History | Feature Spotlight
Black History Month is still in full swing. Today we spotlight journalist and activist #AlanBell and his contributions to LGBTQ history and media.
Bell was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, and is an alum of Los Angeles High School and The University of California, Los Angeles. Following his graduation from UCLA he settled in New York City to study for his master's degree at New York University.
Following his collegiate career his passion for printmaking and background in journalism led him to run and produce Gaysweek, a newspaper based in New York City exclusively made for gays and lesbians.
The weekly publication ran from 1977 until 1979 producing over 100 issues. After the suggestion of activist Phil Wilson, Bell began publishing BLK, a news periodical for black lesbians and gay men In addition to founding Gaysweek and BlK Bell founded Black Jack, a black gay men’s safer sex club, in Los Angeles
BLK Magazine
Throughout literary history, black-centric publications such as Essence, JET, and Ebony have helped shape and positively represent the black community. While these publications have aided in telling black stories they have frequently overlooked the black LGBTQ+ community.
With this in mind, Bell launched BLK Magazine, the first nationally distributed black gay publication. It was officially launched as a newsletter in December 1988 under the motto “where the news is colored on purpose.”
The groundbreaking publication enveloped black LGBTQ life and advocated for members of the black LGBTQ community.
While in print the magazine featured prominent activists, artists, and politicians including Patti LaBelle (August 1990); adult film star Randy Cochran (March 1989); poet Audre Lorde (April 1989); Carl Bean, founder of the Minority AIDS Project and the Unity Fellowship Church (July 1989), Black AIDS Institute founder Phill Wilson (October 1990) Amassi and BMX founder Cleo Manago (March 1990); documentary-maker Marlon Riggs (April 1990); and Marjorie Hill, CEO of Gay Men's Health Crisis (August 1990).
Before the start of BLK Magazine, Bell founded Gaysweek, New York City's first mainstream lesbian and gay newspaper in 1977. Bell's peer HIV/Activist Phill Wilson eventually encouraged him to start BLK Magazine as a means to inform and represent the black queer community and help educate black LGBTQ+ folks particularly as it related to issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.
Bell eventually published a wide range of titles dedicated to black LGBTQ readers, including Black Lace, an erotic magazine for women; Blackfire, an erotic magazine for men; Kuumba, a co-sexual poetry journal; Black Dates, a calendar of events for Southern California; and The BLK Guide to Southern California for Black People in Life.
In 1999, the company acquired its first non-black publication Mentor, a magazine focusing on legal, adult intergenerational relationships.
Today, he continues to make his mark in the design world as a member of the Los Angeles Conservancy and the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, as well as several trade organizations and professional societies. He currently serves as the manager and executive director of the Los Angeles InDesign User Group, a non-profit graphic design organization.