Shades of Gay

An adult coloring book portraying scenes of gay life in San Francisco in the late 1970s, with clones; disco queens; drag queens; leather daddies; lesbians; punks; Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; and other archetypes shown in locations including two of the main gayborhoods of the era, Castro Street and Polk Street.

Also portrayed are locally and nationally recognized personalities who were members or allies of the gay community: Supervisor Harvey Milk (1930–1978); disco diva Sylvester (1947–1988); drag performer, actor and singer Divine (1945–1988); drag star and artist Doris Fish (1952–1991); and Jackie Star, a beloved cashier and greeter at Star Pharmacy on the corner of Castro and 18th streets.

An arch-enemy of gay rights also appears: gospel singer, orange-juice pitchwoman, and anti-gay activist Anita Bryant (1940–2024), with a dartboard target superimposed on her face.

Three pages and the rear wrap are devoted to "Dress Up David: Your San Francisco Paper Doll," with a doll along with outfits and accessories to color and cut out: "Any Excuse" (showgirl drag and a poodle); "Folsom Street" (leather, a whip and a chain); Castro Street (clone wear); and "Gym and Baths" (jockstrap, shorts, towel).

The drawings are earnest if awkward, evidently largely traced from photographs or drawn over projections of slides, with graphic contours producing an effect at times recalling psychedelic illustrations of the late 1960s-early 1970s.

CONDITION: Slight wear to wraps; minor yellowing to margins; moderate sunned area to rear wrap; very slight dent to outside upper corner of text block.