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| Curve (magazine) | |
|---|---|
| Title | Curve |
| Editor | Susan Horowitz |
| Frequency | Bimonthly (print, formerly); online ongoing |
| Category | Lesbian, LGBT, culture |
| Firstdate | 1990 |
| Country | United States |
| Based | San Francisco, California |
| Language | English |
Curve (magazine)
Curve is a United States-based lesbian and queer women's magazine founded in 1990 and long headquartered in San Francisco, California. It served as a cultural, political, and lifestyle publication covering music, film, literature, fashion, and activism, engaging readers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The magazine evolved from a print quarterly to a bimonthly glossy and later to a primarily digital platform, intersecting with movements represented by organizations such as Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, Lambda Legal, Stonewall Inn, and events like Gay Games.
Curve originated in 1990 during the late Cold War era and the post-AIDS activism period, co-founded by editors who responded to gaps left by publications such as The Advocate, Out (magazine), Deneuve (magazine), and On Our Backs. Early issues reflected influences from cultural institutions and movements including ACT UP, San Francisco Pride, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the art scenes of SoHo (Manhattan). Throughout the 1990s Curve expanded alongside developments like the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell debate, the Romer v. Evans decision, and the growing visibility of queer filmmakers at festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and Outfest. In the 2000s the magazine adapted to industry consolidation trends that affected publications such as Village Voice Media and Metro Publishing International, shifting formats, redesigning visual identity influenced by studios like Pentagram, and weathering the digital transition that reshaped titles including Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker.
Curve focused on profiles, reviews, features, and photography spanning music, film, literature, and fashion, often covering artists and institutions like Melissa Etheridge, k.d. lang, Rosie O'Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, Diane Sawyer, Annie Leibovitz, and Nan Goldin. Features connected to festivals and awards such as Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award, and Academy Award winners informed its cultural reporting. The magazine combined reportage on activism and policy debates referencing organizations like National Center for Lesbian Rights, GLSEN, ACLU, and events like Marriage Equality campaigns, while also publishing lifestyle pieces on designers and labels linked to institutions such as Council of Fashion Designers of America and retailers comparable to Barneys New York. Long-form journalism in Curve engaged with investigative traditions evident in outlets like ProPublica, The New York Times Magazine, and Harper's Magazine, pairing celebrity interviews with criticism of film and literature tied to publishers such as Faber and Faber and Penguin Random House.
Curve circulated nationally in the United States and internationally in markets including United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. Distribution networks overlapped with chains and platforms like Barnes & Noble, Border's (booksellers), Hudson (store), and subscription services comparable to Magazines.com. Circulation metrics and advertising partnerships reflected trends seen across trade groups such as Alliance for Audited Media, and advertising buyers from brands associated with LVMH, Estée Lauder Companies, and consumer platforms like Netflix and Spotify appeared in various issues. Digital transition strategies paralleled those of The Atlantic, Wired (magazine), and Slate, shifting emphasis toward web traffic, email newsletters, and social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Curve published contributions from journalists, photographers, and cultural critics who also appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and Vanity Fair. Notable interview subjects included entertainers and public figures tied to institutions and works like Barbra Streisand, Jodie Foster, Portia de Rossi, Sarah Paulson, Jane Lynch, Julie Andrews, and authors connected to NPR features and Booker Prize nominees. The magazine also featured profiles of activists and politicians associated with organizations and events like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and prominent legal moments such as Obergefell v. Hodges coverage by commentators from The Atlantic Council and Brookings Institution.
Curve received recognition within LGBT media circles and was cited in contexts alongside awards and festivals such as Glaad Media Awards, Stonewall Awards, British LGBT Awards, and journalism honors akin to the Pulitzer Prize and National Magazine Awards. The magazine's photography and design efforts drew attention comparable to accolades given by institutions like AIGA, Society of Publication Designers, and international design festivals including Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Curve's editorial projects were referenced in academic and cultural discussions at universities and conferences affiliated with Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and Smith College.
Curve faced criticism similar to that directed at other niche publications over representation, editorial choices, and commercial pressures, paralleling debates involving titles such as Out (magazine), The Advocate, and Bitch (magazine). Critics invoked discussions from scholars and commentators at institutions like GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Literary Foundation, and academic forums hosted by Rutgers University and University of Michigan about inclusivity spanning race, class, trans inclusion, and global perspectives. Editorial decisions sparked debate in cultural outlets such as Jezebel, The Cut, and Vice over cover choices, advertising content, and the balance between celebrity profiles and grassroots activism.
Curve's legacy is evident in its contribution to lesbian and queer women’s visibility alongside publications and platforms like Out (magazine), Autostraddle, Them (magazine), DIVA (magazine), and PinkNews. Its archives have been used in collections and studies at institutions including ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, GLBT Historical Society, Schlesinger Library, and university research centers at UCLA, NYU, and University of Toronto. Curve influenced subsequent queer media practices in digital storytelling, community journalism, and cultural criticism resonant with initiatives from GLSEN, It Gets Better Project, and digital media experiments by outlets such as BuzzFeed and Medium. Its role in chronicling artists, activists, and legal milestones situates the magazine within broader narratives of LGBT cultural production represented in exhibitions at institutions like San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Modern Art, and Victoria and Albert Museum.
Category:LGBT magazines Category:Magazines published in San Francisco