Description
This is the 29th issue of BLK Magazine published April 1991. The front cover, printed with a red tint, features a black and white image of Willis Oliver, Jr, who is pictured sitting down, visible from the wait up with a nature-like background of a large rock and short foliage. Oliver’s hands are crossed at the center, with them looking off into the distance. They are dressed in what is presumably a white thawb (an ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves) and is wearing presumably a keffiyeh and an igal (a black cord, worn doubled) on their head. At the top and centered off to the left, [BLK] is printed in bold, white, uppercase letters within a red rectangular box. Above the text box in small, white, uppercase letters it reads [THE NATIONAL BLACK LESBIAN AND GAY NEWSMAGAZINE], fitting across the length of the textbox. Outside of the upper right corner of the [BLK] text box are the news sections listed in white text, [NEWS / CARTOONS / ARTS / WORD UP / READ MY LIPS / CLASSIFIEDS]. Located below the magazine title in small, black text it reads [Vol. 3, No. 4 / Whole No. 29 / April 1991]. The headline [Lesbians and Gay Men / in the Arab and Moslem World] is printed in large, light pink text centered and to the left. There are 36 numbered pages, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, black and white photographs, and cartoon illustrations throughout.
The inside of the cover features an ad for the Minority AIDS project for a free, anonymous, AIDS antibody test [WHAT’S WORSE… / 20 MINUTES OF FEAR AND WORRYING / OR… / A LIFETIME OF FEAR AND WORRYING? / CONSIDER GETTING THE AIDS ANTIBODY TESTED TODAY.]. The content opens with the section titled [Word Up / News of the Outrageous, the Amusing, the Pathetic and the Unexpected] by Leon Miller with three short articles: [Chain Gang] regarding the Sheridan Broadcasting Network’s ad “The Authoritative Source of News,” [Funny Voice on the Radio] about New York’s popular R7B station, KISS 98.7 FM, and [The Truth about Sabrina] about a newspaper calling Sabrina Sojourner, Sojourner Truth.
This is followed the [BLK] mast head on page 4.
The cover story, which begins on page 7, is titled [No Peace / Homosexuality may be widespread in the Arab / and Moslem world, but homosexuals are not], with a label headline [OVERVIEW]. Written by Rex Wockner, the article highlights the perceptions of same-sex relations across various Middle Eastern countries. In talking with immigrants, the international gay press, human right activists, and the few organizations interested in international lesbian and gay issues, Wockner writes about varied “gay” life and varying violent anti-gay laws. Organizations mentioned include Amnesty International, the Los Angeles chapter of U.S. Gay and Lesbian Arabic Society (GLAS/LA), and the International Lesbian and Gay Association.
Several shorter articles appear under the section [BLK NEWS]. Beginning on page 15, these articles include: [Five Black Men Quit NAPWA Board Charging Racism / by Mark Haile and Mikolas Crews] about the National Association of People with AIDS receiving a “Statement of Collective Resignation” from H. Alexander Robinson, Jerome Boyce, Paul Kelley, Floyd C. Dunn, and Bart Casmir, [Out Activists in Costa Rica Materialize Quickly / by Rex Wockner] about the increase of LGBT events and activities emerging in Costa Rica, [30 Cops Raid Fundraiser; Lesbian Activist Held / by Rex Wockner] regarding an AIDS fundraiser with the Movimiento Homosexual de Lima and Via Libre, [Lesbians, Gay Men Help Elect Kansas City Mayor] Emanuel Cleaver is elected as the first Black mayor of Kansas City, [New York’s Mayor Booed for Marching with Gays] Mayor David Dinkins marches with the Irish Gay and Lesbian Organization, [Illinois Prison Relents; Oks Interracial Gay Novel] (NMAAHC 2018.108.20 features a related article), [NCBLG Changes Focus] the National Coalition on Black Lesbians and Gays reorganizes into a national lobbying group, ending associations with local chapters, [Sullivan Calls for More Health Aid to Africa] about two top U.S. officials suggesting aid to African countries suffering from malaria and AIDS, [Tiffany Takes Gulf Title] about the pageant “Miss Gulf Coast USA,” the last preliminary to Miss Gay U.S.A. 1991, [Boston Lesbians of Color Boycott Women’s Club / by Mark Haile] the Alliance of Massachusetts Asian Lesbians and Gay Men and the Association for Right On Sisters boycott Indigo bar for racism, [Mysterious Newspaper Slams Black Gay Men] about a homophobic newspaper, [Black Prof Wins Gay Nod] about Professor Gilbert Belles of Wester Illinois University, [Center Opens in Brazil] about the Grupo Gay da Bahi opening their Pink Triangle Cultural Center and honoring Cazuza, [Lambda Appoints Paul Cothran to Director Post] Paul E. Cothran replacing Jerl Surratt as the Development Director, [Black M.D. to Head New AIDS Television Show] Dr. Richard McDonald to host a monthly cable series called “HIV Update,” [ACT-UP/NY Holds People of Color Conference] the conference brough together nearly 300 Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indians, African Americans, and Latinos to discuss AIDS activism, [New Philly Group To Help Lesbian, Gay Homeless] Harvey Matthews founds “Empty The Shelters,” [State Trooper Convicted of Sodomy in Kentucky] (NMAAHC 2018.108.29 features a related article), and [CDC February Statistics on AIDS Cases in the U.S.].
This is followed by the section [BLK ARTS] on page 26. The subsection [THEATER] has two articles titled [New Lesbian Play at GLCSC] and [‘Big Butt Girls’ in San Diego]; the subsection [MOVIES] has one article titled [Parkerson Gets Calendar Honor]; the subsection [Music] by one article titled [Marva Hicks in Excellent Debut / by D.J. Marius]; the subsection [BOOKS] has one article titled [Lambda Offers Guide to Decade]; and the subsection [DANCE] has one article titled [Phoenix Presents ‘African Skies’]. The gossip column titled [Read My Lips] written by Preston G. Guider is on page 28. The issue concludes with the classifieds section [BLK MARKET] starting on page 30, with personal ads divided by gender, nation, then U.S. regions.
The back cover is a full-page advertisement for [The Black Line].
There are several advertisements throughout, including: [SOMEONE / YOU CAN / TRUST / Culver City / Mazda]; [BOB BURKE FOR STATE ASSEMBLY]; [LIVING WITH / HIV] by the American Social Health Association, National Association of People of AIDS, and Burroughs Welcome Co.; [If you / or someone you know / has AIDS, / self-screening for / CMV retinitis / can help save / precious sight.]; [Immediate openings. / Fringe benefits. / L.A. Shanti Foundation]; [ALWAYS / THERE / WHEN / YOU / NEED / US! / The Open Quest Institute]; [FOR BLACK GAY & / BISEXUAL MEN / ONLY!] from the African American Men’s Health Project; [Caribbean HEAT Magazine]; [I’ve always said, / “If I ever got / AIDS, I don’t / know what / I’d do.” / I was right.] ad stating the mission of AIDS Project Los Angeles; [Unity / Fellowship / Church / A Church for All People]; [WEST HOLLYWOOD / PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH]; [Gay & Lesbian Literature / A DIFFERENT LIGHT]; [WELCOME ABOARD SAN DIEGO! / BLACK MEN’S XCHANGE]; [Ms. Vogue: BARBER/STYLIST]; [Black and White / Men Together]; [ACT-UP/LA needs / your input • your leadership • your anger!]; [THE CENTER / LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT]; [THING / SHE KNOWS /WHO SHE IS]; [The Pleasure Chest Ltd.]; [303-WOLF]; [THE / HOLLYWOOD / SPA / COMPOUND / A MAN’S PRIVATE PRESERVE]; [GAYELLOW PAGES]; [Subscribe to the leading interracial gay magazine / QUARTERLY INTERCHANGE]; [Serving the Needs / of the People / VISITING NURSE HOMES SERVICES]; [TWISTED VIDEO]; [TALKING PERSONALS / Connections USA]; [REACTIONS]; [Visiting the Bay Area?? / GAYBOOK]; [BLK SUBSCRIPTIONS / BLK CLASSIFIED ADS / BLK T-SHIRTS] payment options over phone; and [GET A LITTLE… FUN!].
