This year is the 50th anniversary of Gay Community News (GCN). Join The History Project, and our partners, Massachusetts Historical Society, American LGBTQ+ Museum, and Northeastern University Archives & Special Collections for a series of panels exploring GCN's history and legacy.

In 1973, a small group of gay men and lesbians founded a local Boston newsletter to report on LGBTQ+ events. That newsletter grew into a major newspaper with an international readership. Volunteer writers, photographers, artists, and other members of the LGBTQ+ community published GCN through the 1990s. The publication itself is a rich historical source providing insight into the many issues concerning the gay community, and many of its contributors continue to have an impact on LGBTQ+ organizing and culture to this day. THP holds GCN's photograph collections and a full run of GCN. GCN is also now available digitally via Northeastern University.

• Wednesday, October 25: Gay Community News at 50: Defining GCN
  In 1973, a small group of gay men and lesbians founded "Gay Community News," a local Boston newsletter to report on LGBTQ+ events. That community-driven newsletter grew into a major newspaper with an international readership. Join us to explore the arc of GCN's history and its influence on LGBTQ+ activism.

• Wednesday, November 8: Gay Community News at 50: Content, Controversy, and Coverage
  Throughout its run, Gay Community News' staff, volunteers, and readership all debated how to answer the question, "What is gay news?" This panel will explore the intersections and divergences of opinions about what issues GCN covered, from feminist politics to international affairs.

• Wednesday, November 29: Gay Community News at 50: GCN’s Impact and Legacy
  When Gay Community News ceased publishing in the 1990s, it was the oldest, continuously published national gay newspaper. This panel will explore the impact GCN had and continues to have on LGBTQ+ writing, news coverage, and activism. 

All three panels will take place at the Massachusetts Historical Society and will be hybrid to accommodate both local and long-distance participation. Please RSVP for an in-person or virtual ticket here.

Interested in supporting our GCN at 50 events and oral histories? Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to The History Project. We can also accept checks made out to The History Project (just write GCN in the memo field) and mailed to The History Project, 565 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Once we hit our goal, any additional donations will be used to support The History Project's efforts to document, preserve, and share Boston's LGBTQ+ history.