tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6353656927822918332024-03-06T12:02:08.481-08:00PRESS PASS QA Trade Publication for the LGBT Media ProfessionalPink Banana Mediahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114111204526333081noreply@blogger.comBlogger515125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-37842566748448636902020-09-16T07:31:00.010-07:002020-09-16T07:37:58.661-07:00TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES<p><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">(What's happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at </span><a href="mailto:editor@presspassq.com" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;">editor@presspassq.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">)</span></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b>BAY WINDOWS</b>, based in Boston, entered its 38th year of publication with its July 30, 2020, issue.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>THE CENTRAL VOICE</b>, based in Middletown, Penn., received five awards as part of the 2020 PROFESSIONAL KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARD program sponsored by the PENNSYLVANIA NEWSMEDIA ASSOCIATION. The newspaper, the only LGBTQ bimonthly in the central part of the state, won one first-place and four second-place awards in its niche publications division. The first-place prize was in the category of diversity. The second-place awards were for news beat reporting, columns, lifestyle/entertainment beat and graphic/photo illustration.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgIttYc5o0VNgwf0ROLPODoxiLe8912_THzpaRscHOahSYMMMgLzZ_mgGYZs_ntAGb8xd-w3EkNVDSxrxIJPnCvlV6RG6aqMhY9PFqh6OGHyNgYWmJSHx87q9aKZHJLF5LlB6y3F_LP4/s600/Chris_Johnson_social_media_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgIttYc5o0VNgwf0ROLPODoxiLe8912_THzpaRscHOahSYMMMgLzZ_mgGYZs_ntAGb8xd-w3EkNVDSxrxIJPnCvlV6RG6aqMhY9PFqh6OGHyNgYWmJSHx87q9aKZHJLF5LlB6y3F_LP4/w200-h105/Chris_Johnson_social_media_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chris Johnson</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>CHRIS JOHNSON</b>, White House reporter for the WASHINGTON BLADE, won the GLAAD MEDIA AWARD for Outstanding Newspaper Article. He won for “Military reports no discharges under trans ban, but advocates have doubts.” His competition included nominees from the NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, LOS ANGELES TIMES and DALLAS MORNING NEWS. PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS founder and publisher MARK SEGAL and the LOS ANGELES BLADE’s KAREN OCAMB also won special recognition awards from GLAAD.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>GOGUIDE</b>, based in Iowa City, will begin its fifth year of publication with its September 2020 “Back to Campus” issue. This marks its first issue this year to appear in both print and digital formats. The issue also features two new columnists, former chair of the Iowa Democratic Party TROY PRICE and Des Moines area activist ERICA BARZ.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>LGBT HISTORY MONTH</b>, produced by THE EQUALITY FORUM, has unveiled its 2020 icons for this October. They include actor DIVINE, political activist DAVID MIXNER, Chicago Mayor LORI LIGHTFOOT and SNL cast member KATE MCKINNON. Free materials are available for media outlets to highlight all 31 icons, one for each day of the month, at LGBTHISTORYMONTH.COM.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>METROSOURCE</b>, based in Long Beach, Calif., celebrated its 30th anniversary in its August/September 2020 issue.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHExUU8IR9PTXMjwNkQwp3pmMiqd5ayuPZvWoGZKqr2Gxc1WBJzOKMdHJUc5Zl1cJfykJdJyhy_IvEBWMBohZYTCCGWVCx3ORPeLkLtCR6ax5phOBFOxjx3aQ6J3dsOistr3bQKaLaTuM/s750/karen_ocambx750.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHExUU8IR9PTXMjwNkQwp3pmMiqd5ayuPZvWoGZKqr2Gxc1WBJzOKMdHJUc5Zl1cJfykJdJyhy_IvEBWMBohZYTCCGWVCx3ORPeLkLtCR6ax5phOBFOxjx3aQ6J3dsOistr3bQKaLaTuM/w200-h150/karen_ocambx750.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Karen Ocamb</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b>NLGJA: THE ASSOCIATION OF LGBTQ JOURNALISTS </b>has posted the agenda for its 30th annual convention — an online event for the first time this year — <a href="https://nlgja.pathable.co/agenda"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">https://nlgja.pathable.co/agenda</span></a>. The virtual event will be held October 23-25, 2020.<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>KAREN OCAMB</b>, longtime LGBTQ journalist most recently with the LOS ANGELES BLADE, has decided to take a break from journalism to work on the YES ON PROP 21 campaign, the Rental Affordability Act initiative on the November ballot in California funded by the AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION and a coalition of economic justice and renters rights groups.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 6</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-91510502370792418972020-09-16T07:25:00.007-07:002020-09-16T07:29:48.064-07:00Election coverage ramps up in final stretch<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b>by Joe Siegel</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">LGBTQ publications have been providing comprehensive coverage of the presidential election, which has been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter (BAR), for one, provided online coverage of both the Democratic and Republican conventions. News Editor Cynthia Laird said each week’s issue included an advance piece, including some of the LGBTQ aspects of the events.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">For the Democrats, BAR covered every night of the convention and got stories online shortly after the sessions ended.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Reporter John Ferrannini talked to some delegates and included that in his overall coverage,” Laird said. “He also highlighted LGBTQ speakers, such as U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaMTPSOMIIkEfeoXXiTbP5Pnb8RapJ09xEPe9en1aKIos5ahnYwKCVgICK0cKJdh2VDXsj8sSJ8PNqkBR6jT9THFQIiR-QAzXDPK5NBbBdA-kr8xn3Fg9wucneMHJ1b8bzwuA2KAZmAU/s528/Screen+Shot+2020-09-10+at+7.16.49+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="410" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaMTPSOMIIkEfeoXXiTbP5Pnb8RapJ09xEPe9en1aKIos5ahnYwKCVgICK0cKJdh2VDXsj8sSJ8PNqkBR6jT9THFQIiR-QAzXDPK5NBbBdA-kr8xn3Fg9wucneMHJ1b8bzwuA2KAZmAU/w155-h200/Screen+Shot+2020-09-10+at+7.16.49+PM.png" width="155" /></a></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">For the GOP confab, however, BAR skipped the first two nights, Laird noted. “Even before the convention started, Richard Grenell,” an openly gay former diplomate and Trump cabinet member, “put out a misleading video and I determined it wasn't worth it to have to constantly fact-check the speakers. We did cover Grenell's convention speech that Wednesday, though it was misleading, fact-checked, and he didn't even mention his sexual orientation. Mr. Ferrannini did include his interviews with some gay GOP delegates and Log Cabin officials in that article.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">BAR then covered Trump's “misleading” speech and included fact checks, Laird said, noting the newspaper will cover the presidential and vice presidential debates.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;">“In terms of coverage on Election Night, we will probably post something online and have something in that week's paper, though I doubt we will know results and suspect it will be a drawn out contest,” said Laird.<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) also provided features on the Democratic and Republican conventions.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“For the DNC we focused on the LGBTQ Caucus and the keynote speech as our local state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta was one of the speakers at both,” said Interim Editor Jason Villemez. “We also focused on Tammy Baldwin, Pete Buttigieg, (transgender member of the Virginia House of Delegates) Danica Roem and the two nominees.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For the RNC, PGN focused mostly on President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — due to his anti-LGBTQ actions at the State Department — and Richard Grenell, Villemez said. “I also wrote editorials on the DNC and the RNC, and (Publisher) Mark (Segal) wrote his Mark My Words columns on the conventions as well.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">PGN plans to cover the election as in past years, with a focus on LGBTQ issues and local/regional candidates, as well as features on the presidential candidates and summaries of the debates. Villemez said the newspaper will continue to write about the election in editorials and Mark My Words columns.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“For both the DNC and the RNC, our coverage was limited to end-of-convention wrap-up stories focused on LGBTQ issues and people,” said Tammye Nash, managing editor of the Dallas Voice. “We used stories supplied to us by freelancer Lisa Keen. Lisa had ongoing coverage throughout both conventions that were available to us to use. But because of the pandemic we, like many other smaller media outlets, are doing our best to keep up the quality and the quantity of our content, only with fewer and fewer resources. That includes cutting down on the amount of freelance content we can pay for.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">For the November 3 general election, the Dallas Voice will be spreading out their coverage by running profiles on Texas LGBTQ candidates weekly leading up to Election Day and will be blogging about candidates and issues.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWZhAhDH3gAbK6AekRNScTH7LBdMdHqJRZsc_7SWcge6INRYmP9wvWeQIIwdNSMFE3FStNDvg_lZEtm7oUB2_-GlGng60vHTmt_3jpRDymtp3M0T4Z9aInMD1VFM3yBKDYloeMlQhizM/s887/01__08-14-20__800_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWZhAhDH3gAbK6AekRNScTH7LBdMdHqJRZsc_7SWcge6INRYmP9wvWeQIIwdNSMFE3FStNDvg_lZEtm7oUB2_-GlGng60vHTmt_3jpRDymtp3M0T4Z9aInMD1VFM3yBKDYloeMlQhizM/w181-h200/01__08-14-20__800_.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“On Election Day, we will be blogging results as they come in,” Nash said. “We have our list of local, state and federal level races that are important/high profile to the LGBTQ community, and we will do our best on Election Day and in the days after to report on those races in as much depth as possible, online and in print.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The Washington Blade covered the LGBTQ highlights from the major speeches, including by Pete Buttigieg. “We also profiled and interviewed Jason Rae, the first openly gay secretary (of the DNC), and Joe Solmonese, who served as CEO of the convention,” said Editor Kevin Naff. “We surveyed openly LGBTQ delegates about their hopes for the party, beyond defeating Trump. There were a record 635 out LGBTQ delegates this year. We examined the platform, which was groundbreaking in its inclusion of non-binary people.” </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">For the RNC, the Blade chronicled the party platform, which was unchanged from 2016, then abandoned entirely. “We covered Rick Grenell's speech, contrasting it with the previous two out gay RNC speakers, (former Arizona Congressman) Jim Kolbe and Peter Thiel,” the openly gay founder of PayPal.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Naff said in addition to regular news coverage and op-eds, the Blade will be hosting a series of weekly Facebook Live election events in October counting down to the big day.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Our events group is finally starting to be able to host some in-person events again,” Naff added. “We have an upcoming event with U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) addressing a live crowd of LGBTQ voters.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>TOP STORY</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 6</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-30473984562466184022020-09-16T07:16:00.007-07:002020-09-16T07:17:42.814-07:00Chicago’s venerable Windy City Times ends print edition after 35 years<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b>by Fred Kuhr</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Windy City Times, Chicago's only remaining LGBTQ newspaper, is moving to a digital-only format starting in October. The September 30, 2020, edition, which marks the paper's 35th anniversary, will be its last regular free-standing print issue.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The website <a href="http://windycitytimes.com/"><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(105, 105, 105); font-kerning: none;">windycitytimes.com</span></a> will continue to be updated. “But the free-standing, regular biweekly print editions of WCT will end,” co-founder and longtime publisher Tracy Baim told readers and supporters in a message on Facebook.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD31VO1ySZyL_mosQZNKhYdpHwnG-IyegM9VPXgi7KRtn9Buk6zllzsGW7f5FKbmZxXlNlbJvybG48aVdpv6ihyphenhyphenK6muCdSrQytrKMAvatonvw7nhSkplImuAf6IWFU61ffleFX2WZ7TM/s751/TracyBaimByGlitterGutsSpring2019.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="751" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD31VO1ySZyL_mosQZNKhYdpHwnG-IyegM9VPXgi7KRtn9Buk6zllzsGW7f5FKbmZxXlNlbJvybG48aVdpv6ihyphenhyphenK6muCdSrQytrKMAvatonvw7nhSkplImuAf6IWFU61ffleFX2WZ7TM/w200-h160/TracyBaimByGlitterGutsSpring2019.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tracy Baim</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I co-founded Windy City Times in 1985, when I was just 22 years old. I was managing editor of GayLife newspaper at the time, and a bunch of us left to start WCT,” wrote Baim. “… While I am very sad, and have shed many tears over this decision, our small and mighty team at WCT decided the economics could not stand. I have mortgaged my house, have worked for low wages for decades, and asked others to sacrifice as well to keep the paper going. Friends and readers have donated, advertisers have stepped up, and our delivery drivers have done their work through hail, blizzards, scorching heat and more.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Windy City Times was founded in September 1985 by Jeff McCourt, Bob Bearden, Drew Badanish and Baim, who was the managing editor. In 1987 she left to found Outlines newspaper. Over the years, Outlines also launched Nightlines, BLACKlines, En La Vida and other LGBTQ media. In 2000, Baim purchased Windy City Times back from McCourt and she became publisher.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Baim accepted the position of publisher of the Chicago Reader, that city’s mainstream weekly alternative newspaper, in 2018. “I am lucky I still get to do this work in community media today, as publisher of the Reader, and have been fortunate to keep WCT going in print for as long as we have. I don’t regret the financial sacrifice at all, because I got to do what I love this long. And the website will continue.”</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Baim said WCT staff will mostly be on furlough after October. She also asked for donations to help retire WCT’s debt and pay staff through the end of the year. “We will look to re-tool and pivot to digital with additional revenue streams, and hopefully partner with a larger media company,” said Baim</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Windy City Times, which is among only about two dozen weekly or biweekly LGBTQ newspapers left in the U.S., has tried to hold on to print during the decline in advertising and support of newspapers in recent years, but COVID-19 and its impact on the paper's core entertainment advertisers meant continuing a print paper was not tenable. The Windy City Times' digital footprint includes an average of 125,000 unique monthly visitors to its website, plus nearly 40,000 followers on social media.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">As part of its 35th anniversary, the September 30 final print edition will be a special collector’s edition with a look back at 35 years, said Baim. Windy City Times will also be putting out a book of covers of WCT and its related LGBTQ newspapers. Windy City Times will be inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in October.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #222222; font-kerning: none;">Donations are being accepted at <span class="s4" style="color: black; font-kerning: none;"><a href="http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/donate.php.">http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/donate.php.</a></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #222222; font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #222222; font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #222222; font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: #222222; font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 6</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-89257625810016602792020-09-16T07:11:00.002-07:002020-09-16T07:13:01.398-07:00LGBTQ publications help beat back ad tax in DC<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b>by Fred Kuhr</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Two Washington, D.C., publications targeting the LGBTQ community lobbied against the city’s proposed advertising tax, resulting in its city council reversing course.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The Washington Blade and Tagg Magazine, which focuses on lesbians of color, along with the Washington Informer, one of the city’s two African-American newspapers, came out swinging against a proposed three percent sales tax on advertising.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“As local business owners, we understand as well as anyone the grave impact coronavirus is having on commerce and tax revenues and the need for the city to find new sources of revenue," the Blade and Tagg said in a joint statement."</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1PIVE-iVDuWnP2zMpKGlb1fQXKz3q028FJbNK0M5ySMHRnpe5V0rfIh9KdaAuSDHogwhxZpnbKZu1F7jhzqo14h_Tv94rOSV1SBbM4Ze3L6Vi6DXEsmzC9mgFURLOB2fOIfS-2WTnW4/s525/Screen+Shot+2020-09-16+at+10.08.17+AM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="469" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1PIVE-iVDuWnP2zMpKGlb1fQXKz3q028FJbNK0M5ySMHRnpe5V0rfIh9KdaAuSDHogwhxZpnbKZu1F7jhzqo14h_Tv94rOSV1SBbM4Ze3L6Vi6DXEsmzC9mgFURLOB2fOIfS-2WTnW4/w179-h200/Screen+Shot+2020-09-16+at+10.08.17+AM.png" width="179" /></a></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;">“But this misguided measure will only further damage the local economy by taxing businesses that are already strained,” the statement continued. “An additional three percent tax on our primary source of revenue will force some outlets to lay off additional staff and others to shutter entirely.”<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The statement also noted how the tax would particularly hurt media outlets that target underrepresented communities. “Our businesses are already stressed to the limit. All of our arts and entertainment related advertising has disappeared overnight in the aftermath of coronavirus restrictions. Forcing us to pass along a three percent rate increase at this vulnerable time will lead to further advertising cancellations.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">An editorial in the Informer stated, “The term ‘Black Lives Matter’ applies to the Black Press that has never received its fair share of ad revenue comparable to what Black consumers spend. The last thing we need now is a tax that will diminish what few dollars we rely on to stay alive.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The editorial also said the ad tax would have a detrimental impact on media organizations that are “holding on by a thread.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson disagreed, telling the Blade, “I recognize that businesses fear that a sales tax will depress revenues. I think that effect is overstated. And I recall a couple of years ago health clubs were furious when we expanded the sales tax to include health club memberships. They made it clear in no uncertain terms that they were going to lose customers and close outlets in the District. And the exact opposite happened.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The tax received initial approval from D.C. Council on July 7 and a final vote on the budget was scheduled for later that month.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">On July 23, D.C. Council unanimously gave final approval to a $16.8 billion budget, but the proposed advertising tax was not included. Mendelson ended up abandoning the proposal “in the face of opposition from business groups and local media outlets that would be affected,” as reported by the Washington Post, which also opposed the measure.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 6</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-23933584125805779822020-09-16T07:03:00.004-07:002020-09-16T07:05:13.957-07:00 Connecticut finds its Voice with new publication<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b>by Joe Siegel</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Connecticut Voice has been serving the Constitution State’s LGBTQ community for over a year and is thriving despite the coronavirus pandemic.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bl_63pOYkww9HaDzhc2FNFawCF3HwAJctHPR8v5qbYyCet8C0Lz5ZHjhFgTeMZI2bNTbGlKbGXOQyHjpejK0KET9mqZ9iH7pDKwSEQ9R4Aj6BInFOmtqH7lUzJ6QvZpxYKdzlyCSIZ0/s909/summer_cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="714" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bl_63pOYkww9HaDzhc2FNFawCF3HwAJctHPR8v5qbYyCet8C0Lz5ZHjhFgTeMZI2bNTbGlKbGXOQyHjpejK0KET9mqZ9iH7pDKwSEQ9R4Aj6BInFOmtqH7lUzJ6QvZpxYKdzlyCSIZ0/w157-h200/summer_cover.jpg" width="157" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“We have covered a full variety of topics from Health and Wellness, challenges of LGTBQ youth, the homelessness crisis, milestones in transitioning, history, dating, trends, religious and spiritual leaders devoted to openness and inclusion, families, political candidates in our state and so many more,” said Jim Tully, who is both owner and publisher. “We have fantastic articles on arts, food, interesting op-eds, celebrity and the importance pets play in all our lives. These just touch part of what we have done and what we will do in the future.”</span></p></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;">Tully launched the publication late in 2018. The first edition was published in March 2019.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I have a fantastic and diversified board of advisors and after only two or three suggestions for a name, Connecticut Voice was offered and it was a no-brainer,” Tully said. “It has such a specific and general meaning all at the same time. And it is Connecticut's voice.” </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I strongly believe that the little things matter,” Tully continued, “simple things like fact checking, proofing, layout specifics that many publications have cut to save money. Connecticut Voice writes everything you see in the magazine. Quality breeds quality. Our readers and advertising partners recognize our attention to detail.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Readers have responded favorably.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“We have received great feedback with phrases like, "It's about time,” for Connecticut to have its own LGBTQ publication,” Tully said. “Many of our readers tell us that they have every issue of Connecticut Voice on the coffee table. What an incredible compliment! We are also open to all ideas and always respond. We do not pretend to have all the answers. But my editors and writers know one rule — everything starts with the story.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Tully notes the pandemic “has affected our timetables somewhat and certainly accessibility for some story subjects. But we can still utilize the technology at hand like Zoom or other methods for our stories although we strongly prefer in-person.” </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Tully is proud of the publication’s multi-platform approach with its dedication to new content weekly on their social platforms as well as the television show Connecticut Voice Out Loud that now airs on WTNH in New Haven.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 6</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-72445967278551539112020-09-16T06:59:00.010-07:002020-09-16T07:21:52.849-07:00 Commentary: Words matter at “family-run” newspaper<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">by Mark Segal<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><i>(Mark Segal is the publisher of Philadelphia Gay News. This column originally appeared in PGN. It is reprinted here with permission.)</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;">Words are important, and over time they take on a meaning of their own. Take, for example, “One man, one woman,” or “religious freedom,” or “family-friendly.” How do those words make you feel? Do they put a knot in your stomach, or simply make you feel not welcomed or excluded?<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvkoud8u4e1JqlbCjPN-YRfbG-wL4J_LmkZIQZJ8JCksvHfUax8p0ZvrDOyjtAMAMs_7EBcjYwzhDs6SK12Oud7r6ZXtRyL-bqO7YLuhm3hFOyHl4tUEtmzZ4PuNorNJ7D7Q_47ANdWk/s696/MarkJason-696x503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="696" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvkoud8u4e1JqlbCjPN-YRfbG-wL4J_LmkZIQZJ8JCksvHfUax8p0ZvrDOyjtAMAMs_7EBcjYwzhDs6SK12Oud7r6ZXtRyL-bqO7YLuhm3hFOyHl4tUEtmzZ4PuNorNJ7D7Q_47ANdWk/w200-h144/MarkJason-696x503.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark Segal (right) with husband Jason<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">That last one, “family-friendly,” often makes me wonder, does it mean that a family must be one man and one </span>woman? That term to me always seemed to come with the subtext: LGBT people need not apply.</p><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;">Maybe I’m too sensitive? What business is not family-friendly? Who doesn’t like families? We all come from families, and every family is different.<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Those coded terms harken back to a time when we weren’t allowed by law to have a spouse, children, or be a legal family. We were not deemed family-friendly. LGBT did not equal family in the eyes of those in power.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">There’s also another way to look at terms like that, and how our community has been excluded. Consider the phrase “family-run business.” That now has new meaning for many of us in business today, especially during this pandemic.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">If you run a business and your spouse is helping you, that makes it a family-run business. When marriage was still illegal, that term, like the others, ostracized our community. We weren’t allowed to have families recognized by the law, and therefore we weren’t allowed to have family-run businesses.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Years ago, when Philadelphia Gay News joined the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association, I was told at my first meeting that Pennsylvania was proud to have the largest number of family-run newspapers in America. I somehow felt left out. But, a couple decades later…</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">During this time of lockdown, my husband Jason has been helping me run this newspaper. So I guess, after all these years, I can finally say that yes, PGN is also a family-run newspaper as well!</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>GUEST COMMENTARY</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 6</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-32428987965760872922020-08-18T13:35:00.003-07:002020-08-18T13:37:48.875-07:00TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES<p><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">(What's happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at </span><a href="mailto:editor@presspassq.com" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;">editor@presspassq.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">)</span></i></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>BALTIMORE OUTLOUD</b> entered its 28th year of publication with its June 5, 2020, issue.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>BAY WINDOWS</b>, based in Boston, entered its 38th year of publication with its July 30, 2020, issue.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>DAVID CARTER</b>, historian and activist who authored 2004’s seminal “Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked The Gay Revolution,” died May 1, 2020, in his Manhattan home of a likely heart attack. He was 67.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>ERIC FERRERO</b> has been appointed executive director of the FUND FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM, based in Washington, D.C. He previously worked at the Open Society Foundations, Amnesty International USA and the American Civil Liberties Union.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwyCeWoKMueAEvum_XSdXmM7J0aji3Wu8krLBQdpydFsPM4ok_DCk7BFxnRQdS20rMn9QQM85rIaFxuJ13XF7wzIUtN9dCOrLLd93BJDwbYxafb6cMy5WgnBGHJDSHWZ6rY9_PQGT01A/s475/54780002._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwyCeWoKMueAEvum_XSdXmM7J0aji3Wu8krLBQdpydFsPM4ok_DCk7BFxnRQdS20rMn9QQM85rIaFxuJ13XF7wzIUtN9dCOrLLd93BJDwbYxafb6cMy5WgnBGHJDSHWZ6rY9_PQGT01A/w162-h243/54780002._SY475_.jpg" width="162" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b style="font-family: arial;">RICK KARLIN</b><span style="font-family: Arial;">, a native Chicagoan who moved to Fort Lauderdale with husband and fellow journalist GREGG SHAPIRO, has published his autobiography, “Paper Cuts: My Life in Chicago’s Volatile LGBTQ Press,” which chronicles his time working in that city’s LGBTQ media, including GAYLIFE, GAY CHICAGO MAGAZINE, NIGHTLINES, CHICAGO FREE PRESS, CHICAGO PRIDE and BOI MAGAZINE.</span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>JIM PROVENZANO</b>, an editor at San Francisco’s BAY AREA REPORTER and a LAMBDA LITERARY award-winning author, has written his seventh novel, “Finding Tulsa,” which will be published in September 2020 by PALM DRIVE PUBLISHING.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>QLIFE</b>, based in Las Vegas, announced that after 10 months without a print edition, it will continue to publish again with a new look and a redesigned website with a national focus. The publication also announced new “elastic advertising,” giving businesses more flexibility in advertising choices.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>SEATTLE GAY NEWS</b> has launched a GOFUNDME campaign to help cover operating expenses in light of </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtN6URcLqbZsr5mfG8idIRkZtXSfbTfdNAVJjuQ5buvv7QOjMZohrrwiJ4G2dYvaemd9Yj6vDUp2O88H1v4eqcLZhalkXjGksLiHsoLEFmdk3NE5iX2BJ7V5smsGcKNzP5UlS7AX3xRc/s400/81AsrUB64uL._SX300_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtN6URcLqbZsr5mfG8idIRkZtXSfbTfdNAVJjuQ5buvv7QOjMZohrrwiJ4G2dYvaemd9Yj6vDUp2O88H1v4eqcLZhalkXjGksLiHsoLEFmdk3NE5iX2BJ7V5smsGcKNzP5UlS7AX3xRc/w154-h205/81AsrUB64uL._SX300_.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">the coronavirus lockdown and the subsequent loss in advertising revenue. The campaign can be accessed at <a href="https://ca.gofundme.com/f/seattle-gay-news-needs-your-support-now"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">https://ca.gofundme.com/f/seattle-gay-news-needs-your-support-now</span></a></span></p><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>SEAN STRUB</b>, founder of POZ MAGAZINE, is the subject of the new documentary “My Friend, The Mayor: Small-Town Politics in the Age of Trump,” now available on Amazon Prime. The documentary from Dutch journalist and filmmaker MAX WESTERMAN focuses on Strub’s for mayor of a small county seat in Pennsylvania.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>JEREMY WILLIAMS</b> has been promoted to the role of editor in chief at Orlando, Fla.-based WATERMARK. Previously, he served as the newspaper’s central Florida bureau chief. He takes the reins from publisher Rick Claggett, who had been serving as acting editor.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 5</b></span></p></div>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-86972501521000296952020-08-18T13:22:00.011-07:002020-08-18T13:30:16.477-07:00Publications catering to travellers impacted by lack of travel during lockdown<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b>by Joe Siegel</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on the travel industry in the over the past five months. For LGBTQ publications that focus heavily on travel and leisure, the impact has been dramatic.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Florida, including gay tourism hotspots like Key West and South Beach, has been especially hard hit by the pandemic, with over 500,000 cases statewide.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Throughout the Florida Keys, officials are requiring facial coverings to be worn by everyone in business establishments and other public settings.</span><span class="s2" style="color: #222222; font-kerning: none;"> </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Facial coverings are also required to be worn outdoors in the Florida Keys when social distancing of six feet or more is not possible. In Key West, masks are required everywhere outside a residence, regardless of whether social distancing is maintained.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ndV8FOJcZBd7uIdjZ_uDdgeMv1cFEbwAEm6DVu44N5KYy8qkxxT7ZQtXuQqZVErQTCkMW4OzAGP-s4UDhQPEMXiGGd_AgvsxtfixvD_ApDTzDebGUmaDQLIncvyd3amOIejAI5U0y9A/s609/cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="400" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ndV8FOJcZBd7uIdjZ_uDdgeMv1cFEbwAEm6DVu44N5KYy8qkxxT7ZQtXuQqZVErQTCkMW4OzAGP-s4UDhQPEMXiGGd_AgvsxtfixvD_ApDTzDebGUmaDQLIncvyd3amOIejAI5U0y9A/w205-h312/cover.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“We continued to publish every month,” Chamberlain said. “I felt it was important to keep up some normality during the heart of it, plus it made sure my contributors had some sort of income coming in.”</span></p><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;">Despite that, “We are a much leaner magazine than we were before this started (regarding page count), but some advertisers [have] returned,” Chamberlain added. “I offer my advertisers a ‘rate for life’ guarantee, meaning that their rates will never increase as long as they continually advertise. For the pandemic, I did allow people to suspend their advertising without risk to their rates. A few people did take advantage of that. Those that advertised all along will be getting a free month in an upcoming issue as a thank-you.”<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Despite the setbacks, Chamberlain remains optimistic about the future. “We are slowly building back up and I'm confident that we will be </span>back to the old levels of advertising, hopefully by the end of the year.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">HotSpots, based in Fort Lauderdale suburb Oakland Park, Fla., returned to publishing its print edition on June 18, after three months of being online-only due to the pandemic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“We made a conscious decision to go digital only as many businesses were closed and our distribution network was limited to just outdoor boxes,” according to publisher Peter Clark. But since many of the publication’s advertisers have reopened, “We will start by printing a monthly edition.” The weekly edition will continue to be published online.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Connextions Magazine, which bills itself as “The Travel Magazine for the LGBTQ community,” has had to cut back on content simply because its writers have not been able to travel due to coronavirus restrictions, said Manny Velasquez-Paredes, editor in chief of the Long Island, N.Y.-based publication.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“In addition, people are not in the frame of mind to want to read much about traveling because we can't do it and not sure when we will,” Velasquez-Paredes added. “However, as trailblazers, the LGBTQ community usually are the first ones who will try something new, therefore, we will be traveling before the rest of the world.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Virtual Connextions is the publication’s talk show and podcast, where the editorial staff sits down with visitor and convention bureaus, tourism boards, and LGBTQ publicists to discuss their locations and venues. That has been able to flourish during the lockdown.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“They're fun short videos and they have been received very well. I do believe people are looking for distractions. So our videos are a way to escape our current reality,” Velasquez-Paredes said. “Luckily for us, as a digital magazine, we quickly switched to Virtual Connextions, which allowed us to revisit places in a virtual setting.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Arts and lifestyle publications have been impacted as well. “Everything you can imagine has happened,” said Jay Jones, publisher of Rage Monthly in San Diego. “However, we are now publishing the monthly editions online until businesses and theater and entertainment venues reopen.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Mikkel Hyldebrandt, editorial director of Goliath Atlanta, admitted that publishing a lifestyle magazine “in the midst of all this may seem unfitting.” But, as he wrote in its Summer 2020 issue, “there are three main reasons for why we should publish, and why it is crucial right now.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">First of all, he wrote, “at the onset of the pandemic, we weren’t even sure if we would be able to put this publication together for you. … But with federal and relief systems in place and a community that has bounced back in an effort to resume business in a new normal, I am grateful that Goliath continues to publish with no interruption to our editorial calendar.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Secondly, “Goliath provides an appreciated perspective on the world we inhabit,” wrote Hyldebrandt. And thirdly, such lifestyle publications “offer you<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>a much-needed mental break from the weight of the world.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>TOP STORY<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 5</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-54328865994518600102020-08-18T13:16:00.002-07:002020-08-18T13:20:09.334-07:00NLGJA convention will be virtual for first time<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b>by Joe Siegel</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The 2020 convention of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists will be held virtually due to the restrictions around the novel coronavirus pandemic. This will be the group’s first virtual gathering in its 30-year history.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">This year’s event, which will run a little later in the year than usual (October 23-25), will not be too different from past conventions, according to Adam Pawlus, the group’s executive director.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Hosting an entirely online convention allows us to reach people who may have otherwise been unable to come to the convention, and we have aimed to make it as affordable as possible,” Pawlus said.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“We will offer more than 30 breakout sessions and several plenary sessions throughout the weekend, which </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6FKrKDcGIXnIYIklIo3Puu8-4UfYhdIa2L_X6lK-UzBvWbZQmmFpT4vv1bRR78nkTS0pj5cacpCKi5WhdjWIe75pVxeoBx7q8KpDrU1iXC-5bcD5rbfa3Acb9796HYqPaiJlggyB6wk/s1080/pawlus-1080x675.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1080" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6FKrKDcGIXnIYIklIo3Puu8-4UfYhdIa2L_X6lK-UzBvWbZQmmFpT4vv1bRR78nkTS0pj5cacpCKi5WhdjWIe75pVxeoBx7q8KpDrU1iXC-5bcD5rbfa3Acb9796HYqPaiJlggyB6wk/w262-h164/pawlus-1080x675.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NLGJA's Adam Pawlus<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">will offer attendees skill-building opportunities and a chance to learn more about a variety of topics,” Pawlus added. “A full agenda will be announced soon. We encourage all of our attendees to take full advantage of the opportunities presented with the online platform.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Pawlus said there will be “a variety of structured networking opportunities each day, but the online platform allows attendees to connect directly with other attendees, as well as our sponsors and exhibitors throughout the weekend.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">This year's sponsors will include Comcast NBCUniversal, CBS News, Knight Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Democracy Fund and Prudential Financial.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Last year’s convention, which was held in Chicago, attracted 400 people.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">In anticipation of this year’s convention, this month NLGJA announced its 2020 scholarship award recipients.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Ogonna Ononye is the recipient of the 2020 Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award. Ononye is a graduate student at Maryland Institute College of Art studying graphic design. She plans to pursue a career in multimedia journalism and visual communication design.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Leo Baudhuin is the recipient of the 2020 Steve Mason Sports Media Scholarship Award. They are a sophomore at the University of Oregon. They have been covering their hometown women's professional soccer team, the Portland Thorns, and the NWSL for the past two summers, and they hope to continue to do so going forward.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The recipients of the 2020 Facebook Journalism Project Scholarship Awards are Katie Anastas, Jacob deCastro, Olivia Muse, Laura Scudder and Irene Vázquez. Anastas is a graduate student at the Columbia University School of Journalism, deCastro is a senior at Indiana University studying journalism, Muse is a graduate student at the Columbia University School of Journalism studying journalism with a concentration in documentary filmmaking, Scudder is a third-year student at George Mason University studying communications, and Vázquez is a senior at Yale University studying Ethnicity, Race, and Migration as well as English.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Registration is available to members for $150, and available to non-members for $250. Students who are members receive a complimentary registration, and students who are not members are able to register for $25. There are also some discounts available to members who may be experiencing financial hardship. Additional registration info can be found at <a href="http://www.nlgja.org/2020/registration"><span class="s2" style="color: blue; font-kerning: none;">www.nlgja.org/2020/registration</span></a>. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 5</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-17967321376798110722020-08-18T13:07:00.006-07:002020-08-18T13:14:09.543-07:00 Seattle Gay News pays tribute to longtime leader George Bakan<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><b>by Fred Kuhr</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">George Bakan was the longtime publisher of Seattle Gay News (SGN). But he was also described as an activist, civil rights leader and pioneer, pillar of the community, father, mentor and friend. In fact, he was such a giant in Seattle’s LGBTQ community that SGN dedicated two issues to memorializing the man who had led the publication since 1983.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">As has been reported, Bakan died at his desk on a Sunday evening — June 7, 2020 — while working on the newspaper. He was 78 year old.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The newspaper’s June 12, 2020, issue featured a front-page banner stating “In Memory of George Bakan,” </span>with a large photo from 2011 at a local bar as he celebrated the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, giving a thumbs-up with a huge grin on his face.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNi7GDtSFsIML6BfD3s6L2H3T6S_FTkni3jkx4LpBCz7yd6XPjMNGc-UZtT42nU6W2XXmuRxaT27SYNLiyEcoTTrbjBtwoAM1Hk5oml5K1BFWq7A_6vsUf-fE4GkhyBgPxWBjPAAqKUM/s500/Bakan.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="500" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNi7GDtSFsIML6BfD3s6L2H3T6S_FTkni3jkx4LpBCz7yd6XPjMNGc-UZtT42nU6W2XXmuRxaT27SYNLiyEcoTTrbjBtwoAM1Hk5oml5K1BFWq7A_6vsUf-fE4GkhyBgPxWBjPAAqKUM/w320-h191/Bakan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Photographer Nate Gowdy noted, “I’d hopped onto the bar for an angle of the jubilant crowd in the room, only to realize the happiness on George’s face said it all.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Also on the front page was a tribute by Sara Toce, publisher of The Seattle Lesbian, another publication in the city. “A pioneer in the LGBTQ+, HIV and AIDS communities, Bakan was beloved by many who were influenced by his natural wit and personality” Toce wrote.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The issue also included tributes from Justin Carder of Capitol Hill Seattle, the Greater Seattle Business Association and the Seattle Collegian.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">SGN’s June 26 issue, also its Pride issue, ran a front-page banner “Remembering George” along with a photo of a painting of a young Bakan entitled, “Portrait of the Activist as a Young Man,” by Virginia Newman. The portrait shows him — Rudolph George Bakan — at age 18 in 1959.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">In this issue, more tributes were printed, including one from Gaysha Starr Olympia 29, The Empress of Good Fortune and the First Asian Pacific Islander Empress of Seattle. “George, to all of us in Washington’s LGBTQIA community, was our father. Even if you didn’t know him, you benefited from his lifelong commitment to activism. Whenever I would introduce him on stage or acknowledge him from the audience, I would credit him as ‘The Grandpapa of Capitol Hill’ and the crowd would cheer.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The issue is filled with 10 pages of more tributes from friends and colleagues, and many more photos of Bakan. More than a few of the “tributes and eulogies … via Facebook” that were reprinted in the newspaper included the words “Rest In Power.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">In the newspaper’s July 10 issue, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, whose district includes Seattle’s heavily-LGBTQ Capitol Hill neighborhood, took out a full page ad paying “tribute and reverence” to Bakan.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 5</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-5454472878903130402020-08-18T13:05:00.005-07:002020-08-18T13:06:03.331-07:00We will survive: We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again<p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Letter From The Publisher</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>by Todd Evans</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>(Todd Evans is the publisher of Press Pass Q and the president and CEO of Rivendell Media. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:todd@rivendellmedia.com"><span class="s2" style="color: #0563c1; font-kerning: none;">todd@rivendellmedia.com</span></a> or 908-232-2021 ext 210.)</i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I’m writing to reach out to all our LGBTQ publishers during this unprecedented time of COVID-19. Once again, we find LGBTQ media in the throes of a crisis.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6txALCJwA2wcirzXubUOUHbwMfvMQI1w0JHsRGzQr59uIOS37EjlCqhHnj7KyAMPzxdocK6ImVyWaonOfQTPICDz034WrBS4XpO9EvqdPFtlGerlzQ9kI2-WIApvkeT7hnnGVF2Rw7Y/s733/Todd+Evans1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="649" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6txALCJwA2wcirzXubUOUHbwMfvMQI1w0JHsRGzQr59uIOS37EjlCqhHnj7KyAMPzxdocK6ImVyWaonOfQTPICDz034WrBS4XpO9EvqdPFtlGerlzQ9kI2-WIApvkeT7hnnGVF2Rw7Y/w186-h210/Todd+Evans1.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todd Evans<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Aside from the initial fights to publish and print our community’s publications, the first real crisis to hit the flourishing LGBTQ press was AIDS. Few remember how that caused the first real downturn in advertising dollars and caused a big distribution shake up.</span></p><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The tragedy of 9/11 brought another freeze in advertising dollars, and the recession of 2008 and 2009 was the perfect storm for print. So many froze their advertising dollars while the media landscape was tossed and shaken to find out where the readers really were.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">We survived all of those and grew in leaps and bounds in between. Have faith publishers, for we will survive this too and thrive once again.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The world is different now, but our struggle for equality and acceptance goes on. We still have a lot of work to do, so LGBTQ media is as important as ever. Last year actually saw print circulation increases, and we were certainly going to see that again in 2020 until COVID-19 hit. Now again, everyone is looking at everything to figure out the winners and losers. I write this today to tell you that LGBTQ media will be one of the winners when all is said and done.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Aside from the Great Recession, every recession brought growth to our industry. If not for the cries of “print is dead” from digital media, 2009 would have been much the same as the previous recessions when advertisers were forced to focus their ad dollars where they would have the most impact. Television will always be the lowest cost per eyeball, but it still comes at a very high entry price, even in tough times. Companies will and are looking for market slices that will provide the most return on investment and, fortunately, the LGBTQ market is now well understood to be the most resilient and lucrative for many advertising categories — especially travel, financial and spirits.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Now is the time to hunker down, build your brand, and focus your attention on our community so that as things open back up we can be ready to grow — and grow we will. That time will come sooner than you think. Rest, work and build, while doing all you can to be ready for the uptick.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">There is work to be done, and we need a new Democratic administration to boost diversity. But then the sky is the limit. No aspect of LGBTQ media will be left behind — print and digital have found their proper places and not having dedicated television networks like other minority markets will only help our existing channels. LGBTQ media is not only cost effective, but also easy to identify, and the results from years and years of surveys and case studies speak for themselves.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">So be optimistic and supportive. A lot of us need help right now to get to that place of continued growth. Most importantly, help our LGBTQ champions — executive, political, student and community leaders — move our market forward. As we know, businesses understand that diversity is in their own best interest.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Lastly, beware of charlatans; tough times seem to bring them out. These are people, usually with little or no experience or track record, that promise the world but have never done anything successful in the past. Now is the time to gather around the tried and true media properties, companies, and organizations that can and will help us move forward. We can do this. We will do this. We have the rainbow as our symbol for so many reasons. One is to take us to the future together, and another is for the celebration after the storm.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I am always available to anyone in our industry to help. Call or email me <a href="mailto:todd@rivendellmedia.com"><span class="s2" style="color: #0563c1; font-kerning: none;">todd@rivendellmedia.com</span></a>, 908-232-2021 ext 210). I promise to be frank and provide all I can from our over 40 years of experience in our marketplace.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 5</b></span></p></div>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-86604464038917678162020-08-18T12:27:00.003-07:002020-09-16T07:21:25.960-07:00Commentary: Capitalize the B in “Black”<p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">by Jeremy Williams</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;"><i>(Jeremy Williams is editor in chief of Watermark, based in Orlando, Fla. The following editorial appeared in the newspaper’s June 25, 2020, issue and is reprinted here with permission.)</i></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">As anyone who has worked with me here at Watermark can tell you, I am an AP Style purist.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">For those who are not familiar, AP Style — short for The Associated Press Stylebook — is the standard of the mass communication world. This book instructs journalists on basic grammar and punctuation when writing the news. It’s the reason no self-respecting journalist will use an Oxford comma no matter how much sense you think it makes and why you will see a hyphen link two words one moment, then no hyphen the next day and then the same words hyphenated once again a week later.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy4jfHpkf8WAhWfOgvdVbdYGcS0bDTC3B89FnHdEE4s3Q4E1vv1-Ed3xPluUX8j20qbSNotovYaCIFV_kXJGh9L2TIk8u7vXY_uqaJLJK3DR638LJ3v021Kou8gmqc271iMxsVrwRR0A/s481/Jeremy-Williams-mug.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="481" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy4jfHpkf8WAhWfOgvdVbdYGcS0bDTC3B89FnHdEE4s3Q4E1vv1-Ed3xPluUX8j20qbSNotovYaCIFV_kXJGh9L2TIk8u7vXY_uqaJLJK3DR638LJ3v021Kou8gmqc271iMxsVrwRR0A/w246-h233/Jeremy-Williams-mug.png" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeremy Williams<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Does it always make sense? No, but that nonsense is how it has been since the first AP Styleboo</span>k was</p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">published and it is how most journalists — this one included — were taught. “The AP Stylebook is your bible,” I was told by my favorite journalism professor Ken Carpenter, and I have kept that bit of knowledge — as well as the Stylebook — front and center when I write, edit and read any news story.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">So I was very happy when AP announced June 19 that it would be adopting the capitalized “B” when writing stories about the Black community.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“AP’s style is now to capitalize Black in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying an essential and shared sense of history, identity and community among people who identify as Black, including those in the African diaspora and within Africa,” AP wrote in a social media post. “We also now capitalize Indigenous in reference to original inhabitants of a place. These changes align with long-standing capitalization of other racial and ethnic identifiers such as Latino, Asian American and Native American.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Increased coverage of anti-racism, police brutality and Black Lives Matter by mainstream news outlets opened discussions in newsrooms as to whether the “B” in Black should be capitalized when reporting about the Black community.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) issued a statement calling for all media outlets to begin capitalizing racial identifiers, something news outlets like NBC News and USA Today have done.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">On matters of Black people, Black communities, Black culture and Black institutions, the NABJ should be the group that other news organizations look to for stylebook guidance just as the NLGJA: The National Association of LGBTQ Journalists provides guidance on LGBTQ terminology.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">When the fight for marriage equality was frequently in the news, NLGJA encouraged media to use “same-sex marriage” instead of “gay marriage” and “LGBTQ rights” rather than “gay rights” to show inclusivity in reporting.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Watermark and other LGBTQ publications in the U.S. used terms like Latinx, capitalized the word Pride and added the Q to LGBT in news reporting before The AP Stylebook began to utilize them. When it comes to writing about marginalized communities, this “AP purist” will always look to the journalist association for said community over the AP for guidance and clarification, and I encourage all journalists to do the same.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">For those in the journalism world who are detractors to the style change of capitalizing Black, pointing to the fact that the word “white” when referring race isn’t capitalized, please understand the term “white” does not indicate a culture, just the color of a person’s skin. It is simple for most white people to trace their lineage back to where and when their ancestors came to North America.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">I have taken one of those mail-in DNA tests and found that I am mostly British and Italian with some Irish, Scottish, French, Greek and German mixed in. I can easily research the history and culture of my ancestors. Notice that these words are capitalized as they indicate the culture of my ancestors. Because of slavery, most Black people in the U.S. have a more difficult time tracing where their ancestors came from.</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">If you’re a white person still calling for “White” to be capitalized in news publications, please keep in mind that in most cases these days, “White” is usually proceeded by a racist indicator like “Nationalist,” “Power” and “House.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">As we listen to Black voices in the world of journalism, we open up our pages to local, LGBTQ Black voices. The best way to learn where someone has been and what they have lived through is to open up, be silent and listen; so that is what we do in this issue as six LGBTQ Black activists in Central Florida and Tampa Bay express their views, open dialogues on race and share their stories.</span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>GUEST COMMENTARY<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 5</b></span></p>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-4490151392622272252020-08-18T12:18:00.006-07:002020-08-18T13:38:53.955-07:00 Pressing Questions: Wire Magazine of Miami<p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;">Interview with Owner, Publisher and Editor in Chief Rafa Carvajal</b><br /><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;">by Joe Siegel</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Year founded: 1991</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Staff size and breakdown: Five, plus several contributing writers and photographers</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Physical dimensions of publication: 8.375” x 10.875”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Average page count: 32</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Key demographics: LGBTQ community and allies, with a particular focus on gay men</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Print run: 10,000 per issue</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Website: <a href="http://www.wiremag.com"><span class="s3" style="font-kerning: none;">www.wiremag.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">***** </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What feature or features of Wire Magazine have been the most popular with readers? </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOH04ngBTw4mw5J-7xPuTsSHYg8-yGLGJLs0diWQa5VzcZ2EpZersTLHdcHoECcV7qh2FNXKR1IRmJ35HjQvFjX7AUiJNUkuMU4FCW2LovpmSX_x2H3ahGC5cGiRJcdRadl0Xs36Gp8s/s500/rafa.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rafa Carvaja" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOH04ngBTw4mw5J-7xPuTsSHYg8-yGLGJLs0diWQa5VzcZ2EpZersTLHdcHoECcV7qh2FNXKR1IRmJ35HjQvFjX7AUiJNUkuMU4FCW2LovpmSX_x2H3ahGC5cGiRJcdRadl0Xs36Gp8s/w200-h200/rafa.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafa Carvajal</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Owner, Publisher and Editor in Chief Rafa Carvajal: Our beautiful models, hot models calendar issues, celebrity interviews, dining delicious columns, and special issues for events such as the Winter Party, Miami Beach Pride, Circuit Festival Miami, OUTshine Film Festival, South Beach Wine & Food Festival and Miami Art Week.</span></p><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: Who came up with the name and what is the inspiration for it? </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: Founder and first owner Andrew Delaplaine parted ways with his business partner in a publication called Antenna and decided to call his new venture Wire Magazine.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What challenge has your publication had to overcome since its inception?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: Continuing to publish under three owners, while successfully evolving into the glossy, color, lifestyle magazine that I envisioned Wire Magazine should become.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What challenge or challenges is Wire Magazine facing now?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: The closure, hopefully temporary, of several businesses that were very loyal advertisers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: How has Wire Magazine changed since it was first launched?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: It has become a beautiful, glossy lifestyle publication printed in color with very diverse content. It </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLOYz0UcfrcWXmcB_fb0gq2MxKdIp9LRU_PnHyOpafcc8z5yrVDGhFIuT7yeW9ilE-t7iIGO3mjyjkUeDILvnnuKCoFFIczN_PtegQCkaon8FDEVZ0A-Wps4QepGc4AbyKdXRyykcj7g/s552/Cover+Wire+Magazine+Issue+10.2020+Alex+Espenshade+by+Anthony+Kosinchuk.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="425" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLOYz0UcfrcWXmcB_fb0gq2MxKdIp9LRU_PnHyOpafcc8z5yrVDGhFIuT7yeW9ilE-t7iIGO3mjyjkUeDILvnnuKCoFFIczN_PtegQCkaon8FDEVZ0A-Wps4QepGc4AbyKdXRyykcj7g/w218-h283/Cover+Wire+Magazine+Issue+10.2020+Alex+Espenshade+by+Anthony+Kosinchuk.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>used to be printed in black and white on newspaper print.</div><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What one change would you like to make?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: Distribute nationally to key LGBTQ markets with local partners.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What has been the biggest news story or stories Wire Magazine has covered? </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: Many celebrity interviews such as Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Estefan, Adam Lambert, Enrique Iglesias and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: On the Kinsey Scale of 0-6 (exclusively straight to totally gay), how gay is your publication?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: 6.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: Do you see yourself as an “activist journalist”? If so, in what way?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: Yes. I strongly believe in fighting for the rights of our LGBTQ community and for speaking out forcefully against discrimination and for equal rights.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What's the most surprising feedback you've received from a reader? </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: Thanking me for the continued support of the LGBTQ community and for the very sexy models we regularly showcase in Wire Magazine in the same conversation.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What advice would you give to anyone who may want to launch their own LGBTQ publication?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Carvajal: Set some money aside to invest in the publication, get ready to work very hard, and be very motivated to succeed no matter how many challenges get in your way.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>PRESSING QUESTIONS<br />Volume 22</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 5</b></span></p></div>Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-70499788666718136702020-07-16T09:05:00.000-07:002020-07-16T09:05:42.196-07:00TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES<div class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<i><b>(What's happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at <a href="mailto:editor@presspassq.com">editor@presspassq.com</a>)</b></i></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>ADELANTE</b>, based in Los Angeles, entered its 24th year of publication with<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>its June 2020 issue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>AMBUSH</b>, based in New Orleans, launched its AMBUSH RADIO PODCAST in May 2020. The show is hosted by GEORGE BEVAN JR. A new episode will be released every other Tuesday. It is available on podcasting services like iTunes and Spotify or by subscribing at <a href="http://www.ambushmag.com/podcast/">http://www.ambushmag.com/podcast/</a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYMALc3Aa3hyphenhyphenm-qL4DvFaaRksvtNQmYC0-gTtbtAwFmwyfX25dfX0tkwkxLRTpLucHNOb5_9w2cRJEoV00Wx1Y7yUgnyTYJ3v4F09sUc-wgGLCFgV5X-uLMSPQ1aycGb84GEyJmEQHdk/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="241" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYMALc3Aa3hyphenhyphenm-qL4DvFaaRksvtNQmYC0-gTtbtAwFmwyfX25dfX0tkwkxLRTpLucHNOb5_9w2cRJEoV00Wx1Y7yUgnyTYJ3v4F09sUc-wgGLCFgV5X-uLMSPQ1aycGb84GEyJmEQHdk/s200/download.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark S. King</td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>MARK S. KING</b>, creator of the video blog MY FABULOUS DISEASE, is the recipient of the 2020 SARAH PETTIT Memorial Award for LGBTQ Journalist of the Year from NLGJA: THE ASSOCIATION OF LGBTQ JOURNALISTS. He also won the Excellence in Blogging Award. OSCAR LOPEZ, the Mexico-based LGBTQ correspondent for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was named Journalist of the Year. The only LGBTQ media outlet to score an honor — PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS — won in the category of Excellence in Writing, Non-Daily for an article written by LAURA SMYTHE.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>LAVENDER MAGAZINE</b>, based in Minneapolis, celebrated its 25th anniversary in its June 4, 2020, issue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>METROSOURCE</b>, based in Long Beach, Calif. and distributed in Los Angeles and New York, celebrated its 30th anniversary by launching METROSOURCE MINIS, a short form audio and video podcast, hosted by ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ. The magazine also announced it is under new ownership by BENT SHARE ENTERTAINMENT LLC, making it once again 100% LGBTQ owned and operated.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>RAGE MONTHLY</b>, based in San Diego, entered its 14th year of publication with its June 2020 issue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>WIREMAG</b>, based in Miami, announced that for the duration of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the every-other-week publication will only appear in print once per month, while also appearing digitally once per month, because of a decrease in advertising revenue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES</b></span></div>
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<b>Volume 22</b></div>
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<b>Issue 4</b></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-64193292158712083072020-07-16T09:01:00.000-07:002020-07-16T09:01:25.787-07:00Revenues down, but not out, with Pride going virtual this year<div class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>by Joe Siegel</b></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The novel coronavirus pandemic forced many LGBTQ organizations to be creative in producing their Pride celebrations this year. And community media stepped up in their own way to fill the void left from the absence of traditional festivals and parades.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Our Pride celebration was moved to July and has since announced that it would be virtual,” said Leo Cusimano, publisher of the Dallas Voice. “We did have a bigger issue on June 5, and our large National Pride issue on June 26 was 56 pages. So the revenue has diminished in the wake of COVID-19 and business closures.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Dallas Voice also created its own virtual Pride celebration called “Dallas Voice PRIDE Party Online! A digital Pride experience.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujA4FrDZpUBzUqozrve0Dtpo_E6QNeBZxCmd-PqqdOKtG-ncBwpv5iQy4EA77fIzsQsWtc9YnUzcgK7dwjOGBs_F9M9_UjV9PNq44mWia1SXpUcEyKsCYPj2Z4b8eddXUKfiBsZs5K4I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-07-11+at+11.35.51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="416" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujA4FrDZpUBzUqozrve0Dtpo_E6QNeBZxCmd-PqqdOKtG-ncBwpv5iQy4EA77fIzsQsWtc9YnUzcgK7dwjOGBs_F9M9_UjV9PNq44mWia1SXpUcEyKsCYPj2Z4b8eddXUKfiBsZs5K4I/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-07-11+at+11.35.51+AM.png" width="253" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“This virtual event was scheduled for Sunday, June 28, as a 90-minute show with local and national celebrities making an appearance,” Cusimano noted. “The program was very successful and garnered support from six sponsors.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">New York’s Gay City News (GCN) has written about several of the city’s major virtual Pride events — Brooklyn Pride, Queens Pride, and NYC Pride — and hosted a webinar on June 30 to discuss the impact of COVID on nonprofits in the community, in terms of delivering services, increased demand for services, and fundraising and revenue streams.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Our Pride revenues were down this month, but overall I thought we did better than I feared,” said Paul Schindler, GCN editor in chief and associate publisher. “Our Pride issue was 72 pages this year, … versus over 100 in recent years. Our webinar … will recoup a decent portion of [the] shortfall versus recent years.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Instead of the traditional Pride parade, San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter (BAR) featured coverage of a protest march held in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, called “</span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">The People's March and Rally: Unite to Fight.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">That protest — one of three events (the others were a protest titled “Pride is a Riot” and a rally in the Fillmore district honoring Black trans people) — was planned to follow the route of the first "gay-in" in 1970, which later grew to become the San Francisco Pride parade, reported BAR.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Our June 25 issue was our Pride issue, though abbreviated from past years,” said Cynthia Laird, BAR news editor. “We did not have a separate section, but included Pride-related stories throughout. The issue was 40 pages total. News section was 31 pages, the remainder was Arts and Culture.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Publisher Michael Yamashita added, “Financially the BAR did better than expected considering the state of the economy, although it's no comparison to last year. Thankfully many of our advertisers honored their ad reservations for our Pride issue, most of which were reserved before the shutdown in March. And that we were able to make some sales is a hopeful sign.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>TOP STORY<br />Volume 22</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 4</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-26938458682847643132020-07-16T08:56:00.001-07:002020-07-16T08:57:55.999-07:00LGBTQ media reports on, and advocates for, Black lives<div class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>by Joe Siegel</b></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Pride events were cancelled, downscaled or moved online this year, but many Black Lives Matter protests popped up in their place. And with an understanding of intersectionality, LGBTQ media has been busy covering these events.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7L3KNbiDYi57e_zmH_EuySvUqa0FEC6ihZ7u8Osh7eS_-fQaYfmG2L7cV3t2_dFhcKXbodNlpAp6KmKwYsOi5wIn0W90GsKRtScqgRf3_rmvf2mY8g1OGCspLbNvL9dhLkAev5X7RHk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-06-21+at+1.04.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="465" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7L3KNbiDYi57e_zmH_EuySvUqa0FEC6ihZ7u8Osh7eS_-fQaYfmG2L7cV3t2_dFhcKXbodNlpAp6KmKwYsOi5wIn0W90GsKRtScqgRf3_rmvf2mY8g1OGCspLbNvL9dhLkAev5X7RHk/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-06-21+at+1.04.34+PM.png" width="250" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">New York’s Gay City News (GCN), for one, has been providing extensive reporting on Black Lives Matter and Black Trans Lives Matter protests in the city, with stories about 10 separate events.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">On June 28, the paper covered the Reclaim Pride Marches in Support of Black Lives Matter and Against Police Brutality on the day that would normally have the LGBTQ Pride March (the Pride March this year was a virtual event to be aired on the local ABC affiliate). GCN also reported on the Juneteenth Dyke March in Support of Black Lives.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“We have worked hard over the years to report on New York's community with due respect to its amazing racial and ethnic diversity and geographical sprawl,” said Paul Schindler, GCN’s editor in chief and associate publisher. “Reporting on the community in the Bronx, for example, typically focuses on communities of color.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Schindler noted that “a focus on Black lives and intersectionality is not new, and increasingly, politically active LGBTQ people and elected office holders who are LGBTQ come from communities of color. Bronx Councilmember Ritchie Torres who is the apparent winner of a U.S. House primary; Mondaire Jones, a gay Black man who won a House primary in the city's northern suburbs; Jabari Brisport, a gay Black man who won a Brooklyn State Senate primary; and Brooklyn Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, who has been in office since 2014, are a few examples.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I2js8DNW-GBokpIKs4EVpc59xGPItjdwfIj0s8E3Kd4J5r7aidPEZFNxldg8-8Q10socV_EtoP0iKxJao8SSWAExJsQEvmeSi4QlROWdjLuKHPqgXWbLuitMeIO7xoH2OvsrHaJ8h8Q/s1600/01__07-03-20__800_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I2js8DNW-GBokpIKs4EVpc59xGPItjdwfIj0s8E3Kd4J5r7aidPEZFNxldg8-8Q10socV_EtoP0iKxJao8SSWAExJsQEvmeSi4QlROWdjLuKHPqgXWbLuitMeIO7xoH2OvsrHaJ8h8Q/s320/01__07-03-20__800_.jpg" width="288" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Schindler added, “The Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd and the demonstrations since then have focused particular attention on issues facing communities of color and much of our news coverage over the past three issues has explored that and the many demonstrations that have taken place across New York City”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The Dallas Voice has also had ongoing coverage of the local protests. “We have had at least two covers focused on the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ Pride,” said publisher Leo Cusimano. “And Dallas Voice as a company has signed onto letters in support of Black Lives Matter and calling for racism to be addressed in a substantial way. While I don't think our approach to intersectionality and issues of racial equality and justice has changed — our stance on these things remains the same — we have in the last month highlighted the importance of these issues more starkly.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Meanwhile, San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter has been covering the resurgence of Black Lives Matter via several recent protests.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I have been publishing op-eds by Black writers and writers of color — including a Pride essay this week — and we have editorialized on racism and the police, in one case specifically urging the San Francisco Police Department to move quickly to change its outdated dress codes after a non-binary officer was sent home for wearing earrings after kneeling in support of Black Lives Matter in front of a police station where marchers had gathered,” said BAR news editor Cynthia Laird.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“I would say that our news staff is more attuned to racial issues as they relate to the queer community, and that we're working on covering those consistently,” Laird added. “For example, while San Francisco's official Trans March is virtual this year, … Black trans people and others held a march in the Tenderloin — home of the city's Transgender Cultural District — and we did pre- and post-coverage.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">In Denver, Out Front Magazine published a two-page spread in its June 17 Pride issue devoted to staff members standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, alongside a rainbow BLM logo.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“My hearth is broken, but I believe we can take this momentum and do something good,” wrote editor Addison Herron-Wheeler. “The first Pride was a protest, and this year, we’re just getting back to our roots. Out Front stands with Black Lives Matter and will continue to fight for equality all year long.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The Washington Blade has published numerous columns and stories, including one on June 30 about LGBTQ events held in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Most notable was an event held in Richmond, Va., which served as capital of the Confederacy, hosted by Diversity Richmond. The June 27 event, called “Stonewall Rising: LGBTQ March for Black Lives,” commemorated the work begun by transgender activists of color Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.</span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS</b></span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span><br />
<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 4</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-77127095738091322532020-07-16T08:50:00.001-07:002020-07-16T08:50:11.908-07:00Trump allies target Blade political reporter<div class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>by Fred Kuhr</b></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Anti-LGBTQ Trump supporters recently set their sights on Washington Blade political reporter Chris Johnson.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Title VII applies to sexual orientation and gender identity. In other words, it is now illegal to fire someone just because they are LGBTQ. A month prior, in anticipation of the decision, Johnson — who is a member of the White House press corps — challenged current White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on her opposition to marriage equality as well as the administration’s views on the Supreme Court case.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Johnson (Photo by Michael Key)</td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“McEnany followed the lead of her three immediate predecessors in the job, avoiding the question and acting exasperated in the process,” reported Blade editor Kevin Naff. “[Then] after the briefing, Trump’s toadies in the right-wing twitterverse and blogosphere jumped into action, attacking Johnson with personal insults and anti-gay slurs. The instantaneous attacks came by the hundreds.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Names deployed in attacking Johnson included “Chrissy,” “light in the loafers,” “gaystapo clown,” and “faggot.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“This was no coincidence,” wrote Naff. “Trump has an army of mindless sycophants ready to defend him from any hint of challenge or criticism. From the big guns like Fox News and Rush Limbaugh to the bloggers at Breitbart and RedState and many more lesser-known figures, Trump deploys them to trash, threaten and intimidate anyone in the media deemed critical of his administration.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Naff made the connection between the attacks on Johnson and Trump’s often-stated position that the press is “the enemy of the people.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Make no mistake,” Naff noted, “we have a White House that openly threatens reporters, disdains the First Amendment, and emboldens its supporters to insult and intimidate journalists at outlets large and small.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Naff praised Johnson, who he called “a pro,” adding that all those working in LGBTQ media “have a pretty thick skin.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">“Kudos to Johnson and the other members of the White House press corps, who are working at personal risk to merely ask questions of this corrupt administration,” he added.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 4</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-38084415163482878222020-07-16T08:47:00.001-07:002020-07-16T08:47:43.661-07:00Guest Commentary: The first Pride was a riot<div class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>by <span style="color: black;">Lourdes Zavaleta</span></b></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>(Lourdes Zavaleta is the managing editor of OutSmart Magazine, based in Houston. Her editorial appeared in the June 2020 issue of the magazine and is reprinted here with permission.)</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">June is Pride Month, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the sad irony of commemorating the Stonewall Riots in New York City while the same kind of civil-rights protests are being seen nationwide in response to the senseless killings of George Floyd and so many other Black Americans.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lourdes Zavaleta</td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was handcuffed and then murdered outside of a grocery store by Minneapolis police on May 25. Two weeks earlier in Louisville, Ky., Breonna Taylor, a Black woman, was asleep in her bed when police officers broke in and shot her to death. In February, Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, was jogging in an upscale rural Georgia neighborhood when he was ambushed and murdered by neighborhood vigilantes. The list goes on.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">These incidents show a horrifying pattern of innocent Americans being brutalized because of the racial tensions that have existed in America for centuries. We cannot allow these injustices to occur any longer. It is time to expose and condemn racism and the white-supremacist (and anti-LGBTQ) organizations that traffic in hatred and lies.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">The LGBTQ community understands all too well the need to mobilize to resist police brutality. It is in our history. Each year, our Pride celebrations commemorate the breakthrough moment in the summer of 1969 when three LGBTQ women of color — Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Storme DeLaverie — kicked off the movement and pushed us to declare that we would no longer tolerate abuse from corrupt police officers. We had decided that it was time to live openly and authentically in a country that routinely demonized its LGBTQ citizens.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">OutSmart stands in full solidarity with the Black community in the fight against this systemic oppression. We call on all members of the LGBTQ community to use whatever privilege they have been afforded in the fight for justice.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">We can all promote racial justice by signing ballot-initiative petitions, donating to fundraisers for progressive candidates and their causes, sharing information and networking opportunities online, staying informed, voting, protesting, and more. A helpful resource list is found on the Black Lives Matter organization’s website at <a href="https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/"><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 136, 255); font-kerning: none;">blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Finally, we want to remind you to take a minute to send positive thoughts to the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and every victim of police brutality and racism. And don’t forget to check on your own friends and family who are grieving over these heartbreaking murders.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Black Lives Matter. Happy Pride.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>GUEST COMMENTARY</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 4</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-10783911990350792612020-07-16T08:44:00.002-07:002020-07-16T08:44:46.370-07:00Guest Commentary: Support exists for local news, but we need help<div class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>by the Bay Area Reporter</b></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>(The following editorial appeared in the May 13, 2020, edition of the Bay Area Reporter, based in San Francisco. It is reprinted here with permission.)</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">As the Bay Area Reporter forges ahead with its crowdfunding campaign to keep the newspaper operating during these difficult times, it was heartening to read a recent Gallup research paper that stated Americans agree that local news outlets should receive COVID-19 relief. While most of those surveyed did not rate federal financial support for local news as a top priority — only 9 percent — as research author Jeffrey M. Lyons pointed out, it's a hopeful sign indeed that any percentage of Americans is willing to support the idea of some sort of government funding.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Lyons' report is based on a recent Gallup/Knight Foundation survey from internet interviews conducted April 14-20, with a random sample of 1,693 adults, ages 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who are members of Gallup's panel.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Cynthia Laird</td></tr>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">According to the report, about half of Americans say they are very (14 percent) or moderately (35 percent) concerned that news organizations in their local area will be harmed by the financial downturn. "Concern is greater among those who pay a great deal of attention to local news, who currently subscribe to a local news source, who indicate a strong attachment to their local community, and who have a positive opinion of the news media, generally," the report states.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">But the number of unemployed Americans makes it unlikely that many can afford to pay for local news gathering. Twenty-eight percent of those surveyed say they currently subscribe to, donate to, or otherwise personally pay for local news. Among those who do not, just 13 percent say they are likely to pay for local news in some fashion in the coming year, with only 2 percent saying they are "very likely" to do so.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">As a free weekly newspaper, the BAR does not currently rely on reader subscriptions, nor do we have a paywall on our website. Our primary source of revenue comes from advertising, which has cratered during the coronavirus pandemic because so many businesses are closed. That is why we started the Indiegogo campaign over a month ago, and why we still need assistance from you.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">As we reported last week, our campaign has been extended because an anonymous donor has pledged to pay for transaction fees if we achieve our goal and to match contributions beyond it (until June 1). So the amount raised above $30,000 will be doubled to support journalism at San Francisco's independently owned, legacy LGBTQ+ community news source. As of this writing, we've raised just over $25,000, or 83 percent of our goal. Donations seem to have tapered off, and we really need your support to cross the finish line.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">So far, federal relief for the BAR from the Paycheck Protection Program is in process but has not yet materialized, and we did not receive one of the Facebook journalism grants that the social media company announced last week. We are waiting for answers to our applications for city programs and other grants, but the situation for us at this point is grim.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">The cancellation of San Francisco Pride's in-person parade and festival meant that we wouldn't have a huge Pride edition, our biggest issue of the year that typically draws in advertisers who want to let our readers know they support the LGBTQ community. But we'll need the support of potential advertisers beyond just LGBTQ Pride Month. And we're extremely grateful to those advertisers who continue to support us.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">"The coronavirus situation provided the local news sector with an opportunity to convince the public of the vital role it can play in shepherding them through a crisis, something Americans largely acknowledge," the Gallup report states. Whether it's a mainstream paper like the San Francisco Chronicle or a scrappy weekly like the BAR, now more than ever people are depending on local news outlets. We're publishing articles about how the public health crisis affects the LGBTQ community in myriad ways — scientific advances, nonprofit operations, available services, even hooking up. But we can only continue to do that if we continue to raise capital.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Just about every sector of the economy is in dire straits, so we are especially thankful for the hundreds of people who have already contributed to our campaign. But honestly, we need more help. To donate, go to <a href="https://bit.ly/3cmN5SI"><span class="s3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(158, 11, 15); font-kerning: none;">https://bit.ly/3cmN5SI</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Please help our freelancers and staff, and keep the BAR going in these tough times. For info, visit our <a href="https://bit.ly/2V8ucLY"><span class="s3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(158, 11, 15); font-kerning: none;">IndieGoGo campaign</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>GUEST COMMENTARY<br />Volume 22</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 4</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-18858309856326356462020-07-16T08:17:00.009-07:002020-07-16T08:42:16.327-07:00Pressing Questions: Unite Seattle Magazine of Seattle, Wash.<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Interview with Publisher and Editor at Large Mike Montgomery</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>by Joe Siegel</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Year founded: 2018</span></div>
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Staff size and breakdown: Three editors, 12 contributors, one production designer, four photographers, and three sales representatives</span></div>
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Physical dimensions: 8.5” x 10" glossy</span></div>
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Average page count: 64<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Print run: 1,500-3,000 copies</span></div>
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Web site: <a href="http://www.uniteseattlemag.com/">www.uniteseattlemag.com</a></span></div>
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***** </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What feature or features of Unite Seattle Magazine have been the most popular <br />
with readers? <br />
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Publisher and Editor at Large Mike Montgomery: Themed cover stories on politicians and local celebrities. Also, our fashion layouts are popular. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRAM9O_bda1meJCZrTZMGk8rfOHVUEjWbcwInQLzMjm-NEUof7jLtYEVFYf2R0-5LjGs7_QVp94htVj2aF4HBf6otL38H3EvlxTTGGanXHXTDWfTq5Tn8C0rc0YTvTPBRQl_KYicAa3g/s248/cropped-unite-logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="105" data-original-width="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRAM9O_bda1meJCZrTZMGk8rfOHVUEjWbcwInQLzMjm-NEUof7jLtYEVFYf2R0-5LjGs7_QVp94htVj2aF4HBf6otL38H3EvlxTTGGanXHXTDWfTq5Tn8C0rc0YTvTPBRQl_KYicAa3g/s0/cropped-unite-logo.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: Who came up with the name and what is the inspiration for it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Montgomery: Unite was created by Joey Amato for Unite Nashville and Unite Indianapo</span>lis. I wanted to license that name because I believe in collaboration and uniting the community.</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What challenge has your publication had to overcome since its inception?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Montgomery: Lack of full-time sales staff. But distribution has increased. </span></div>
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PPQ: What challenge or challenges is Unite Seattle facing now? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Montgomery: Lack of advertisers that are open for business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: How has Unite Seattle changed since it was first launched?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LYeOGATxkFVdfF1SaJfdNtNM1TEScuioB9uUkipvhTegkdb0BAfVOPkWHNpGoogsOm4Lyz7e-QYDtjVuMC9jS8RHuvxDFPxkbqkfcOr6iZQuW2EowzObesqlWmmw1Z1_S9VeUVMSQfA/s576/mike-montgomery_600xx576-384-0-93.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LYeOGATxkFVdfF1SaJfdNtNM1TEScuioB9uUkipvhTegkdb0BAfVOPkWHNpGoogsOm4Lyz7e-QYDtjVuMC9jS8RHuvxDFPxkbqkfcOr6iZQuW2EowzObesqlWmmw1Z1_S9VeUVMSQfA/w256-h170/mike-montgomery_600xx576-384-0-93.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Montgomery</td></tr>
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Montgomery: We have gotten bigger in size with a professional design. We are also available in local grocery stores, bookstores, newsstands, and co-ops. We are the first locally-owned LGBT publication to be sold exclusively in retail and by subscription. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What one change would you like to make? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Montgomery: I’d like to expand our online presence.</span></div>
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PPQ: On the Kinsey Scale of 0-6, how gay is your publication?</span></div>
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Montgomery: 3.</div>
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PPQ: Do you see yourself as an 'activist journalist'? If so, in what <br />
way? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Montgomery: I am a traditional journalist, always interested in reinventing print and all media. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What's the most surprising feedback you've received from a reader?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Montgomery: 1) The mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan, told me that Unite Seattle is needed in this community. 2) Some people objecting to our choice of Person of the Year, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. She is a far-left Democrat with a soft leaning towards socialism. That was shocking coming from a progressive area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">PPQ: What advice would you give to anyone who may want to launch their <br />
own LGBTQ publication? </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Montgomery: Do your homework. Create a niche that people will realize the importance from the get-go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>PRESSING QUESTIONS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 4</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-14138775330665212162020-06-15T10:09:00.000-07:002020-06-15T10:09:04.973-07:00TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b><i>(What's happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at <a href="mailto:editor@presspassq.com">editor@presspassq.com</a>)</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>GEORGE BAKAN</b>, the longtime publisher of SEATTLE GAY NEWS, passed away on June 9, 2020, while working at his desk on the newspaper he helmed since 1983. He was 78.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2Xp2oYUf6idD5iszQWwgkFteQ8YrHpuOa-K6vnJ0Ov9ltyzZyw0l67QNGbPZHPaMtXCdPAIPCWYuGBucgKsG0ZYvZLKTJHuDdVP-kSgwQ4yv2bKpgT7vhH2UM1WrDNsCoBxTNRAi4uQ/s1600/Bakan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2Xp2oYUf6idD5iszQWwgkFteQ8YrHpuOa-K6vnJ0Ov9ltyzZyw0l67QNGbPZHPaMtXCdPAIPCWYuGBucgKsG0ZYvZLKTJHuDdVP-kSgwQ4yv2bKpgT7vhH2UM1WrDNsCoBxTNRAi4uQ/s200/Bakan.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seattle Gay News' George Bakan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>BAY AREA REPORTER</b>, based in San Francisco, announced last month that its Indiegogo fundraising appeal for another month due to a matching offer from an anonymous donor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>CHICAGO READER</b>, published by TRACY BAIM, formerly of WINDY CITY TIMES, has released its first cookbook, “Reader Recipes: Chicago Cooks At Home.” with recipes from more than 90 of the city’s best chefs and bartenders. Books are available for purchase at <a href="https://windycitymediagroup.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5e373b2474a5dd5128179b005&id=3c9c224e31&e=9fc60bbf47"><span style="color: blue; font-kerning: none;">chicagoreader.com/recipebook</span></a>. Fifteen percent of the book’s sales will benefit COMP TAB RELIEF FUND, an alliance to help hospitality workers laid-off or furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>DALLAS VOICE</b> is among 17 newspapers in Texas, and one of only three LGBTQ newspapers nationwide, to be included in the latest round of grants handed out by the FACEBOOK JOURNALISM PROJECT, the LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM and the LOCAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION. The grants are being awarded to support COVID-19 news reporting by helping fill gaps for resource-constrained local newsrooms. The newspaper also celebrated its 36th anniversary in its May 8, 2020, issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>MONTROSE STAR</b>, based in Houston, entered its 11th year of publication with its April 1, 2020, issue.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIg6J4GhytRHeUYQN4N6UN5ruyK1f7yv6MaO1rQ7BUwburN3TF4Gh7dkXS26Ghmik86Wm15kZdPWjnxLXriZ2IuIwa7Vwgn0ShhpQBNI4ZDYI9J5v0V4IenNsHx9xi1nOkaqyR9iAH_7M/s1600/SFBT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIg6J4GhytRHeUYQN4N6UN5ruyK1f7yv6MaO1rQ7BUwburN3TF4Gh7dkXS26Ghmik86Wm15kZdPWjnxLXriZ2IuIwa7Vwgn0ShhpQBNI4ZDYI9J5v0V4IenNsHx9xi1nOkaqyR9iAH_7M/s1600/SFBT.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist Debra Walker's special<br />San Francisco Bay Times cover</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>OUR LIVES</b>, based in Madison, Wisc., announced that it has been forced to slow down its statewide expansion efforts due to lost revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The publication also noted that it had to dip into funds earmarked for the development of its new website and its nonprofit foundation in order to sustain regular business operations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>UNITE SEATTLE</b> celebrated its second anniversary in its Spring 2020 issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>DEBRA WALKER</b>, an artist who was appointed to the San Francisco Art Commission in March, created a special cover for the May 7, 2020, edition of the SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES. The image is meant to capture the social distancing aspect of the coronavirus pandemic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>THE WASHINGTON BLADE</b> has postponed its annual summer kickoff party in Rehoboth Beach, Del., our to the coronavirus pandemic. It is now slated for Friday, September 11, as a summer closing party, if large gatherings are permitted at that time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>PETER WOLFF</b>, editor and publisher for 35 years of INTOWNER, a community newspaper covering Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, died April 13, 2020, at his Dupont Circle home. He is survived by his partner of 48 years, Kerry Touchette. He was 84.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 3</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-71585307720757454622020-06-15T10:01:00.002-07:002020-06-15T10:10:28.785-07:00LGBTQ media report from the middle of anti-racism protests<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Blade photo editor hit with rubber bullets, tear gas</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>by Joe Siegel</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In a month when LGBTQ media outlets would normally be covering Pride celebrations, they are instead covering violent clashes between police and protesters in major cities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A nationwide series of marches organized by Black Lives Matter activists have been held following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last month. The uprising comes on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic, which has been in the headlines since March.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Not surprisingly, the coverage of Floyd’s death has drawn comparisons to discrimination faced by members of the LGBT community.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggik4HDHIG67chySlFBqyIPqUJdB_dgiykmEPBF68BmaplqUj8YuunhCp9Pz1MBFTwfBDr_3yt7q7nTCxcP0ykzM_h6cKcC1sYqryFt9FvGiD2w27lfnhyphenhyphenBX_rqfSrIxSSfXsqQtwxlI/s1600/Dallas+Voice+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggik4HDHIG67chySlFBqyIPqUJdB_dgiykmEPBF68BmaplqUj8YuunhCp9Pz1MBFTwfBDr_3yt7q7nTCxcP0ykzM_h6cKcC1sYqryFt9FvGiD2w27lfnhyphenhyphenBX_rqfSrIxSSfXsqQtwxlI/s320/Dallas+Voice+cover.png" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dallas Voice's Standing in Solidarity cover</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Minneapolis-based Lavender Magazine posted a statement about the murder on its website, which read in part: “The show of grief, anger, and sadness, as well as the subsequent display of community connection, camaraderie, and charity across all of our interlocking local communities —be they people of color, GLBT folk, artists, faith leaders, businesspeople, and more — is a stark reminder of how far we’ve come as a society, and how far we still have to go, especially in regards to remedying systemic injustices that people of color deal with everyday. Healing doesn’t just happen in a day, but Lavender is committed to being part of the healing process and making for a better community.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Thankfully, Lavender has not been directly negatively impacted by the pandemic nor the violence in its city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“We have not been affected by the COVID-19 virus — no employees laid off, no furloughs, no wage cuts, no hours cut, no tapping of cash reserves, no use of lines of credit, or corporate investment funds,” said Stephen Rocheford, president and CEO of Lavender. But he noted, “Lavender’s office used to be on the same block where George Floyd was murdered.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Washington Blade’s offices are located on a street that was the site of a protest in the nation’s capital.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Our offices haven't been affected or damaged,” said editor Kevin Naff. “Our photo editor, Michael Key, was covering [the protest] when he was hit by two rubber bullets and tear gas. He was also physically threatened after taking photos of a protester who was committing vandalism.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">At sister publication the Los Angeles Blade, “Our team is working amidst curfew restraints. West Hollywood has a 4 p.m. curfew today with more protests planned, which [news editor] Karen Ocamb is planning to cover,” Naff continued. “This is a fluid situation but as of now we are still publishing print editions in both cities.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Blade published an op-ed by columnist Peter Rosenstein calling for the arrest and charging of the three additional officers “who clearly stood by and let Officer Derek Chauvin murder George Floyd.” Those officers were subsequently arrested and charged. "Police officers must be subject to the law and held accountable. We must demand from the overwhelming number of good officers, those who risk their lives every day to protect us, that they speak up when those in their ranks commit a crime.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">New York City’s Gay City News also reported from an epicenter of violent protests. “Thousands hit the streets of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens … for the eighth straight day of protests citywide following the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer,” according to a June 5 report. “In Brooklyn, cops again arrested peaceful protesters for violating Mayor Bill de Blasio’s 8 p.m. curfew, and several demonstrators were repeatedly hit with batons and thrown to the ground as the curfew entered its fourth night.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Chicago’s Windy City Times has been largely unaffected by the city’s protests, according to Publisher Andrew Davis. The publication’s staff has no office and everyone works from home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">As for the reporting on the ongoing conflict between law enforcement and activists, Davis was direct: “We plan to cover this like we cover everything else — from an LGBTQ+ perspective.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>TOP STORY</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 3</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-35837526027972049612020-06-15T09:55:00.001-07:002020-06-15T09:55:48.171-07:00Covering Pride, and making ad revenue, virtually in 2020<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>by Joe Siegel</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The decision of various Pride organizations to cancel June’s annual series of parades and festivals due to the fear of attendees spreading COVID-19 continues to impact LGBTQ media in various ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Michael Yamashita, the publisher of San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter, said the cancellation of the city’s Pride will be “devastating.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“It's the year's biggest issue and helps to carry us through the third and fourth quarters,” Yamashita said. “It's the same for any LGBTQ business where Pride is canceled. This year is our Pride's 50th anniversary, so it's particularly painful for San Francisco.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">San Francisco Pride will be part of the Global Pride virtual celebration on June 27 and will be sharing their content with BAR, according to news editor Cynthia Laird.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Los Angeles is also forgoing its annual Pride celebration. Christopher Street West — the organization that produces L.A. Pride — announced the cancellation of their festivities last month. In solidarity with activists protesting racial injustice, CSW then just planned to participate in a peaceful protest march set for Sunday, June 14.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGn15PAYsNZ9i1mNRqhILn0x-QahyphenhyphenuUjBRx3DwXb5TpEpuW9qmgnkqqClWORdwQZkCONj1TbaEctJxmPn9WT1KNyzxI-cZhYbcRwtnOhDeWBx86jGu071ZYId4PA20GUERGj_FVS7ga8/s1600/PridePartiesLogo-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1600" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGn15PAYsNZ9i1mNRqhILn0x-QahyphenhyphenuUjBRx3DwXb5TpEpuW9qmgnkqqClWORdwQZkCONj1TbaEctJxmPn9WT1KNyzxI-cZhYbcRwtnOhDeWBx86jGu071ZYId4PA20GUERGj_FVS7ga8/s320/PridePartiesLogo-scaled.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;">Initial reports stated that CSW was helping in the organizing of the march. But that changed on June 9 when CSW officials announced on Twitter that they didn’t coordinate with Black Lives Matter leaders before publicly announcing the solidarity march scheduled to take place on the date when the L.A. Pride March would have been held. “For that, we apologize to the Black Lives Matter organizers,” CSW said in the post. “Conversations did continue and grew to later include leaders from Black Lives Matter L.A., and subsequently, an Advisory Board of Black LGBTQ+ leaders has formed to lead the upcoming All Black Lives Matter solidarity march.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Los Angeles Blade is making the best of an unusual situation, according to editor Troy Masters. “We are partnering with [WABC-TV] for an ABC7 broadcast and doing a month of special issues that will also allow us to offer something to the many street vendors who will not otherwise be able to reach the community,” said Masters. “I'm trying to sell them and we've had some success pivoting. We are doing our own weekly streaming chat and the sponsorship for that sold very, very well. It will be a hit but not as big of a hit as we had feared.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Since annual Pride parties have been cancelled or postponed, Lavender Magazine in Minneapolis is creating a series of 100 “Pride @ Home Parties,” which are also fundraisers for Avenues For Youth, a local social service agency. From June 26-28, the parties will be hosted with the help of “party starter kits” for sale. The magazine is encouraging people to party via Zoom or in driveways with neighbours at a safe social distance. Photos will be taken at each event and will appear in Lavender’s Pride in Pictures issue on July 30.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Philadelphia Gay News ran a June 3 story about the cancellation of that city’s Pride. “Our inability to gather in person this year is devastating,” said Celena Morrison, the city’s executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs. “At a time when our community — and our entire country — is suffering such great pain in the wake of COVID-19, the economic devastation caused by the virus, and nationwide protests over the killing of unarmed Black people, the loss of a celebration like Pride stings even more. But I know our community will come out of this stronger.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Philly Pride planned to go virtual on Sunday, June 14, following a trend in online celebrations. “In the issue before Pride, we’ll basically do an events roundup, and then our Pride issue will be the week after, so we’ll have more content and our ad reps have more time,” noted PGN editor Jess Bryant. “Two weeks was not a lot of notice.”</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dallas Voice's Tammy Nash</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Tammye Nash, managing editor of the Dallas Voice, added, “The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on Pride celebrations around the world, and other Pride-related events here in North Texas have not escaped unscathed. The North Texas Pride celebration, usually held in mid-June, has been moved to September, and the Dallas Arts District’s Pride Block Party, also scheduled for June, has been cancelled. … Houston Pride, originally scheduled for June 27, has been postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date this fall.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">New York City, which holds one of the most attended Pride celebrations in the world, has also been at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. LGBTQ media outlets in the city are still proceeding with their Pride coverage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“We plan to mark Pride in our June 18 issue,” said Paul Schindler, Gay City News editor and associate publisher. “And we know that among many virtual events being planned, the organizers of the various Pride events in NYC — the main one in Manhattan as well as the borough events in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island — plan to participate in the Global Pride virtual event being organized by InterPride and the European Pride Organisers Association for June 27, so we will be out in time for that.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS</b></span></div>
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<b>Volume 22</b></div>
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<b>Issue 3</b></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-648360614926375552020-06-15T09:48:00.000-07:002020-06-15T09:49:03.259-07:00“Firebrand” Larry Kramer remembered by LGBTQ media he influenced<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>by Joe Siegel</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The recent passing of legendary playwright and outspoken AIDS activist Larry Kramer is being remembered by various LGBTQ media outlets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Kramer, 84, died from pneumonia in New York City on May 27. In 1981, Kramer founded the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the first service organization for HIV-positive people.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gay City News cover remembering<br />Larry Kramer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">He later organized a more militant group, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), whose street actions demanding faster government action to approve AIDS medications and an end to discrimination against gay men and lesbians severely disrupted the operations of government offices, Wall Street and the Roman Catholic hierarchy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Kramer’s autobiographical 1985 play, “The Normal Heart,” was critically acclaimed and later adapted into an HBO movie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Kramer’s 1983 essay in the New York Native — the venerable gay newspaper that ceased publication in 1997 — was an impassioned plea on behalf of all those impacted by AIDS:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“After almost two years of an epidemic, there still are no answers. After almost two years of an epidemic, the cause of AIDS remains unknown. After almost two years of an epidemic, there is no cure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Hospitals are now so filled with AIDS patients that there is often a waiting period of up to a month before admission, no matter how sick you are. And, once in, patients are now more and more being treated like lepers as hospital staffs become increasingly worried that AIDS is infectious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Suicides are now being reported of men who would rather die than face such medical uncertainty, such uncertain therapies, such hospital treatment, and the appalling statistic that 86 percent of all serious AIDS cases die after three years' time.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News, called Kramer “a firebrand when our community needed one.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“He will long be remembered for his fight to get the government and medical science to focus on HIV/AIDS. What the government and science learned from that effort are being utilized today in the fight against coronavirus,” said Segal. “That’s a legacy.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Segal recalled a time, eight years ago, when he, Kramer and other gay rights pioneers were all on a float together at New York City’s Pride parade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“[Kramer] argued with everyone, which was his nature,” said Segal. “After we got off the float, I was met by my friend Rob and his dog Butch. Larry invited us to his apartment. It was fun to watch this angry man playing with the dog rolling all over the floor laughing. I think that’s a part of Larry few got to see.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Kevin Naff, editor of the Washington Blade, called Kramer "a force of nature and a source of inspiration for so many of us involved in the LGBTQ movement, including me. His mantra of using anger as a motivator still resonates today. The Blade interviewed him many times over the years, beginning in 1982 when two of our staff writers traveled to New York City to talk to him about the early cases of AIDS in the city. We last talked to him at World Pride last summer in New York. He could be cantankerous and a tough interview, but was always accessible and eloquent. He will be missed.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Andrew Davis, managing editor of Chicago’s Windy City Times, noted that Kramer’s importance and influence are “essentially incalculable.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Through his activism and literary contributions, Kramer gave a voice to those who lacked one,” said Davis. “LGBTQ media justifiably interviewed and analyzed this amazing man. If it weren't for his incredible actions, LGBTQ — and, eventually, mainstream — media would probably have published a very different narrative regarding HIV/AIDS. Larry Kramer essentially altered history.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>IN THE NEWS</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 3</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635365692782291833.post-42563052101868743242020-06-15T09:43:00.003-07:002020-06-15T09:46:02.492-07:00A free press must not be taken for granted<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<b>Guest Commentary</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>by Michael K. Lavers</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>(Michael K. Lavers is the international news editor of the Washington Blade. This originally appeared in the newspaper’s June 5, 2020, issue. It is reprinted here with permission.) </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is safe to say the vast majority of journalists do everything they can to not become the story. The Cuban government on May 8, 2019, took that choice away from me when I <a href="https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/05/10/did-this-really-just-happen-to-me/">was detained</a> at Havana’s José Martí International Airport for seven hours.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael K. Lavers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The Cuban government has not said why it decided not to allow me into the country, and any expectation that I will receive an official explanation is a laughable pipe dream. I do, however, have a couple of theories as to why Cuba decided to declare me persona non grata.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">One theory is the Cuban government did not want me to cover an unsanctioned LGBTQ rights march in Havana that activists announced would take place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Reporters from the U.S. and other countries who are based in Cuba covered the event, which happened three days after I was not allowed into the country. These journalists and their Cuban colleagues also reported Cuban police arrested several people who participated in the march.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Many of the activists who organized the march have publicly criticized Mariela Castro, the daughter of former Cuban President Raúl Castro who spearheads LGBTQ-specific issues as director of Cuba’s National Center for Sexual Education.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A second theory as to why I was not allowed into the country is Mariela Castro, who is a member of Cuba’s National Assembly, wanted me to be declared persona non grata because she was unhappy with my coverage of her country’s independent LGBTQ rights movement from my previous trips to the Communist island.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The aforementioned theories are not mutually exclusive because there is no such thing as coincidence in Cuba. What happened to me last May is most certainly part of a broader story about the treatment of journalists around the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The U.S. State Department’s <a href="https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/03/12/state-department-releases-annual-human-rights-report-4/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 97, 128); color: #256180;">2019 human rights report,</span></a> which notes my detention in Havana, points out the Cuban government “does not recognize independent journalism, and independent journalists sometimes faced government harassment, including detention and physical abuse.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Yariel Valdés González, a contributor to the Washington and Los Angeles Blades <a href="https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/03/04/blade-contributor-wins-asylum-case-released-from-ice-custody/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 97, 128); color: #256180;">has won asylum in the U.S.</span></a> because of the persecution he suffered in Cuba as a journalist. The Cuban government last December <a href="https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/12/02/journalist-maykel-gonzalez-vivero-prohibited-from-leaving-cuba/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 97, 128); color: #256180;">prohibited</span></a> Maykel González Vivero, director of <a href="http://www.tremendanota.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 97, 128); color: #256180;">Tremenda Nota,</span></a> the Blades’ media partner on the Communist island, from traveling outside the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Authorities on the same day I was not allowed into the country arrested Luz Escobar, a reporter for <a href="https://www.14ymedio.com/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 97, 128); color: #256180;">14ymedio,</span></a> an independent website founded by Yoani Sánchez, a prominent critic of the Cuban government, as she tried to interview victims of a freak tornado that devastated parts of Havana in January 2019.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sunday, May 3, was the 27th annual World Press Freedom Day, and President Trump acknowledged it with a tweet that once again proclaimed the media is “the enemy of the people.” This type of incendiary rhetoric has not only had very real consequences in the U.S., but empowers authoritarian regimes around the world to further target journalists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The White House ought to defend a free press, which the First Amendment protects, but this wishful thinking seems more elusive than an official explanation from the Cuban government that confirms my theories as to why it declared me persona non grata.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Journalists in the U.S. should be able to work without worrying about whether Trump’s inflammatory and politically motivated rhetoric will inspire someone to target them. Journalists in Cuba should be able to work without worrying about whether their government will sanction and/or arrest them. Journalists in the U.S., Cuba and around the world should be able to work without fear of retribution and retaliation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">A free press is something I no longer take for granted. It is incumbent upon all of us to defend it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>GUEST COMMENTARY</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Volume 22</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Issue 3</b></span></div>
Fred Kuhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03298597368333522189noreply@blogger.com0