Burton Clarke is a gay African-American

alternative Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (Kamen Rider), Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * Alternative comics, or independent comics are an altern ...

cartoonist. He is known for his contributions to the rise of

LGBT LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...

comics and his focus on representing gay men of all races and classes in his art, using a mix of realism and fantasy to tackle complex issues such as internalized racism and homophobia.

Personal life

Clarke was born in Plainfield, NJ. He received his Bachelor's in theatre from

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

and his Master's in acting from

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a Public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the s ...

. After four years at Sarasota's Asolo State Theatre, Clarke moved to New York. Due to the difficulty of finding steady work as a black actor, he eventually decided to fall back on his skills as a cartoonist, pursuing a personal interest in broadening gay representation in media.

Career

Clarke's comic "Cy Ross and the SQ Syndrome" was published first in the ''

New York Native The ''New York Native'' was a biweekly gay newspaper published by Charles Ortleb in New York City from December 1980 until January 13, 1997. It was the only gay paper in New York City during the early part of the AIDS epidemic, and pioneered repo ...

'' (1980), then re-printed in

Gay Comix ''Gay Comix'' (later ''Gay Comics'') is an underground comics series published from 1980 to 1998 featuring cartoons by and for gay men and lesbians. The comic books had the tagline "Lesbians and Gay Men Put It On Paper!" Much of the early con ...

#2 (1981), and in '' Meatmen'' Vol.1 (1986). He contributed cover art to Gay Comix #3, and another comic, "The Satyr", to Gay Gomix #10. He was also known for publications in the ''

Playguy ''Playguy'' was an American gay pornographic monthly magazine that was geared to gay men under 25. It was established by George W. Mavety in 1976. It was published by Modernismo Publications, Ltd., which also published ''Mandate'', ''Honcho'', ' ...

, First Hand,'' and ''

Christopher Street Christopher Street is a street in the West Village neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is the continuation of 9th Street west of Sixth Avenue. It is most notable for the Stonewall Inn, which is located on Christopher St ...

'' magazine. Clarke has said that his own style is influenced by that of Leonard Star.

Reception

Clarke is known for the realism and detail of his art style, his radical use of heavy shading/lighting in black-and-white comics, and for tackling sensitive issues such as the intersection of race and sexuality, as well as internalized racism and homophobia. In "Cy Ross and the SQ Syndrome" he confronts the internalized racism which comes with being a "snow queen", while "The Satyr" confronts the ways in which internalized homophobia can lead to violence. His work has been recognized for the importance and rarity of its subject matter at the time, as well as its use in discussions about pornographic content and government funding for AIDS research. Jerry Mills and

Howard Cruse Howard Cruse (May 2, 1944 – November 26, 2019) was an American alternative cartoonist known for the exploration of gay themes in his comics. First coming to attention in the 1970s, during the underground comix movement with ''Barefootz'', he ...

both expressed an admiration for Clarke's art and a desire to see him be more prolific in his output.

Activism

Clarke is active in

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

awareness and in 1987 contributed panel art to the

GMHC The GMHC (formerly Gay Men's Health Crisis) is a New York City–based Nonprofit organization, non-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based AIDS service organization whose mission statement is to "end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives ...

"Safer Sex Comix" project in 1987, an attempt to spread awareness about

and eroticize safe-sex practices such as using condoms.

Select publications

* Cassell, Avery. ''Resistance: The LGBT Fight Against Fascism in WWII''. Ed. Diane Kanzler. Dana Point, CA: Stacked Deck Press, November 16, 2018. * ''The Queer Heroes Coloring Book''. Ed. Jon Macy and Tara Madison Avery. Dana Point CA: Stacked Deck Press, July 29, 2016. * Estler, Thomas. ''Abolitionista!'' Vol. 1. United Graphic LLC: Mattoon, Illinois, 2014. * Queer Pin-Ups Card Deck sold by Northwest Press for the May 2015 Queers and Comics LGBTQ Cartoonist Conference in New York

Citations

References

* Hall, Justin. ''No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics''. Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics Books, Inc., 2013. {{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, Burton LGBTQ comics creators Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Syracuse University alumni Florida State University alumni African-American artists 21st-century African-American artists 21st-century American LGBTQ people