Among the latest materials placed into our Florida LGBTQ+ Collection are additional issues of The Weekly News, the state’s pioneer newspaper for LGBTQ rights. Also on the way are materials documenting national reactions in the 1970s to Anita Bryant’s Save Our Children campaign, which sparked called for a boycott of Florida orange juice.
Building our run of this advocacy newspaper from the 1970s and 1980s is a priority and we were glad to find issues. Holdings now include a partial run for 1983 and 1984. By the 1980s, editions were divided into two sections, the first one tracking legislative initiatives affecting gay and lesbian communities, with a second section devoted to arts and entertainment. The newspaper also maintained steady coverage on the impact of HIV.
Some sample front pages from 42 years ago show just why Pride Month has been and still is essential.
If you happen to have a stack of TWN issues and want a new home for them, please let us know! It helps fulfill our library mission on two levels, by improving the LGBTQ+ collection and preserving an important Florida newspaper and public voice.
