Fag Rag, Fall 1971, no. 2
Gay Liberation
Fag Rag was a significant, Boston-based "gay male newspaper" published from 1971 and the early-1980s. In the wake of the Stonewall rebellion in New York, gay liberation activism in Boston accelerated, including the establishment of a periodical, Lavender Vision. Initially, gay men and women worked on the newspaper together as a "69 publication," meaning half of the newspaper was devoted to gay men and half to gay women. Shortly after its initial publication, though, lesbian activists split, feeling that gay women needed a space of their own. The newspaper was relaunched as a women-centered periodical and local gay men established Fag Rag. At its height, Fag Rag had between 400-500 subscribers and a print run of 4,000-4,500. Like other underground press periodicals, Fag Rag featured a mix of original journalism, opinion and graphic arts related to the gay liberation movement, as well as interviews with notable figures, including, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Christopher Isherwood, John Wieners, Allen Young, Gerard Malanga, John Rechy, Ned Rorem, and Gore Vidal. Features in this issue include: various articles articulating the struggles and internal barriers of the Gay Liberation Movement; a statement of "What We Want, What We Believe; an article about the Gay Revolution in Cuba with a letter from a staff member of RAT; and, Boston's first gay march and demonstration during the 1971 Gay Pride Week.
Fag Rag Inc.
Roz Payne
Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1971
underground press
Gay Activist
Gay Liberation
The Gay Activist Alliance was founded in 1969 in New York City by gay rights activists who broke away from the Gay Liberation Front, which had allied itself with the Black Panther Party, was active in the movement against the war in Vietnam, and preached a radical political agenda, including the overthrow of capitalism. Founding members of the GAA included, Jim Owles (the group’s first president), Marty Robinson, Tom Doerr, Kay Lahusen, Arthur Bell, Arthur Evans, Bill Bahlman, Vito Russo, Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Jim Coles, Brenda Howard, David Thorstad, Michael Giammetta and Morty Manford. The GAA, which was formed about 6 months after the Stonewall revolt, was most active from 1970-1974, though it remained in existence through 1981. Organizers of the group aimed to create a single-issue, “politically neutral” organization that worked through the political system to "secure basic human rights, dignity and freedom for all gay people." The GAA sought to abolish discriminatory sex laws, promoting gay and lesbian civil rights, and challenging politicians and candidates to state their views on gay rights issues. The political tactics of the GAA included "zaps" -- public confrontations with officials that sought to draw media attention.
The GAA published the Gay Activist newsletter until 1980. In this October 1971 edition of the GAA newsletter, the organization addresses the Intro 475 Bill, which would end discrimination against homosexuals in housing, employment, and public accommodations in New York City. The GAA had been trying to get access to a public hearing of the bill for nine months. Throughout the newsletter there is a narrative given explaining how activists had been met with discrimination and no action. The newsletter also offers membership guidelines for the GAA and a list of other gay organizations in New York City, as well as articles regarding the National Organization of Women.
This November 1971 issue of Gay Activist, a newsletter of the Gay Activists Alliance, covers major themes relevant to the gay liberation movement including legal and economic equality, the Sharison Six case, the role of cross-dressers in the movement, the protest of sodomy laws, and Gay Pride festivities.
The Gay Activists Alliance
Roz Payne
Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
November 1971
underground press