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In this article, the author analyzes the periodical Le Berdache (1979- 82), the official journal of the Association pour les droits des gai(e)s du Québec (ADGQ), an organization that fought for the legal and social recognition of homosexuals. While gay journals multiplied in Quebec after the publication of Le Tiers (1971-72), none enjoyed as much success and popularity as Le Berdache. The latter became a space for reflection and a tool to claim a gay identity, both individually and collectively. The journal was heavily politicized and attracted renowned collaborators such as Jean Basile, Jeanne d'Arc Jutras, and Pierre Vallières. This article reviews the ephemeral existence of Le Berdache, Le Petit Berdache (1983-86), and the bulletin À Propos (1986-87), as well as the causes that led to their disappearance. Following a short explanation of the context that led to the foundation of Le Berdache, and by examining its in-depth articles and editorials, the author throws into relief the central role played by the journal in the evolution of the gay liberation movement in Quebec. He then demonstrates that the withdrawal of the ADGQ from the printed press can be attributed to three important factors: first, its inability to represent homosexuals in rural areas, which led to its indictment as too Montreal-centred; second, the steady decline of activism at the beginning of the 1980s and the generational gap that heralded a younger generation of gays who were less concerned with political action; finally, the internal strife among the members of Le Berdache, who were divided between the production of an activist journal and the idea of a more commercial journal, one that would advocate gay lifestyles and contain articles that appealed to a wider public. In fact, the analysis of Le Berdache is the gateway to a theoretical reflection on the nature and problematic uses of the activist press, often torn between militant content and economic imperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]