OutPost Collection, 1991

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Summary

Title:
OutPost Collection
Dates:
1991
Creators:
OutPost
Abstract:
The collection features materials produced by OutPost, a secret gay activist group, for two campaigns in 1991: 1) the "Absolutely Queer" / "Absolutely Het" posters which outed queer celebrities; and, 2) the anti-Arsenio Hall show campaign. The collection also includes newspaper articles discussing and critiquing OutPost's methods and goals.
Extent:
1 oversized folder
Language:
Collection materials are in English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], OutPost Collection (GLC 234), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of OutPost's "Absolutely Queer/Absolutely Het" campaign posters and related newspaper clippings critiquing and discussing the campaign's goals and effects, all from 1991. Celebrities pictured include: Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson, Sherman Hemsley, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Paula Abdul, James Baldwin, Greg Louganis, Debbie Reynolds, Tom Selleck, Gertrude Stein, and Merv Griffin.

The collection also includes the poster for the anti-Arsenio Hall campaign, related articles, and articles about Merv Griffin and Brent Plott's 1991 palimony case.

Biographical / historical:

In March 1991, the secret gay group OutPost put up large posters all around New York City proclaiming the nation's top celebrities to be "Absolutely Queer" or "Absolutely Het" in a visual style modeled on Absolut Vodka's publicity at that time. The guerilla campaign was intended to help the queer community gain visibility by showing the American public that some of their favorite stars were queer and that being outed as queer would not hurt their career. Each poster contains the star's photo, their designation as absolutely queer or absolutely het, a brief description of their career and importance, and the sentence: "Because cleaner closets today mean a better tomorrow." The campaign was met with backlash from queer activists who believed that outing celebrities would not bring queer liberation and violated their privacy.

Acquisition information:
Donated anonymously, 1991.
Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid written by Sarah Mitrani, 2024.
Date Prepared:
June, 2025
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-06-29 00:11:53 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], OutPost Collection (GLC 234), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website