QUEERWARSAW
Queer
Early 1990s saw a boom of such types of magazines – there was the monthly Okay published by the L'Europe printing house (1990-1993) and O zmierzchu [At Dusk] – formerly known as Gayzeta. Nie? Tak! [Gayzette. No? Yes!] which also diminished quickly. The only all-lesbian magazine was Furia Pierwsza [The First Fury] published by OLAArchiwum [Nationwide Feministic Lesbian Archive] between 1997 and 2000. Unfortunately, market competition and the dawn of Internet has decimated queer magazines. A few free clubbing magazines are published, like Ayor or earlier Queer City and Queer. Replika is the only influential magazine for the LGBT community, but if it was to be published on market principles, it probably would not have survived for long (the magazine is published with the aid of various organizations) In 2010, Furia Pierwsza was reactivated as Furia, but after only two issues it is hard to tell whether it will stay and if it will maintain its predecessor's amazing standard. Inaczej [Differently] published by Softpress (based in Poznań) in 1990-2002 is in turn a legendary monthly Polish magazine. It was an exceptional magazine – the only influential and non-pornographic magazine to be distributed via newspaper kiosks. In times before the Internet, many couples met thanks to its personal ads’ section. Over the twelve year it was appearing, about 100 interviews were published. Its interlocutors included politicians of both the left and right side, as well as artists, actors, journalists, scientists and other public figures. Inaczej is a legend, but even that did not protect it from declining, mostly due to high retail profit margins and the development of gay and lesbian Internet portals. See also: ▶ Cafe Fiolka, ▶ Campaign Against Homophobia, ▶ Na Przełaj, ▶ OLA-Archive, ▶ Polonia Hotel, ▶ Press, ▶ Warsaw Gay Movement
Queer pub, 1/3 Rynek Starego Miasta, opened in 2010
The newest spot on the party map of Warsaw. Set in a very favourable location of the Old Town Market Place, the tiny club belongs to the owners of Jazzownia Liberalna, situated on the corner of Jezuicka Street only two numbers away. At the first visit it takes some effort to notice a small, yet characteristic violet sign above the gate. The way in leads through a long hall and doors obscured by silvery drapes. Queer is divided into two small rooms. On the right, over the bar, there is an entresol (watch your head!), on the left you will see fluffy settees and other sitting places. The place is furnished fashionably with violet and gold and makes an impression of slight gaudiness; one might also catch sight of some misplaced elements (like too stylish handrails leading up the entresol, or too shallow sitting places on the sills). But for those violets, mirrors and lampshades, you would have an inkling of finding yourself in a less cosy, designer-version of Lodi Dodi.
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