Page 53 - Flaunt 171 - Summer of Our Discontent - St-John

and represented, I would’ve been an avid patron, despite being an underage teen.
An LGBTQI+ cultural mecca of sorts, Circus of Books’ original West Hollywood outlet—and subsequent Silver Lake store—was a crucible of queer literature and gay pornography (as well as the HQ for a small, gay pornography production company), sex toys, and a cruising spot. Not only remarkable
for existing (and thriving) throughout the crackdowns of the ultra-conservative Reagan years and HIV/AIDS stigma, and acting as one of Larry Flynt’s media empire’s strongest distrib- utors, perhaps most shockingly, the bookstore was owned and run by a middle-aged, straight Jewish couple with three kids.
Now, artist, musician, and filmmaker Rachel Mason, the daughter of Karen and Barry Mason, has teamed up with
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