The Advocate (LGBT magazine)
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| The Advocate (LGBT magazine) | |
|---|---|
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| Title | The Advocate |
| Category | LGBT |
| Frequency | biweekly |
| Firstdate | 1967 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Advocate (LGBT magazine) The Advocate is an American LGBT periodical founded in 1967 that chronicles lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer news, culture, and politics. The magazine has covered figures and events across activism and entertainment, reporting on subjects such as Harvey Milk, Stonewall riots, AIDS epidemic, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Ellen DeGeneres, and engaging with institutions like Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, ACLU, and National LGBTQ Task Force.
History
The Advocate originated from activists associated with Bay Area Reporter, Terry Bean, and the post-Stonewall milieu that included Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Daughters of Bilitis, and the milieu around San Francisco and New York City. In the 1970s its coverage intersected with campaigns led by Harvey Milk, legal battles such as Bowers v. Hardwick, and the burgeoning visibility of celebrities like Liberace, Janet Jackson, and Cher. During the 1980s the magazine reported extensively on the AIDS epidemic, individuals such as Larry Kramer, public health institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and policy disputes involving figures including Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. In the 1990s and 2000s The Advocate engaged with cultural shifts around Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the Defense of Marriage Act, and court cases culminating in United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges, while profiling politicians such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, entertainers such as Jodie Foster, Neil Patrick Harris, and activists like Ellen Page and Dan Savage.
Editorial and Content
Editorial direction has ranged from grassroots activist reportage to mainstream celebrity profiles, featuring interviews with figures like Madonna, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Rihanna, and Beyoncé alongside coverage of legal advocates at Lambda Legal, scholars at Harvard University, and journalists aligned with outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. The Advocate has published investigative pieces examining institutions including the Supreme Court of the United States, congressional actors such as Nancy Pelosi, policy debates involving Kamala Harris, and international stories on developments in places like Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Opinion pages have hosted contributors from Judith Butler, Michel Foucault commentators, activists like Marsha P. Johnson historians, and authors such as Tony Kushner and Truman Capote. The magazine's culture sections have reviewed films by Pedro Almodóvar, television series such as Will & Grace and Pose, and books by writers like Armistead Maupin and Alison Bechdel.
Distribution and Circulation
The Advocate's print circulation and distribution strategies have evolved alongside major publishers and media companies including Pride Media, Here Publishing, and corporate transactions involving entities like Advance Publications and Viacom. It has been sold in retail chains like Barnes & Noble, displayed at pride events such as NYC Pride and San Francisco Pride, and distributed through subscription services tied to platforms such as Amazon and newsstand partners. Circulation metrics have been monitored alongside trade publications like Adweek, audience analyses by Nielsen Media Research, and advertising partnerships with brands including Levi Strauss & Co., Absolut Vodka, and Nike.
Digital Presence and Multimedia
The Advocate expanded into digital journalism, producing web features, video interviews with figures such as RuPaul, Laverne Cox, and Billy Porter, and podcasts with hosts who have ties to outlets like NPR and Slate. Its multimedia output has collaborated with streaming platforms including Netflix and HBO for cultural reporting, and its social media presence engages communities on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Digital strategy has addressed search and audience analytics used by companies like Google and advertising networks like DoubleClick, and has adapted to mobile consumption across operating systems developed by Apple and Google (company).
Impact and Influence
The Advocate has shaped public discourse on landmark decisions such as Roe v. Wade intersections with queer reproductive rights, policy shifts after Obergefell v. Hodges, and cultural acceptance exemplified by mainstream performers including Taylor Swift and Sam Smith. Its reporting influenced legislative advocacy by organizations like Human Rights Campaign and litigation by ACLU and Lambda Legal, and it has elevated careers of activists and politicians including Tammy Baldwin, Kyrsten Sinema, and Pete Buttigieg. The magazine's profiles have amplified artists such as Freddie Mercury, George Michael, and Annie Lennox and informed academic work at institutions like Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley.
Controversies and Criticisms
The Advocate has faced criticism over editorial decisions, ownership changes involving MediaNews Group-era transactions, and coverage choices that prompted debate with organizations like GLAAD and commentators at The New York Times and The Washington Post. Controversies include accusations of sensationalism in celebrity coverage involving figures such as Britney Spears and Michael Jackson, debates over representation raised by activists connected to Black Lives Matter and transgender advocates including Jazz Jennings, and internal disputes during corporate consolidations with entities like Pride Media and ViacomCBS. Critics have also scrutinized advertising relationships with corporations like IBM and Google (company) and the magazine's responses to global crises in countries such as Uganda and Poland.
Category:LGBT magazines