As ICANN collects the $135 million in auction funds from the sale of the domain space .WEB, a voice of reason has finally been heard amidst ICANN's ongoing denial of gay community efforts to operate the .GAY domain on the Internet. ICANN's Ombudsman has just issued a report that highlights the unfair treatment received by the only .GAY application that is supported by the LGBTQIA, recommending to the ICANN Board that they grant community priority to dotgay LLC and let the gay community move forward with .GAY and not force an auction with commercial competitors for the .GAY domain space.

To date the global LGBTQIA effort to create a .GAY that focuses on community interests and benefit has been thwarted by a squabble over who is actually allowed to be considered part of the gay community. Years of discrimination and marginalization constitute a majority of the attention the gay community has had on the world stage and that common struggle has solidified an undeniable community of LGBTQIA people. Ever since the collective gay community has stood up and asked for their own piece of the Internet with .GAY, every conceivable argument has been used to deny their efforts. The approach being used is divisive and contrary to the goals of ICANN’s new gTLD program and aspirations of the LGBTQIA effort behind creating a community-operated .GAY.

The ICANN Ombudsman report focuses on the ICANN Board Governance Committee’s (BGC) unwillingness to abide by human rights principles, as well as the principles of transparency, fairness and non-discrimination enshrined in ICANN bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. It also highlights the risk of refusing community priority to the LGBTQIA effort. If ICANN does not award dotgay LLC community priority, ICANN will simply hold an auction and award .GAY to the highest bidder.

What is next?

The BGC has recently provided a recommendation to the ICANN Board to deny dotgay LLC’s current reconsideration request, and a decision on that matter is scheduled for today. If denied, then the Ombudsman’s report and recommendation will be considered by the ICANN Board. It is unclear exactly when the ICANN Board will consider the report, but likely within the coming weeks.

We look forward to keeping you posted on next steps and encourage any questions you may have on this issue. To learn more about the dotgay LLC plan, get involved and go online to www.dotgay.com

About dotgay LLC:
dotgay LLC is the originator of the landmark proposal to create a .GAY domain space on the Internet. Founded in 2009, dotgay has been an active participant in ICANN’s new gTLD program as community advocates to advance a community-based proposal for developing .GAY as a strategic community resource. dotgay is a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise based in New York City.