How a local newsletter became the longest-running voice for the American LGBTQ community
In short: Born from a 1967 police raid on a Los Angeles bar, The Advocate evolved from a scrappy activist newsletter into a national media powerhouse. It survived decades of political shifts, the AIDS crisis, and corporate acquisitions to remain the definitive, historic record of the American LGBTQ rights movement today.
The publication began in September 1967 as a local paper produced by a Los Angeles activist collective known as Personal Rights in Defense and Education. Triggered by police harassment at the Black Cat Tavern, the project was soon purchased for one dollar by Richard Mitch and Bill Rau. By 1969, it had rebranded as The Advocate and expanded its reach nationwide, eventually becoming a bi-weekly news magazine under the ownership of investment banker David B. Goodstein in 1974.
Goodstein’s tenure marked a pivot toward mainstream respectability, as he sought to replace sex-oriented advertising with broader corporate sponsorship. This transition culminated in 1985, when the magazine adopted a standard format and moved explicit content to a separate publication. This shift allowed the magazine to focus on cultural features and high-profile interviews, a strategy that flourished under editors like Judy Wieder. During her tenure, the magazine secured exclusive interviews with figures ranging from Ellen DeGeneres to Gore Vidal, significantly boosting its cultural visibility and circulation.
The magazine has navigated numerous ownership changes, including acquisitions by Here Media and eventually Pride Media in 2017. Despite the rise of digital media forcing a reduction in print frequency to a bi-monthly schedule, the brand remains a vital institution. It has expanded into podcasts like LGBTQ&A and continues to receive industry recognition, including GLAAD Media Awards for its coverage of global and domestic issues. Today, it stands as the only surviving publication of its kind founded before the 1969 Stonewall riots.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Advocate (magazine)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-the-advocate-magazine.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Magazines · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
