Legendary New York Gay Bookstore Shuts Its Doors

What a shame that Oscar has to close. I will miss the friendly sales clerk and wonderful selection.

End of an era... it's sad that New York City can't support even one gay/lesbian bookstore, even in these tough economic times... Despite the much-vaunted claims of lower prices and a large selection at the big box stores and their Websites, nothing compares to actually browsing thru a local gay bookstore and finding something new and interesting. Or having a knowledgeable salesperson there to recommend something... There are so many excellent gay writers whose work doesn't get published by large firms, and so are almost impossible to find at Barnes & Noble or Borders.... How often are you going to find a book by your favorite gay poet, or fantasy author, or lesbian mystery writer in the 2 slim sections of "Gay/Lesbian Interest" books at Borders? You need a real gay bookstore to find those kind of things... If the gay community of Atlanta can support an excellent store and community resource like OutWrite, surely NYC can do the same!

The closing of this store is a sign of both the degree of acceptance we've received from mainstream society and the degree to which we've assimilated into mainstream society. It's good that people feel comfortable enough to buy the latest Michael Cunningham work at Barnes and Noble, but it's sad that we haven't found a way to coincide with mainstream society while maintaining our unique cultural connections. At any rate, my thanks to the current and former owners for their hard work and dedication to community.

As a business, a gay bookstore is an anachronism which, sad to say, is past its prime. It's nice to visit a store where the staff is knowledgeable and friendly, but there is simply no way that such a small space can compete with on-line retailers or Borders for selection and price. However, as Brinster and innumerable others have pointed out, Oscar Wilde Bookshop served as a social space that didn't revolve around sex or drinking. The need for a "safe space" is not as necessary today as it was in decades past, but it was still nice to visit a business where you could be perfectly comfortable with yourself. That sense of camaraderie — today by choice more than necessity — is what I will miss most.

As wonderful as Oscar Wilde is/was, they simply weren't competitive with larger stores or online sites that offer sales and discounts. But it just isn't about gay bookstores; very few general independent bookstores are making it either. Pity.

As the lover of Robert Mapplethorpe, I loved Oscar Wilde from its first founding and through its many years of selling the many gay books I have authored. What a sad day. However. This is a New Age in a New Century. See "Obama." Is there anyway the the bricks-and-mortar bookstore can be re-imagined into a click-and-order bookstore? Online, Oscar Wilde might continue to be a force. I'd buy from it.