Robert T. Ford, along with Trent Adkins and Lawrence Warren, was a cofounder of Thing. Ford was a writer, DJ, publisher, advocate, and cultural documentarian based in Chicago.

Thing, an inexpensively produced continuation of their publication Think Ink, reported on other zines and featured interviews, writings, and photography by and about a range of cultural producers. Numerous other artists were integral to the visuals of the publication, including artist and designer Simone Bouyer and photographer Stephen Winter.

“Thing: A person or thing of incorrigible and unbearable fabulousness. As in the salutation, ‘Miss Thing!,’ or ‘Thing’s not buying it!’” The magazine’s motto was “She knows who she is,” a wry invitation to identify with one’s own fabulousness.

Its issues are full of art, house music, interviews, commentary, small and large features, recurring columns, poetry, and articles centering around black culture, LGBTQ+ culture, HIV/AIDS activism, drag, camp, and more.

Individuals highlighted and interviewed in the ten issues include notables such as Marlon Riggs, Joan Jett Blakk, Essex Hemphill, RuPaul, and Vaginal Davis.

Thing was published in Robert Ford’s Chicago apartment from 1989 to 1993, and thousands of copies were distributed worldwide through stores, subscriptions, and written requests for individual issues.

In 2016 I heard that a gallery in New York was exhibiting copies of Thing magazine, a zine I worked on back in the 80s.

It was exciting to see the cover I worked on late one night, back before the advent of the computer. I clearly remember cutting rubylith to create the color separations the printer would use to make the background of a black and white photo bright red.

And that is exactly how much of our time was spent: working late at night on projects we loved, projects that had no other outlet, projects that brought joy and recognition to so many marginalized voices.

Thanks to a renewed interest in early activism and AIDS, Thing magazine has been included in several exhibits, and the few of us who are still around have been asked to share our memories and stories.

Celebrating the Fabulousness of Thing