Gay Readers, Consumers, and a Dominant Gay Habitus: 25 Years of the Advocate Magazine"
by Katherine Sender
Journal of Communication, March, 2001

            The article I read was concerning the GLBT magazine entitled Advocate. It discusses the reaction of the general public to the magazine over the course of its run.

            The magazine began  in the early 1990’s as a small local activist newspaper. Since then, it has grown into a huge national publication consisting of in-depth articles, photography, and advertisements all geared specifically to the GLBT community and its allies.

            The magazine caters to the supposed image of the ideal gay consumer.   Answering to the tastes, pleasures, and concerns.

            Upon reading this article, I especially liked the comments that were made about the national companies who are now gearing a large portion of their advertisements towards the gay population.   Products such as Tenure Gin, Abercrombie and Fitch and American Express are big users of the gay magazine to reach a part of the population that was mostly overlooked in the past.  My applause, as a gay male, goes out to those companies!

            Another thing that I do particularly like is how the magazine through its work, has helped to create a dominate gay “home” for many thousands of readers.   It basically said to the American Public that the gay world would not be pushed down into the lower ranks, that we will not be ignored.   We are here to stay, and this is what we have to say.  

            Advocate magazine, as stated by the article is a forerunner in the fight for equality in the gay community.

They have taken leaps and bounds in the way of making sure that the voices of the minority will not go

unheard.   This article was a very uplifting reading experience in that realm.