The Orange Issue

Since the publication of our first completely in-house edition of the Boston Pride Guide in 2015, Boston Pride has made a tradition of gracing the cover of our annual magazine with artwork created by members of Boston’s artistic community. In the face of all the negativity and hate that queer individuals – and especially those living at the intersectional margins of our society – are experiencing in the current political climate, we sought an image that would boldly reaffirm that most fundamental of truths: love is love. Created by awardwinning illustrator, filmmaker, and visual journalist, Louisa Bertman, the two figures on the cover are intended to appear androgynous in order to permit a multiplicity of possible permutations of queer love to be embodied in their embrace. For at the most basic level, love for ourselves and for one another is the driving force of the Pride movement. Love steels our resolve and binds us together. Public displays of queer love, in all their diversity and beauty, are powerful, even political. They proclaim our pride and dignity, and promote recognition and respect.

To emphasize the keepsake nature of the Pride Guide, we also designed the spine of the magazine to progressively adopt one color from the late Gilbert Baker’s original 1978 eight-band rainbow flag. Thus, with the publication of the eighth volume of the Guide (and a little patience!), the reader will have recreated this flag on their bookshelf. Following the hot pink and red spines of 2015 and 2016, respectively, this year brings us to the Orange Issue. When we first set out on this multi-year project, we could not have anticipated the untimely passing of Baker, which adds a somber dimension to our initial design. Nor were we expecting to arrive at an altogether different sort of Orange Issue: the presidency of Donald J. Trump.

In response to the adverse political landscape in which we now live, the 2017 Guide includes two different articles that each address ways of building strong, mutually supportive coalitions and of resisting the regressive policies and actions of the current administration. Relatedly, a piece on political correctness within the queer community is sure to incite discussion, especially as it concerns the never-ending work of fostering solidarity among communities of resistance.

We also continue our coverage of wide-ranging LGBTQ and intersectional issues, including the relationship between labor and queer rights; Boston’s sober and recovering queer community; the queer roots of cannabis legalization campaigns; living with HIV as a trans or gender-nonconforming older adult; the commercial exploitation of cis and trans boys and young adults; intimate partner violence in queer relationships; serving as a trans person in the military;

Boston’s active bi+ community; LGBTQ people and faith communities; and a local youth’s coming out story. And if you’re a prospective queer parent, you may also wish to check out a FAQ created especially for you.

The Guide also offers a wealth of content pertaining to queer arts and culture, from a visual exploration of the bonds that LGBTQ people and our allies form with their canine companions; to the history of the gay choral movement; to must-see queer films of the 21 st century; to a critical appraisal of LGBTQ-themed theatre in Boston; to an exploration of the parallel experiences of comic book mutants and queer people. Of particular interest to the global Pride movement are the stories on the formation and expansion of Pixel Prides within the virtual worlds of the online gaming community, as well as the creation of a new Pride flag for queer individuals of African descent. On a more local level, the Guide is replete with information about Boston Pride programming, from Pride Week events to our annual Community Fund grants.

As in previous years, all this rich content was produced by a highly dedicated and diverse all-volunteer team of LGBTQ and ally contributors from Boston and beyond. Boston Pride extends our deepest gratitude to each of them for their service to a community of readers that extends from New England to 107 countries around the globe. The quality of their collaboration is a great testament to the fact that we are indeed Stronger Together.

Finally, I would like to thank the over 80 businesses, politicians, and local non-profit organizations who placed advertisements in the magazine. Your continued financial support enables us to offer the Pride Guide as a free service to the community. A special word of thanks is due to Stop & Shop for agreeing to stock the magazine at over 100 locations in Massachusetts. With the increased distribution through Stop & Shop, the 2017 Boston Pride Guide will be available to even more people in all parts of the Commonwealth, including places where access to information on LGBTQ issues may be limited. With Pride in and Love for Our Community,

Finally, I would like to thank the over 80 businesses, politicians, and local non-profit organizations who placed advertisements in the magazine. Your continued financial support enables us to offer the Pride Guide as a free service to the community. A special word of thanks is due to Stop & Shop for agreeing to stock the magazine at over 100 locations in Massachusetts. With the increased distribution through Stop & Shop, the 2017 Boston Pride Guide will be available to even more people in all parts of the Commonwealth, including places where access to information on LGBTQ issues may be limited.

Michael Anthony Fowler Editor-in-Chief mafowler@bostonpride.org

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