Description
This is the 37th issue of BLK magazine published September 1992. The front cover is printed in color and features an image of Justin Fashanu. The athlete is dressed in a dark green tank top, dark pants, presumable trousers, and accessorized with a gold-colored necklace and a single stud earring. Fashanu is seated on a backwards red chair with a white, almost baby blue background. At the top and centered to the left, [BLK] is printed in bold, white, uppercase letters within a red rectangular box. Below and to the left of the [BLK] text box is the magazine issue information; in small, red text it reads [Vol. 4, No. 3 Whole No. 37 / $1.95 U.S., $2.95 Canada]. At the top and aligned to the right are the news sections listed in muted red text, [NEWS / CARTOONS / MUSIC / THEATRE / PEOPLE / BOOKS / WORD UP / BLK TEA / CLASSIFIEDS]. Centered and below Fashanu’s chest is the magazine headline in yellow text reading [Justice Fashanu / Top British Athlete Pays the Price / of Coming Out]. There are 68 numbered pages, stapled the center fold, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, black and white photographs, and cartoon illustrations throughout.
The inside of the cover features an ad [Prevention Is Better Than Cure]. The content opens with the section [WORD UP] by Leon Miller with five short articles: [AFRICAN FROGS GO TRANSSEXAUL], [THE BLACK BOOK IS WHITE] about the national directory of sexuality resources, [CHUCK D AND BILL C ON AIDS AS A CONSPPIRACY], [FAIRYLAND, JUNGLELAND, STUPIDLAND], and [NATIONAL GUARDSMAN PASSES FOR WOMAN].
This is followed by three letters to the editor in the section [BLK MAIL] on pages 2-5, with the [BLK] masthead on page 5. On page 6 is the section [BLK PEOPLE] by Michael Taylor about broad and general news regarding the Black gay and lesbian community. It is divided by city.
The cover story, which begins on page 8, is titled [Out of Fashanu / The first black gay footballer in England / to come out endures a personal sacrifice – and is / sacrificed by the black news media as well]. Written by Mark Haile, the article beings by talking about the ‘outting craze’ that has consumed the media. Haile then shifts to Fashanu, the first Black British football player to be traded for £1million, and the national reaction in England and Nigeria once he was outed. The article is accompanied by four photographs of Fashanu and several tabloid headings.
A feature article begins on page 14, titled [STATE OF THE ART / Sophisticated Duo’s First Releases From Spike Lee’s / New record Label] by DJ Marius. Marius conducts an interview State of the Art, comprised of Raymond Jones and Norma Jean Wright, who are a part of Spike Lee’s record label 40 Acres and a Mule.
A second feature article begins on page 16, titled [STONEWALL COMES TO / SOUTH CENTRAL], written by L. Lloyd Jordan. The article discusses the aftermath of the verdict regarding Rodney King’s assailants, particularly the difference in the words used to describe the events; “riot” used mainly by white Los Angelenos vs almost any other term like “rebellion” or “revolt” by Black Los Angelenos.
This is followed by the section [THEATER] on page 25, mention Pomo Afro Homos, Stanley Bennett Clay, and the Rainbow Repertory Theatre among many other individuals, institutions, and plays. On page 26 begins [MUSIC / by D.J. Marius] with one album review, [Adeva “Love or Lost” / (Capitol)]. The section [BOOKS / by Alan E. Miller], on page 29, discusses literature by Diane Bogus, Vega, Gloria Hull, and Michael Datcher. This is followed by [BLK BRIEFS] on page 30, providing articles in one or two sentences.
Several shorter articles appear under the section [BLK NEWS] complied by Alan Bell and Shawn Hinds. Beginning on page 33, these articles include: [Judge Rules in PWA’s Favor] regarding James Dorsey, [Baker Takes NAPWA Post] about A. Cornelius Baker and the National Association of People with AIDS, [HRCF Names Carter to Post] about Many Carter and the Human Rights Campaign Fund, [Black AIDS Efforts Launched / – Huntly Collins] about funding provided to Unity and the GALAEI Project, [Consortium Project Funded] regarding the Gay Men of Color Consortium (comprised of American Indian AIDS Institute, Bay Area HIV Support and Education Services, Comunidad Unida en Respuesta al SIDA, and Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Community HIV Project), and the Risk-Reduction Train-the-Trainer Project, [Family Holds Benefit] about the Family Foundation’s first annual AIDS benefit, [Nia Holds Sausalito Gathering] about the fifth annual Gathering for Lesbians of African Descent, [Blacks Red on Day o’ Green / – Eric K. Washington] regarding the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization, [Joint Chiefs Oks Gay Ban / – Rex Wockner], [Carl Bean Hospice Opens / – Shawn Hinds], [Johnson Quits AIDS Panel] about Magic Johnson and the National Commission on AIDS, [Coalition Hosts Annual Dinner / – Shawn Hinds] about the Black Coalition on AIDS, [‘Change’ Comes to L.A. / – Shawn Hinds] regarding the fifth annual Creating Change Conference and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, [BGLLF to Long Beach in 1993 / – Shawn Hinds] about the sixth annual National Black Gay and Lesbian Conferences and Institutes by the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum], [Gay South African Murdered] about Sgxabai, chair of the KwaThema Township chapter of the Gay and Lesbian Organization of Witwatersrand, [British Group Nixes POC / – Rex Wockner] regarding OutRage, [Blacks Form New Demo Club / – Mark Haile] about Lesbian and and Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action and the Harvey Milk Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club, [Prof Said to Be Name Caller], [North Carolina Begats Group] about Umoja: An Open Community of Lesbians and Gay Men of African American Descent, [BMX Plans 1993 Conference], [African Drug Gets Closer Look / – Shawn Hinds] regarding Kemron, an AIDS drug developed in Africa, and [Gentlemen Raise $35K / – Shawn Hinds] about Gentlemen Concerned distributing the money to organizations serving HIV+ African Americans and Latinos.
This is followed by [BLK VEIL] on page 40 and lists eighteen obituaries: Stanley Brown, Vince Butler, David Edwards, Zawadi-Lazarus Garrett, Robert S. Hart, Gordon Heath, Joel B. Irvine, Alexander Omega Jaramillo, Mark A. Johnson, Bryan Joseph, Melvin Lindsey, Willis Robert Lomax Jr., Larry Riley, Lue James Sinclair, Sr., Sonia Singleton, James Virgil Smith, Cleveland Michael Torain, and Donald W. Woods.
The gossip column [BLK TEA] written by Preston G. Guider is on page 42. The section [BLK LIST], a listing of gay and lesbian organizations, bars, and baths, runs from pages 49 to 55. Entities are assigned one to four stars based on how Black they are, with one star meaning “Somewhat black” and four stars “All black,” with a cross meaning “Mixed gay and straight.”
The issue concludes with the section [BLK MARKET] on page 56 and the classifieds section [TALKING PERONALS] starting on page 58, with personal ads divided by gender, nation, then U.S. regions.
The back cover is a full-page advertisement [Live with HIV] by the Gay Men of Color Consortium.
The object came with an insert: an enclosed envelope from [OVERLOOKED OPINIONS] for [Important Readership Survey Enclosed!!! / Win a free cruise / see inside…].
There are several advertisements throughout, including: [Stand up for Your Right II / 5th ANNUAL CREATING CHANGE CONFERENCE] by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; an Ice Cube advice ad by Minority AIDS Project; [POSITIVE / CONNECTION] by the Minority AIDS Project HIV Support Group; [KNOW yourself / KNOWLEDGE=POWER] by the AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Black Gay & Lesbian Leadership Forum; [COMMUNITY / PRESCRIPTION / SERVICE / A Mail-Order Pharmacy & AIDS Information Service]; [DARK / SNEAK / LOVE / ACTION / TOM TOM CLUB]; [THE HOMOEROTIC PHOTOGRAPH] ordering slip; [SUBSCRIBER’S / SERVICE] for BLK Publishing Company; [AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION / TELETHON]; [Army of Lovers / MASSIVE LUXURY OVERDOSE]; [BUILDING BRIDGES / MAKING CONNECTIONS / The Sixth Annual / Black Gay & Lesbian / Conference and Institutes / The Black Gay & Lesbian Leadership Forum]; [BLACKfire Cover Man Contest / and Dance Party]; HIV/AIDS awareness ad by Minority AIDS Project, [the / BFP TEE]; [THE WORLD’S LARGEST AND FINEST EROTIC DEPARTMENT STORE / The Pleasure Chest Ltd.]; [I Want It / ARIES]; [THING]; [THE / HOLLYWOOD / SPA / COMPOUND / A MAN’S PRIVATE PRESERVE]; informational slip for the Assistant Directors Training Program; [UCLA / CARE / CLINIC]; [CONFIDENTIAL PRESCRIPTIONS]; [THE / BLACK / GAY / MEN’S / RAP]; [Black Jack Party]; [EMPOWER LIFE]; [GAY & LESBIAN TRAVEL GUIDES BY / DAMRON]; [Unity / Fellowship / Church / A Church for All People]; [Social Change / Tool for the / 90s / Alternative Press Index]; [CREATING CHANGE] for the 5th Annual Conference by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; [ACT-UP/LA needs / your input • your leadership • your anger!]; [THE CENTER / LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT]; [1-800-877-BOYS]; [Gay and Lesbian Literature / A DIFFERENT LIGHT BOOKSTORE]; [1-800-733-MEET]; [Black and White / Men Together]; [BLACKfire / BLACK LACE]; [BLACK HANDFULLS]; and [CLUB BODY / CENTERS].
