Trailblazers in Black History: Alan Bell, 'Gaysweek'

Alan Bell has been an indelible, vibrant presence within LGBT journalism for almost 40 years. Beginning in 1977 when he founded Gaysweek, New York City’s first mainstream lesbian and gay newspaper, and continuing with BLK and Blackfire, Bell has been a pioneer of LGBT journalism and activism, particularly on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. He continues to work with many non-profit organizations including the Minority AIDS Project, Magic Johnson Foundation, Black AIDS Institute and the health departments of Los Angeles County, Fulton County, Miami and Florida. 

Bell places special focus on serving the black lesbian and gay community through BLK Publishing Company, which he founded in 1988, which places a special focus on assisting community-based organizations focused on fulfilling the health, educational and social needs of inner-city communities. He is also the founder of Black Jack, a safer sex club for black gay men in Los Angeles.

Gaysweek was a weekly gay and lesbian newspaper based in New York City printed from 1977 until 1979. Considered the city's first mainstream weekly lesbian and gay newspaper, it was founded by Alan Bell in 1977 as an 8-page single-color tabloid and finished its run in 1979 as a 24-page two-color publication. It featured articles, letter, art and poetry. It was, at the time, only one of three weekly publications geared towards homosexuals and the only mainstream publication owned by an African-American.

Additional information is available here. 

Sources: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists and Wikipedia.