From the Archives of The Advocate.

April 28, 1987: The Advocate tours Europe

In 1987 The Advocate took readers on a tour of the gay sights and scenes in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Looking back, the articles provide a snapshot of late-1980s gay Europe. The piece on London, for example, remarks that the city featured "more than 100 gay clubs and pubs" and that "there are gay films shown in a regular weekly slot on the national TV networks." It also boasts that the 1986 London gay pride march "attracted 20,000 people," which seems almost provincial by today's standards. Other '80s signposts abound, from the mention of one hotel being "tastefully decorated in chic pastels" to the comment that gay fashion at "alternative" discos included jeans with "well-planned rips" and "baseball caps with the word boy on them."

With the Cold War winding down, the hottest Thursday-night spot in London was Propaganda: "The bouncers are dressed as Red soldiers, the whole place is done up in Soviet decor, and Eastern Bloc television commercials are shown on the video screens." The Iron Curtain still existed, however. The piece on Berlin reminded readers to "try to make friends" with East Germans when visiting East Berlin, "but don't force it. They may be shy, but most likely they may be afraid of who is watching them.... You could cause problems for them; and remember, you get to return to the West--they may have to answer questions later."