Spartacus magazine and the commercial-political nexus of Gay Liberation

Gil Engelstein*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spartacus magazine (1969–1972) was one of Britain’s first openly gay periodicals. This essay explores the early career of its publisher, John D. Stamford, to argue for the constitutive role of gay entrepreneurs and transnational erotic commercial networks in articulating queer politics in Britain following the 1967 Sexual Offences Act. An examination of the reception of Stamford’s commercial and political work suggests that gay male consumption preceded political mobilisation rather than followed in its tracks. More so, that consumerism provided a shared vocabulary and an important platform on which a diverse readership coalesced around a set of contradictory political dictums on what constituted ‘proper’ sexual and gender expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)227-252
Number of pages26
JournalContemporary British History
Volume36
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Gay Liberation
  • age of consent
  • erotica
  • homophile
  • obscenity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cultural Studies
  • History
  • Development
  • Safety Research
  • Political Science and International Relations

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