Well before the June 1969 Stonewall riots threw open the closet doors to unleash and proclaim an unmistakable gay mantra, myriad clues - some subliminal, others overt - clearly ingrained the notion of homosexuality in advertisements appearing on the pages of many American periodicals. Hedonistically intertwined with homoerotic connections are advertising themes such as vanity, virility, and carnal pleasure. Gay intimacy and interaction, references to the male genitalia, and threats of sexual conquest of and between men can be documented in ads as far back as the late 1800s. And, although the...

Well before the June 1969 Stonewall riots threw open the closet doors to unleash and proclaim an unmistakable gay mantra, myriad clues - some subliminal, others overt - clearly ingrained the notion of homosexuality in advertisements appearing on the pages of many American periodicals. Hedonistically intertwined with homoerotic connections are advertising themes such as vanity, virility, and carnal pleasure. Gay intimacy and interaction, references to the male genitalia, and threats of sexual conquest of and between men can be documented in ads as far back as the late 1800s. And, although the...

"Life, in some ways, has been more complicated for those of us who are baby boomers . especially if we're "different" and grew up on "that "side of the Stonewall. Come out? Why, most of us couldn't even join in. Rather, we tried to deny ourselves, hoping the burdensome secret would soon depart. "It never did. So, we turned to prescription drugs, self-inflicted voodoo, and pejorative prayer. Mostly, though, we married-expecting that wives, wedding rings, and children would add legitimacy to our lives and help keep the demons at bay. None of that worked. And, sadly, others were also hurt by the...