[Promotional Mailer With Early Copy of Gay Community News Sent to Important LGBTQ Publishing House].

Boston: Charles Street Meeting House, 1973. Three items: Vol. 1, No. 17 (October 13, 1973) of Gay Community News (15½” x 10¾”, four pages) + cover letter, both included in original mailed envelope. Gay Community News near fine with old folds and a hint of toning along top edge; cover letter and envelope very good.

This is an early issue of Gay Community News (GCN) included in a mailer sent to another LGBTQ+ publisher. The mailer's cover letter explained that GCN would offer a free subscription to the recipient in exchange for a subscription to that recipient's publications.

GCN's first issue, entitled “Gay Community Newsletter,” was issued June 17, 1973 and was a two page mimeo. GCN explained in that first issue that,

“There has been a long standing need in the Boston gay community for improved communication between the various gay organizations and gay individuals. The lack of coverage in the "straight" press has added to this problem of getting necessary information to our community. Gay groups have attempted to overcome this problem by newsletters to their members, but this has led to duplicated efforts with vast portions of the community left uninformed of events until after they have passed. The Gay Community Newsletter is meant to solve this problem.”

Like the other earliest issues of GCN, this number was published by the Charles Street Meeting House (later issues were published by The Bromfield Street Educational Foundation), and was its last prior to changing to an eight page publication on newsprint. This issue features the schedule for the 1973 Boston Gay Conference and also has a short phone list of local LGBTQ+ resources. GCN was in publication until 1992.

The recipient of the mailer was Manroot/Paul Mariah.

A scarce early issue of GCN, with documentation of its publisher's efforts to promote the paper, as well as an exchange with other LGBTQ+ publishers.


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