Description
This is the 21st issue of BLK Magazine published August 1990. The front cover features a cut-out, black and white photograph of Dr. Marjorie Hill seated in what is presumably a rattan throne chair. She is pictured in a dark blazer, a patterned skirt or pants while wearing white heels. The image is cropped around her with a lime-colored solid background. In the upper left corner [BLK] is printed in large, bold lime uppercase letters within a white rectangular box, with the bottom of the “L” and “K” partially obscured by the image of Dr. Hill. The date and issue [Vol. 2, No. 8 / Whole No. 21 / August 1990] are printed outside the lime text box near the upper right corner in black text. Flanked to the bottom left of Dr. Hill is black text reading [Dr. / Marjorie / Hill / NEW YORK CITY’S / LESBIAN AND GAY / REPRESENTATIVE / AT CITY HALL]. Flanked to the bottom right of Dr. Hill is black text that reads [NEWS / CARTOONS / ARTS / WORD UP / READ MY LIPS / CLASSIFIEDS]. There are 44 numbered pages, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, black and white photographs, and illustrations throughout.
The inside of the cover features an ad for the Minority AIDS Project [WHY LIVE IN / FEAR AND DOUBT? / LEARN MORE / ABOUT AIDS TESTING]. The content opens with the section [WORD UP / News of the Outrageous, the Amusing, the Pathetic and the Unexpected] by Leon Miller with seven short articles: [Two at the Top] about Atlantic Records claiming they would have blocked Audio’s Two’s homophobic records had they known, [Generalized Hate] about skinheads in Seattle beating a white gay man, [Public Enemy Re-Hires Griff] about Professor Griff returning after anti-Semantic remarks and makes homophobic and misogynist remarks, [Pie in the Face of Bigotry] about boycotting Edwards Bakery, [Just Kidding] regarding a Jet article about Christopher P. Reid and Christopher L. Reid, or Kid ‘n Play, [The Real Reid II] quoting Vernon Reid’s opinion on warning stickers on records with explicit lyrics, [Little Known Black History] regarding the origin story of a Kentucky homophobic law. The section ends with [Tell the Tale] which encourages readers to submit a sunny, strange, or odd story to the publication, reminding them it should be both Black and gay or lesbian related.
This is followed by [JUMP START] on page 4, with founder and editor Alan Bell addressing readers the BLK publication was struggling to make ends meet relying on advertisements as companies are slow in buying advertising space within the magazine. On the same page and to the left is a column for the BLK mast head and below is the [CONTENTS] listing the one cover story, one feature story, and eight departments, or sections. On the following page are three letters to the editor in the section [BLK MAIL].
The cover story, which begins on page 9, is titled [Climbing the Hill / Black lesbian psychologist appointed to top / lesbian and gay post in New York] with the label headline [THE BLK INTERVIEW]. Interviewed by Alan Bell, Dr. Marjorie Hill, the newly appointed director of the Mayor’s Office for the Lesbian and Gay Community, discusses how she will advise Mayor David Dinkins on lesbian and gay issues and advocate for feminist concerns whilst navigating these spaces as a Black lesbian. Other topics include limitations of city government, role of an activist in the system, and community support. Organizations that were referenced by Dr. Hill include: Association of Black Psychologists, Association of Women in Psychology, African American Wimmin United for Societal Change (previously known as Salsa Soul Sisters and of which she was heavily involved with), Lesbian and Gay People of Color Steering Committee, the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, the Hispanic Forums on AIDS, and GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis).
A feature story, which begins on page 17, is titled [Class Act / African princess has fought tyrants, tragedy / and AIDS] with a label headline [PERSONALITY]. Written by Charles Stewart, the article is about Princess Elizabeth Bagaaya Nyabongo of Toro’s life and the professional careers she’s had while also tracing the development of Uganda as a nation state and how AIDS is being addressed through national aggressive education.
Several shorter articles appear under [BLK NEWS] section, beginning on page 18. These include: [Black Mann in Run for Senate against Jessie Helms] about Harvey Gannt who won the Democratic nomination for US senator in North Carolina, [Ryan Nakagawa Replaces Dufty as MECLA Co-Chair] about Nakagawa and Jack Gelfand as the co-chair of the organization, with the former replacing Bevan Dufty who to date had been the only Black lesbian/gay member to serve on the board, [NGLTF receives Grant for Conference Scholarships] with the Chicago Resource Center funding a scholarship program for people of color and people with disabilities to attend the annual National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Change Conference, [Wilson to Receive Award at GLCSC’s Annual Ball] the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Servies Center honoring Phill Wilson, Jackie Goldberg, and Judge Rand Schrader, the first who was nominated by Dennis Odums, [Boston Neighborhood Torn by Racial, Sexual Strife] the South End in Boston, historically a people of color neighborhood, has seen an increase of violence towards gay men with tensions rising among both communities, [Stanford Students Want Gay, Lesbian, Black Faculty] with 150 Stanford University law students along with Derrick Bell protesting the school’s minority hiring practices, [CDC June Statistics on AIDS Cases in U.S.], [Law Parley to Include Lesbian, Gay POC Focus] the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association’s second national conference, Lavender Law II, [GAA in Albany Gay Action] about the Gay African Americans of Westchester, founded by Edward Nash, holding a rally of almost 1,000 people with Barbara Smith and Keith St. John as speakers, [S.F. Blacks Join Harvey Milk Democratic Club] about the Black Caucus of San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club, [NMAC HOLDS CONFERENCE] the National Minority AIDS Council teaming up with the French agency Comité France SIDA, [Men of All Colors/New York Fetes 10th Anniversary / by Mark Chestnut] where Lidell Jackson talks about the early formation of the NY chapter, which wanted an assertive political focus from the organization while other chapters wanted a social organization, leading to the splintered group Gay Racially Equally and Together (GREAT) Men of Gotham, this also caused the chapter’s name change and organizing consciousness raising sessions, [CSW Board of Directors] 25 people elected to the Christopher Street West/ Los Angeles board, including John Loga, C. Richard Slaughter and Michael Zavala, [Canadian Senator-elect Slams Blacks, Lesbians] about Stan Waters, a representative of the far right Reform Party, who cited Black Lesbians of Dartmouth, a Nova Scotian support group for Black lesbians, [Lesbian Conference in Costa Rica Harrassed / by John Hubert] about the Las Entendidas and the Second Latin American and Caribbean Lesbian Feminist Conference, [Anti-Apartheid Group Admits Gay Organization] the Organization of Lesbian and Gay Activists granted membership into the United Democratic Front, [Black Punches White, Then Endorses Him] about activists Robert “Say” McIntosh endorsing Ralph Forbes over Black real estate salesman, Kenneth “Muskie” Harris in the GOP runoff, [Jewel Thaïs-Wlliams to Serve on APLA’s Board] an action which some say is hoping to alter the AIDS Project Los Angeles White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant image, [Gay Priest Pulls Pulpit on Black Bishop from Kenya] Rev. Gary Ost, who is gay, and a woman parishioner, who is lesbian, tell Bishop Alexander Muge not to avoid preaching about homosexuality, [Candidates Face Blacks] about Louise Gant, Kevin Taylor, and Courtney Williams interviewing Linda Cropp and Terry Lynch, [African, Asian Lesbians Create New Organization] about the International Lesbian Information Service in Amsterdam assisting in creating the African Lesbian Network and the Asian Lesbian Network, [Prof Sees New Racism at U.S. College Campuses] about the shift racism has taken on college campus, or becoming more symbolic, as Prof. J.R. Morris says, attacking issues like affirmative actions instead, and [California Senate Head Hires Black lesbian] about State Senate President pro Tem David Roberti hiring Xavier Hall as his liaison to the gay and lesbian community.
Section [BLK Veil] starts on page 29 and lists one obituary for Amani Jabari. This is followed by the section [BLK ARTS] on page 31. The subsection [MUSIC NEWS] has one article titled [Soul, Syrup and Silk / by Ron Smith]; the subsection [DANCE MUSIC REVIEWS] has one article titled [Dueling James: ‘The Power’ / by D.J. Marius]; and the subsection [MOVIE REVIEW] by one article titled [Chinatown and the Two Jakes / by Alan Bell. The gossip column [Read My Lips] written by Preston G. Guider is on page 36. The issue concludes with the classifieds section [BLK MARKET], starting on page 36, with personal ads divided by gender, nation, then U.S. regions.
The back cover is a full-page advertisement for [TALK LIVE!].
There are advertisements throughout, including: [World Health Organization / Multicenter Study on HIV Infection] seeking participants; [COMPLETE AUTO DETAILING / TWO HOT HANDSOME MEN / WILL DETAIL YOUR AUTO /BODY] by The Prestige Club Process; on pages 6 and 7, there is a spread for [BGM 5: Past and Prologue] a Blacklight Press publication, with a mail in order slip and showcasing the new issue’s cover drawing; [CELEBRATE AT THE CENTER! / NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY…] with the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center; [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]; [Buddies ‘n’ Pals / ‘n’ Partners] dating service for major cities in the U.S. and Canada; [A QUE AT THE BEACH / A Black Men’s Affair] a bar-b-que and dance event sponsored by the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum Men’s Committee; [Keith Medical Group]; [FOR BLACK GAY & / BISEXUAL MEN ONLY!] from the African American Men’s Health Project; [Black writer wants to meet accountant who looks like an architect and lives in Cheviot Hills]; [ACT-UP/LA needs / your input • your leadership • your anger!]; [Catch-a-Burger / TurkeyBurgersetc.] a no red meat option at Jewel’s Catch-One with coupons; [Jewel’s Room] list of weekly event occurring below Jewel’s Catch-One; [970-WOLF]; [Reactions]; [A DIFFERENT LIGHT / Gay and Lesbian Literature]; [ARE YOU SHOOTING HEROIN? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL METHADONE TREATMENT? THE UCLA PROJECT MAY HAVE A FREE SLOT FOR YOU!]; [Subscribe to the leading interracial gay magazine / QUARTLY INTERCHANGE]; [Black and White Men Together]; [CHIRON RISING]; [THE / BFP TRIBUNE / Rimming the World for News!]; [The Pleasure Chest Ltd.]; ad for printing services by Louis; [BLK SUBSCRIPTIONS / BLK CLASSIFIED ADS / BLK T-SHIRTS] payment options over phone; [THE BODY BLACK CALENDAR 1991]; [JOB OPENINGS / AT THE / MINORITY AIDS PROJECT / BEHAVIOR CHANGE SPECIALIST / COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH WORKER / CLIENT ADVOCATE]; [976-HUNK]; [HOT / TALKING / PERSONALS! / Connections USA]; [GET A LITTLE… FUN!]; and [The Black Line].
