Pink Ink: The Golden Era for Gay and Lesbian Magazines

by Bill Calder

The tapping of typewriters first lifted the secrecy around homosexuality, and a vibrant array of voices was soon heard. The publishers of gay magazines and newspapers were a diverse and lively lot. Some wanted to publicise where the best parties were held; some to fight the political battle; and others to show new ways for lesbians and gay men to live their lives. The story of these magazines and newspapers is the story of societys changing attitudes, and indeed, the changing gay world. This book traces the evolution of Australias gay and lesbian publications from smudgy porn sold in brown paper bags to glossy coffee-table magazines proudly on display; from gestetnered newsletters to an industry publishing millions of newspapers each year that is, until the Internet changed it all.

Genres: LGBT, History

205 pages, Hardcover

Published June 9, 2016

Reviews

[willowdog · Rating 2 out of 5]

A history of gay and lesbian magazines in Australia is comprehensive enough. However, it comes off as just an encyclopedia of names. It doesn’t reflect on the importance of the magazines. Too often, there is not enough about the publisher and the why of publishing. It never seems to relate the significance of the work to any achievement. Baim’s history of gay publications was much better because of the personalities showcased.

[Matt Akersten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was just OK. Great to read a little about the people behind the various publications, but I wanted to see more of what they actually looked like, with quotes and more imagery of pages. It's a great topic to explore further.