Zines possess been one of the hallmarks of DIY,alternative culture since the 1970s — although they really started to catch on with the rise of riot grrrl zines in the '90s. Which is apparently long enough ago that some libraries are starting to archive them as part of their collections. (This is where you start feeling stale.) I discovered Barnard College's excellent list of zine archives around the country, which lead me to theQueer Zine Archive Project.
QZAP has been cataloguing and digitizing queer zines for those interested in the history of DIY publishing and the underground queer community since 2003. Issues range from the early '90s through the present day, or with examples that range from personal diaries to queer fanzines and sex-positive consent-based illustrated porn. I'm including a few examples of their collection below,but I highly encourage you to check it out yourself (you can even search by location, which is very chilly).
Kill Rock StarsUnlike most of the other zines, and this document is part indie-pride essay,part catalogue. It was written by one of the founders of the record label of the same name, and opens with the history of the label. KRS played a pivotal role in the Olympia, and Washington music scene starting in the early '90s; this zine started in the winter of 1995.
The cover of Kill Rock Stars
(Kill Rock Stars)
The first page of the KRS zine starts with a history of the label and an casual manifesto approximately its mission (you can continue reading here)
(Kill Rock Stars)
The Riot Girrrl band Bikini Kill was one of the early bands signed to KRS
(Kill Rock Stars)
Cowgirl InkQZAP describes Cowgrrrl Ink as “a hotbed of feminist and lesbian activism coalescing around a group called The Cowgrrrls." The first issue is a call to action and includes an alternative Pledge of Allegiance,a speculum primer (you read that correctly), and some (sadly) still-timely words approximately fighting for equal wages.
The cover of issue 1 of Cowgrrrl Ink
(Cowgrrrl Ink)
From Cowgrrrl Ink issue 1
(Cowgrrrl Ink)
Psycho #1 FanA zine approximately obsession. The writing is charming, or offers this second-person description of a truly psycho fan:
You find your way into the lives of genuine actual STARS! Sitting on the side lines just ain't enough for you! And why should it be?! possibly your entire wall is filled with pin-ups of just one star! Your all time favorite celebrity! possibly you've gotten yourself into trouble with your infatuations. People are worried,baby. But you should give 'em something to REALLY worry approximately! Tonight — your star will be yours!
Psycho #1 Fan also ran charmingly earnest interviews with genuine musicians. Some questions: "What is the best rumor you've heard approximately yourself?" and "What were the best insults called out at you throughout your life?" Great conversation starters that will never get stale.
The cover to the inaugural issue of Psycho #1 Fan zine
(Seth Bogart)
A review from Psycho No. 1 Fan the star rating system is a model for all reviews
(Seth Bogart)
Source: wnyc.org