The Empty Closet

The Empty Closet began publication in January 1971 by the University of Rochester Gay Liberation Front student group.^[2][3] Some of the founding members were Bob Osborn, Larry Fine, RJ Alcalá, Marshall Goldman, Debbie Lestz, Pattie Evans (her pseudonym during the early publications was Patricia Evers),^[4] Karen Hagberg, and Sue Minor.^[5] It is one of the longest continually published newspapers in the United States focusing on the LGBT community.^[2][3] It was a newspaper until February 2018.^[6] The last issue of The Empty Closet was published in July 2020 when the supporting agency, Out Alliance shuttered.^[7] The final Editor, Tamara Leigh, who was also the magazine's first African-American editor (November 2018 - July 2020)^[8] went on to create Blaque/OUT Magazine in September 2020.^[9][10]

In February 2011, the New York State Senate passed Resolution K130-2011, "Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of The Empty Closet", noting the contributions of the newspaper to creating an atmosphere of social tolerance in the Rochester region: "This progressive paper has been a powerful tool in documenting the social, political, religious, cultural, artistic, business and literary history and events for the GLBT community of Rochester and surrounding areas."^[11]

In 2013, a complete run of The Empty Closet was transferred to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History Archives for preservation.^[12][13]