Photos of Gay Life Spanning Five Decades

The book And the Band Was Playing a Gay Tune is a photo documentary of gay life — the struggles, the triumph, the heartache, and the joy — shot by creative director and photographer Sam Shahid from the 1970s through today. With an introduction by Hy Abady and designed by Advocate Artist Spotlight subject John MacConnell, this book from Antinous Press will donate a portion of its proceeds to benefit HIV treatment and prevention.

Sam Shahid says, “The book And the Band Was Playing a Gay Tune is very personal to me and in some ways has been in the works for over four decades. In the early 1970s my friends used to call me on Sundays and asked me to come over with my camera and photograph them dressing up, dressing down, and just capture their lives and newfound acceptance into society. I didn’t know it then, but I was documenting a group of friends celebrating being who they were, being gay, embracing life and all the joy that comes from listening to a happy tune!”

Check out the Kickstarter page for more information.