San Diego LGBT Media – What you should know about the publications that support the community:

Southern California is lucky- our LGBT community is vast, diverse, and proud.   We’re mothers.  We’re fathers.  We’re business owners.  We’re the next generation of activists.  We go wine tasting.  We hit the clubs and dance our butts off until last call.  We frequent coffee shops with our laptops.  We organize marches and demonstrations in support of equality.  We write letters.  We send emails.  We play records.  We listen to satellite radio.    Yet no matter what walk of life we come from, what our likes are, and what our passions are, we’re lucky to know that our local LGBT media outlets are as diverse as we are, and we’re lucky to know that all of them are committed to making our community a better place.  

 

Recently- one of our own launched a blanket attack against the other San Diego publications, suggesting that these “so-called papers” were little more then “junk media outlets” that “aren’t doing the community any favors” (Gay and Lesbian Times, 18-Jun-2009 in issue 1121), but we at PIX are well aware of the charities we’ve worked with and philanthropic efforts we’ve supported. Sure, we could just publish an editorial about our involvements- but instead we thought we’d extend an invitation to the other publications to join in on a collaborative piece highlighting each of our contributions to the community and the fight for equality.

 

 

Positive Media for Positive Change

Johnathan Hale

Publisher, SD PIX

 

“San Diego Pride has partnered with SD PIX this year to create a series of phenomenal pre-Pride events to enhance the efforts of San Diego Pride for the betterment of our community.  This will all culminate with the Official Circuit Parties of San Diego Pride, of which a sizable donation will be made to support the programs of San Diego Pride including grants to local community organizations. Johnathan Hale of SD PIX has been an energetic, enthusiastic, and dedicated community leader, donating his time, effort and resources to increase the fundraising capabilities and community outreach efforts of San Diego Pride.” ” – Ron DeHarte, Executive Director, San Diego Pride

 

SD PIX emerged onto the local scene seven years ago and has since launched itself into the forefront of the “who, what, when, and where” of the San Diego LGBT community.

We’ve always focused on being a positive media outlet, primarily catering to things related to entertainment-  but that doesn’t mean we’re narrow minded in our business plan.   We believe that what you put out to the universe is what you ultimately attract and we attribute a lot of our success to our commitment to the community.   PIX is not just a party magazine-  it’s something that every organization we’ve partnered with- be it AIDS Walk San Diego, FILMOUT San Diego, Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego, Hillcrest Mardi Gras, Lambda Archives San Diego, Mamas Kitchen, San Diego Nicky Awards, San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, San Diego Human Rights Campaign, San Diego Pride, South Bay Pride, Stepping Stone, The Center San Diego, The Imperial Court De San Diego, The San Diego Men’s Chorus,  or the Youth Housing Project;  has benefited from due to our ability to reach people they might otherwise not have been able to reach.

 

“Using innovative media to produce high quality, well attended, profitable community fundraising events allows San Diego Pride to reach new and diverse populations while raising funds that are essential to producing San Diego Pride, the largest civil rights demonstration in San Diego County”-  Ron DeHarte

 

Dissemination of information is key to the success of any event. We’ve embraced the use of SMS technology to help get the word out on events, rallies and community action alerts. In the past 24 months more then 1,500 LGBT individuals have opted in to receive our alerts. We’ve sent out messages to promote the Mama’s Pantry food drive, Dine Out for Life, and last November PIX delivered several messages to our members regarding the various No on Prop 8 rallies. Users than forward those on to their friends, who forwarded them on to their friends and then bam! 20,000 strong!

 

The nature of our business revolves around on one on one interaction- and doing so allows us to connect with both the older and younger generations.  We think that’s important because we’re connecting with the people who will be out there supporting our movement in the years to come.  We’re not only supporting community- we’re helping create it, and we’re proud to be part of that.  

 

 

A Few Fun Facts About FlawLes

Mary Buckheit

Columnist, FlawLes

 

Your homegrown lesbian lifestyle and entertainment magazine has been hard at work and there’s a lot to be proud of.  Like the creation and execution of the renowned Tie Party—an event “tying” our community together to raise money for Equality California. We were proud sponsors of San Diego Film Out. Just last month we raised almost one thousand dollars in one night (at our weekly women’s happy hour, Thursdays at Universal Hillcrest) to aid in the recovery of our sister, Rhythm Turner — a San Diegan and strong survivor of a hate crime. We’re especially proud of the way we rallied for a friend. FlawLes Magazine has been making waves ever since it chic, glossy design hit the stands and FlawLes TV reaches a vastly international youth audience, a partnership we’re proud to have forged.

 

FlawLes has been a consistent sponsor of AIDS Walk San Diego, Dining Out for Life, Wigfest, Annual Women’s Night, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, San Diego Pride and just about every other LGBTQ philanthropic opportunity brought to our attention.  We donate our resources in the form of print and online advertising, graphic design, entertainment, photography and hard work, and are very thankful for our loyal supporters, donors, friends and lovers. 

 

We’re not ones to boast– after all, we believe Les is more — but we sure are proud of our role in this community.

 

Turning a Negative into a Positive

Bill Biss

Editor-In-Chief, The Rage Monthly

 

“The GLBT community should understand that such junk gay media, the papers with the pretty boy covers week after week, aren’t doing this community any favors.” – Robert DeKoven/The Gay & Lesbian Times – published June 18, 2009 in Issue 1121.

 

Beginning with the very first issue printed of The Rage Monthly in June of 2007, it has been the mission statement of publisher, Jay Jones, to create a LGBT community magazine that spotlights the world of entertainment, local theatre events, lifestyle, fashion and community.

 

An important aspect in the creation of magazine was to become involved in helping organizations in our community that help others. In every month’s issue, we spotlight a member of our community who volunteers their time to help a non-profit organization. The Rage Monthly is proud to know that the numerous organizations listed below have benefited from The Rage Monthly’s sponsorship and editorial coverage over the past two years:

 

AIDS Walk San Diego

Auntie Helen’s

Compass Theatre

Coors Light San Diego Rodeo

FILMOUT San Diego

Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego

Gentlemen’s Martini Night

Health Centers of San Diego

Hillcrest Mardi Gras

Hillcrest Wind Ensemble

Lambda Archives San Diego

Mamas Kitchen

PAWS. San Diego

Rob Benzon Foundation

San Diego Nicky Awards

San Diego Human Dignity Foundation

San Diego Human Rights Campaign

San Diego Pride

South Bay Pride

Stepping Stone

Summer Sports Classic San Diego

The Center San Diego

The Imperial Court De San Diego

The San Diego Men’s Chorus

Youth Housing Project

 

The BottomLine and PULP Magazine- Proud to Support the LGBT Community

Tim Beale, Saputo/Beale Enterprises

The BottomLine, PULP

Publisher

 

It is a sad day when we as a community must respond to unrehearsed attacks by one of our very own. We were requested to join a collaborative effort in response to the commentary presented in the Gay and Lesbian Times, 18-Jun-2009 in issue 1121, by Robert DeKoven titled “Beyond the Briefs.” The request was not to dispute the “facts” as Mr. DeKoven presents them, but to inform the community what we as a publication have contributed in support of community organizations and the ongoing fight for equal rights.

 

Saputo/Beale Enterprises, Inc. purchased The BottomLine and PULP magazines, based in Palm Springs, CA, nine years ago, and in 2007 we purchased Buzz Magazine with roots in San Diego, CA. Over the last nine years we have been staunch supporters of our LBGT community, donating a verifiable hundreds of thousands of dollars in support to our community through editorial space, advertising and money. This is in addition to the tens of thousands of dollars in silent auction items that publishers Rick Saputo and Tim Beale have purchased at charity events.

 

I have always been reluctant to publicize the degree of our involvement with and contributions to LGBT causes and organizations as I generally view such disclosures as gratuitous self-promotion and prefer instead to let our actions speak for our commitment to the community. Several years ago I received a blanket email that announced how much a certain gay media publisher was donating in advertising space to the community and felt that such behavior bordered on flagrant self-importance and pretentiousness. However, in light of Mr. DeKoven’s commentary, I am compelled to join my peers in responding to his allegations of indifference and apathy with regard to local gay media.

 

Saputo/Beale Enterprises, Inc. provides sponsorship and editorial space to a number of San Diego non-profit organizations and cultural and community events. Included on this comprehensive list is the Greater San Diego Business Association as the Strategic Media Partner, San Diego LGBT Pride, the Human Dignity Foundation, the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, PAWS San Diego, Mama’s Kitchen, the Nicky Awards, Hillcrest Mardi Gras, the San Diego Men’s Chorus, Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego, the San Diego Women’s Chorus, Diversionary Theatre, Compass Theatre and The Old Globe Theatre.

 

In Palm Springs, Saputo/Beale Enterprises, Inc. works with Desert AIDS Project, AIDS Assistance Program, Palm Springs Pride, the Desert Pride Community Center, Prime Timers of the Desert, PSLOD, the Palm Springs International Film Society, the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, The Living Desert, Desert Winds Freedom Band, the McCallum Theatre, the Thorny Theater, and countless other charities.

 

Publisher Rick Saputo is on the current board of directors for Equality California and Publisher Tim Beale is a past board member of Gay Associated Youth.

 

Mr. DeKoven states that the Gay and Lesbian Times would qualify for nonprofit status “because it serves an educational function.” Using Mr. DeKoven’s logic all print media should qualify for nonprofit status, including Time, Newsweek, and the San Diego Union Tribune, because they all serve as an educational tool. But in the end, they are all for-profit businesses, including the Gay and Lesbian Times.

 

These are challenging times for all print media and we must adapt and work together. But regardless of the pressures and difficulties inflicted upon us by external forces, what will never diminish is our support for the LGBT community.

 

We believe that the fight should not be within our own community, but rather for equality.

 

 

No matter if you’re gay, straight, bi, trans, questioning, confused, queer, political, a computer geek, book nerd, wine lover, partygoer, or a homebody; we’re here to support you.  We report on entertainment, queer issues, political happenings, community events, and outreach efforts.    But most notably- we’re all proud of the fact that we’re all making a positive impact to our community in different, dynamic, and unique ways.  

 

So thank you, San Diego- for supporting us, for supporting each other, and most of all, for supporting diversity.