An employee confirmed to us that San Francisco’s last remaining LGBT bookstore is slated to close next month. This should not come as much of a surprise to anyone who has shopped the stores over the past few months. Display tables and bookshelves were sparsely stocked. The closure will also affect the bookstores web site also.
A Different Light San Francisco opened in doors in 1987. During its heyday it served a gathering spot for local gay and AIDS activists and as social hall for The Castro.
Of course, it can be said that independent bookstores have suffered greatly with the advent of book web retailing and eBooks. However, the Castro district is served by a vibrant independent bookstore Books, Inc. Books, Inc carries a substantial number of LGBT books and both mainstream and alternative gay magazines.
It’s hard to say how much the bookstore will really be missed. At a time when gay books can be found at most mainstream & independent booksellers the store simply outlived it’s mission.
Over the past few years it shelves were largely stocked with discounted out-of-print books, vintage discounted adult DVDs, novelty gay themed tee shirts and poppers. A far cry from it once proud literary roots.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Hide/Seek Ending Feb 13
Last weekend we descended upon DC to participate in a tour of Hide/Seek given by one of the co-curators Dr. Jonathan Katz. For those of you who are unaware of this exhibit (and I am surprised how many gays and lesbians don’t know about the show) this is the first major exhibit of LGBT art in a major American museum. The experience was eye opening. Dr. Katz was able to deconstruct and explain many hidden cues in a wide range of work. This show is running through February 13th but if you are unable to make it to DC before then the shows catalog is outstanding and well worth the 20 something bucks that it sells for from Amazon.
Hide/Seek Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
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