Numbers (March 1981)

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, leather and sadomasochism were still considered deviant subgroups in the homosexual community and much of their inner workings were steeped in both mystery and misunderstanding. In fact, as Steven Hogan and Lee Hudson highlight, even into the 1990s, leather and sadomasochistic activities were commonly barred in mainstream gay and lesbian events. In this March 1981 issue of Numbers, an interview with Fred DiMarco, a member of this subgroup, aims to dispel many of these misconceptions. Also included in this issue are a gay-themed connect-the-dots and crossword puzzle, a photo spread dedicated to athletes, and the short stories “Fucked to Death” (a comedic tale about a blow-up doll) and “Twenty Minutes” (a strangely lyrical homage to two men’s weekly meetings on Saturdays).

Mandate (March 1988), Part Two

In October of 1987, more than half a million gay and lesbian activists gathered at the nation’s capital to rail against the government’s apathy toward the AIDS epidemic, particularly the Helms Amendment which prevented federal funding for AIDS educational material that promoted homosexuality. The event launched a series of similar protests throughout the nation as well as in Europe, with fifteen hundred demonstrators marching in retaliation to Bavaria’s mandated HIV antibody testing for civil servants. This March 1988 issue of Mandate (which has been broken into two parts) champions the October protest with both an article on the event and an erotic short story in the first half. In the second half, the theme of oppression is continued with two short stories: "They Forced Me" (about entrapment and rape) and "Lucky Gertie" (about a man's confrontation with his deceased partner's family). Also included in the second half are spreads of models Eric, Grant, and Vincent, and an interview with author Perry Brass.

Mandate (March 1988), Part One

In October of 1987, more than half a million gay and lesbian activists gathered at the nation’s capital to rail against the government’s apathy toward the AIDS epidemic, particularly the Helms Amendment which prevented federal funding for AIDS educational material that promoted homosexuality. The event launched a series of similar protests throughout the nation as well as in Europe, with fifteen hundred demonstrators marching in retaliation to Bavaria’s mandated HIV antibody testing for civil servants. This March 1988 issue of Mandate (which has been broken into two parts) champions the October protest with both an article on the event and an erotic short story, “Coast to Coast,” about a New Yorker and San Franciscan’s rendezvous while attending the Washington march. Also included in the first half of this issue are spreads of models Aleck and Roland, information about substance abuse in the gay community, and a piece on the Pisces astrological sign.