Year: 2016

Sometimes You Just Want to YELL!!!

YELL coverWhen things turn bad, when all your worst fears come true, when that thing you always said could never happen actually does, sometimes the only option left is to square your shoulders, takes a deep breath, and yell with all your might. Trust us- it can feel really, really good.

Once you’re all screamed out, take some of that excess energy and check out a YELL zine. YELL, or the Youth Education Life Line, is an affinity group within ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. YELL was founded in 1989 as the youth arm of ACT UP, to work on AIDS issues facing young people, especially AIDS education. Based out of NYC, YELL was born in response to the failings of the public education system to educate its students about HIV and AIDS, and the largely unaddressed issue of HIV transmission between young people.. At the time of publishing YELL #1, (1994) AIDS was the leading cause of death for NYC women 25-34, and “since the average incubation period for HIV to progress to AIDS is 10.5 years, most of these people were probably infected as teens.”

Despite (or perhaps because of) this grim reality, the pages of YELL #1 are full of humor and fun, as well as the spirit of punk rebelliousness and fierce strength. Its splashy pages feature pictures of Big Bird, Lucille Ball, Queen Latifah, Bart Simpson and Rupaul, all with mouths open wide and, clearly, voices up. The newsprint-style of this zine gives it the urgency it needs, along with a sense of pragmatism. Far from pandering or condescending, as so many youth-oriented publications do, YELL feels like it had actual teens on staff. Frank and effective guides on condom use and infection risk are mixed with articles about the triumphs and challenges facing youth AIDS activists in the 90s.

who YELLIt’s easy to get discouraged. Easy, and understandable. At times like these, it can be helpful to look back and see how others handled times of crisis. YELL is unfortunately, at the moment, defunct. However, its achievements (as listed near the beginning of YELL #1) are nothing short of inspiring. From handing out condoms and safer sex literature to over 45,000 NYC students, to enacting change in NYC public education policy, to representing youth interests at the international conference on AIDS, it’s clear the body of this organization was just as energetic as its publication.

And that’s the thing- when you raise your voice, the rest of you is sure to follow. The worst thing is to stay paralyzed. If you get active by volunteering time or money, that’s amazing. If you do it simply by existing in the world as a queer person or a POC, or a staunch and vocal ally, that’s amazing too. Maybe, right now, all we can do is yell- and maybe, for now, that’s enough.

Dac Cederberg is a former QZAP intern, now residing in Spain.  He will be periodically blogging about zines from our collection.
Dac recently graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. He’s a cisgender gay man, he/him pronouns, from Missoula Montana. His alter ego is drag-queen bombshell Lady Dee. He doesn’t quite know what he wants to do with his life yet, but he loves reading, writing, TV, pop culture, and all things queer. He’s a Gemini and his favorite color is purple. Feel free to contact Dac through QZAP with any questions or comments.

 

Queer Zine Resistance – A Reading List

Activism Through Zines 1We’ve been struggling for the past couple of days to come up with something to say about the election.  It’s super hard not to be swallowed by a feeling of absolute doom and horror for things to come.  We’re threatened. ALL our communities are being threatened. We’re unsure what the next 6 months will bring for us all.

And, really, we don’t know what in our collection will bring comfort…  Some folks will want to get active right away, some will want humor, or anger, or a little sadness to be reflected back at them.

As an/archivists here at QZAP we’ve taken it upon ourselves to not only collect and present or preserve queers zines, but also to act as guides through our collection.  The driving force behind this is that our queer lives are important.  And our queer stories are important.  And we will be heard, and we will publish, on our own terms, regardless of who is wearing the bent tin crown.  So here’s a list available to read at archive.qzap.org.  It’s a place to start, but not at all a place to end.

  1. Queers Read This.  Originally published in 1990 for the NYC Pride march, and republished in 2009, this is a call to arms.
  2. Auto Defensa Para Mujaras.  solo en español/only in Spanish.  It’s about women’s self defense and assault prevention.
  3. Borderlands: Tales from Disputed Territories between Races and Cultures by Nia King. Interviews and stories from QTPOC folks about their experiences.
  4. Queer Action Figures.  These are collections of queer graphics/flyers/posters from Charlie, Audra, and Tom from the mid-1990s.  They’re fun and angry and exemplify resistance.QAF1 19
  5. Nothing About Us Without Us. A zine about abelism and disability organizing and activism within and outside of queer communities.
  6. Activism Through Zines.  Chella talks to a bunch of activists who use zines in their work.

We hope that this is an OK start.  We’d like to do another one of these type of posts in coming days.  If you come across something in the collection that moves you, please let us know what and why, and we’ll include it in the next one.

Finally, we’re in the midst of our MoFemmeBer fundraiser.  We’d be thrilled if you are able to sponsor a reader or make a donation, but also encourage you to support orginizations like Planned Parenthood, The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Black Lives Matter, The ACLU, and The Electronic Frontier Foundation.

From the Punked Out Files…#2

In time for the Milwaukee Zine Fest we just got From the Punked Out Files of the Queer Zine Archive Project #2 back from the printers.  From the intro:From the Punked Out Files of the Queer Zine Archive Project #2

"Issue #2 is showcasing some of the research that was done in the summer of 2015, and as this is the autumn of 2016, its di rigueur to apologize for the lateness of this publication.  We were getting things in order back in the spring, and then our current summer residencies started and, well, there it is.  Suffice to say that we're getting this out now, and are very excited to be doing so.For those who are new to this zine, it is the product of the research done during our summer residencies at QZAP HQ. 

For the past three summers we have invited scholars and artists to come an make use of the physical archive of queer zines.  We ask them to make work for themselves, and also to contribute to "From the Punked Out Files..." as a way of further sharing the collection and enhancing all of our knowlege of the thousands of documents that have been housed at QZAP."

This issue features work from Amanda Stevens, Amber Forrester, Kelly Wooten, Jenna Bee, and QZAP co-fournder Chris Wilde.  Please conside picking up a copy and supporting QZAP and all the awesome research that comes out of our residency project.

MoFemmeBer 2016

Mofemmeber Logo REVERSED

It’s time for our 2nd MoFemmeBer Zine Read-a-Thon fundraiser!!!  What is MoFemmeBer, you ask? It’s an excuse to read a bunch of queer zines during the months of November and December, and to win fun prizes all while helping to support us so that we can continue the work that we do.

Want to participate?  It’s really easy.  Just follow the steps:

  1. First, you sign up here.

  2. Next, print up this handy form.

  3. Third, ask your friends and family to make a pledge to sponsor you for each queer zine you read during the months of November and December.

  4. Keep track of all the queer zines you read, again using the handy form, and also by entering them here. If you give us permission, we’ll be blogging about the zines folks are reading over on our Tumblr.

  5. At the end of December, tally up all the numbers, and collect the donations from your sponsors, and send it all to us, along with your handy form.

    We will send you your prize(s), depending on how many zines you read!

Further details are on the FAQ.

Anonymous Boy Strikes Again

Anonymous Boy #3What can queer be? Too often, society depicts queerness in only one or two ways. The pressure to conform to the Gay Image can be just as crushing as the closet. How to dress, how to talk, how to act- when you only see one way to be gay, how can you feel free to be yourself? Zines like Anonymous Boy have an answer.

AB depicts x-rated scenes (ok, porn drawings) of non-normative, non-conforming punk bois in all manner of erotic situations: some funny, some poignant, all sexy. Cocks and asses abound, but the underlying sweetness in the character’s expressions makes this zine truly compelling and fun to read, even if man-on-man action isn’t your thing. Issue #3 is dedicated to Bruce LaBruce, which should clue you in on what to expect inside. And if you were wondering, a helpful guide on how to become the ultimate punk-rock dreamboat is included. AB opens the door to new forms of expression, and shows us that there’s more than one way to be queer. And once you know that, there’s no end to what you can be.

We’ve previously featured Anonymous Boy #2 here.

Dac Cederberg is a summer intern here at QZAP. He’ll be reading and reviewing zines on the blog through August.
Dac recently graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. He’s a cisgender gay man, he/him pronouns, from Missoula Montana. His alter ego is drag-queen bombshell Lady Dee. He doesn’t quite know what he wants to do with his life yet, but he loves reading, writing, TV, pop culture, and all things queer. He’s a Gemini and his favorite color is purple. Feel free to contact Dac through QZAP with any questions or comments.

Riot Don’t Diet!

Radical Cheerleaders of Santa CruzLiving in this cissexist, patriarchal, queer-hating world can sometimes make a queer want to yell. And, hey, if you’re gonna yell, why not yell in rhythm? For all your queer chanting needs, turn to the Radical Cheerleaders of Santa Cruz Cheerbook. This peppy zine has something for every queer guy, gal, and nonbinary pal, including the rallying “Riot Don’t Diet”, a Coming Out Day cheer, hair, body and sex positivity cheers, radical socioeconomic battle cries, and so much more. Want something to psyche yourself up before you masturbate? It’s in here. Want to say, “fuck you” to the man? You’ll find no more effective phrasing anywhere. Want to affirm your kinky lifestyle? Oh yeah, baby, you better believe there’s a cheer for that. In fact, if you search, you’re bound to find a cheer about almost any social issue a queer could think of. The Radical Cheerleader’s Cheerbook is an essential tool for the budding radical queer. So rah, rah, sis boom bah, read this zine and burn your bra!

Dac Cederberg is a summer intern here at QZAP. He’ll be reading and reviewing zines on the blog through August.
Dac recently graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. He’s a cisgender gay man, he/him pronouns, from Missoula Montana. His alter ego is drag-queen bombshell Lady Dee. He doesn’t quite know what he wants to do with his life yet, but he loves reading, writing, TV, pop culture, and all things queer. He’s a Gemini and his favorite color is purple. Feel free to contact Dac through QZAP with any questions or comments.

 

Forever Young

Homobody #6 coverYou feel empowered a lot, as a young person, because pretty much the whole world is reaching out to you saying “Do you like this? Will you buy this? Do we look cool?” Zines, however, are not always so eager to pander – many are very attached to the time period they have been written in, and as such you can feel out-of-touch as a young person without having done some background research first. So, here is a list of great zines for the young newbie looking to get a feel for what queer zines are like:
  1. Homobody #6 (and not just because QZAP is interviewed!) – I felt like this zine is a really accessible look at what I’ve come to know as a “queer zine” – a mix of humor, reflection, and most of all, attitude. And it also has that great interview with QZAP.
  2. Mevis is Feminist – I loved the attitude and personality of this zine, and how it moved discussion past traditional “old people feminism” (AKA white, rich, hetero women). Melvis hip-thrusted his way into my heart, and I think he’ll do the same for yours.
  3. Booty #19 – I mean, who doesn’t like booty? But aside from the title, this zine takes a really introspective look at the creator’s life and highlights how zines are personal as well as public artifacts.
  4. Cosmo Queer – This zine was angry, which was great, and I loved how it made a point of emphasizing that not all “queer people” feel included in mainstream “gay culture” (to the extent that it exists). Like Melvis, Revolution in Pink, the creator of this zine, moves discussions solidly into the 21st century.
Dylan Larson-Harsch is a summer intern here at QZAP. He’ll be reading and reviewing zines on the blog through August.
Dylan is a sophomore at Carleton College in Northfield, MN, the self-described town of cows, colleges, and contentment. He doesn’t have a major yet because Carleton is a hoity-toity liberal arts institution, but when he does, it will probably be English. When he’s not working at QZAP or the equally-thrilling job of relabeling the zones of a shoe warehouse, Dylan likes to run, write, and read all manners of things. Feel free to contact Dylan through QZAP with any comments or questions.

I’m Your Psycho #1 Fan

There’s something deeply endearing about total, over-the-top, unabashed obsession. No matter what it is, getting a look at something through the eyes of someone who really digs it is a deeply satisfying experience. Thus, Psycho #1 Fan.
Gary Coleman is the centerpiece of this striking zine’s front page, and a sizeable chunk of space is devoted to describing the author’s odd obsession with him. From there, P#1F covers the “5 Trashiest Girls in the USA” competition, including a deeply compelling description of how one contestant would handle being trapped on a desert island with JonBenet Ramsey and a bunch of hot dudes, a full two-page Donny Osmond spread (pre-1973 Donny Osmond, not the contemporary Y2K Donny Osmond), heart felt reviews of several other anachronistic male celebrities, a “what kind of fan are you” quiz (on a scale from “sorry excuse” to “psycho #1”), and so much more it’s hard to keep track. The splashy pages and crowded photos make this zine read like a punk parody of Tiger Beat, and it couldn’t be more effective. Because, really, at the end of the day, don’t we all have a little psycho in us?

Dac Cederberg is a summer intern here at QZAP. He’ll be reading and reviewing zines on the blog through August.
Dac recently graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. He’s a cisgender gay man, he/him pronouns, from Missoula Montana. His alter ego is drag-queen bombshell Lady Dee. He doesn’t quite know what he wants to do with his life yet, but he loves reading, writing, TV, pop culture, and all things queer. He’s a Gemini and his favorite color is purple. Feel free to contact Dac through QZAP with any questions or comments.

 

But I’m A…

A few nights ago we were sitting around the table with some of the zinesters-in-residence, finishing dinner and talking about lesbian movies of the 90s.  But I'm A Cheerleader came up, and we wondered collectively why we had never seen a Clea Duvall fanzine… so Dianne and Milo have decided to make one:

Call for Submissions:

But I'm A…Clea Duvall fanzine

We're looking for essays, non-fiction stories, and artwork about Clea Duvall.  It could be the first time you saw her on screen, or a movie of hers that rocked you, or that time you said "hi" in a barely audible whisper when she was working the merch table at a Need show…

• Articles should be 300-1000 words
• artwork/images should be scanned @300dpi

• zine will be released with a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license
• please include the name that you want attributed to your piece 😉

DEADLINE: September 30, 2016
Please email your submissions to cdfanzine[at]qzap.org

Call for submissions flyer

Melvis is feminist, and you can too

We hold these truths to be self evident: Everybody looks good in an Elvis wig, and even better in a Freddy Mercury mustache, and nobody isn’t fucking hot in glitter underwear. Well, Melvis the drag king wears them all, and he wants you to join him in undermining the patriarchy through explosive, performative masculinity.
Melvis is Feminist is a one-off experiential zine about the origin and exploits of its titular character. It includes a D.I.Y guide to male-drag on a budget, which covers everything from chest binding to bulge packing to hair-attachment. The central message of Melvis is how empowering it can be for women, especially queer women, to adopt the male role and experience some of the privilege men live with every day. “All the misogynist, sexist rhetoric, fried in my brain… all the fucking bullshit you’re supposed to eat with a smile. I become that sleazy sexist pig and barf it all back!” Take a look through this raunchy, no-hold-barred exposé on the masculine mystique, and who knows… maybe you’ll find yourself up on a stage somewhere making all the ladies cream, just like Melvis.
Dac Cederberg is a summer intern here at QZAP. He’ll be reading and reviewing zines on the blog through August.
Dac recently graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. He’s a cisgender gay man, he/him pronouns, from Missoula Montana. His alter ego is drag-queen bombshell Lady Dee. He doesn’t quite know what he wants to do with his life yet, but he loves reading, writing, TV, pop culture, and all things queer. He’s a Gemini and his favorite color is purple. Feel free to contact Dac through QZAP with any questions or comments.

 

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