Gay bookstores, once one of the backbones of urban gay culture, have been closing rapidly due to the popularity of the internet and huge book chains. But Philadelphia's gay bookstore - Giovanni's Room - recently celebrated their 35th anniversary. Read the story from Towleroad HERE.
When I came out of the closet in Central Pennsylvania, I would take periodic trips to visit my friend who lived in the gay neighborhood of Philadelphia. After spending Saturday nights at Stallions in Harrisburg (the local gay disco - which is still there), spending a weekend in an actual city was heavenly. Dennis lived right down the street from Giovanni's Room, and I always paid it a visit (and usually made a purchase). Those early "gay books" I bought really taught me a lot about being gay and gay culture - long before images like "Will and Grace" were available. I will always be grateful that Giovanni's Room was (and is) there.
When I came out of the closet in Central Pennsylvania, I would take periodic trips to visit my friend who lived in the gay neighborhood of Philadelphia. After spending Saturday nights at Stallions in Harrisburg (the local gay disco - which is still there), spending a weekend in an actual city was heavenly. Dennis lived right down the street from Giovanni's Room, and I always paid it a visit (and usually made a purchase). Those early "gay books" I bought really taught me a lot about being gay and gay culture - long before images like "Will and Grace" were available. I will always be grateful that Giovanni's Room was (and is) there.
