[4] Among the writers and artists featured in the magazine have been Phil Andros, Chuck Arnett,[5] Tim Barrus, Rick Castro, Domino,[5] Donelan,[6] Tom of Finland, Fred Halsted,[7] David Hurles, MATT,[8][9] Scott Masters, Robert Opel,[3] Olaf Odegaard,[5] Dom Orejudos (Etienne),[10][11] Rex, Bill Schmeling,[12] Larry Townsend, and Bill Ward.

[5] For a while, during its initial run, it featured comic strips starring gay secret agent Harry Chess by Al Shapiro (under the name "A.

Drummer was founded in Los Angeles by John H. Embry and Jeanne Barney, but because of police harassment[3] moved to San Francisco in 1977, with Jack Fritscher as new editor-in-chief.

[13] Today, the magazine states a zero-tolerance policy for writers, artists, or organizations associated with hate of any kind, including racism, transphobia, and misogyny.

[20] Drummer cofounder John H. Embry was honored in 2017 along with other notables, named on bronze bootprints, as part of San Francisco South of Market Leather History Alley.

("Drummer North America") competitions, purchased the magazine and its associated events from Martijn Bakker in 2018,[17] and relaunched it in October 2019 under editor Mike Miksche as a quarterly print and online publication.