[1] The Empty Closet reports on issues of interest to the local and national LGBT and allied communities.
The Empty Closet began publication in January 1971 by the University of Rochester Gay Liberation Front student group.
[2][3] Some of the founding members were Bob Osborn, Larry Fine, RJ Alcalá, Marshall Goldman, Debbie Lestz, Pattie Evans (her pseudonym during the early publications was Patricia Evers),[4] Karen Hagberg, and Sue Minor.
[6] In February 2011, the New York State Senate passed Resolution K130-2011, "Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of The Empty Closet", noting the contributions of the newspaper to creating an atmosphere of social tolerance in the Rochester region: "This progressive paper has been a powerful tool in documenting the social, political, religious, cultural, artistic, business and literary history and events for the GLBT community of Rochester and surrounding areas.
"[7] In 2013, a complete run of The Empty Closet was transferred to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History Archives for preservation.