Happy 40th Oscar Wilde!

It's not often that we get to celebrate the anniversary of a bookshop; we are usually mourning its demise. So I was really glad to read that the Oscar Wilde Bookshop is celebrating its 40th Anniversary and is now the world's oldest LGBT bookstore! Congratulations and well done!

From an article in TimeOut New York Magazine by Beth Greenfield:
"Wilde at heart" —

“Being the first bookstore and next to the Stonewall, it’s been part of our liberation from the start,” [Ron Hanby, the LGBT-store liaison for Bookazine] says. “Plus, I’m old-school. I’m almost 60 years old and I just believe in supporting gay and lesbian stores. The younger generations are not used to it—they can find anything anywhere. The older ones know what it was like to try to find gay books, even ten years ago, and not be able to.”

I remember the bookstore "A Different Light." The owner was very kind to me and gave me tips and advice when I was opening my bookstore. It was a beautiful place and the city is that much the poorer for its absence. Please patronize the independents. They are true heroes and fighters for freedom of speech and thought.