"The Link was an est. 1915 newsletter with an emphasis on linking up-strictly in the non-matrimonial sense, of course. And while The Link wasn't just for LGBTQ+ people, the fact that it didn't place stress on marriage made it a welcome forum for queer people looking to cruise in print."
"One user, 25-year-old Jimmie from Bath, wrote that he was seeking "correspondence" with members of his "own sex, under 35. Same district preferred, but all answered. Photos appreciated." One 26-year-old correspondent known only as "Bohemian" described himself as an "ex-Captain, jolly, sporty, educated," and sought to meet "congenial spirits" of "both sexes.""
Before modern dating apps like Grindr revolutionized gay dating, LGBTQ+ people used The Link, a British newsletter established in 1915 subtitled "A Monthly Social Medium for Lonely People." The publication allowed readers to post personal advertisements in 25 words or less describing what they sought. While not exclusively for queer people, The Link's non-matrimonial focus made it an ideal discreet forum for gay men to cruise and connect. Users employed coded language and euphemisms like "correspondence" and "congenial spirits" to indicate same-sex interest while maintaining plausible deniability. The Link demonstrates that the fundamental mechanics of modern hookup apps—location-based matching, personal profiles, and rapid connection—existed in print form over a century ago.
Read at Queerty
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]