Gay Base Alpha:Uniting Gay Space: 1999 Fans!
by Anthony, GBA Commander
Gaybase Alpha started officially on September 27, 1999.The story of how the group came about is a bit convoluted but interesting.
In early 1999, I received an email from another Space:1999 fan (we were both members of a mainstream Space:1999 email group) asking me if I were interested in being his roommate for the big "Breakaway Convention" that was to be held in September (in case you aren't a Space:1999 fan, September 13, 1999 is the day the Moon blasts out of Earth orbit, thus setting up the premise for the series). I found out that he was gay and had no problem with that! This made things more interesting for me - I thought it would be great to have a gay roommate. Around mid-summer. 1999, I heard from another fan who lived in California and was interested in attending the Con. He indicated that he was gay and I wrote to him to tell him about myself. Unfortunately, all this email writing was for naught as I couldn't end up going to the Convention, but I did introduce my two email pals to each other. They attended the Convention as roommates/Con mates and had a wonderful time.
When they returned home, I got word that there were a LOT of gay fans at the Con - as a matter of fact, these two new friends of mine had met a gay couple at the Con and struck up a friendship. Pictures from the Con were put on the Web within days of its close and I noticed that a lot of the guys looked gay (well, really, would straight men appear in pyjama costumes from the series?)
With all this input from various sources, I started to think:"Who else is gay? How do we gay fans connect?" After some more thought and input, I decided that I would start my own email group for gay fans. Thus was born Gaybase Alpha (GBA).
In the first month we had about 40 or so members; today we are slightly over 300!
Aims & Membership
Basically, we have a very simple purpose in life - to unite gay/bi fans of Space:1999. Nothing more, nothing less! We're here to chat about our favorite series along with science fiction in general and/or gay issues that affect our lives. This is a free Internet-based emailing group - we charge no dues, etc. There are no "hard copy" newsletters.While our content is not "adult", we do ask that all members be at least 18 years old - we occasionally have gotten risque, plus gay issues can be a touchy area - so keeping it 18 or older avoids most problems. We welcome all gay/bi/trans/lesbian fans of Space:1999 - we also welcome heterosexual members who are supportive of gays and gay issues. Right now, our focus is Space:1999 - I've toyed with the idea of opening the membership to include gay fans of all Gerry Anderson shows, but I love Space:1999 the most and want to keep the list focused. It gives it a unique perspective on the series. I don't think there are as many gay fans of other Gerry Anderson series as there are in Space:1999 fandom....though I could be wrong.
What is the Gay Appeal of "Space 1999"?
We have yet to find out the answer to this question! There are no gay overtones in the series. We had a discussion about this when the list first started and I don't think we ever nailed anything down. I have talked to organizers of other groups - I was told by one such person that whenever he encounters a "passionate" male Space:1999 fan, that fan invariably turns out to be gay! Why this is so is anyone's guess.
Internet Response?
We have seen a rather steady growth over the past two years. Of course, we are a niche within a niche (Space:1999 doesn't have the fandom that Trek has) so I don't think we'll ever see our numbers go much beyond 300+ but it's still amazing and rewarding that so many have signed up and stayed on.First and foremost, Gaybase Alpha is about Space:1999 - so if your members don't know about the series itself, I urge them to check out the wonderful Web sites (all fan made) on Space:1999.net: http://www.space1999.net.
I especially recommend "The Catacombs" Web site: http://www.space1999.net/catacombs. It's a wonderful site detailing many, many aspects of the series.
Also, "Moonbase Alpha's Web site" is another recommended site: http://www.space1999.net/moonbase99.
You can also find Gaybase Alpha's simple home page there too: http://www.space1999.net/gaybase.
If any of these sites spark your interest in this wonderful, but underappreciated sci-fi gem, you can find the series on DVD (and VHS in the US/Canada).
Finally, if you just can't get enough of Space:1999, I urge you to join our merry little band of spacefarers on Gaybase Alpha by joining our list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gaybasealpha.
We'd love to have you aboard! If you'd like to contact me directly, please feel free to email me at: gaybasealpha-owner@yahoogroups.com.
And Did You See the Doctor...?
Members may have been able to see “Queer As Folk” (series 1, UK version) despite the refusal of all free-to-air TV networks in Australia to actually televise the series.Viewers will know that the “Doctor Who” TV series features prominently in this gay TV program - from characters who judge their potential boyfriends based upon their knowledge of which actors played the good Doctor - through to K9 making a guest appearance in a birthday episode.