Sealed with a kiss
In 1915, author Alfred Barrett published the first edition of Cupid’s Messenger, intended to introduce lonely souls to each other. One of the earliest periodicals to focus solely on personal advertising, it prided itself on not being matrimonial, which was revolutionary in the 1910s. Previous lonely hearts columns had all focused on finding that perfect husband or wife, but Cupid’s Messenger changed all that. Rebranded as the Link in 1916, it would be published for a total of six years before coming to a tragic end after a scandalous court case — but more on that later.
Personal advertising has long been — and still is, through the internet and apps — a cornerstone of queer communications and culture. Throughout history, coded language has been a common denominator in gay personal ads. In a hostile society, it allows the writer’s intentions to appear ostensibly platonic for a mainstream audience, while for those in the know, it provides a direct validation and confirmation of intent and interest. The Link is one of the most illustrative early examples
From the outset, many of its ads were placed
