Well, there are a number of typefaces designed by gay type designers. Would one of those work? You'll have to do your homework here, though. I don't want to go to deep into the personal lives of any typophiles.

I was working on some materials for a pride organization a while ago and ran into a similar dearth of options. While some faces might be historically appropriate (based on designer, philosophy, or geographics) they didn't communicate what was needed. The creative director eventually settled on something futuristic because it fit our mission statement of "looking forward," though it wasn't to my personal liking, so I won't recommend it here.

Have you considered the option of having something custom-lettered? It sounds like you have a clear enough idea of what you're looking for to give some good direction and, with a photography book, you're probably just using lettering for headings and titling, right?

First of all, don't try to be too literal - that's guaranteed to backfire.

I don't know about gay, but there is a typeface that looks androgynous, and has been used to great effect in a book about a transvestite artist ("John Kelly", typeset by Pentagram-NY) - that font is FF Avance by Bloemsma, and it's not difficult to see why it works so well for that.

hhp

I rencently had a WeHo client tell me Storm's Tenebra was Gay. Maybe he wasn't being literal. My typographic gaydar could be on the blink.

I don't think it is necessary or relevant. I would think that the photography will guide you and you shouldn't be too consumed with the sexual orientation of the people in the photos or the type designers.

I agree with Tiffany, but you might be interested that Christian Schwartz says of his early typeface Hairspray that it's "the gayest thing I've ever seen."

It doesn't exist. All typefaces are straight.

based on the portion of your "brief" that is actually descriptive, i think Hercules would work well, but my inital reaction was actually Farao.

> my inital reaction was actually Farao.

I own Fareo (one of several given to me by F.S. for pointing out some spacing problems in a font I bought) And I can see why you might think that. It certainly is cute.
: )

I think Farao esp. Bold would be appropriate for its masculine with feminine twist, quite an option.

--- pinky kinky winky ---

I couldn’t resist this topic, its so dear to my heart. What is a gay typeface? What would Judy Garland like? What is the Carneigie Hall, March 18 1958 of typefaces? Well I say I like Futura extra light really really big printed in a fifth colour or maybe I could use one of those lovely butch Grotesques by the Font Bureau or Hoefler & Frere-Jones. But then again I am rather taken by Mr Dardens new creations, just need a place to use them.

Now, now...that was quite an interesting little brainstorming. Thanx everyone. I am trying to avoid being literal here, I'm not looking for a typeface that looks "gay"...( whatever that means)but I thought it would be cool to "honour the content" as Bringhurst says (or was it someone else?)and use a typeface designed by a gay person or that has some kind of androgynous feel (or at least avoid a major gaffe by using some catholic, puritan typeface (I guess there are loads around). It's more what Mich431 wrote: something that is historically, philosophically appropriate.
I'll have a look at the suggestion you guys gave me and see if that works. Thanx a lot and keep posting.

Has the Cristopher Lowell Decorating Show made it over there? You could see what font he uses. You don't get much gayer than that without an operation.

Btw, this topic reminds me of a joke:

"Is that chair saved?"

"No, but we're praying for it!"

fontplayer: hmmmm...no I don't know the show but I know one thing: gay don't need operations, that would be a transexual, which is a different thing. They also don't need necessarily to be cute.

> fontplayer: hmmmm…no I don’t know the show but I know one thing: gay don’t need operations, that would be a transexual

I thought that was just a progression, or acute case of the...uh...condition. This is great. You learn all kinds of things here.

You seriously thought that being gay is just a station stop on
the way to being a transit passenger?! Sure, the two are related,
but come on man. For one thing, the motivation to be a gay man
would be a lot less if they were all sans.

I have to wonder: how old are you, and when will
your parents allow you to step foot outside The OC?

hhp

"All typefaces are straight."

No, some are Italic :-)

ChrisL

> I have to wonder: how old are you, and when will your parents allow you to step foot outside The OC?

Much older than you, I'm sure. But being from OC has limited my exposure to some things you young tykes from the big city take for granted.

A gay typeface... hmm?

ITC American Typewriter could match, probably - vibrant, artificial but with a certain warmness. I'm waiting for the next suggestions.

Just my 2cents, Thom

Dennis, I think I was a bit too harsh, sorry.

hhp

> Dennis, I think I was a bit too harsh, sorry.

Having participated in an unmoderated Christian Usenet group once upon a time, Almost everything else seems tame by comparison.
No apology needed.

A gay typeface? I don`t know what it means at all.
Meet Mixa. it's a font on hybridation process between palatino and Symbol medium. If u are interested i'm working on.

what about that m

>what about that m

It's not straight enough :)

How about this:
http://www.dafont.com/will-grace.font

my two cents:

I agree with dan_reynolds. I think that choosing a face that "looks" gay might be the worst thing you could do. I am a believer in connecting the text or content with the look of the type, but, I do believe that the gay community has far too many stereotypical labels as it is. You might accidentally irritate one that you were unaware of. In choosing a typeface that was designed by a gay designer, you could debut this somewhere cleverly, by citing the designer, and relating a little about his life as a "gay" typographer. I suppose that many people would not find this, or they would not care, but I think this subtler approach at connecting content with type is far better then choosing something that "looks" gay.

Maybe what is confusing some people is the title of the forum. No: I am NOT looking for a font that "looks gay" but for a typeface that can contribute to the spirit of the project, which is to emphasise DIVERSITY and "OTHERNESS" (That's for you fontplayer!). I appreciate the input, William Berkson, but fonts like "hairspray" for example, is not what I had in mind, I'm afraid. That would be a huge stereotype.
What I could do is to play with 2 different fonts, like using a classic one and then insert something completely different to subvert it a little, like insert something hand-made to give it a human touch...dunno...would that give the idea?

Mixa??? Sounds good, I like the M but can we see more? Cheers.

Having done a bit of work with gay publications, I'll say that it matters not. What is more important is the relevence to the project. BUT...

If you were to force me to answer (c'mon, make me!)... I'd say for gender ambiguity/shifting/borrowing, I've always liked Bodoni (or anything closely related) because of the contrast in line, the Masculine/Feminine, the sort of posed-ness of it.

If you're addressing both lesbians and gays, I really like Rockwell because it is playful and hits both crowds well.
Kings and Queens

It may work really well for a parade book, too.

I’ve always liked Bodoni (or anything closely related) because of the contrast in line, the Masculine/Feminine, the sort of posed-ness of it.

yes, exactly. that's why i suggested Farao--delicate yet strong.

Rockwell? Really? I Thought it was one of these typefaces reminiscent of American Highschool/collegea bit like Princeton? Or am I totally out of my mind? Isn't it why they used it for the Kings and Queens' book in the first place...?

(thanx for the link)...dunno...a bit too geometric, maybe. In fact, farao does have this american-highschool-feel too, there's a version of farao that really looks like princeton. Coincidence?

(I like it though...)But Bodoni, you can't go wrong with it, can you?

I am getting quite attached to this Coolvetica by Ray Larabie...for some reason, it's kind of simple but it's got a little twist, which is probably why I liked it.

Any opinion about that one? (forget about the pinky flowery thing...it's not because of this that I think it might fit...)
Thanx!

i think coolvetica is very cliche and personally would be turned off by it. i'd rather have something more subtly sexy than something campy... unless you're shooting for campy.

Anyone know what a red asterisk means mext to a subject? I had one on this topic.

Point taken Paul...
I have no idea why that asterisk on the topic, I just know that I am deliriously happy with the input received from all of you. This book is going to be big...(for my standards!)so it's important to get the opinion from people from different (cultural) backgrounds on this subject. Cheers!

I thought the red asterisk means a thread that hasn't been visited at all yet.

hhp

This one was almost used up when I saw it.

I mean visited by a given user.

hhp

Well, if we could figure out who the slacker is, the problem would be solved.
: )

Perhaps this is rather obvious, but Porchez' Anisette might do the job.
You can play around with its combination of butch and femme alternates, tuning to the text, to strike the right balance.

I feel like I am selling secrets, but if the gays are trying to tell us it is a normal thing to be gay, then wouldn't a normal font be the perfect thing to inculcate the masses? This would simplify things, as most fonts haven't come out of the closet.
: )

Except there are no normal fonts.
Which is great because neither are there normal people.

hhp

Personally, I think deciding on the selection of a typeface based on the sexual oriantation of the type designer, graphic designer or audience is, at best, foolish. :)

Pick a type that works with the photos in the book. The photos are the subject matter. I remember the James Bladwin Richard Avedon book of the 60s as a success full approach to the interplay of few wordswith very powerful images. The type should not attempt to compete with the images. Perhaps just something simple that is not too noisy.

ChrisL

For some reason I'm seeing something Hairline, like Helvetica Ultra Light, kind of large. I like the Stymie custom font in the NY Times Q magazine which is on fashion and design, which seems to be a revival of L&C Stymie Hairline (not unfortunately available to us mortals).

It's not only the font but how you use it, obviously.

No, I don't think it's a good idea looking for a font designed by a gay person either, although you'll never know...it could be a way to pay an hommage... But it's about CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY really. I like the idea of simplicity and avoid competing with the images but since we are talking about a BOOK COVER I thought I might as well try something unusual just to keep up with the spirit.
Hey Dennis, you are really having difficulties coming to terms with the concept of gay, uh? :)
and yes: gay means homosexual, which can be man AND woman...

Anisette is cool....

the ultra light ones...gorgeous.

I like the idea of thin, elegant and sophisticated.

Perhaps "new", "forward thinking", or simply "open", as opposed to "old" and "closed" or "traditional." Maybe that's the key. Don't ask what it should be... ask what it shouldn't be.

I like the idea too, of ultra thin Helvetica, or something along those lines. A cover? Lately I've been a huge fan of Bernhard Fashion - in an all caps setting though. Take something from Avant Garde ligatures too maybe? Voila.

Of course, this is all sooooo subjective... Especially here, with "The Nerds." (I mean that in the best way.)

-b

> Hey Dennis, you are really having difficulties coming to terms with the concept of gay, uh? :)

To me it's like someone saying the sky is (a fabulous) lime-green. Maybe if enough people insist it is lime-green, some people will be swayed, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't be one of them.

If that was the only strange thing they tried to foist upon me, then as long as we don't talk about the sky, I could have a nice conversation. (because I have found that the lime-green sky people can be very nice, otherwise)

I dunno Dennis, you do seem to have gay issues - I seem to recall a thread about Brokeback Mountain recently in which you compared it to font piracy... methinks thou doth protest too much.