twn: A Personal History

Portions of this article were first published in 2003 as twn: The Early Years and in 2006 as twn: An Appreciation.

The Weekly News (twn) was South Florida’s gay community newspaper. Published in Miami between 1977 and 2006, it was Florida’s longest-running LGBT publication until it was surpassed by Fort Lauderdale’s Hotspots! in 2015. twn began its career on August 30, 1977 as a project of Miami’s Dade County Coalition for Human Rights (DCCHR), which had just lost a fight to preserve Dade County’s first human rights ordinance. twn severed its ties with the Coalition in 1980 and survived its parent as a not-for-profit publication. For much of its history it was published in conjunction with Contax Guide, a state-wide publication that covered gay bars and other social venues.

The early Weekly News Bulletin Committee, all volunteers, were DCCHR members with more enthusiasm than experience: Editor In Chief Paul Guiles (who was also the Coalition’s Office Manager); Art Director and Columnist Peter J. Kiernan; News Editor Gary Grimmett; Social Events Editor Rob Johnstone; and Circulation Directors Paul Butler and Keith Cantine. Bill Watson, who later became twn’s publisher and ran the paper until its demise, made his first appearance on the masthead in Issue # 22 (Jan. 31, 1978) where, along with Paul Butler, he was put in charge of Circulation.

Thanks to Fort Lauderdale’s Stonewall National Museum and Archives, which has an almost complete set, the early issues of twn are still available for research. During the fall of 1977, DCCHR used twn to publicize its programs and projects: a bullet-proof vest fund for local cops; a blood bank; and the First Annual Dove of Peace Ball. The Coalition was more successful in getting local bars to support its boycott of Florida Citrus, which employed anti-gay leader Anita Bryant as its spokesperson. twn later did its part to promote the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights (Oct. 14, 1979).

By Issue # 8 (November 8), twn had increased its production to over 3,000 copies per week and was distributed to every gay bar in Dade County, a few in Broward, and copies that were mailed to various publications all over the United States  It would take a few more years before twn would achieve its award-winning state of journalistic excellence. One memorable column from twn’s early days was “Kiernan’s Korner,” by Peter J. Kiernan, which sadly only lasted for a few issues in 1977. A more durable column was “Bike Daddy,” written by that old curmudgeon, the late Marty Rubin. twn was also famous for its series of movie reviews – of mainstream as well as of LGBT films – written first by Watson, then by the late Jack Sturdy and finally by Steve Warren. Another notable twn contributor was LoAnn Halden, whose career as a travel columnist continues til this day.

For most of their existence, twn and Contax Guide were in the capable hands of Bill Watson, who served as publisher from 1980 to 2006 and who did everything from paying the bills to distributing the papers. Others who served on the not-for-profit publication’s board and staff included Keith Cantine, Paul Butler, the late Staci Aker and the late Harry Losleben. Jerry Neaves, Watson’s life partner, was twn’s general manager for 20 years until his untimely death in 2002. Others who served with distinction as Editor, Managing Editor, or Associate Editor, included LoAnn Halden, Ira Estis, Joe McQuay, Cliff O’Neill and Bill Green.

On a personal level, I began contributing articles to twn in the November 15, 1977 issue and continued doing so until the paper’s demise, except for two short periods during the gay nineties when I wrote for other publications. My first long-term column was“The Book Nook,” a  book review column which later became syndicated and actually outlasted twn. I also wrote “Great Gays In History,” a series of biographies; “Hammer and Anvil” (now “Jesse’s Journal”), an opinion column which continues til this day; news stories, interviews, and even photos.  For 28-plus years I wrote for twn, an experience that I believe made me a better gay man and a better writer. Though twn published its final issue on March 2, 2006, it still influences South Florida’s LGBT community, as well as its journalism.

Jesse’s Journal
by Jesse Monteagudo