Something Sensational to Read: A Tour of Silicon Valley LGBTQ+ Publications, 1950 to Today

SJSU Special Collections and Archives’ new exhibit explores over 70 years of dialogue within LGBTQ+ community publications about daily life, group concerns, and political actions in San José, Santa Clara County, and the greater Bay Area. Spanning unique and obscure self-published works to nationally circulating publications, this massive collection of newspapers, magazines, event programs, organization newsletters, periodicals, and reference materials illustrates the events that shaped, defined, and changed the last near-century of LGBTQ+ history. Highlights include the first Gay Pride events, the early days of the AIDS epidemic, arts and entertainment commentary, and local and national debates about issues such as employment discrimination, marriage rights, military enlistment, and political representation.