ALTERNATIVE CONNECTION

Years: October 1991 – 1994 [some have stated the paper started in 1986]

Per Oregon Leather History Timeline, page 66 Alternative Connection newspaper begins publication in October 1991.

At one time, the newspaper was published by Ray Southworth and Woody [Lady Elaine Peacock]

1991 - Per Pat Young’s Sept 11, 2000 draft for GLAPNtimeline October Elwood Johnson and Ray Southwick published the first issue of The Alternative Connection, which ran monthly until March 1994. The publishers write that Portland’s gay community has become disjointed from economic stress, political change, AIDS, and the lack of networking between segments of the community. They hope their new paper will help to bring the segments together through the sharing of information.

ON page 4 EDITORIAL ‘LET’S ALL GET TOGETHER” A new publication deserves a positive look at the happenings of our community. AND, under Publishers Notes: In the months to follow we will provide you the reader an expansion of sports coverage, cartoons, classified ads, national and local news briefs…

Elwood Johnson – Co-Publisher    Ray Southwick  Co-Publisher

Per the October 1993 issue, the header declared the 2nd ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Ad below was in the Gay Pride Program 199.

citations & references:

  • Per GPAAN website: The Alternative Connection was published for a period of time starting in 1991 by Ray Southwick and Elwood “Woody” Johnson, who was also known by his drag name Lady Elaine Peacock.

  • listed in Damron Road Atlas 1994 Under Publications

  • listed in Damron Road Atlas 1995 Under Publication

  • First listed in Damron Address Book, 1995, bi-monthly

  • Not listed in Damron Address Book, 1996 or thereafter