The earlit documented e of the term "gayby boom" was a 1990 Newsweek article. For LGBTQ History Month, let's take a look back at the article and how thgs have (or haven't) changed for queer fai sce then.
Contents:
- IN 1994, THE U.S. MILARY ACTUALLY CONSIRED BUILDG A “GAY BOMB”
- THE “GAYBY BOOM” AND ITS ECHO
- THE GAYBY BOOM IS HERE TO STAY
- UNRSTANDG THE 'GAYBY BOOM'
IN 1994, THE U.S. MILARY ACTUALLY CONSIRED BUILDG A “GAY BOMB”
The ia of a gay bomb me om a sire to bilate enemi but not necsarily kill them. The proposed bomb would nta strong aphrodisiacs and make soldiers "sexually irristible" to each other. * gay booms *
The ia of a gay bomb me om a sire to bilate and distract their opponents but not necsarily kill them. Wikimedia CommonsThe gay bomb was a theoretil cloud of gas that would turn enemy soldiers gay. The ncept of a “gay bomb” sounds like somethg out of a bad science fictn movie.
5 ln ventn: the gay bomb. The gay bomb would be a cloud of gas that would be discharged over enemy mps “that ntaed a chemil that would e enemy soldiers to bee gay, and to have their uns break down bee all their soldiers beme irristibly attractive to one another.
THE “GAYBY BOOM” AND ITS ECHO
Basilly, the pheromon the gas would turn the soldiers gay. The scientists ntued to suggt addns to the gay bomb, cludg aphrodisiacs, and other scents. Thankfully, the gay bomb was only ever theoretil and never put to motn.
Like the gay bomb, the creative chemil ias also never me to un. Dpe the drawbacks, for their work such an novative field, the rearchers who nceptualized the gay bomb were award the Ig Nobel Prize, a parody award which celebrat unual scientific achievements that “first make people lgh, and then make them thk. The gay bomb certaly fs the bill for that one.
THE GAYBY BOOM IS HERE TO STAY
After readg about the theoretil gay bomb, check out the super real Bat Bomb. Brammer's memoir--says tails everythg om how he me out llege (“ a f of gay mania") to a problematic relatnship he had wh a Christian youth group member. "'Last Call' by Elon GreenMaclanIn a powerful work of nonfictn, this New York Tim crilly acclaimed book giv rears a chillg acunt of an elive serial killer, dubbed the “Last Call Killer, ” who preyed on gay men New York Cy the 1990s.
The earlit documented e of the term “gayby boom” was a 1990 Newsweek article.
UNRSTANDG THE 'GAYBY BOOM'
In “The Future of Gay Ameri” (March 12, 1990), a Newsweek ver story (not eely available onle) thors Eloise Salholz, Tony Clifton, et al.
Were not lookg primarily at queer fai, but rather at the entire sweep of gay and lbian visibily and activism. I also say “gay and lbian” liberately, for (as was mon at the time) there was unfortunately no mentn of bi or trans people the article.
But gay lears have also begun fightg for a slate of fay rights cludg social secury, medil benefs, herance.