Tyler and Brad's Index to Early Gay Publications & Periodicals

Regional Index Page 2: East Coast

The Alternative

September 23, 1971 issue of "The Alternative" (Volume 2 #1) published by HOPS, the Homophiles of Penn State out of State College and University Park, Pennsylvania. Printed on quality paper and measuring 11-1/4" by 17-3/8", this issue contains four large pages. One of the earliest gay college student publications, the headline article ("HOPS Alive and Moving") reads in part: "HOPS is alive! Despite the continued efforts of the administration to put an end to our existence, some sixty members are forging on, and if any enthusiasm has been lost along the way, it is not apparent among the members of Penn State's first gay community."

Containing news, announcements, articles, poetry, and early gay liberation advertisements, highlights include:

*article "Gay Week A Winner" (on Gay Pride Week 1971);

*announcement of the upcoming gay dance on October 8th at the H.U.B. Ballroom;

*small advertisements from the Los Angeles Advocate, GAY, Horner's Book Shop, St. Marks Place and Youngberg's General Store, Jack's My-O-My, Henderson Station, The Nittany News, Dandelion Market;

*article "Open Letter To Straights" by J. Laurence (reprinted from the July 22 issue of Penn State's "Daily Collegian") which includes the following statement:

"Straights may consider some of the statements we make self-righteous, and I believe that we are and have a right to be. We have suffered too long, and although you are not used to it or pleased with it, we are no longer going to take your abuse";

*poetry by college students "James" and "Ted";

*movie review of "Fortune and Men's Eyes";

*article "Struggle To Be 'The Way I Am'" by HOPS member "Karen."

CHRISTOPHER STREET

A significant, magnificent run of 106 issues of "Christopher Street" (1976-1992), without question the finest and richest gay men's literary magazine ever published. Edited by Charles L. (Chuck) Ortleb and published by That New Magazine out of New York City (the publication went defunct in the mid-1990s). A high-quality, glossy stapled magazine with most issues containing 48 or 64 pages each.

A treasure trove of fiction, articles, interviews, reviews, criticism (social, political, and in later issues, strong counter-establishment articles on AIDS medicine and politics), exposes, marvelous comic art, and photographs. "Christopher Street" might well be considered analogous as the gay men's equivalent of the "New Yorker" magazine. Contents include (and I am only able to briefly touch on the vast richness of this periodical):

Interviews of:

Adrienne Rich, David Kopay, Megan Terry, Quentin Crisp, Reva Calesky, Manuel Puig, James Spada, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, John Rechy, Felice Picano, Ray Caviano, Guy Hocquenghem, Tom of Finland, Jaime Manrique Ardila, Jean-Paul Sartre, John Money, Cleve Jones, Lanford Wilson, Vito Russo, Richard Sennett, Arthur Bell, Paul Schrader, Duran Duran, John Waters, Rock Hudson, James McCourt, Peter Duesberg, Mark Morris, William Burroughs, Dr. Steven Caiazza, Harvey Milk, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Bancroft, Matthew Broderick, Cary Grant, Lev Raphael, John Boswell, Melvin Dixon, Joey Manley, Neil Bartlett;

Poetry by:

William Barber, Justin Caldwell, Tennessee Williams, Marilyn Hacker, John Harris, Andrew Holleran, Phil Andros (Samuel Steward), Thom Gunn, Alfred Corn, Thomas Kelly, Sean Lawrence, James Purdy, Paul Monette, Robert Weaver;

Articles by:

Dennis Altman, Richard Hall, Andrew Holleran, Randy Shilts, Sean Lawrence, Richard Whelan, Richard Friedel, Tim Dlugos, Seymour Kleinberg, Edmund White, Michael Denneny, Simon Karlinsky, Ned Rorem, Aaron Fricke, John Preston, Gore Vidal, Ethan Mordden, Boyd McDonald, Quentin Crisp, Lawrence Mass, David Thorstad, Donald Windham, Eric Bentley, Robert Patrick, Darrell Yates Rist, Harold Norse, Holly Woodlawn;

Fiction by:

Brooke LeRoy Banks, William Rooney, James Rivers, James D. Wagoner, John Briggs, George Whitmore, Gary Holland, Edmund White, Felice Picano, Henri Cole, Michael Grumley, Tennessee Williams (one-act "The Travelling Companion"), Robert Gluck, George Stambolian, Robert Ferro, Yves Navarre, Perri Klass, Steven Alburty, Brendan Lemon, Joe Pintauro, David Groff, Paul Monette, Christopher David, Robert Trent, Arnie Kantrowitz, James Medley, Perry Brass, Caleb Crain.

Itemization Of Issues:

Earlier Issues By Month

1976 - December

1977 - January

1978 - June

1979 - January, April, May, June, September, October/November, December

1980 - February, March, April, June, July/August, September, October/November

1981 - February, May, July

Now By Issue Number

1981 - #58, 59

1982 - #62, 63, 65

1983 - #75, 81

1984 - #87, 88

1985 - #94, 97, 99

1986 - #101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107

1987 - #108, 109, 111, 114, 117, 118

1988 - #119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130

1989 - #131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142

1990 - #143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152

1991 - #154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168

1992 - #169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 180, 182, 183

5th Freedom

A rare regionalized Mattachine Society publication. Offered is the February 17, 1974 issue of "Fifth Freedom" (Volume 4 #1) published by The Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier out of Buffalo, New York. A stapled digest-size publication measuring 7" by 8-1/2" and containing 20 pages including front and rear covers.With a stated circulation of 1,200 copies, the issue contains articles, editorials, local Mattachine Society news, columns, announcements, poetry, calendar of events, and vintage ads. Contents include:

-article "Mattachine Society Stinks?" by Jim DeVinney ("...or does it? whenever one mentions the mattachine society in a group of gay people, the reaction is rarely neutral...");

-local Mattachine news entitled "Mini-Minutes" by Niagara Frontier Mattachine Society Secretary P. Ames;

-local Niagara Frontier Mattachine Society election results held February 10, 1974;

-article "Is It Better, In This Society, to Be Heterosexual?" ("Is it better to be white? Or gentile? Or descended from the settlers on the Mayflower?");

-article "Cruisin Rochester" ("You're in for a surprise, if you think that the only thing that gets made in Rochester is a camera");

-ad for the Gay Community Services Center, 45 Allen at Franklin announcing a free blood test ("drag it out in the open! fight V.D.");

-double-page February Calendar of Events;

-delicious news article "Measure Up or Shut Up" ("A 17-year-old Pacifica, Calif. female high school student was suspended for 5 days for suggesting to the mayor that he prove his worth by revealing the length of his penis");

-poetry "Diamond Jim" by Arthur Axlerod;

-announcement ("The Gay Liberation Front of Buffalo in conjunction with the New York State Coalition of Gay Organizations is sponsoring a state-wide petition-political action campaign to repeal the Sodomy Law...")

-vintage ads for Maxl's ("Music and Disc-Jockey Nightly"); The Town Squire (43 Allen Street, Buffalo); "The Fabulous New" Red Carpet Lounge (430 Main Street, Rochester, across from Eastman Theatre, featuring "Patti and The Boyfriend"); The Shadows ("how we've changed, and we're here at Virginia and Delaware").

August 1977 issue of "5th Freedom (previously titled "Fifth Freedom")" published by The Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier out of Buffalo, New York. Now published as a newsprint (folded) tabloid with photo cover, when unfolded contains eight large pages including front and rear covers.The issue contains local and national news, editorials, letters to the editor, announcements, articles, photos, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Contents include:

-news article "Mattachine Attends NYSCGO Conference" (New York State Coalition of Gay Organizations);

-news article "Gallup Poll Shows Gay Rights Support" (with accompanying and very interesting table of Gallup Poll Results);

-news article "Bryant's Contract Renewed" (with photo: "Anti-gay crusader Anita Bryant will be retained as the advertising symbol for Florida orange juice");

-announcement that the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier will be holding their first annual garage sale ("Clean out your closets so that others may come out of theirs");

-Christopher Isherwood interviewed (excerpted by Tim Denesha from W. I. Scobie's interview with Christopher Isherwood published in the December 17, 1975 issue of the Los Angeles Advocate);

-article "Gay Pride...Here....& There" by Joe Dietrich (with photos);

-column "Selections" by "Sam" ("There must be almost as many ways of coming out as a gay person as there are gays").

The WSDG Newsletter

November 1968 issue of "The WSDG Newsletter" (West Side Discussion Group) out of New York City, one of the oldest regional homophile organizations in the United States founded in 1956, now long-defunct. A left-folded newsletter measuring 7" by 8-1/2" and containing four pages.

Contents of this issue include:

-WSDG Calendar of Events (upcoming speaking and discussion groups, including "What is the Difference Between the Heterosexual and the Homosexual Other Than Sexual Orientation?" to be moderated by Arthur M.; "What Every Heterosexual Should Know" to be moderated by Dave P.; "The Homosexual Fights Back, or, Defending the Cause Without Self-Incrimination" to be moderated by Bobbi and Sandy; "The Works of Rod McKuen and Others" with "Jerry S. in charge");

-gay social and entertainment column by "Gaylord Krueser" ("Once again Pumpkin Time has come and gone and just in case you never got to see 'The Great Pumpkin' rise out of the old pumpkin patch, please do not lose faith and stop believing!");

-announcement of the upcoming benefit performance for the Council on Equality for Homosexuals;

-poetry by Daniel H. Smith and Jay Martin (the latter poet writing on "A Boy in the Subway Seen");

-announcement of the upcoming Annual West Side Discussion Group Christmas Dinner;

-short reminder entitled "Love Needs Care: Check V.D.";

-column "From Our Leadership" by WSDG President "David G." ("November 5 is Election Day. Unfortunately, the millions of homosexuals in this country have never voted as a block to make their political voices heard the way most other minority groups do...").

Maverick: New York City's Leading Gay Newspaper

Sixth issue of "Maverick: New York City's Leading Gay Newspaper" (1975), a long, long defunct gay liberation publication out of New York. A fold-over tabloid, when unfolded contains 28 pages including front and rear covers.

Well-illustrated with art and photography (including male beefcake photos), the issue contains news, editorials, letters, articles, columns, reviews, classified ads (some with photos), and vintage advertisements.

Highlights include: expose of the Village Voice entitled "The Village Voice: The Dark Side of Liberalism" ("The Village Voice is the most insidious propaganda aimed against the Gay Community in New York today"); news article "Demonstration Against St. Patrick's Cathedral" (with five photos); article "Theologians Demythologize Roman Catholic Position on Gays" by Mikhail F. M. Itkin; series of articles "Gay Oppression in Latin America"; fabulous photospread "Mavericks of the Month" (with five photos); column "The Wicker Report" by Randy Wicker (on the play "Boys! Boys! Boys!" with four photos); two articles "[Village] Voice Writers Exposed" (the first, "Jill Johnston: Voice's Pet Dyke" and the second, "Arthur Bell: Foe Not Friend of Gays"); classified ad from David Carter (with photo); Colt Studio ad (with photo of Bruce Morgan); series of articles headlined "Psychiatrists, Psychics and Gays"; lengthy New York gay liberation news headlined "Metropolitan New York Gay Movement."

eighth issue of "Maverick: The National Gay Newspaper" - formerly subtitled "New York City's Leading Gay Newspaper" - (1975), a long, long defunct gay liberation publication out of New York. A fold-over tabloid, when unfolded contains 40 pages including front and rear covers.

Well-illustrated with art and photography (including male beefcake photos), the issue contains news, editorials, letters, articles, columns, reviews, classified ads (some with photos), and vintage advertisements.

Highlights include: front cover photo of "Littlejohn" Basso "The Gay Bankrobber" (with inside film review of "Dog Day Afternoon" with three shots of actor Al Pacino); news article "Gay Activist Saves [President Gerald] Ford's Life" (on ex-Marine Oliver 'Bill' Sipple); article "Fear City? You Bet Your Ass It Is!" (on dangers facing male hustlers); male impersonator Karyl Tyrell interviewed (with her photo); article "David Cassidy Comes Out" (with two photos); Fred Halsted and lover Joey Halsted interviewed (with five photos); lengthy column "Metropolitan New York Gay Movement" (gay liberation news); centerfold spread containing advertisements from mostly leather bars in New York (with male beefcake illustrations); article "The Bar of the Month" (featuring leather bar The Warehouse, with four photos); one-page photospread "Maverick of the Month" (with four beefcake photos of an unidentified Target Studio model); half-page Colt Studio ad; lengthy poem "A Day for a Lay" by W. H. Auden; much, much more.

The Weekly Gayzette

August 13-20, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #33) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, letters to the editor, announcements, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline and lengthy interior article "[Jimmy] Carter's Position on Gay Rights: An Analysis" by William Phillips (with front cover illustration, and two interior photos, one of Chip Carter in the Gay Tricycle Race held by the San Francisco Gay Community to benefit the handicapped);

-interior news headline "Gays Demonstrate at Eucharistic Congress" with two articles: "Dignity Celebrates Unity With [Catholic] Church" and "DYKETACTICS Confronts Church With Gay and Women's Issues";

-announcement news for the upcoming National 'Tea Dance' sponsored by the National Gay Task Force ("a nationwide network of simultaneous gay disco dances which will benefit NGTF");

-news article "Center For Non-Sexist Education Formed" ("The children's play area contains toys and non-sexist children's books...the boys are encouraged to explore their nurturant feelings and the girls their aggressive feelings");-much more.

October 22-29, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #43) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, letters to the editor, announcements, reviews, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline "who's behind hasty tasty?" and accompanying interior interview of Jack Friel entitled "Gay-Owned Businesses" (Jack Friel was a Philadelphia gay activist and owner of the "Hasty Tasty Deli" on 12th Street between Spruce and Locust; with cover photo of Jack Friel and three interior photos, including one of John Winfield, Jack Friel's lover and partner);

-article "Gay Political Power" by Jeff Britton (of the Gay Democratic Caucus);

-news article "Susan Saxe Support Demonstration";

-announcement "Media Alert" ("The episode of 'Kojak' to be aired this Sunday, October 24 at 9 PM will depict a child molester whose victims both happen to be boys");

-review of gay-themed films "Norman...Is That You?" and "The Ritz"; -much more.

November 12-19, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #46) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, studies, reviews, announcements, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline and and highly interesting 2-1/2 page interior article "What Americans Think of Gays: National Survey Results" (comparing American attitudes with people in Amsterdam and Copenhagen: for example, the "Extent to which [the] General Population agrees that 'Homosexuality is obscene and vulgar,' those who answered 'Very Much' comprised 48.5% of U.S respondents, 5.4% from Amsterdam, and 11.8% from Copenhagen);

-"WOMENPOLL Survey Results" ("The Philadelphia Inquirer reported recent survey results from WOMENPOLL concerning homosexuality. WOMENPOLL, a Philadelphia-based national survey and research organization, conducts national studies on the attitudes and opinions of American women");

-news article "[Penn State grad student Tony] Silvestre Speaks at [Philadelphia's Gay Community] Center" ("How's a gay activist to react when the movement, once confined to church-basement locales, is openly invited right into the state Capitol?");

-events article "Steps Benefit For Eromin" by Tom Wilson ("The Steps, one of the city's largest and most successful gay bars, held a benefit for the Eromin Center on Election night");

-article "Beth Simchat Torah: Gay Synagogue" by Janis Rosenberg; -much more.

November 19-26, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #47) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, reviews, announcements, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline "GAY LIFE - GREEK STYLE" and accompanying three-page interior article entitled "Homosexual Life in Ancient Greece" by Joseph R. DeMarco (on man-boy love, male prostitution, and homosexual marriages in ancient Greece);

-news article "U.S. Circuit Court Approves Gay Group" (the Gay Alliance of Students at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia);

-short article "GAY TV" ("The sudden abundance of gay characters on TV has sparked controversy in the Philadelphia Inquirer's TV Magazine");

-news article "Gays Urge Reassignment of Defeated Judge" ("Recently defeated Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Wilbur G. Dettmar's apparently prejudicial remarks have prompted the Gay Rights Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union - ACLU - to urge that he be removed from hearing all sex-related cases");

-news article "National Tea Dance Catching On" (sponsored by the National Gay Task Force); -much more.

November 26-December 3, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #48) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers. Containing news, articles, letters to the editor, announcements, reviews, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline "the violence of masculinity" and accompanying lengthy interior article entitled "Masculinity & Violence" by Bruce Kokopeli and George Lakey (with three drawings, including front cover: "Masculine sexuality involves the oppression of women, competition among men, and homophobia");

-article "High School Gays" by high school students Dave May and Sandy Russell ("Homophobia is alive and kicking not only in Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, but all high schools. We high school students see this every day");

-news article "Arizona to Submit Anti-Sex Legislation" ("Arizona lawmakers propose to add a homosexual conduct amendment to that state's soon-to-be enacted criminal code revisions");

-conference announcement "Gay Alcoholic Conference" (to be held on December 4, sponsored by the Division of Social Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Eromin Center);

-news article "Karla Jay at Community Center" (co-editor of the gay classic "After You're Out");

-review of stage production of "Equus" then showing at the Forrest playhouse ("Some will find it perverted and horrifying; it explores without flinching the dark labyrinth that connects religious and sexual passion"); -much more.

December 3-10, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #49) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing ten pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, announcements, reviews, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline "growing up gay in south philly" and accompanying interior article entitled "Growing Up Gay In South Philadelphia" by Tommi Avicolli ("I was always an effeminate boy. I played with dolls when I was a child; I hung around with girls. I did the things society said girls do. Yet to me they weren't the things boys or girls did; they were things I wanted to do. Like jumping rope, or playing house");

-lengthy news article "Susan Saxe Jury Hung" ("Cast by the establishment news media as a 'terrorist,' listed by the FBI since 1970 as one of its 'Ten Most Wanted' fugitives, Susan Saxe was not convicted of the crimes the American government accused her of: armed robbery and first degree murder of a police officer");

-news article "Gay Brethren / Mennonites Meet" (in Lancaster, Pennsylvania);

-news article "Racism and Sexism in School Textbooks";

-news article "Hoover's Homophobic Files" ("The alleged homosexuality of various politicians, government officials, and well-known persons was part of the secret files...[J.] Edgar Hoover kept and which were just released by the Justice Department");

-short article "The Terror of Keeping It Quiet" by Gary Michael Roseman ("The closet. Hard, cold, the biggest lie I've ever lived");

-article on the Fourth Annual Conference of the Gay Academic Union held in New York City; -much more.

December 17-24, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #51) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, reviews, announcements, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline "prison homosexuality: is it gay?" and accompanying two-page interior article entitled "A Reply To A Homophobic Prison Official" by Jon L. Clayborne (in two sections: an excerpt from an article entitled 'How to End Sex Problems in Our Prisons' by Winston E. Moore, which appeared in the November, 1976 issue of 'Ebony Magazine'; and, a reply to Mr. Moore's article written by Jon L. Clayborne, a noted gay activist who has done much research and writing on black people and gay liberation);

-news article and biography "Benjamin Britten" ("Lord Benjamin Britten, one of the 20th Century's leading composers, died at his English Country House on December 4th");

-editorial "The Second Story: A Sad Story" (on a new Philadelphia gay bar: "The 'Gayzette' strongly disagrees about the ambitions of the Second Story. Any club that has such exclusionary membership policies cannot possibly hope to be anything more than just another addition to the tired old sexist bar scene");

-news article "A New Gay Rights Bill" (introduced in the Philadelphia City Council);

-news article "NGTF [National Gay Task Force] Meets CBS" ("At a meeting held in New York, executives of CBS Television indicated that they will consult on a more regular basis with representatives of the gay community on programs involving lesbian and gay male characters"); -much more.

December 24-31, 1976 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 3 #52) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, announcements, letters to the editor, reviews, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover greetings "GAY to the WORLD!";

-news article "Jonathan Katz at GCCP" (author of the massive and early volume "Gay American History" who spoke at the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia);

-news article "NGTF and the National Bureau of Prisons" ("The National Gay Task Force learned of a decision by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons not to permit gay publications...in Federal correctional facilities");

-article "Moving Along: Another View of the Alix Dobkin Concert" by Rachel Rubin (on a recent music concert given by lesbian singer Alix Dobkin);

-news article "National Gay Health Coalition Established";

-delightful lengthy Christmas poem entitled "W. G.'s Christmas Flight" ("So it was a gay christmas / With lots of gay cheer / The world was all mellow / A spinning gay sphere");

-rerview of the camp cult film "The Rocky Horror [Picture] Show";

-news article "Presbyterian Task Force to Study Homosexuality";

-much more.

January 14-21, 1977 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 4 #2) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers.

Containing news, articles, announcements, reviews, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline "GROWING UP GAY & FEMALE" with interior article of the same name by Marjorie Morgan ("Being in high school during the McCarthy era, and being an upper-middle-class Jewish girl, I was expected to conform by dating upper-middle-class Jewish boys and eventually marrying one");

-cover headline "gay murders: is our silence killing us?" with accompanying interior article entitled "Gay Murders: Silence Kills" by Charles Lee ("Why have San Francisco police experienced such difficulty in solving the thirty-five gay murders which have struck the city's gay community in as many months?");

-news article "Lesbian Ordained in Episcopal Church";

-news article "Public Meeting To Discuss Gay Rights Bill" ("About 50 people crowded Dignity Headquarters at 250 South 12th Street on Monday night for a special community meeting to raise the question of whether or not a compromise should be made in the matter of the new gay rights bill [before the Philadelphia City Council]");

-short news article "Gay Athletes in College";

-news article "Homosexual Denied Ordination as Jesuit";

-news article "GAA-NY Near Extinction" (on the history-making gay activist group "Gay Activist Alliance");

-Tennessee Williams' autobiography "Memoirs" reviewed; -much more.

Of special note is two flyers found laid in and offered with this issue (please see images below):

1) "Giovanni's Room - Gay and Feminist Books and Crafts" located at 1426 Spruce Street in Philadelphia; and

2) "WHAT IS TO BE DONE - GAY COMMUNITY MEETING TO DISCUSS, DECIDE AND ACT UPON THE NEW GAY RIGHTS BILL FOR [the Philadelphia] CITY COUNCIL."

January 28-February 4, 1977 issue of "The Weekly Gayzette" (Vol. 4 #4) edited by Joseph R. DeMarco and published out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A left-folded Newsweek-size newsletter containing eight pages including front and rear covers. Containing news, articles, announcements, reviews, calender of events, classifieds, and vintage advertisements. Highlights include:

-cover headline "metamorphosis" with accompanying interior announcement by Editor Joseph R. DeMarco ("The GAYZETTE is changing to a MONTHLY MAGAZINE format...Along with the change in the publishing schedule, there will be a new name - 'NEW GAY LIFE: A MONTHLY JOURNAL'");

-cover headline "inside rita mae brown" and lengthy interior "An Interview With Rita Mae Brown" exlusively for this issue (with photo);

-news article "NOW [National Organization for Women] Presents Rita Mae Brown" ("In the late 1960s, some significant members of the NOW national leadership instituted a purge of many lesbians, suspected lesbians, and lesbian sympathizers. The purge took many forms. All of them cruel");

-news article "Community Center Begins Capital Fund Drive" ("Plans by the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia to purchase its rented quarters at 326 Kater St. go into high gear later this month with a $25,000 capital fund drive");

-news article "Inquirer Article Detrimental to Gays" ("An article in the Sunday, January 30, 1977 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer has explored with some vivid case histories the problems [involving] the sexual molestation of children...Will the gay community be obliquely confused with the sick people who violate kids?");

-short review of two gay male films "Boys Will Be Boys" and "The Secret Tablets of Rama"; -much more.

About this site:

Ebay is an amazing place and reasource. There I found these wonderful detailed and annotated descriptions of various important and early gay publications. I felt compelled to save and share them. They are published here with the author Brad Confer's consent. They were written for the sole purpose of selling the material on Ebay and not with scholarly intent, but they are such a rich resource as is, that I present them here. It has taken me almost as much work as Brad to collect, reformat, organize and publish this information. Please write me if this site is helpful to you. If you want to contact Brad, his business is Bloomsbury Books and you can email him at bloomsbury@earthlink.net

Most of these issues can be found at the one National Gay & Lesbian Archives in Los Angeles, the New York Public Library, McCormick Library of Special Collections and the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archive among other places. Online most are available through EBSCO LGBT Life - http://www.ebscohost.com/academic/lgbt-life-with-full-text.