We try, here at STEAM, to support the sex/art community. We encourage writers, photographers, film-makers, artists, and everyone else to work in the field of sexual expression-not because it's necessarily about Public Sex, but because the more public our sexuality becomes-via, for instance, artwork that deals with it the less upset society will he with our 'flaunting' our sex in public. At least, that's the idea. In that vein: STEAM is proud to have been a sponsor of both the Seventeenth San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (held in June) and the Seventh New York Lesbian & Gay Experimental Film/Video Festival (in September). In both cases, we arranged to sponsor the 'sex-oriented' sections of the festivals. In New York, the 'STEAM-nights' were held at an adult theatre, the Ann Street Theatre.

As I'm sure some of you have noticed, we've tried to encourage erotic photographers of all stripes-while recognizing our limitations, i.e., we aren't operating on a full-color-glossy budget, and we're not a 'skin' magazine. We're helping to publicize the upcoming photography show at the Leslie Lohman Gallery in New York City (127 Prince Street) by our friend Mark I. Chester, a photographer who has been documenting the radical sexual underground of San Francisco since 1979. He's had his work published in many gay publications The Advocate, Drummer, A Taste Of Latex, STEAM, etc.-and for the past six years, he's hosted an 'open-house' exhibition at his apartment during the Folsom Street fair in late September, giving literally thousands of the curious a vivid glimpse of the sexual demimonde. We applaud the serious sexuality of his work, his persistence (against daunting circumstances and prohibitions, and his dedication to fine-art photography-and we expect you'll see more of his photos in future issues.

We'll be at OutWrite this October, looking for writers who have knowledge of out-of-the-way sleaze-spots across the country. Many of our first-time writers express shock & amazement upon hearing that we pay writers; no, we're not the New Yorker, but we do believe that sex-writing deserves compensation as much as any other subject even if the writer did have a hall doing his or her research. Any suggestions you have for other ways that we can support the 'sex/arts' would be welcomed as would your referrals to artists that we may not find on our own. 'We're in this business because we believe it the 'rightness' of sex-and supporting the sex/art community is one way to express that.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ... as head sleazehound, I find myself in a bit of a dilemma. 'Married,' but still devoted to my editing duties. Haven't visited a bathhouse in months. Oh, the changes love can wreak. As a result, we need more writers who have immediate, first-hand knowledge of 'Where It's At. Never written for a national magazine before? please, give it a try-that's why god made editors. Another way you can help: we know there's been lots of publicity around the country over the launching of STEAM but few writers bother to send us tearsheets. If you see us mentioned in your local press, don't assume we've already seen it, because we haven't. Send clippings. Xeroxes are fine. 'We just need to keep a 'media file' with all those comments, good or bad.

Autumn's here - time to drive out to the woods, get in the back seat & STEAM up the windows. Enjoy!