Wow, our first issue! For those of you who are curious, this editorial will shed some light on what the heck GayCalgary.com is and where it came from.
Back in 1992, way before the Internet chat rooms of today even existed, the Men for Men Bulletin Board System (MFM BBS) was created. Users would dial into this system using their computer’s modem in order to chat with local gay men. It was a solely text-based chat room, in addition to an events calendar and a picture download area. Eventually the system expanded to include access from the Internet, and we even placed computer terminals in a local gay bar for people to contact their friends!
In 1998, we launched GayCalgary.com (http://www.gaycalgary.com), porting the community events calendar, message areas, chat rooms and resource listings from the MFM BBS to the Internet. We began videotaping and photographing Drag shows and community events, resulting in an extensive photo gallery and video collection of over 300 Drag shows! Today we have GayCalgary.com Internet Terminals located at the majority of gay bars in Calgary, and also as a service, we create videotape ads that show upcoming community events... among other things (*wink*). So you can see we do a lot to support the gay community, and this magazine is just the next logical step as print tends to have its advantages over electronic information.
As a company, GayCalgary.com receives no direct financial backing from any of the bars or organizations in the city. We exist from the support of the parent company, MFM Communications, revenue from the terminals, and most importantly from our valued customers who advertise on the website and in the magazine. This way we are not in any conflict of interest and can provide our product solutions and services to all gay establishments and non-profit groups.
We have always strived to encompass the diversity in our community. This past year in particular, we’ve broadened our horizons, dealing with virtually all gay bars and community organizations in the city!
On occasion, I’ve heard individuals complaining that nothing ever happens in Calgary, and personally, I know there’s nothing further from the truth! I hope this magazine will serve as a focal point to help people discover just how much our Gay Community has to offer. Take a chance and try visiting a different bar or restaurant, or go back to your old stompin’ ground to see what’s changed. You never know what you might be missing. Also, we encourage you to come out and support the various dances, Drag and Fashion shows, Theatre productions and other community events that are frequently occurring all over Calgary.
Since this is our first issue, there’s a lot more to come. We will try our best to include articles from both gay and lesbian viewpoints. Expect to see a broader range of pictures from many events! We don’t want to exclude anyone, so if we’re missing a group, event, or business, please let us know or tell them about us. In addition, we would greatly appreciate your feedback – positive and negative. We are here solely for the Calgary Gay Community, and rather than just upholding the status quo, we believe that this magazine should always be moving toward improvement to better suit your expectations.
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Contributor Steve Polyak
Locale Calgary
Topic Publisher's Column
