J.D.s

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J.D.s is a queer punk zine founded in Toronto by G.B. Jones and co-published with Bruce LaBruce, that ran for eight issues from 1985 to 1991. [1]

" J.D.s is seen by many to be the catalyst that pushed the queercore scene into existence", writes Amy Spencer in DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture.[2]

After the initial release of the first few issues of J.D.s, the editors wrote a manifesto called "Don't Be Gay" which was featured in Maximum RocknRoll zine. According to Amy Spencer, "The article appeared in February 1989 and simultaneously attacked both punk and gay subcultures..." G.B Jones states, "Our goal, vis-à-vis the punk scene, was to antagonize." Spencer continues, "Following their article, a queer punk culture did begin to emerge."

The editors had initially chosen the appellation "homocore" to describe the movement they began, but later replaced the word 'homo' with 'queer' to create Queercore, to better reflect the diversity of the scene and to disassociate themselves completely from the oppressive confines of the gay and lesbian communities' orthodoxy and agenda.[3] G.B. Jones says, "We were just as eager to provoke the gays and lesbians as we were the punks." According to Bruce LaBruce, J.D.s initially stood for Juvenile Delinquents, but "also encompassed such youth cult icons as James Dean and J.D. Salinger."[4]

The zine featured the photos and the "Tom Girl" drawings of G.B. Jones,[5] stories by Bruce LaBruce, and the "J.D.s Top Ten Homocore Hits", a list of queer-themed songs such as "Off-Duty Sailor" by The Dicks, "Only Loved At Night" by The Raincoats, "Gimme Gimme Gimme (My Man After Midnight)" by The Leather Nun, "Homophobia" by Victims Family, "I, Bloodbrothers Be" by Shock Headed Peters, "The Anal Staircase" by Coil and many more. Groups like Anti-Scrunti Faction were featured in the fanzine. Contributors included Donny the Punk, comic artist Anonymous Boy, author Dennis Cooper, artist Carrie McNinch, musician Anita Smith, punk drag performer Vaginal Davis and Klaus and Jena von Brücker. [6] [7]

In 1990, J.D.s released the first compilation of queercore songs, a cassette tape entitled J.D.s Top Ten Homocore Hit Parade Tape, which featured the groups The Apostles, Academy 23 and No Brain Cells from the UK, Fifth Column, Zuzu's Petals and Toilet Slaves from Canada, Bomb, Big Man, Robt. Omlit and Nikki Parasite of The Parasites from the U.S. and, from New Zealand, Gorse.

Also in 1990, and '91, G.B. Jones and Bruce LaBruce began presenting J.D.s movie nights . These happened in London, San Francisco, Montreal and Toronto with the editors and various contributors showing films, all made on extremely low budgets on Super 8 film, such as Jones' The Troublemakers and LaBruce's Boy, Girl.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Krishtalka, Sholem (2007-01-04), “Art essay: We are Queercore”, Xtra, <http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=3&STORY_ID=2528&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=2> 
  2. ^ Spencer, Amy (2005). DIY: The Rise Of Lo-Fi Culture. London, UK: Marion Boyars Publishers. ISBN 0-7145-3105-7. 
  3. ^ Wilde, Christopher, “The Origin of Love”, Queer Life News, <http://www.queerlifenews.com/content/view/298/61> 
  4. ^ LaBruce, Bruce (1997). The Reluctant pornographer. Ontario, Canada: Gutter Press. ISBN 1896356125. 
  5. ^ Peñaloza, Si Si (1999-06-17), “Sexy queer zine culture comes out again”, Now, <http://nowtoronto.com/issues/18/42/Ent/misc.html> 
  6. ^ Block, Adam (1988-10-11), “In Search of the Homo-core Underground”, The Advocate: 52 
  7. ^ Cooper, Dennis (1990-09-04), “Homocore rules: gay zine makers bust a move”, Village Voice: 92-93 
  8. ^ Paterson, Andrew James (2004), “2004 Program Guide Essay”, Splice This! Toronto's Annual Super8 Film Festival, <http://www.splicethis.com/ongoing.php?ID=91> 

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