Special Issues

50 Years in 50 Weeks; 1975 - Empress and an elephant

50 Years in 50 Weeks; 1975 - Empress and an elephant

1975 was a great year for B.A.R. covers, but the most legendary image of the year is assuredly that of Empress Doris riding an elephant down Polk Street for the annual Gay Freedom Day Parade. How did it happen? And why?

50 Years in 50 Weeks: April 1974: Undies at The EndUp

50 Years in 50 Weeks: April 1974: Undies at The EndUp

As advertised in the April 17, 1974 'Bay Area Reporter,' the EndUp's Jockey Short Contest, immortalized by Armistead Maupin in his best-selling 'Tales of the City' series, took place frequently at the South of Market nightclub.

50 years in 50 weeks: 1974, MCC confab in SF

50 years in 50 weeks: 1974, MCC confab in SF

This week goes back to 1974 and the MCC confab in SF,

50 Years in 50 Weeks:  Nudes in the news, 1973

50 Years in 50 Weeks: Nudes in the news, 1973

January 24, 1973's issue of the 'Bay Area Reporter' features reportage on the Gaslight nightclub's legal battle to allow nude gogo dancers.

50 years in 50 weeks:  Meet the candidates, 1973

50 years in 50 weeks: Meet the candidates, 1973

The B.A.R.'s wayback machine travels to 1973 for a look at the candidates for emperor and empress.

50 years in 50 weeks: 1972, Sex laws fall

50 years in 50 weeks: 1972, Sex laws fall

The Bay Area Reporter's 50 years in 50 weeks feature continues with this front page from September 20, 1972

50 years in 50 Weeks: May 17, 1972 Chaotic Cowboy Contest

50 years in 50 Weeks: May 17, 1972 Chaotic Cowboy Contest

The Covered Wagon bar hosted the 1972 Mr. Cowboy contest, but things didn't go well, as reported in the B.A.R.'s May 17 issue. Many in attendance were "stirred into a frenzy of accusations, charges and counter-charges of fraud, fake fix and cheat."

50 years in 50 weeks: 1971

50 years in 50 weeks: 1971

In honor of the Bay Area Reporter's 50th anniversary, we're culling from our archive to feature a different year of the paper each week.

50 years in 50 weeks: May 1, 1971: In all their plumage

50 years in 50 weeks: May 1, 1971: In all their plumage

As we continue to celebrate the Bay Area Reporter's 50th anniversary, each week we'll take a nostalgic look at a highlight from each year's issues. In May 1, 1971 , a plumaged party seemed like a lot of fun.

Screen times: Film coverage in the B.A.R. through 50 years, part 2

Screen times: Film coverage in the B.A.R. through 50 years, part 2

As the 1990s approached, films began to offer more positive portrayals of LGBTQ people, often as the loyal best friend, with characters beginning to be more fleshed out, having lives rooted in their sexuality but not necessarily ruled only by it.

Groove Tube: the B.A.R.'s five decades of TV turn-ons

Groove Tube: the B.A.R.'s five decades of TV turn-ons

It is hard to narrow the discourse to just a handful of TV shows over so many years and hundreds of columns, but here are some of the LGBTQ stories that spurred controversy or altered the landscape.

The Producers: Behind the scenes at the B.A.R.

The Producers: Behind the scenes at the B.A.R.

Some of the Bay Area Reporter's production designers were, and are, not only accomplished computer whizzes, but also artists and nightlife stars, like DJ and musician Adriana Roberts, who, with Scott King, share a bit of the backstage B.A.R. scoop.

B.A.R.'s pages featured spirituality

B.A.R.'s pages featured spirituality

"Feminism has done more to save the lives of women in the last 30 years than Jesus Christ did in the last 2,000 years!" renowned lesbian feminist Sally Gearhart, Ph.D., proudly proclaimed as she opened her sermon one Sunday night.

Bay Area Reporter turns 50: Once a bar rag, paper now bestrides LGBTQ news

Bay Area Reporter turns 50: Once a bar rag, paper now bestrides LGBTQ news

Fifty years ago the gay bar — that foremost location for so much dating, friendships, political organizing, and times both fun and challenging — gave birth to the B.A.R.