COMING SOON! THIS IS A DRAFT VERSION OF THIS EXHIBIT FOR PREVIEW PURPOSES
Throughout history those who have strayed from gender and sexual norms have always had to communicate secretly through their own private networks. Public means of communication was stripped from them as they were the outcasts of their social spaces and families. Due to the societal pressure to change who they are, they were forced to adopt private languages and safe spaces. Some examples of LGBTQ communication netoworks are newsletters, bars, clubs, and magazines where being gay was acceptable and invited. The Peninsula Professional Network (PPN)(Newsletter), “The Paper (Newspaper),” and “The Manifesto”(Newspaper) in Monterey County, played a significant role in bringing together members of the LGBTQ community, uniting lesbians and gay men, trans activists with the growing gay community, and doing it’s best to eliminate stigmas of bisexuals, further bridging gaps between the homosexual and heterosexual worlds.
Founded in 1983 The Peninsula Professional Network is a networks in Monterey Bay area that supported the social, educational, and professional aspects within the LGBT community. This network was essential because it was used for monthly newsletters that privately informed members of ‘The Network” about meeting information, social events like, The Pink Flamingo and other resources such as health programs that were provided within Monterey and Santa Cruz County[1]. The Pink Flamingo was one of the well-known gay night clubs that was located near Carmel, California. The Murder at the Pink Flamingo was one of many events that the Peninsula Professional Network organized on October 12, 1988 for LGBT to openly express cultural ideninties and sexualites through the character roles of this event. The P.P.N was a safe haven with a mission to provide a space where LGBT can seek out and meet others with similar interests allowing them to openly express their identities in a welcoming community.
“The Paper” (1994) was designed to give a voice to Monterey’s LGBTQ community members and allow their voices on community issues to be heard so that the community as a whole could grow together [2]. They often helped promote both local and non-local pride festivals/parades in an effort to expand the already growing gay communities. The dress for such celebrations often expected attendees to dress as dramatically as possible to depict themselves in a stark contrast from the “boring” and “uptight” society around them. The “Manifesto” gave visibility to local artists, as well as drag and leather events which were a form of community expression that played with the fluidity of gender and experimenting with sexuality in a gritty ways [3]. Leather events were used as a form of comradery where individuals could freely express their sexuality in a public manner without fear of being judged. Being surrounded by others in leather felt like a home amongst like-minded people. The “Manifesto” also featured comic strips, one such titled “The Mostly Unfabulous Life of Ethan Green,” in which the life of a young gay man (Ethan Green) was satirized in a way that was both funny to gay people and a little eye opening to straight people. It often brought stereotypical absurdities regarding gay people, such as the degree of hookup culture, to life in which their lack of realism became glaringly obvious. Drag shows were often used to raise money for “The Paper” and the “Manifesto” as they provided an assortment of entertainment from comedy, to dancing, to music, and even fashion contests. LGBTQ people from all over the county would attend to show their support to these newspapers which dedicated so much of their time to trying to educate the surrounding population on LGBTQ issues and culture.
After Dark was one of the few bars in Monterey in the 1990’s where people went to socialize, dance, and have fun. [4] It was also advertised on “The Paper”, which allowed people to have knowledge that the bar existed and it was a safe place for them to go. The LGBTQ community has always had to find different alternatives to come together and form their own spaces. Communication networks such as the PPN, “The Paper” and “The Manifesto” gave the LGBTQ community outlets of communication where they could finally identify with more people like themselves. Community events, shows, and resources allowed them to find more people like themselves. Many LGBTQ people lived in the shadows of society and went through their lives not really understanding their true identity because they learned to assimilate to the norms of society. In addition, many of the were scared to publicly “come out” and did not talk about their personal things with others, especially because of the consequences that that could bring. That is why the PPN and “The Paper” were so important to this community.
ADD IMAGE CREDITS
References
1] The Peninsula Professional Network in Monterey/Santa Cruz, 1983-1989 [SOURCE?]
[2] The Paper: (Monterey County's only gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender newspaper) 1994 [Issue?]
[3] “The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green,” Manifesto, May 2022 [DATE?]
[4] DePonte, Antje. “The Closing of a Landmark Monterey Club Marks the End of an Era.” Monterey County Weekly, May 18, 2013.