DC Agenda Born

Writes editor Kevin Naff:

"The former staff of the Washington Blade remains united and DC Agenda represents our effort at continuing the important mission and work of the Blade. It will grow and evolve to include a much larger and more diverse group of voices. But the core of the Washington Blade’s work remains unchanged. We will cover Congress, the White House, the LGBT rights movement, the D.C. marriage fight, local hate crimes and other political issues important to the LGBT residents of the city. It’s been a tough week for us, but we are buoyed by the outpouring of support from people all over the city and beyond. We welcome and need your help and will respond to each offer as soon as possible. Thank you to all who have pledged to stick with us, especially our advertisers. Please visit savetheblade.com for updated information on DC Agenda or to make a gift to support the new venture."

News: Spencer Tunick, Bijou, Michelle Bachmann, Bullying, Otters

Washington Post calls for protection of Washington Blade's historic archives: "Every effort should be made to keep the archive accessible to researchers and historians." Closure raises questions...More from Gay City News...

Photographer Spencer Tunick seeks gays and lesbians for mass Sydney Mardi Gras nude shoot: “I want someone who is straight to lie peacefully naked next to someone who is gay. I think the act, not only making the work, but the act itself is a calming of the senses.”

If a gay man calls you an otter, is this what he's referring to?

Sirdeaner Walker and two other mothers urge Massachusetts lawmakers to pass anti-bullying bill.

Charges dropped in Perez Hilton assault case: "Black Eyed Peas manager Liborio Molina apologized to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton as part of an agreement allowing assault charges against him to be dropped, lawyers said Wednesday. 'I apologize for what I did on June 22 of 2009, even though you engaged in highly offensive comments ... I acknowledge that these kinds of issues should not be resolved through a physical response,' the apology read. Hilton told The Associated Press in an e-mail he was happy Molina had accepted responsibility for his actions."

The Insider goes on Levi Johnston's photo shoot.

Man found dead in Bijou theater in Chicago.

CREW: Michelle Bachmann's teabagger rally may have violated House rules. "Bachmann's site urged people to come to the Capitol rally 'and tell their Representatives to vote no' on the health-care reform bill. House rules prohibit members from using their sites -- which are funded by taxpayers -- to conduct 'grassroots lobbying or solicit support for a Member's position.' CREW also alleges that Bachmann and her allies may have violated other House rules by holding a rally without a permit. News reports suggest the event's organizer's made an effort to call it a press conference, for which a permit wouldn't be needed. But no questions were asked at the event, and in a TV interview beforehand, Bachmann urged supporters 'to come to Washington, D.C. by the car load.'"

Beyond Gay: Lesbian and gay man attempt to get it on in sequel to Humpday.

ChurchOuting: Site outs closeted Catholic priests.

The spy who loved him: Trial of gay spy and Macedonian interpreter/lover, to whom he leaked classified secrets, grips Germany. "Spiegel magazine reported that this included information obtained by British agents, and that K. revealed it 'in the bedroom' or by allowing his lover access to his laptop computer. The latter 'then intended to pass this information on either to people in the area of organised crime in Macedonia or to foreign intelligence agencies,' federal prosecutors said. For the defence, however, the two men are victims of a homophobic witch-hunt within the BND, which since the affair broke has reportedly been forced to sever contacts with at least 19 information sources in the Balkans."

Vman celebrates legendary male models.

Rosie O'Donnell: Partner Kelli Carpenter moved out two years ago.

Seven tips for dissolving gay unions.

Gay Philippine party Ladlad appeals to elections board for reconsideration.

Police use taser on 10-year-old girl: "According to a report filed by Bradshaw on Thursday, the officer found the girl on the floor of the house screaming and crying. She refused to follow her mother's instructions and the mother told Bradshaw to use his Taser. Bradshaw carried the girl to the living room and told her she was going to jail, according to the report. The girl was violently kicking, the report said, and struck Bradshaw in the groin with her legs and feet. The report said Bradshaw administered a 'very, very brief' stun with the Taser, put the girl in handcuffs and carried her to his patrol car. She was taken to the Western Arkansas Youth Shelter in Cecil."

Plans, Concerns, Questions Arise from Death of Washington Blade

The Washington Blade, along with all of Window Media's publications including the Southern Voice, was shut down abruptly yesterday. Here are a number of updates, which include statements from the Blade's editor Kevin Naff about the new publication they're planning, and concern regarding the paper's archives, and questions about the closure that remain.

Amanda Hess at Washington City Paper chronicles the final hours of the Washington Blade. 

City Paper: "Robbie Barnett, one of the guys in the purple shirts, is back from unloading another dolly full of Blade leftovers. Barnett worked as the Blade’s distribution coordinator until this morning, when he walked into the office in the middle of the closure announcement. Barnett says the news came directly from COO Steve Myers and CFO Mike Kitchens. Myers is the one in the eye-patch, Barnett says: 'I think he might be ill or something.' Myers and Kitchens did most of the talking, Barnett says. 'None of us really said anything.' The atmosphere, he says, was just 'grim.'"

LGBT POV reports on the new venture reportedly rising from the Blade's ashes:

"Speaking as the former editor for the Washington Blade, Kevin Naff told LGBT POV that the staff arrived at the Blade offices in the National Press Club building to find two corporate officers waiting for them. They said the paper would be shut down immediately and Window Media was filing for Chapter 7, which is liquidation of all properties. Naff s'aid: We all know there’ve been problems, but we didn’t expect the abrupt closure – and the Chapter 7. Maybe Chapter 11 [reorganization of the business] – but what can you say?' Naff said the staff is 'united and all sticking together' and they will meet tomorrow to make plans for launching a new venture. Naff said: 'We hope to re-emerge as a new entity without all the Window Media baggage.' Naff said he and Blade publisher Lynne Brown have already been discussing launching a new venture and believe they have funding. Naff said: 'We will re-emerge as a leaner, meaner operation without all the very expensive suite of offices. We’re going to shed some of that corporate trappings. And we will re-emerge as a leaner operation that will make money on day one.' Naff said that the new venture would be both print and online and noted that the MSM Politico 'didn’t make money as an online news site only. They did a print edition and suddenly they were in the black.' Naff said they would love to get an edition of the new venture out next week, but noted it’s a holi'day. We’re rather get it out sooner, rather than later. We’re not going to sit on our hands. That’s the goal.'"

The future of the Blade's archives is unclear.

The Washington Post has a piece about the closing and the paper's history:

"A small troupe of activists founded the Blade in 1969, a few months after New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, igniting riots and launching the gay rights movement. In its infancy, the paper was known as the Gay Blade and consisted of a single, letter-size sheet of paper that its editor, Nancy Tucker, mimeographed and distributed herself, scooting around town in a Volkswagen to drop off stacks at gay-friendly bars. The paper's mission was to unite an eclectic array of gay groups, including drag queens and government workers, literary buffs and motorcycle enthusiasts; inform readers of gay-related services; and warn them about blackmailers and other scammers."

The Small Business Administration is "remaining mum" on why it chose to shut down the Blade and the Southern Voice despite the fact that there appeared to be purchase offers on the table:

"The SBA shuttered all five publications on November 16. That day, the agency first agreed to make Tom Morris, director of SBA’s Office of Liquidation, available for an interview with Gay City News, but then canceled that and issued a statement. “The SBA as receiver for Avalon does not anticipate any recovery on Avalon’s investment totaling more than $7 million in Window/ Unite Media,” the statement read. The SBA did not respond to follow-up questions sent via email asking who made the offers, the nature of the offers, and why they were rejected.

Previously...
Window Closes: Gay Publisher Shuts Down Papers, Websites [tr]

Window Closes: Gay Publisher Shuts Down Papers, Websites

Window Media, the former publisher of Genre magazine, which also publishes the Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice, South Florida Blade, David Atlanta and The 411 Magazine, reportedly closed up shop over the weekend.

Its parent fund, Avalon Equity, run by David Unger, had been forced into receivership by the federal Small Business Administration in February.

A notice was posted on the company's door over the weekend: "It is with GREAT regret that we must inform you that effective immediately, the operations of Window Media, LLC and Unite Media, LLC have closed down. Please return to this office on WEDNESDAY, November 18th, 2009 at 11:00 AM to collect personal belongings and to receive information on your separation stipulations. Please bring boxes and/or containers that will allow you to collect all your personal belongings at one time."

A message from the editor (to whom the closing came as a complete shock) of the Southern Voice was left on the publication's Facebook page: "With deepest regret, as editor of SoVo, I have to tell you that we arrived at the office to learn that our parent company, Window Media, has shut down. While the 20 years of SoVo have come to an end, our civil rights movement is only beginning. I am personally grateful to all of the staff, and to all of you who have had the courage to share your stories. It has been the honor of my life to help you tell them."

Some of the company's websites are offline. The Washington Blade is still online. This is sad news. The publications will be missed.

Former Editor Judy Wieder Revises Attack on The Advocate

On Wednesday I posted about an attack on Here Media and The Advocate by former editor Judy Wieder. Wieder pulled the original (which was published on November 2 at 3:51 pm) and posted a new version two days later, saying she hadn't realized it was a rough draft (November 4 at 2:48 pm).

Writes Wieder: "Before I begin, I need to say that an earlier VERY rough draft of this piece accidentally got posted. That never should have happened and I apologize to anyone who saw it."

The magazine is now no longer a murder victim (What Killed the Advocate?) — but instead died a slow, and apparently painful death (The Not-So-Sudden Death of the Advocate).

CEO Colichman: Out and Advocate to be Sent to Subscribers Jointly

Here Media CEO Paul Colichman sheds some light on changes at The Advocate in a letter posted on the publication's website, revealing that The Advocate and OUT will now be sent jointly and subscribers will receive both publications:

As the owner of a television network, we realize the importance of professionally created video news content. Accordingly, we have hired and integrated several new staff members who can work cross-platform -- in print, online, and broadcast. Sadly, that meant we had to say goodbye to four valued members of The Advocate’s editorial team.

The recent closures of Gourmet, Portfolio, Genre, and other magazines have shown the weaknesses of the print publication model. The rising costs of paper, printing, and postage have become a major problem. Therefore, we plan to greatly reduce these costs by jointly marketing The Advocate and Out magazines. We will fulfill Advocate subscriptions via joint delivery with Out. Advocate subscribers will continue to receive their monthly magazine along with a copy of Out at no extra charge. This move will also allow us to continue to offer Out at affordable subscription prices, either as a stand-alone title or with the choice to receive The Advocate as well. The strategy preserves our ability to deliver the same high-quality print magazines while allocating additional resources to editorial content.

We believe we must distribute content via print, online, and television in order to sustain a viable news service -- one that can afford to provide professionally written, edited, and produced stories and news packages. Our organization maintains the highest level of journalistic integrity. Here Media employees, of which there are more than 150, all believe that you deserve honesty and professionalism.