This article was posted on LAist, which is the Los Angeles NPR news station. They explored the history of “Gay Guides”, which began in the 1960s (in the times before the internet, lest we forget there was such a time) so that gay men could find friendly places without fear of harassment in a time when gay culture was quite closeted.
There’s a fantastic and short overview about them and Bob Damron, who first created them, here at the LAist website. Bob Damron began his career as a bar owner. He co-founded the San Francisco Eagle in 1981, so there’s a kinky connection as well!
As time went on, he personally visited locations and listed them in his book. The article notes that these guides were small, so they could be quickly and discretely hidden in a pocket… remember, being gay wasn’t very accepted then.
The website Mapping the Gay Guides has compiled all the archives, and you can see what locations near your area used to be listed in the guide. It’s quite a trip, and if you’ve been around for a while, you may see some names you recognize!
And if you happen to be in or visiting the Southern California area, the Muzeo Museum in Anaheim is hosting an exhibit of the guides and other local gay history until June 23! It’s always good to be aware of your history.
