the struggle for our equal rights and acceptance in the United States, particularly in the 1970s and 80s. During this time, Gay and LGBT journalists and publications emerged as powerful tools for activism, community building, and advocacy.
The 1970s saw the birth of several groundbreaking gay publications, including The Advocate, Gay Community News (gone), and The Body Politic (gone). These publications provided a platform for people to share their stories and experiences, as well as to engage in political and social activism.
LGBT journalism has played a critical role in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance in the United States, particularly in the 1970s and 80s. During this time, LGBTQ+ journalists and publications emerged as powerful tools for activism, community building, and advocacy.
One of the key ways that LGBTQ+ journalism was used for activism during this period was through reporting on discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people. For example, in the aftermath of the Stonewall riots in 1969, LGBTQ+ publications covered police violence against queer people and the subsequent protests and activism that emerged in response. Similarly, in the 1980s, as the AIDS epidemic swept through the LGBTQ+ community, publications such as The Advocate and Gay Community News were instrumental in raising awareness about the disease and advocating for better healthcare and support services for those affected.
LGBT+ journalists and publications also played a crucial role in advocating for legal and political change. In the early 1980s, for example, The Advocate published a series of articles exposing the discrimination faced by gay people in the military, which helped to build momentum for the eventual repeal of the military’s ban on openly LGBT+ service members in 2011.
In addition to reporting on news and events, LGBT publications also served as important forums for community building and activism. Many publications included personal ads and classifieds sections, which allowed people to connect with one another and build social networks. They also often featured editorial content on topics such as Gay+ history, culture, and politics, which helped to educate readers and build a sense of community and solidarity.
Many publications faced censorship, harassment, and even violence from those who opposed LGBT rights and visibility. For example, in 1977, the offices of The Gay Crusader, a publication based in San Francisco, were firebombed in what is widely believed to have been an anti-gay hate crime attack.
Despite these challenges, LGBT+ journalism remained a powerful tool for activism throughout the 1970s and 80s.
In the 90’s and afterwards many LGBT publications went “mainstream”. Gone are the personals, history pots, and any calls to activism.
In this current political climate we need LGBT+ publications to return to its roots. To inform, lead, and create a sense of community again.
Oh and by the way. NO ONE FUCKING CARES ABUT ANDY COHEN.
You can see some gay and LGBT vintage news magazines cover below.
While I agree with the spirit and intent of this article on how corporate interests have ignored or toned down the actual real conditions and challenges of most LGBT People and that some of the current LGBT media ignore, it was not that some of the media were always “exemplary”. The failure of many to not even mention HIV-AIDS until many thousands died, due to business concerns it would scare customers away and those newspapers relied on those business ads. There has been little journalist research to share with their readers on actually what the governments and industries have historically done to LGBT people. How much coverage on how poor LGBT experience as conditions are in prisons, hospitals, shelters and needed services. How much coverage has there been on laws and harsh penalties carried out on LGBT anywhere? How many LGBT have cared and why is that attitude of denial been “acceptable”? Those who want to accept, adapt, conform and not care and speak out and risk, is why more needed has not occurred. It is the LGBT media who should be helping advancing Our rights, concerns and lives – not just entertaining in WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE, An Aware Community is a stronger Community – and this media source Back2Stonewall by Will Kohler, has been a important and needed asset worth thanking and supporting.