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From: rob@ptsfa.UUCP (Rob Bernardo)
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Re: Gay Publications
Message-ID: <576@ptsfa.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Apr-85 10:40:19 EST
Article-I.D.: ptsfa.576
Posted: Thu Apr 18 10:40:19 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 05:20:17 EST
References: <1702@decwrl.UUCP>
Reply-To: rob@ptsfa.UUCP (Rob Bernardo)
Organization: Pacific Bell, San Francisco
Lines: 54
Summary: 

In article <1702@decwrl.UUCP> levasseur@morgan.DEC (Ray  EMD & S Admin  223-5027) writes:
>
>    I've noticed over the years that any gay literature I see has undertones,
>more like overt displays, of a sexual nature. I would expect this in public-
>ations such as Blueboy, Mandate, Honcho and the like but even Christopher
>Street, which is supposed to be a literary journal has ads for hot phone sex,
>poppers, lube etc ads. I'm far from a prude by any measure and enjoy hunky
>men like the rest of you but these displays should have their own place. 
>When I read any mainstream publication like Stereo review, Computers and Elec-
>tronics, Video Review or Newsweek, I don't see sex ads and don't want to.

I have a similar reaction when on Friday mornings I have picked up Bay Area
Reporter (an SF gay weekly newspaper) on the way to the office and feel
a bit uncomfortable reading it in the subway crowd. But I do
see myself as somewhat of a prude! After all, if I think ads that have to
do with sex need to be hidden while ads that have to do with, say restaurants
(which deal with eating - another bodily need), do not have to be hidden, I
realize that's because I AM A PRUDE about sex.

So, I think you are a prude too :-), but just about everyone is in our
culture to some degree.

>    I usually keep my copies of Christopher Street and the Advocate out on
>the coffee table for all to see. Straight guests usually read them also and
>have commented about the content.

I suppose they have commented because the straight publications they (and we)
read have prudish standards, which we all have gotten used to.

>... Aren't we
>more than what we do in bed? From the quality of what hits the news stands
>it kinda makes me wonder.
Well, I don't want to defend the profit-driven motivations of the publishers,
but, yes we are more than what we do in bed, but we are also partially what
we do in bed.
> It's also funny how C.S. which is one of the comm-
>unity's better literary journals is usually in financial trouble. I'm sure
>that Blueboy et all fare much better as far as profits go; they peddle flesh.

I hear that CS is basically poorly managed.
-- 


Rob Bernardo, Pacific Bell, San Francisco, California
{ihnp4,ucbvax,cbosgd,decwrl,amd70,fortune,zehntel}!dual!ptsfa!rob

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