Philadelphia Gay News

Last updated
Philadelphia Gay News
PGN Masthead.gif
Type Weekly LGBT newspaper
Publisher Mark Segal
Editor-in-chiefJess Bryant
Staff writersMichele Zipkin, Larry Nichols, Timothy Cwiek
Founded1976
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Circulation 50,000 Weekly
Website epgn.com

Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) is an LGBT newspaper in the Philadelphia area. The publication was founded in 1976 by Mark Segal, [1] who was inspired by activist Frank Kameny when they met in 1970. [2]

Contents

PGN is the oldest LGBT publication founded as a weekly in the United States and is the largest on the East Coast with 25,000 weekly readers. [3] PGN is a member of the National Gay Newspaper Guild.

Mission

The mission of Philadelphia Gay News is to serve as a forum for LGBT community discussion, and to act as a platform for communicating LGBT issues with mainstream media. [4] "My initial goal for PGN was to be the publication that informed our community," Segal said in an interview with Julia Klein. "It was very modest. Then as we went on, I began to realize how powerful a communications medium that connected our community together could be, and my goals changed. I wanted to do more." [4]

History

Philadelphia Gay News Historical Marker at 233 S. 13th St. Philadelphia PA Philadelphia Gay News Historical Marker at 233 S 13th St Philadelphia PA (DSC 4784).jpg
Philadelphia Gay News Historical Marker at 233 S. 13th St. Philadelphia PA

1976 - Mark Segal founds PGN on January 3 as a monthly publication. [1]

1993 - Philadelphia Magazine bestows PGN publisher Mark Segal with "Best of Philadelphia" award for "Clout". [1]

2016 - Hillary Clinton writes an op-ed for PGN, which is the first time a major-party presidential candidate writes an op-ed for an LGBT newspaper. [5]

2020 - In March, PGN is approved for a commemorative marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. [6] The sign will read: "First published in 1976, this early newspaper of the LGBTQ community was an outlet for intracommunication when few others were available. It served as a community-building vehicle at a time when the LGBTQ rights movement was still forming. At the outbreak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it became a lifesaving source for a community in need. It is now the most-awarded LGBTQ publication in the nation." [7]

Circulation

Philadelphia Gay News vending machine Philadelphia Gay News vending machine.jpg
Philadelphia Gay News vending machine

The Philadelphia Gay News is distributed for free and can be picked up in vending boxes throughout Greater Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. [8]

Vending Machines

The Philadelphia Gay News received its batch of around 30 vending boxes in 1976. They were provided for free by the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, who were retiring an old fleet. PGN's longtime distribution manager, Don Pignolet, took them to  Earl Shibe Auto for painting. The shop was willing to donate paint for the boxes, but only one color: fresh plumb, or RAL-0007. [9]

"No one else had that color," Pignolet said, "and it just seemed so gay."

Pignolet and his father attached the coin mechanisms to the boxes, initially charging 50 cents an issue. Today the paper is free. Throughout the years the boxes have been used as trash cans and vandalized with stickers and graffiti. People have glued the boxes shut and scrawled homophobic graffiti on them, such as "Gay=Got AIDS Yet?" On several occasions, the boxes were blown up with homemade bombs consisting of M-80 fireworks. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Washington Blade</i> American LGBT newspaper

The Washington Blade is an LGBT newspaper in the Washington metropolitan area. The Blade is the oldest LGBT newspaper in the United States and third largest by circulation, behind the Philadelphia Gay News and the Gay City News of New York City. The Blade is often referred to as America's gay newspaper of record because it chronicled LGBT news locally, nationally, and internationally. The New York Times said the Blade is considered "one of the most influential publications written for a gay audience."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Rights Campaign</span> LGBTQ civil rights advocacy group

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGBTQ individuals, most notably advocating for same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation, and HIV/AIDS advocacy. The organization has a number of legislative initiatives as well as supporting resources for LGBTQ individuals.

<i>The Advocate</i> (magazine) Bi-monthly American magazine covering LGBT-interest topics

The Advocate is an American LGBT magazine, printed bi-monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a website. Both magazine and website have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people. The magazine, established in 1967, is the oldest and largest LGBT publication in the United States and the only surviving one of its kind that was founded before the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan, an uprising that was a major milestone in the LGBT rights movement. On June 9, 2022, Pride Media was acquired by Equal Entertainment LLC known as equalpride putting The Advocate back under queer ownership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay liberation</span> Social and political movement in the 1960s and 70s.

The gay liberation movement was a social and political movement of the late 1960s through the mid-1980s that urged lesbians and gay men to engage in radical direct action, and to counter societal shame with gay pride. In the feminist spirit of the personal being political, the most basic form of activism was an emphasis on coming out to family, friends, and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists</span>

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, is an American professional association dedicated to unbiased coverage of LGBTQ issues in the media. It is based in Washington, D.C., and the membership consists primarily of journalists, students, educators, and communications professionals. The organization was previously known as the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), but changed its name in 2013 to "NLGJA: The Association of LGBT Journalists" to reflect the diversity of the communities it represents. In 2016, it added a "Q", updating its name to "NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists". In 2023, it added a "+", updating its name to "NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists".

''OUT FRONT Magazine'' is an LGBT newspaper and daily online publication in the Denver metropolitan area. OUT FRONT was founded by Phil Price with its first issue hitting the stands on April 2, 1976. 'OUT FRONT' is the second oldest independent LGBT publication in the United States

The National Gay Newspaper Guild is an organization of LGBT newspapers located in the United States.

<i>Q-Notes</i>

Q-Notes is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) newspaper serving North Carolina and South Carolina. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Published every other week, it has a circulation of 11,000 print copies and is the largest print publication serving the LGBT community in the American Southeast. The paper traces its origins to the monthly newsletter of the Queen City Quordinators, a Charlotte LGBT organization, which they began publishing in 1983. In 1986, Qnotes changed to a monthly tabloid. In 2006, it merged with the Raleigh, N.C. LGBT newspaper The Front Page.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Way LGBT Community Center</span>

The William Way LGBT Community Center is a nonprofit organization serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and nearby communities, located at 1315 Spruce Street in Philadelphia in the Gayborhood.

Mark Allan Segal, Mark Segal and his Famous TV Zaps is a social activist and author. He participated in the Stonewall riots and was one of the original founders of the Gay Liberation Front where he created its Gay Youth program. He was the founder and former president of the National Gay Newspaper Guild and purchased the Philadelphia Gay News. He has won numerous journalism awards for his column "Mark my Works," including best column by The National Newspaper Association, Suburban Newspaper Association and The Society of Professional Journalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giovanni's Room Bookstore</span> Bookstore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Giovanni's Room Bookstore is a gay bookstore in Philadelphia. It is the oldest gay bookstore in the United States still operating and has been called the "center of gay Philly". Founded in 1973 in Philadelphia, Giovanni's Room Bookstore is named after James Baldwin's gay novel Giovanni's Room. Philly AIDS Thrift took over the store after the owner retired in 2014 and the bookstore is now called Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni's Room, also known as PAT @ Giovanni's Room.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT culture in Philadelphia</span>

The development of LGBT culture in Philadelphia can be traced back to the early 20th century. It exists in current times as a dynamic, diverse, and philanthropically active culture with establishments and events held to promote LGBT culture and rights in Philadelphia and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Casarez</span> American civil rights leader and LGBT activist

Gloria Casarez was an American civil rights leader and LGBT activist in Philadelphia. Casarez served as Philadelphia's first director of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) affairs. During her tenure as director, Philadelphia ranked as the number one city nationwide for LGBT equality. Casarez served as the executive director of Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALAEI) from 1999 to 2008.

Walter Jay Lear was an American physician and activist for healthcare reform and LGBT rights. Among his contributions, Lear was a founder of the Institute of Social Medicine and Community Health and the Maternity Care Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. In 1964 Lear was also a founder of the Medical Community for Human Rights. He received the American Public Health Association's Helen Rodriguez-Trias Award for his contributions to the cause of social justice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Fair</span> American activist

David Fair is an American activist who has been a leader in the labor, LGBT, AIDS, homeless and child advocacy movements in Philadelphia, PA since the 1970s. He has founded or co-founded several advocacy and service organizations, including the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force (1977), the Philadelphia Gay Cultural Festival (1978), Lavender Health (1979), the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Union of the Homeless (1985), Philly Homes 4 Youth (2017), The Coalition for Queer Equity, and the Philadelphia Coalition on Opioids and Children (2018), and led the creation of numerous local government health and human service initiatives, including the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (1987) and the Division of Community-Based Prevention Services (2001), the Parenting Collaborative (2003), and the Quality Parenting Initiative (2014) for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Lovitz</span> American political candidate (born 1984)

Jonathan D. Lovitz is an American Presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Commerce; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocate; small business and public policy advocate; former actor; former political candidate; and served as Senior Vice President of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce since 2015. He previously served as Communications Director and acting executive director of StartOut. Prior to advocacy, Lovitz was a performer in multiple national tours of Broadway shows, regional theaters, and television shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Heifetz</span> American businessperson, philanthropist and activist

Mel Heifetz is a Philadelphia-based real estate developer, philanthropist, and LGBT activist. He is a nationwide supporter of gay rights causes in America. and in 2018, he was awarded the Philadelphia Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ada Bello</span> Cuban American researcher and LGBT rights activist (1933–2023)

Ada C. Bello was a Cuban-American LGBT rights activist and medical laboratory researcher. She was a founder of the Philadelphia Chapter of Daughters of Bilitis and the Homophile Action League. Bello led activism efforts for the LGBT community beginning in the late 1960s and served in advocacy roles including as a board member of the LGBT Elder Initiative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ Nation</span> American online news magazine

LGBTQ Nation is an American online news magazine headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 2009 and is currently owned by Q.Digital. The website is primarily marketed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Through its parent company, it is affiliated with three other sites: Queerty,GayCities, and INTO.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Klein, Julia M. 20 Years As A Gay Establishment Philadelphia Gay News Publisher Mark Segal Has Made Waves Since 1976. Philadelphia Inquirer. January 22, 1996.
  2. "Pioneering gay rights activist honored in Philly — NewsWorks". Newsworks.org. 2011-10-22. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  3. "OVERVIEW -- CIRCULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS" (PDF).
  4. 1 2 "PGN-The Philadelphia Gay News". Epgn.com. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  5. "PGN Exclusive: Hillary Clinton addresses LGBT equality". Epgn.com. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  6. "PHMC Details". Pennsylvania Pressroom. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  7. Andy Gotlieb (2020-04-02). "Community Briefs: Holocaust Survivor Dies and More". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  8. "Find a copy of PGN | Philadelphia Gay News". epgn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  9. 1 2 "How PGN got its vending boxes | Philadelphia Gay News". epgn.com. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-10.