Periodicals

Here are some selections from the Resources for Sexual Diversity collection at the University of Saskatchewan.
I picked these magazines for the covers, so they are mostly from the 1970's.










This next one is from 1956.
Can you imagine?
Here's a quote from the library website:

"The first openly gay or lesbian national publication in the United States . The magazine included personal essays, short stories, poems, historical studies and book reviews. In 1954 US postal officials seized and refused to mail an issue, calling its contents obscene and lascivious, prompting a long legal battle. In 1958 the justices of the US Supreme Court unanimously reversed the decisions of lower courts and established the right of gay publications to be distributed through the mail. For a more detailed history see http://www.planetout.com/news/history/archive/08021999.html"


This one is from the '80's, can you tell?


And this one is from the '90's.
I just like the "Monsters In Love" imagery.


I think the overall winner here is "Gay Sunshine".
The award for Best Title goes to "The Lesbian Tide".
And "Mouth Of The Dragon" wins Best Illustration for the inclusion of hanky code.
What are your favorites?


Oh, and here's a bonus.
It's a flyer from a 1977 benefit reading for Gay Sunshine.
Speaking of diversity, I only know John Rechy, Allen Ginsberg, and Dennis Cooper, but I can't imagine putting them on the same bill. Maybe the other writers bridge the gaps.

And yes, it does appear to be autographed by all of the participants.