LGBTQ History Month: Exploring 70 years of lesbian publications
From 1940s zines to modern glossy magazines DANA PICCOLI | News Is Out Editor NewsIsOut.com Since the 1940s, lesbians have created a vibrant history of publications.
From the exploration of daily lesbian life to literary and feminist pursuits, to the modern age of glossy magazines, for over 70 years, lesbians have been finding a way to connect and share their stories in periodicals, newsletters and beyond. The very beginnings Edythe Eyde was a secretary at RKO Studios in 1947 when she found she had time on her hands and made a groundbreaking decision.
While at work, she started writing what is considered the country’s first lesbian periodical, Vice Versa. The magazine, which she called “America’s Gayest Magazine,” featured editorials, film reviews (it was the Golden Age of Hollywood, after all), book reviews, short stories and letters to the editor.
Only nine issues of Vice Versa were produced, but Edythe, who went by the pen name of Lisa Ben, created a spark that ignited a rich cultural history.
