Homoerotic Archaeology: Mandate (August 1981), Part Two

Friday, August 8, 2025

Mandate (August 1981), Part Two

In a 1978 study, sociologists William DeVall and Joseph Harry found preferential patterns among gay men: those in their early 20s tend to prefer older men, those between the ages of 25 and 35 are more interested in partners their same age, and those over 35 are inclined to seek younger men. In a follow-up study a decade later, Harry discovered similar results, claiming part of this decision process has to do with control as older men seek younger men who they can control and younger men pursue older men who can control them. In this August 1981 issue of Mandate (which has been broken into two parts), psychotherapist Rex Reed discusses some of the difficulties faced by trans-generational partners and offers an interview with two of his clients to explore concepts of aging, jealousy, and social rebuke. Contained in this second half (see the first half here) is a short profile on Peter Berlin, an article about hair-loss treatment, a showcase of artist Robert LaSenna’s erotic greeting cards, the short story “Satyr” (where the main character encounters the mythical creature at a bar on Folsom Street), and photos of model Butch Barnes.

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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.