Times Has Changed

In 1975, an article about gay people on cruise lines created a furor at the august Gray Lady, almost precipitating executive editor Abe Rosenthal to fire the travel editor, Robert Stock, and the Sunday editor, Max Frankel.

By: ANDY HUMM | In 1975, an article about gay people on cruise lines created a furor at the august Gray Lady, almost precipitating executive editor Abe Rosenthal to fire the travel editor, Robert Stock, and the Sunday editor, Max Frankel.

Consider this first paragraph of a piece from the Times travel section on December 31: “On the night of September 19, military leaders in Thailand suspended the Constitution, seized control of Bangkok, and imposed martial law. Somebody forgot to tell the lesbians.” The story went on to discuss in detail the burgeoning subculture for “puying rak puying, or women who love women.”