Gai pied
Encyclopedia
Gai pied or Gai pied hebdo was a monthly French
gay
magazine, founded by Jean Le Bitoux. Its name, which literally means "Gay foot", is a homophone of guêpier, which means a hornet's nest or, figuratively, a trap or pitfall — a reference to the magazine's determination to torment the status-quo.
, who wrote an article for the first issue and continued to contribute material to the magazine throughout its existence.
The first issue was sold at two thousand kiosks throughout France on the first of April, 1979. It was published by Pink Triangle publications and printed by the Revolutionary Communist League
.
Among the magazine's collaborators were Yves Navarre
, Tony Duvert
, Gianni De Martino, Guy Hocquenghem
, Renaud Camus
, Alain Pacadis, Copi, Hugo Marsan, and others. The magazine enjoyed great success among French gays, and increased their visibility. Apart from its articles, the magazine published personal ads and erotic photographs.
In 1980, Jean-Paul Sartre
agreed to an interview with the magazine, as did artists David Hockney
and Barbara
and politicians Pierre Bérégovoy
and Gaston Defferre
, showing their support for the magazine's cause.
In 1987, minister of the interior Charles Pasqua
attempted to ban the publication of Gai pied. A demonstration on March 19, along with statements of support from many public figures including minister of culture François Léotard
, prevented the ban.
Between 1987 and 1990, the magazine controlled FG DJ Radio.
Despite early success, the magazine struggled to respond to the menace of AIDS
, and was dealt a financial blow by the success of Minitel
. After losing much of its readership, the magazine ended publication in 1992.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
magazine, founded by Jean Le Bitoux. Its name, which literally means "Gay foot", is a homophone of guêpier, which means a hornet's nest or, figuratively, a trap or pitfall — a reference to the magazine's determination to torment the status-quo.
History
The magazine's name was suggested by Michel FoucaultMichel Foucault
Michel Foucault , born Paul-Michel Foucault , was a French philosopher, social theorist and historian of ideas...
, who wrote an article for the first issue and continued to contribute material to the magazine throughout its existence.
The first issue was sold at two thousand kiosks throughout France on the first of April, 1979. It was published by Pink Triangle publications and printed by the Revolutionary Communist League
Revolutionary Communist League (France)
See Revolutionary Communist League for the other Ligue communiste révolutionnaire.The Revolutionary Communist League was a French democratic revolutionary socialist political party. It was the French section of the Fourth International...
.
Among the magazine's collaborators were Yves Navarre
Yves Navarre
Yves Navarre was a French writer. A gay man, most of his work concerned homosexuality and associated issues, such as AIDS. In his romantic works, Navarre was noted for his tendency to emphasize sensuality and "the mystical qualities of love" rather than sexuality or sensationalism...
, Tony Duvert
Tony Duvert
Tony Duvert was a French writer and philosopher. In the 1970s he achieved some renown, winning the Prix Medicis in 1973 for his novel Paysage de Fantaisie . Duvert's writings are notable both for their style and core themes: the celebration and defence of pedophilia, and criticism of modern...
, Gianni De Martino, Guy Hocquenghem
Guy Hocquenghem
Guy Hocquenghem was a French writer and queer theorist.-Biography:Guy Hocquenghem was born in the suburbs of Paris and was educated at the Lycée Lakanal in Sceaux and the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris. At the age of fifteen he began an affair with his high school philosophy teacher, René...
, Renaud Camus
Renaud Camus
-Biography:He was born in 1946 in Chamalières, Puy-de-Dôme, in the Auvergne region of France. He spent some time studying in England and traveling in the United States, particularly New York and California...
, Alain Pacadis, Copi, Hugo Marsan, and others. The magazine enjoyed great success among French gays, and increased their visibility. Apart from its articles, the magazine published personal ads and erotic photographs.
In 1980, Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
agreed to an interview with the magazine, as did artists David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
and Barbara
Monique Serf
Monique Andrée Serf , known as Barbara , was a popular French female singer...
and politicians Pierre Bérégovoy
Pierre Bérégovoy
Pierre Eugène Bérégovoy was a French Socialist politician. He served as Prime Minister under François Mitterrand from 1992 to 1993.-Early career:...
and Gaston Defferre
Gaston Defferre
Gaston Defferre was a French socialist politician.-Biography:Lawyer and member of the French Section of the Workers' International political party, he was a member of the Brutus Network, a Resistance Socialist group during World War II...
, showing their support for the magazine's cause.
In 1987, minister of the interior Charles Pasqua
Charles Pasqua
Charles Pasqua is a French businessman and Gaullist politician. He was Interior Minister from 1986 to 1988, under Jacques Chirac's cohabitation government, and also from 1993 to 1995, under the government of Edouard Balladur...
attempted to ban the publication of Gai pied. A demonstration on March 19, along with statements of support from many public figures including minister of culture François Léotard
François Léotard
François Gerard Marie Léotard is a retired French politician. The late singer and actor Philippe Léotard was his brother....
, prevented the ban.
Between 1987 and 1990, the magazine controlled FG DJ Radio.
Despite early success, the magazine struggled to respond to the menace of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, and was dealt a financial blow by the success of Minitel
Minitel
The Minitel is a Videotex online service accessible through the telephone lines, and is considered one of the world's most successful pre-World Wide Web online services. It was launched in France in 1982 by the PTT...
. After losing much of its readership, the magazine ended publication in 1992.
External links
- The authentic history of Gai Pied by Jean Le Bitoux
- The pink flag at half mast, an article on the magazine's discontinuation