''My Comrade'' is a queer

underground Underground most commonly refers to: * Subterranea (geography), the regions beneath the surface of the Earth Underground may also refer to: Places * The Underground (Boston), a music club in the Allston neighborhood of Boston * The Underground ...

magazine published and edited by Linda/Les Simpson, a

drag queen A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have usually been gay men, and part of ...

from New York City, who is often considered a historian of the drag scene. It was published between 1987 and 1994, and came back in late 2004.

History

1987–94

In 1987, Les Simpson (also a contributor to '' Time Out'' New York) started to publish ''My Comrade'', using his alter-ego Linda Simpson, a drag queen involved in New York City's gay nightlife, as editor. The original format was that of a

zine A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a copy machine. Zines are the product of either a single person or of a very s ...

: a group of black and white

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stapled together. Over that period, 10 issues were published, and its success allowed it to continually grow in format and content. The publication self-proclaimed itself the "

court jester A jester, court jester, fool or joker was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain guests during the medieval and Renaissance eras. Jesters were also itinerant performers who entertained common folk at fairs and ...

of the queer press"; it opted for a

camp Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to descri ...

approach to gay lifestyle, talking ironically about popular culture, and

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ing other types of magazines. The publication also acted as a showcase for photographers, illustrators, and writers of the queer subculture. It was very popular among the underground queer scene of New York City, and is still considered by many a great embodiment of

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Lower East Side’s and East Village’s

LGBT culture LGBT culture is a culture shared by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. It is sometimes referred to as queer culture (indicating people who are queer), while the term gay culture may be used to mean "LGBT culture" o ...

of the period.

Since 2004

After a 10-year hiatus, Linda/Les Simpson decided to come back with the magazine in the fall of 2004. The gay press, especially in New York City, expressed its contentment with the publication's comeback, and the new issue received excellent reviews. The second issue of the 21st century, released in spring 2006 featured the first color cover in ''My Comrade''’s history. The magazine's format thus evolved to resemble more to other popular magazines, though its inside design kept the "zine" aesthetic of the past issues. The content also kept with the humorous tone of the previous series. It features funny stories and reportage, as well as profiles of a broad range of personalities, from local go-go dancers to widely known reality television stars like Austin Scarlett, along with drag queens, burlesque performers, and artists. In 2022, My Comrade became the theme of a special exhibit at Howl! Happening Gallery, in Lower East Side, NY.

References

{{Reflist 1987 establishments in New York (state) LGBT-related magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1987 Magazines published in New York City Zines Magazines established in 2004

History

1987–94

Since 2004

See also

References