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.