Houghton Library welcomes Linda Simpson, editor and publisher of the underground gay magazine My Comrade, who will give the fall 2022 Philip and Frances Hofer Lecture on the Art of the Book. 

During the dark days of the AIDS crisis, My Comrade served as a symbol of hope and frivolity in New York City’s East Village. The zine celebrated the queer community in its cut-and-paste mishmash of articles and photo spreads glorifying heroic drag queens, sexy guys, and mighty lesbians. In 2021, Houghton Library acquired the publication records of My Comrade, which are now available to researchers. 

In her lecture, Linda Simpson will recall the zine’s history, New York’s avant-garde drag scene in the 1980s and 90s, and the queer activism and nightlife culture that paved the way for drag to become the pop culture phenomenon it is today.

Since the late 1980s, multi-faceted drag queen Linda Simpson has been a nightlife promoter, journalist, playwright, actress, game-show hostess, and publisher of the underground gay magazine My Comrade. Her photos of New York City’s drag scene in the 1980s and 90s are featured in her photo book The Drag Explosion (Domain, 2021), which is also the title of her touring slideshow.

Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Houghton Library Administrative Coordinator Le Huong Huynh in advance of your visit. Requests for Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please note that the university will make every effort to secure services, but that services are subject to availability.