Queer Zines

Queer Zines

Queer Zines are a category of zines that rose to prominence in the 80s and 90s during the AIDS/HIV epidemic (1). These zines cover a wide range of topics and ideas. Many of these zines made by queer artists were used as a way to educate queer people on social issues and the AIDS/HIV epidemic. These zines often used shock as a way to get attention and shine a light on the mistreatment and lack of care given to those who suffered through the epidemic. Queer zines were also used as a way to educate queer people on how to have safe sex and ways to protect themselves from AIDS and HIV. 

History

Zines have been around since the beginning of the 20th century. The name zine is derived from the term “ fan magazine.” The first documented zine is “The Comet” in the 1930s and was published by Science Correspondents Club (2). They used these zines to talk about science and science fiction. Zines most often have been used by communities outside of the mainstream (3).

 Since the first iteration of zines, there have been many more. In 1947, the first queer zine was published by Lisa Ben titled “Vice Versa” the zine ran for about a year.  In 1968 the first Star Trek zine would be published titled “Spockanalia” this grew the connection between science fiction and zines. The creation of “Spockanalia” also highlights the beginning of the connection between fandom and zine culture.

The 80s and 90s were the peaks of the HIV/AIDS epidemic (4). In 1992, HIV was the largest killer of men aged 25-45. At the same time, the DIY scene was in full swing (5). Zines were a cheap and effective way to protest and connect with others (6). These two things made it possible for queer zines to exist (7). In 2003 the Queer Zine Archive Project was launched to collect and catalog queer zine history. 

Social Functions

Queer zines were used to help create space for queer persons.  For example, many Queer zines had an element of shock meant to dissuade straight people from trying to take up space where they didn’t belong. Another function of queer zines was to help educate queer people on how to have safe sex. Many queer men died at the hands of the epidemic and the government’s response to it (8). These sex education zines were aimed at gay men because of the toll the aid epidemic took on gay communities (9).

During the 80s and 90s, the AIDs epidemic was used to villanize and blame queer gay men. In 1982, Ronald Reagan’s press secretary laughs when someone asks about tracking AIDs data (10). Zines were used as a way to protest the dismissal of AIDs(11).

Zines are easy to get places. They don’t cost a lot of money to print a lot. Zines have been used to spread information that wasn’t in the mainstream media. Zines didn’t require you to have wealth to spread information. For queer zines that information was activism. 

 

 

 

Stylistic Feature

Queer zines have many different stylistic features. Some of these features include the following. 

1.  Queer zines shouldn’t require special materials (12).
2. Queer zines should have a cover and a title (13).  
3. Queer zines sometimes have a shocking image on the cover (14).  
4. Some queer zines have simple hand-drawn art or pictures (15).

These stylistic choices reflect the medium and the subject covered. Queer zines were often used by grassroots activists to spread awareness. Zines were an affordable way to spread information. Some queer zines contained shocking images as a way to get attention.     

 

Reference List

1. “Zines: AIDS/HIV activism through zines.” Elon University.
2. “The Comet” first Fanzine published. Physical, Electrical, Digital.
3. “Sci Fi & Fantasy Fanzines at UMBC.” University of Maryland, Baltimore County
4. “A Timeline of HIV and AIDS.” HIV.org
5. Kero, River. (2021). “A History of Zines.” BookRiot
6. “Zines: AIDS/HIV activism through zines.” Elon University.
7. Kero, River. (2021). “A History of Zines.” BookRiot
8. Fitzsimons, Tim. (2018). “LGBTQ History Month: The early days of America’s AIDS crisis.” NBC News.
9.  Cascade AIDS Project. (2005) “Zine: A Young Male’s Guide To …” Queer Zine Archive Project. 
10. Fitzsimons, Tim. (2018). “LGBTQ History Month: The early days of America’s AIDS crisis.” NBC News.
11. Fitzsimons, Tim. (2018). “LGBTQ History Month: The early days of America’s AIDS crisis.” NBC News.
12.  Cascade AIDS Project. (2005). “Zine: A Young Male’s Guide To …” Queer Zine Archive Project. 
13.  Cascade AIDS Project. (2005). “Zine: A Young Male’s Guide To …” Queer Zine Archive Project. 
14. W, Wayne Karr (1992). “Zine: Infected Faggot Perspectives #12.”  Queer Zine Archive Project. 
15. Mangle, Sarah. Emery. (2006). “Queersafe #1.” Queer Zine Archive Project