He later founded the Boston gay and lesbian newspaper Bay Windows (1983), the travel company Alyson Adventures (1995) and Big Brother Mouse, a literacy project in Laos.
His earliest publishing experience came at the age of 16, when he and friends produced an underground newspaper at their high school, taking up issues of the Vietnam War, racism, and students' rights.
One early book, Health Care for the People: Studies from Vietnam,[3] reflected Alyson's ongoing interest in Asia.
A number of anthologies focused on issues of concern within certain segments of the lesbian and gay community, such as deaf people, bisexuals,[2] and teachers.
Other publishers and writers contributed articles and funding, and Elizabeth Taylor wrote the book's introduction.
Books from the new imprint were frequently challenged in libraries, and were the subject of a major controversy in New York City when some of the titles were included on a reading list for the "Children of the Rainbow" curriculum.
"[7] By 1992, Alyson Publications had become the largest independent publisher of gay and lesbian books, with sales of almost one million dollars a year.
He founded, and currently serves as full-time volunteer adviser for, Big Brother Mouse, a publishing and literacy project in Laos.