Religion, Politics and Sex in Battlestar Galactica

The 2003 reboot of Battlestar Galactica reconceived the possibility of Sci-Fi television, from the depth of the characters through to its engagement with sexuality. But on the subject of homosexuality it consistently faltered.

It is the complexity of the series, its darkness, and its willingness to deal with the questions of politics, sex and religion head on that make it such a landmark in television history.

Lovely Her: A Portrait of Jacqueline Susann

Christopher Brocklebank looks back on the life of Jacqueline Susann, the author of Valley of the Dolls who would have turned 90 this year.

Valley of the Dolls spent so long on the bestseller lists that it was eventually credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling novel of all time. Hollywood quickly picked up the option, and produced a ludicrously high-camp adaptation in 1967.

From Recipes to Pecs: A brief personal history of gay magazines

A look back at this history of gay magazines, and recollections of their importance of the coming out process, by Paul Baker.

Gay Times used to feature pictures of gay celebrities or icons on its front cover in the 1980s and early 1990s – can you imagine Jimmy Somerville getting on the front cover of GT now? By the mid 1990s a change was afoot and now the rules were that the front cover was always a meaty young orange torso, with almost every other issue featuring the word SEX in big bold capitals.

Thanks to the Geography teacher: Growing up with the Lesbian magazine

A look back at this history of gay magazines, and recollections of their importance of the coming out process, by Abigail Wiseman.

I discovered Diva magazine. To me it seemed ‘lame’ compared to my exposure to American mags. It was nevertheless a significant tool in starting my new life in London, where I knew no-one.

Reaching for the Top Shelf: Remembering a first time

A look back at this history of gay magazines, and recollections of their importance of the coming out process, by Bryon Fear.

I wasn’t able to return to the newsagent until the following weekend. Going to ‘town’ on a school night was not only unthinkable, but would have been highly suspicious. The next seven days were spent debating and berating my cowardice.

An historical timeline of gay magazines, from 1897 to 2008.

The first gay magazine, Der Eigene, was published in Germany in 1896. The medium has gone from politics and activism to pop and hard-core.

“The word magazine is an Arabic term for storehouse. Although periodicals had been published before, it was first used to describe a publication in 1731 with advent of the Gentlemen’s Magazine.”