Gregg@bbncca.ARPA (10/12/84)
Steve,
I've posted this to net.motss. Since some of our interested readers
might not be reading net.motss, but are giving mod.motss a try, I'd appreciate
it if you put this onto our brand new moderated newsgroup. Thanks.
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I'd like to add my comments to those of Henry Mensch about gay readings.
I'm more interested in magazines, rather than books, as I feel they offer
a more interesting forum for discussing gay issues than do books. If anyone
disagrees out there, I'd really like to hear from you. My opinions can always
be changed.
As is reasonable, I'm only going to talk about those magazines with which
I am most familiar. And as I anticipate a charge of bias coming my way because
of this, I want to say ahead of time that the following discussion is neces-
sarily related to male gay magazines, since I know nothing about any lesbian
magazines; I don't even know whether they exist or not. I'd like to hear about
them if they do. Finally, those leisure readers out there who take exception
to my reviews, or want to inform me about the wonders of other magazines which
I exclude, please do so. Who knows, we might be able to learn something from
each other.
1. My all time favorite:
IN TOUCH FOR MEN --- a high-class periodical with a
highly refined sense of humor, and
a lot of fantastic looking men (of
just about all gendres) each month.
However, young models (some would
say they're kids) are dominate.
Fiction is included each time,
which almost always involves the
young crowd. No heavy discussions
or editorials about being gay;
rather, they're out to have a great
time and let their readers join in
on the fun.
2. Definitely worth looking into:
THE ADVOCATE --- not really a magazine, it is the
most serious, self-appointed forum
for gay-related issues I have seen.
Its center pink pages contain
classified ads for just about every
taste around, in all parts of the
United States, but concentrated in
the New York City and Los Angeles
metropolitan areas. Read this to
be informed.
3. Others:
BLUEBOY,
NUMBERS --- These two are also-rans in the
leisure reading category. Their
editors appear to be older people,
who seem to favor the more macho
he-man models. Fiction is oriented
this way also. Worth reading if
this description matches your tastes.
4. Chicken delight:
STARS --- No boy over 20 gets between these
pages. An extensive classified ad
section is dominate (about 75% of
each issue), and explicit pictures
of some of the ad holders are always
included. This makes for quite a
contact network, if you're daring.
5. Notable:
MAN'S IMAGE
TORSO,
SKIN --- These three are worth looking into,
but they seem only interested in
showing off the male body as much as
possible. Little to no literary or
informative value. But that might be
just what you're looking for at times.
As I said before, if anyone can add, contradict, or support this list,
please do so. Until then, good reading!
Gregg Loring
....inuxc!pur-ee!stat-l!ho3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pucc-I:ag5@pur-ee.ARPA (Henry C. Mensch) (10/13/84)
*> 1. My all time favorite:
*> IN TOUCH FOR MEN --- a high-class periodical with a
*> highly refined sense of humor, and
*> a lot of fantastic looking men (of
*> just about all gendres) each month.
Funny, but I thought men only came in one gender! ;-}
The *IT* editors seem to like athletes (particularly swimmers
and gymnasts) a *lot*. Sounds OK to me!
*> 2. Definitely worth looking into:
Perhaps *the* most popular gay magazine which *isn't* into
male models should be listed here: CHRISTOPHER STREET.
They have excellent fiction (Andrew Holleran has a regular
column, and other "classic" gay writers such as Ed White
regularly offer features). Also has a very good discussion
of current gay issues, witty cartoons, "Nicole Hollander x 4"
(Sylvia is a laugh *riot* sometimes), and (recently) hot
covers . . .(although the one during the summer with the
guy bent over an automobile in his jockey shorts wasn't
so appealing...)
*> 4. Chicken delight:
*> STARS --- No boy over 20 gets between these
*> pages. . . .
You hit the nail on on the head here!
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Henry C. Mensch | User Confuser | Purdue University User Services
{decvax|ucbvax|sequent|icalqa|inuxc|uiucdcs|ihnp4}!pur-ee!pucc-i!ag5
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"How sweet it is to be loved by you . . ."
-- James Taylorsdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) (10/14/84)
Not be forgotten is "Gay Community News", a Boston-based weekly newspaper
which provides national coverage of lesbian and gay events and news
stories. It is, probably somewhat predictably, editorially left of center
on many issues, but without compromise in its coverage of important topics.
This week's issue, Oct 13, contains articles on the sentencing of the three
Bangor ME youths convicted of manslaughter in the death of a gay man, the
upcoming Supreme Court test of the Oklahoma "Helms Law", the Massachusetts
Supreme Court's hearing of the case of the Christian Science Monitor versus
a lesbian reporter who was fired when her sexual preference was revealed.
Nor does the paper deal only in hard news: this week's cover story is an
interview with a lesbian, latin painter whose acrylics of female nudes have
been attracting favorable critical attention. Accompanying it, on the cover,
is a priceless quote from the Boston Globe's review of her work:
"The originality award went to Ana Leon's 'Ageless Secrets,'
a quartet of huge acrylic rectangles filled with gaint, hazy
curves -- blown-up segments of a women's body, fitting together
voluptously. The two breasts face each other in profile and pose
a visual dilemma: unless this is some kind of Cubist distortion,
they can't belong to the same body, yet they seem too close together
to belong to different women."
(I know that had nothing to do with GCN the newspaper, but I couldn't resist!)
A subscription is $29/year, mailed in a discreet brown envelope for those
with postmen with "Enquiring Minds." GCN is published by a non-profit
organization, and contributions over the subscription amount are always
welcome.
Its address is: GCN / 167 Tremont St., 5th floor / Boston MA 02111
I have no official connection with GCN, other than being a subscriber, and
most recently, volunteering my time as an advisor on computers.
--
/Steve Dyer
{decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbncca.ARPA