Homoerotic Archaeology: Numbers (June 1980), Part One

Friday, June 17, 2022

Numbers (June 1980), Part One

Although tattoos have become exceedingly commonplace in contemporary society, they were highly uncommon and unconventional in the 1970s and 1980s, which made those donning the inked art degenerates in the eyes of mainstream culture. As T.R. Witomski, in his article contained in this June 1980 issue of Numbers (which has been broken into two parts), attests, this artistic deviancy paired well with the sexual deviancy of homosexuals, especially the sadomasochistic community, and may explain why “tattoos seem to have a special attraction for gay men.” Along with Witomski’s text, the first half also contains a cartoon titled “Sorry, Charlie,” the short story “Soldier on Leave” (where the narrator picks up a soldier in a local bar who enjoys aggressive sex), and instructions for Numbers’ story contest.

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What is Homoerotic Archaeology?

In 2016, I discovered several discarded boxes at an estate sale. Under their flimsy flaps were hundreds of well-worn issues of homoerotic magazines from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. I purchased them out of mild intrigue and, as I perused their pages, I was startled to realize that something commonly disregarded as pornographic smut earnestly chronicled the evolution of gay culture: the social and sexual liberation of the 1970s, the crushing devastation from AIDS during the 1980s, and the gradual strengthening of the community in the 1990s. As a gay man, I was touched by the subtle narrative these publications told. As a historian, I was motivated to digitally preserve their content. And, as an educator, I was driven to create a platform to share that information freely with others interested in the progression of gay society. Homoerotic Archaeology is that venue. Here you will find the advertisements, articles, short stories, and (of course) pictures found in these magazines lovingly preserved and presented for future generations of gay men to enjoy and study.

Why Preserve Homoerotica?

As early as the 1970s, scholars such as June Rook have stressed the need to preserve homosexual history in an effort to combat repression and establish a cultural background for future generations. Much of the preservation process admirably focuses on the substantial works of homosexual artists and thinkers; however, it sadly ignores other elements quintessential to the community’s history, particularly homoerotica. Although frequently labeled obscene filth, homoerotica has, just like the significant creations of artists and thinkers, been a prevalent part of the group’s culture and has played an integral role in shaping identities and perceptions (consider how influential Tom of Finland’s hypermasculinity has been in molding the body ideals of modern gay men). Due to this factor, the conservation of homoerotica is just as essential as the preservation of major artistic and theoretical homosexual works.