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Quim (magazine)

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Quim
Winter 1991 cover
EditorSophie Moorcock
EditorLulu Belliveau
Categorieslesbian, erotica
First issue1989
Final issue2001
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Quim: for dykes of all sexual persuasions was a British sex positive lesbian softcore magazine published between 1989 and 1994[1] with a further issue published in 2001.[2] The magazine was edited by Sophie Moorcock and Lulu Belliveau, who had previously worked as a photo editor at On Our Backs, the first US magazine of women's erotica. Influences[3] included Shocking Pink a young women's zine produced in London between 1979–1992,[4] Chain Reaction[5] a lesbian S/M club that opened in Vauxhall in 1987, and Sheila McLaughlin's 1987 film She Must Be Seeing Things.[6] The magazine had an irregular publication cycle that depended on when funding and content were available.[7]

Content and contributors

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The editorial stance of Quim was anti-censorship and pro-sex,[8] and there was little censorship of content,[6] most of which was submitted by volunteer contributors. Quim featured articles, creative writing, art and photography covering topics including fantasies, orgasm, masturbation, safe sex, sex toys and sadomasochism. In 1991, "Quim Notebooks" were circulated in gay and lesbian bars and bookshops to encourage contributors to submit stories and ideas to the magazine.[9]

The first edition included an interview with Susie Bright, editor of On Our Backs.[10] Issue five centred on the experiences of black lesbians.[11][12] The sixth and final edition focused on the eviction of a lesbian house and hub for direct action at Bird in Bush Road.[2] The magazine published fiction by authors including Pat Califia, Jane Solanas, Jo Fisk and Leonora Rogers Wright,[11] and photography by Della Grace and Lola Flash.[6]

Reception and legacy

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The first issue of the magazine received a hostile response, and it was two years before the second issue was published.[6] Owing to the explicit and sadomasochistic nature of the content, a number of lesbian and gay bookshops, including Sisterwise[13] and Gay's the Word,[14] refused to carry the magazine.[15] The magazine remained controversial and continued to receive unfavourable reviews in the gay press.[8]

Quim was later credited, along with On Our Backs, with laying the foundations for later women's erotica including the Australian magazine Slit and Madonna's Sex book.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Buchanan, Justine (1 May 2010). "Top Shelf Girls". Diva.
  2. ^ a b "Quim's Cum-Back". Diva. No. 65. 15 October 2001.
  3. ^ Smith, Anna-Marie (22 September 1992). "Brits gone BAD". The Advocate. 612: 72–73 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ Blaze, Cath (13 August 2011). "A shocking shade of pink". The F-Word. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. ^ Abraham, Amelia (5 July 2017). "Squats, Sex Clubs and Punk: The Lesbian London of the 1980s". Vice. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Gibson, Linda (25 October 1992). "Quim's on show". The Pink Paper. No. 249.
  7. ^ "Quim Out". Diva. 1 April 1994.
  8. ^ a b Cary, James (6 July 1991). "Quim: has your time come?". The Pink Paper. No. 182. Gay Times Ltd.
  9. ^ "Bar books for dyke ideas". The Pink Paper. No. 164. Gay Times Ltd. 2 March 1991.
  10. ^ "New Magazine". The Pink Paper. No. 61. 25 February 1989.
  11. ^ a b "QUIM MAGAZINE; For Dykes of All Sexual Persuasions No. 5, 1994 by Belliveau, Lulu and Sophie Moorock (editors): (1994) | Alta-Glamour Inc". www.abebooks.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2020-06-13. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  12. ^ Talking black : lesbians of African and Asian descent speak out. Mason-John, Valerie. London: Cassell. 1995. ISBN 0-304-32963-0. OCLC 32510249.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  13. ^ ""Quim" hits the streets". The Pink Paper. No. 174. 11 May 1991.
  14. ^ Jarman, Derek, 1942-1994. (14 December 2017). Smiling in slow motion. London. ISBN 978-1-4735-5906-6. OCLC 1029297722.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Khambatta, Ann (August 1989). "Quim - Lesbian Erotica?". Spare Rib. 204: 28 – via Journal Archives.
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