<I>BLK Vol. 3 No. 6</I>
date: label: Date
content: June 1991
name: label: Published by
content: Alan Bell, American
label: Edited by
content: Alan Bell, American
label: Interview of
content: Joe Simmons, American, 1959 - 1995
label: Subject of
content: Robert Mapplethorpe, American, died 1989
label: Subject of
content: Jewel's Catch One, American, founded 1973
label: Subject of
content: Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, American, 1988 - 2003
label: Subject of
content: Minority AIDS Project, American, founded 1985
label: Subject of
content: Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, American, founded 1973
label: Subject of
content: Rep. Maxine Waters, American, born 1938
label: Subject of
content: Reggie Williams, American, 1951 - 1999
label: Subject of
content: Rev. Carl Bean, American, 1944 - 2021
label: Subject of
content: Phill Wilson, American, born 1956
label: Subject of
content: Sabrina Sojourner, American, born 1952
label: Subject of
content: National LGBTQ Task Force, American, founded 1974
label: Subject of
content: Tom Bradley, American, 1917 - 1998
label: Subject of
content: GMHC, American, founded 1981
notes: label: Description
content: This is the 31st issue of BLK magazine published June 1991. The front cover is printed in color and features a photograph of Joe Simmons, marking it as the first issue printed in full CMYK color. Simmons is wearing a black firefighter’s hat, with the number 1 in large, white font and the initials H.F.D. in red. He is pictured from the waist up, shirtless, with a firefighter’s jacket hanging from his left shoulder. There is a red backdrop with vertical folds. At the top and centered off to the left, [BLK] is printed in bold, white, uppercase letters within a yellow rectangular box. Above the text box in small, white, uppercase letters it reads [THE NATIONAL BLACK LESBIAN AND GAY NEWSMAGAZINE], fitting across the length of the textbox. Outside of the upper right corner of the [BLK] text box is the magazine issue information; in small, blue text it reads [Vol. 3, No. 6 / Whole No. 31 / June 1991]. Below are the news sections listed in blue text, [NEWS / CARTOONS / WORD UP / READ MY LIPS / CLASSIFIEDS]. At the center of Simmons’ chest, the headline is printed in in yellow text, [Joe Simmons on Racism, / Safe Sex and / Being a Porno Star]. There are 48 numbered pages, stapled at through the fold, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, black and white photographs, and cartoon illustrations throughout.
label: Description
content: The inside of the cover features an ad for the Minority AIDS project for a free, anonymous, AIDS antibody test [WHAT’S WORSE… / 20 MINUTES OF FEAR AND WORRYING / OR… / A LIFETIME OF FEAR AND WORRYING? / CONSIDER GETTING THE AIDS ANTIBODY TESTED TODAY.]. The content opens with the section titled [Word Up / News of the Outrageous, the Amusing, the Pathetic and the Unexpected] by Leon Miller with three short articles: [Restricted to God Fearing Whites] about a leather club in Northern California, [‘In Living Color’ and Men on Fire] about the character Fire Marshal Bill lacking fire safety, and [Getting in Whitney’s Pants] regarding Whitney’s sexuality.
label: Description
content: This is followed the [BLK] mast head on page 4.
label: Description
content: The cover story, which begins on page 7, is titled [Joe Simmons / Black gay adult film actor talks about racism, / safe sex and being a porno superstar], with a label headline [THE BLK INTERVIEW]. Conducted and written by Alan Bell, Simmons discusses the film industry, his short off-Broadway career, meeting Christopher Rage, the difference in his performance at straight clubs versus gay clubs, his love for the outdoors, the Puritan culture of the United States, working with Robert Mapplethrope, his early life, and his sexuality. A list of his films and magazines he has been featured in is listed at the end of the interview. The article is accompanied by two photographs of Simmons.
label: Description
content: Several shorter articles appear under the section [BLK NEWS]. Beginning on page 19, these articles include: [African-American Take Top Title in Leather World] “D” Cannon is awarded the International Mr. Leather 1991, becoming the second African American to hold the title after Ron Moore in 1984, [WHO Begins 6-Month Kemron Test on 1200 Africans] the drug Kemron has been viewed as controversial, [People of Color Denounce Lambda Legal Defense for Going Ahead with ‘Saigon’ Benefit Despite Furor by Mark Haile] about the Broadway production “Miss Saigon” using racists and sexist language and depiction of Asian characters, with organizations protesting and refusing awards, [Activists Still Unconvinced After Meeting with VA] Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Reggie Williams, Belinda Rochelle, Rev. Carl Bean, George Bellinger Jr., Anita Taylor, and Phill Wilson discuss the controversial study of the HIV/AIDS treatment AZT by the Veteran’s Administration, [NGLTF Elects New Board] Deborah Johnson, Carmen Vasquez, and Ivo Dominguez, Jr. have joined Sabrina Sojourner, Geni Cowan, and Robert Flores Saenz as board members of the National Gay Lesbian Task Force, [CDC April Statistics on AIDS Cases in U.S.], [Committee Works to Oust L.A. Cop Boss Daryl Gates by Karen Ocamb] following the LAPD beating of Rodney King, the article discusses the history of police brutality in the city, [Woodrow Myers Quits] New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Woodrow Myers resigns, [ILGA Drops Conference After Threats Increase by Rex Wockner] about the 13th World Conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Association being cancelled due to Mayor Gabriel Covarrubias Ibarra stating he would arrest all delegates, [NGRA Ceases Operations] about the National Gay Rights Advocates, [Pendulumers Win Race] about Marvin Ross and Aaron Nelson,
label: Description
content: The gossip column titled [Read My Lips] written by Preston G. Guider is on page 34. The issue concludes with the classifieds section [BLK MARKET] starting on page 39, with personal ads divided by gender, nation, then U.S. regions.
label: Description
content: The back cover is a full-page advertisement for [Eagle Creek Saloon].
label: Description
content: The object came with an insert: a brochure for the constituent mail program of The Human Rights Campaign Fund [Speak Out].
label: Description
content: There are several advertisements throughout, including: [SOMEONE / YOU CAN / TRUST / Culver City / Mazda]; [Los Angeles AIDS-THON] presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation; [JOIN / Human Rights Campaign Fund’s / Speak Out]; [THE ADVOCATE]; [FOR BLACK GAY & / BISEXUAL MEN / ONLY!] from the African American Men’s Health Project; [Unity / Fellowship / Church / A Church for All People]; [Fantasy Voyage ’91 / CROWN CRUISE LINE]; [LIVING WITH HIV] by the American Social Health Association, National Association of People of AIDS, and Burroughs Welcome Co.; [red + hot + blue / THE HOME VIDEO]; [I’ve always said, / “If I ever got / AIDS, I don’t / know what / I’d do.” / I was right.] ad stating the mission of AIDS Project Los Angeles; [CHRISTOPHER STREET WEST / LOS ANGELES 1991 / TOGETHER IN / PRIDE] about the Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration; [A Hundred Grand… and Counting / Gentlemen Concerned’ s / Sixth Annual / Garden Party]; volunteers of Minority AIDS Project [A CELEBRATION / OF / LIFE 91 / PICNIC]; [Immediate openings. / Fringe benefits. / L.A. Shanti Foundation]; [TALKING PERSONALS / Connections USA]; [THE CENTER / LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT]; [WEST HOLLYWOOD / PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH]; [TRAXX / of L.A.]; [TWISTED / VIDEO]; [The Pleasure Chest Ltd.]; [Ms. Vogue: BARBER/STYLIST]; [ACT-UP/LA needs / your input • your leadership • your anger!]; [Black and White / Men Together]; [A DIFFERENT LIGHT / Gay and Lesbian Literature]; [PUT PRIDE IN YOUR LIVE / Recovery / Has Many Faces. / Pride / Institute]; [The / GAY MEN’S / CHORUS / LOS ANGELES]; [303-WOLF]; [Diversity and Unity / Together / in Pride / 1991 Lambda / Freedom Fair; [WELCOME ABOARD SAN DIEGO! / BLACK MEN’S XCHANGE]; [THE CENTER / LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATOR]; [THE / HOLLYWOOD / SPA / COMPOUND / A MAN’S PRIVATE PRESERVE]; [THE BLACK / GAY MEN’S RAP / Together We Can Work It Out!]; [The Black Line]; [GET A LITTLE… FUN!]; and [15th International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival].
place: label: Place made
content: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Geneva, Switzerland, Europe
label: Place depicted
content: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: San Francisco, San Francisco county, California, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Activism
label: Topic
content: Black Press
label: Topic
content: Communities
label: Topic
content: Health
label: Topic
content: Identity
label: Topic
content: International affairs
label: Topic
content: LGBTQ
label: Topic
content: Mass media
label: Topic
content: Police brutality
label: Topic
content: Race riots
label: Topic
content: Sexuality
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1969-2001
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Books and Published Materials
label: Movement
content: HIV/AIDS Activist Movement
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alan Bell
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2018.108.31ab
objectType: label: Type
content: magazines (periodicals)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: © BLK Publishing Company, Inc
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: ink on paper (fiber product)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 10 13/16 × 8 1/4 × 1/8 in. (27.4 × 20.9 × 0.3 cm)