Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of LGBT Community Newspapers in America

This book provides an overview of the history of LGBT community newspapers and magazines in America. It provides a specific focus on weekly and biweekly newspapers, but also assesses the LGBT state of print media overall. Finalist for the 2013 Lambda Literary Awards; Top 10 selection for the American Library Association Over the Rainbow Project Book List, a committee of the GLBT Round Table of the ALA. The book starts with an in-depth look into the reasons a gay press started in the 1900s--as a response to either absent or anti-gay coverage by the mainstream media. It then explores the early gay media and journalists working in the gay press from the 1950s to the 1980s. The book includes chapters on some of the longer-lasting LGBT newspapers, such as the Washington Blade, Bay Area Reporter and Philadelphia Gay News. There is also an in-depth exploration of advertising and marketing in LGBT media, and a look at the future of queer media in America. Quotes about Gay Press, Press Power: "Tracy Baim’s Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of LGBT Newspapers in America is a complete treasure for anyone interested in queer history, the intricacies of social movements, or media in the United States. Comprehensive, well written, and well researched, this media journey from homosexual to gay to queer is eye-opening and inspiring. If you thought you knew about this aspect of the gay movement –guess again: You will be endlessly surprised.  The bravery of individuals, groups, collectives, and organizations here is breathtaking and vital.  You can’t understand queer life today without understanding the history of the LGBT media. This book is endlessly entertaining and extremely important." — Michael Bronski, author of A Queer History of the United States, Professor of the Practice in Activism and Media, Harvard University.  "Gay Press, Gay Power is a meticulous and prodigious work, long overdue. It will be a reference source—but, more importantly, a source of inspiration." — Barbara Ettorre, former reporter for The New York Times, New York Daily News and Chicago Today. Founder and editor, LetterBalm.com. "This meticulously researched book captures the flavor and nuance of a myriad of specific events and times, such as the coverage of LGBT issues in Chicago in the 1980s and 1990s, through compelling interviews with the people involved, gay and straight, backed up with insightful analysis. Hundreds of images of magazine covers, news clips, photos and ads from the 1800s to today present a comprehensive, stunning visual history of the evolving relationship between the media and the LGBT community.  Belongs on everyone’s bookshelf." — Jean Latz Griffin, former Chicago Tribune reporter, author of In the Same Breath and One Spirit: A Creation Story for the 21st Century. "For the past two hundred years no oppositional movement has succeeded without the involvement of an engaged community press. The political successes of the gay liberation movement, and the defeats, were reported in the pages of the lesbian and gay press while the mainstream press ignored or denigrated our efforts. Today, in the age of presidential evolution towards recognition of our humanity, and in the era of the Internet, Facebook and Twitter, it is possible to presume that the need for an independent GLBT press is past. But this would be a mistake. As we learned during the AIDS epidemic, when push comes to shove – as it reliably does – there is no substitute for a focused, relentless and smart GLBT press. Tracy Baim has long represented the best of the GLBT press, and this book will be a valuable resource in the struggle not to forget our history as we continue to fight for our future." -- Larry Gross, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, Author, Up From Invisibility: Lesbians, Gay Men and the Media in America. Read more