San Francisco Forum. Volume 1, Number 5.

San Francisco: Carl E. Jordan, 1972. 11½” x 8”. Newsprint. pp. 15. Very good plus with a hint of toning at extremities.

This is an issue of the short-lived San Francisco Forum which touted itself as “The Independent Community Newspaper” for San Francisco. Its premier issue contained a short history of how the paper came about, as well as its purpose:

[i]“the idea of the FORUM was born amid reports of long continuing strife rampant within the bowels of other publications. In addition to the searing dissention [sic] within the management of our community newspapers there exists the counter-productive and egocentric mismanagement of the major social organizations within our community. As a result the public has been exposed to . . . biased reporting and the effective silencing of the distasteful truths. For any paper to publish but one side of any issue is equal to the total censorship of the other.”[/i]

The paper provided information relevant to the gay community, with regular features like sections devoted to reader mail, entertainment reviews, classifieds, advertisements for local businesses and a fair amount of activist/political reporting. An extensive directory provided a list of organizations and their telephone numbers for the gay switchboard, psychiatric help, free clinics, drug and legal help, and even draft help through organizations like Resistance SF, and legal groups.

The sixth, and presumably last, issue of the San Francisco Forum. It includes an article on San Francisco's Imperial Court chapter, reports on recent S.I.R. Meetings, and an outstanding full page advertisement for a David Bowie concert.

OCLC shows two entities with this issue. Item #3523

Price: $225.00