TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES

What's happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at editor@presspassq.com

AMBUSH, based in New Orleans, entered its 35th year of publication with its January 3, 2017, issue.

BAY AREA REPORTER, based in San Francisco, entered its 47th year of publication with its January 5, 2017, issue.

BETWEEN THE LINES, based in Livonia, Mich., entered its 25 year of publication with its January 5, 2017, issue.

BOIMAGAZINE, based in Chicago, has joined forces with BOYSTOWN book series author JAKE BIONDI to publish GATEWAY TO BOYSTOWN, a foldout feature in the center spread of the magazine. The new feature first appeared in the February 2, 2017, issue, with BOYSTOWN model CORY ZWIERZYNSKI on its cover.

BOSTON SPIRIT, based in Boston, Mass., entered its 13th year of publication with its January/February 2017 issue.

Lou Chibbaro Jr of the
Washington Blade

LOU CHIBBARO JR, senior news reporter at THE WASHINGTON BLADE, was honored at the annual COMMUNITY CORNERSTONES ceremony. The awards recognize leaders in the D.C. community who have contributed and positively impacted the lives of local residents. Chibbaro was recognized with the Community Services Pioneer Award in the media category.

COMPETE, based in Tempe, Ariz., celebrated its 10th anniversary with its January 2017 issue.

DAVID ATLANTA entered its 20th year of publication with its January 4, 2017, issue.

GAY CITY NEWS, based in New York City, entered its 16th year of publication with its January 5, 2017, issue.

GAY SAN DIEGO entered its 8th year of publication with its January 6, 2017, issue.

GLOSS, based in San Francisco, entered its 15th year of publication with its January 6, 2017, issue.

GRAB MAGAZINE, based in Chicago, entered its 8th year of publication with its January 10, 2017, issue.

James Russel "JR" Guthrie of PGN

JAMES RUSSEL “JR” GUTHRIE, a former editor of PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS, died on December 20, 2016. He was 68.

HOT SPOTS, based in Wilton Manors, Fla., entered its 32nd year of publication with its January 5, 2017, issue.

LEFT MAGAZINE, based in San Francisco, entered its 4th year of publication with its January 2017 issue.

LIVING OUT, based on Long Island, N.Y., entered its 5th year of publication with its December 2016/January 2017 issue.

THE NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE presented PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS with its inaugural LGBTQ Media Award for its commitment to elevating voices of the LGBTQ people of Philadelphia and across the country.

OUT & ABOUT NASHVILLE, based in Nashville, Tenn., entered its 16th year of publication with its January 2017 issue.

PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS entered its 41st year of publication with its January 6, 2017, issue.

Q MAGAZINE, based in Key West, Fla., entered its 12th year of publication with its January 2017 issue.

SEATTLE GAY NEWS entered its 45th year of publication with its January 6, 2017, issue.

SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS, based in Wilton Manors, Fla., entered its eighth year of publication with its January 4, 2017, issue.

THE WASHINGTON BLADE, based in Washington, D.C., entered its 48th year of publication with its January 6, 2017, issue.

WATERMARK, based in Orlando, Fla., entered its 24th year of publication with its January 12, 2017, issue.

WIREMAG, based in Miami, Fla., entered its 29th year of publication with its January 5, 2017, issue.

TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES
Volume 18

Issue 11

America's LGBT economy is topic of first-ever report

by Joe Siegel

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) has released its first-ever report demonstrating the economic and social influence of America's LGBT business owners and entrepreneurs.

The “America's LGBT Economy” report explores the revenues, types, sizes and geography of LGBT-owned businesses currently certified by NGLCC, as well as the number of jobs they create and the personal stories of successful LGBT business owners.

“This report proves what we've observed since NGLCC's founding 15 years ago — that America's LGBT business owners are driving our economy upward and deserve every opportunity to keep creating jobs and innovating our industries,” said Justin Nelson, NGLCC co-founder and president.

“The $917 billion spending power highlights our tremendous market clout as an LGBT community,” Nelson continued. “But our strength and leverage is so much more than what we can buy— it lies in what we build, who we hire, and how we make all communities stronger through our businesses. As more LGBT business owners become inspired by this report to come out, get certified, and share their business data with us and our partners, we’ll be able to define our economic impact with even greater accuracy.” 

In early 2004, NGLCC created a best-in-class diversity certification program, making it the exclusive national third-party certifying body for LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs).

The report was prepared by Bob Witeck of Washington, DC-based Witeck Communications, a certified LGBTBE.

“LGBT entrepreneurs — like the rest of us — are significantly more visible and more diverse than ever,” Witeck said. “Our pioneering role models, of course, are the community's newspapers, since they have been the most visible LGBT ambassadors educating and informing the public. Today, however, we also see openly LGBT women and men who own defense contract firms, who operate transportation networks, who provide language translation services, and who own gift shops.”

Nelson believes LGBT media will benefit from the large number of successful LGBT-owned and operated businesses.

“As our report shows, LGBT business owners are thriving in every sector and in every part of the country,” Nelson said. “This reinforces the importance of authentically telling our stories in a way that cuts across all diverse communities. There are many LGBT media firms and outlets currently certified by NGLCC, and we know this report will encourage even more to tap the ever-growing network of opportunities in the LGBT business community.

“At NGLCC, we have nearly 200 corporate and government partners that understand not only the value of the LGBT dollar, but the economic imperative of inclusivity and LGBT visibility in their supply chains and marketplace,” Nelson said. “This groundbreaking report proves our NGLCC philosophy that economic visibility, just like social visibility, is essential in building a diverse and inclusive society — and advertising in LGBT and allied media are essential to expanding that visibility.

NGLCC's "America's LGBT Economy" report can be viewed and downloaded at www.nglcc.org/report

TOP STORY
Volume 18

Issue 11

South Florida Gay News readers unhappy with Person of the Year pick

by Fred Kuhr

When Wilton Manors, Fla.-based South Florida Gay News announced its choice for 2016 Person of the Year, publisher Norm Kent knew it would be controversial. In fact, he prefaced the choice’s announcement in the newspaper by writing, “Whether it was the Pope or Tim Cook, the choices have not been easy.”

Then came the name — Peter Thiel.

“A lone voice in the wilderness,” Kent wrote, “he bucked the LGBT establishment as he has so often in his own personal and political career. That person … is the man who stood before the GOP convention in Cleveland this past July, and told its audience, ‘I am a proud gay man.’” (http://southfloridagaynews.com/Local/peter-thiel-sfgn-s-person-of-the-year-for-2016.html)

SFGN Person of the Year Peter Thiel

“He is more than a guy whose startup was PayPal,” wrote Kent. “Thiel is a gentleman whose contributions to technology, entrepreneurship and finance have cemented his stature as a world global leader, recognized by the World Economic Forum and Business Week, amongst a host of other foundations. But this ‘proud gay man’ has been ignored and isolated by the national gay media, probably because he has been an open, out-proud member of the GOP.”

But some readers were none too pleased.

Under a headline, “Readers blast SFGN over Person of the Year pick,” the newspaper printed long responses blasting Kent and SFGN. Subheads above the letters included, “Peter Thiel is a gay Uncle Tom,” “This is treason,” and “Norm Kent is a traitor.”

“This is your magazine and you have the right to honor whoever you want but nevertheless, you have honored a man who helped to elect Donald Trump and countless other Republicans across the country at every level of government,” wrote reader Chris Gardner. “Thiel supports the same man who is supported by anti-Semites, the KKK, and other white supremacy groups. By supporting a Republican, any Republican, you are committing treason against your community here in South Florida and against our LGBT tribe of people everywhere.”

Reader Stewart Lowery wrote, “To you, Mr. Kent, I say shame on you and the SFGN for attempting to normalize people and events by celebrating a gay man who has taken his billions of dollars and decided he wanted to sit at the table with such awful, and yes Hillary, deplorable people who are attempting to make this country a miserable place for many of our friends and family members. I say it again, this was a shameful selection for Person of the Year and I am a totally appalled at the supposed logic behind it. I will now be more likely to pass by the copies laying out for me to pick up and take into my home.”

Added another reader: “I will not be picking [SFGN] up — and in the event I happen to see a business advertising in it, I will avoid them. I hope the [local] bars and restaurants … hit you in the wallet for this traitorous act.”

IN THE NEWS

Volume 18

Issue 11

PRESSING QUESTIONS: Out In Jersey

Interview with Publisher Peter Frycki

by Joe Siegel

Location: Trenton, N.J.

Geographic coverage area: New Jersey and contiguous areas of neighboring New York and Pennsylvania

Year founded: 2002

Staff size and breakdown (writers, editors, designers, etc.): 6-8 writers, depending on the issue; 4 editors; and a layout designer (most are volunteer and unpaid)

Physical dimensions of publication: 8.5” x 11”

 Average page count: 32-40 printed bimonthly

Key demographics: LGBT (the demographics are a bit more skewed toward men in print publication and more lesbians online)

Print run: 5,250, with additional copies during summer months for New Jersey Pride celebrations

Website: www.OutInJersey.net

*****

PPQ: What feature or features of Out In Jersey have been the most popular with readers?

Publisher Peter Frycki: Celebrity interviews are by far the most popular and our in-house Madame ZZ “My Stars” column.

PPQ: Who came up with the name and what is the inspiration for it?

Frycki: Out In Jersey was the only name that was a good fit when the previous local publication Trenton Out and About went statewide in 2002 under the new ownership. The decision to go statewide was made because there was no statewide publication in New Jersey in 2002.

PPQ: What challenge has your publication had to overcome since its inception?

Frycki: Marketing and advertising has always been a headache as the state of New Jersey is sandwiched between both New York City and Philadelphia with their larger metro areas and many LGBT publications over the years that compete from the adjacent states.

PPQ: What challenge or challenges is Out In Jersey facing now?

Frycki: Although marketing and advertising remains an issue for Out in Jersey magazine and our website, the staff is always looking for ways to remain relevant in the digital climate. As a bimonthly print magazine, we need our digital to carry us through on a daily basis. Eighty percent of our content only appears online. Almost all news stories, some features, all event announcements and most commentary pieces go online only. A large majority of our local theatre, book, music and movie reviews also appear online only.

PPQ: How has Out In Jersey changed since it was first launched?

Frycki: We started out as just a small print publication with a very dedicated group of local individuals and a few dozen distribution locations located within 50 miles of Trenton. Over the years, we have grown. The website, Facebook, Twitter and social networks have grown immense networks of folks from all over New Jersey and even in other states that now comprise our core group for stories and ideas. The distribution network for print is over 200 locations and stretches from Upstate New York to Rehoboth, Del., and “everywhere Out in Jersey.”

PPQ: What one change would you like to make?

Frycki: We are striving to grow and have more voices from all parts of the LGBT community.

PPQ: What has been the biggest news story or stories Out In Jersey has covered?

Frycki: The time when then-Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as a gay man while in office, and then resigned, is still the biggest story we’ve covered.

PPQ: What's the most surprising feedback you've received from a reader?

Frycki: More than once I have been told by someone that they only “read” Out In Jersey for the photos. They were disappointed we did not have more photos. I have since realized that the digital age has made the photos even more important to some readers than the text content.

PPQ: What advice would you give to anyone who may want to launch their own GLBT publication?

Frycki: It may consume every spare moment. Plan ahead and be ready for that.

PRESSING QUESTIONS

Volume 18

Issue 11