Out Receives Magazine Award Nomination

Out, the world’s leading gay fashion and lifestyle brand, has been named a finalist for the 45^th annual National Magazine Awards, the preeminent awards for magazine journalism, sponsored by the American Society of Magazine Editors in association with the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Out was named a finalist in the Photo Portfolio category for Jason Bell’s elegant “Out 100: School Days” photo collection. Out will compete with National Geographic, New York, The New Yorker, and W.

“We’re thrilled to be nominated in such a competitive category and among such outstanding company,” said Out Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin. “This award reflects an incredibly ambitious portfolio of 100 people that was a true team effort requiring collaboration on every front, from photography to edit to design—a portfolio, moreover, that serves as an acknowledgement of the achievements of the LGBT community.”

The gorgeous “Out 100” photo gallery pays tribute to the days that shaped, delighted, and terrified everyone—school days. Bell’s portraits draw inspiration from the classroom and the schoolyard as the unifying theme. Actor Neil Patrick Harris smokes in the bleachers, director Pedro Almodóvar sports a hickey, Top Gun icon Kelly McGillis stares moodily from a school bus, and playwright Tony Kushner coyly aims a slingshot at an unsuspecting target. These are just a few of the magnificent advocates, stars, and tastemakers captured in Bell’s extensive collection.

The National Magazine Awards, known as the “Ellies,” will be presented at New York City’s Alice Tully Hall on April 22. More than 300 magazines participated in this year’s National Magazine Awards, with over 1,750 entries.

The complete “Out 100: School Days” portfolio can be viewed at: http://www.out.com/out100/

The Out brand is currently available to consumers as a monthly print publication found on newsstands and at select retailers or via subscription, and digitally at www.out.com.

About Out

Out, a Here Media publication, is the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle magazine for gay men, with a circulation of 200,000 per issue.

Donatell-All in September Issue of OUT

Courtesy of OUT.com:

Out’s October issue shines the light on one of the most well-known and admired women in the fashion industry’s history, Donatella Versace. Gracing the cover alongside the new Versace man, Donatella goes on to discuss her take on American fashion, her inspirations and those who parody her seemingly outrageous life. Luckily, being in on the joke is part of her charm. Of Maya Rudolph’s now famous impersonation, Versace laughs, “I talked to her on the phone, Maya. I gave her suggestions on what to do about me.”

Inside the issue, Versace articulates her own fashion sense and desire to show-off her sexiness to Out Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin. “I always have to be sexy because I like to be sexy. Just for myself.” But when asked if there is such a thing as being too sexy, she quickly retorts, “Never, never! You can be too boring, but you can never be too sexy.”

O.U.T. Awarded $150,000 Tides Foundation Grant

From: Georg Ketelhohn/O.U.T. Federation

Organizations United Together Federation (O.U.T.), a recently formed federation of local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations and allies in the State of Florida, announced today that it has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the prestigious Tides Foundation, on the recommendation of the State Equality Fund, a philanthropic partnership that includes the Evelyn Greer and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Gill Foundation and an anonymous donor.

The three-year investment provides O.U.T. funding to educate and train lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) leaders across Florida, with a goal of creating the environment where statewide LGBT policy change is possible, by strengthening local organizations. O.U.T. is leveraging the grant to build the capacity of local organizations throughout Florida through in-person workshops, webinars, web-based resources, and ongoing support for local leaders.

“This grant will allow us to continue providing high-quality, professional training to local LGBT organizations across the State of Florida,” said O.U.T. Board of Directors Chair Georg Ketelhohn. “After the passage of Amendment 2, the founders of O.U.T. recognized a need to bring local groups from around the state together to connect with and learn from each other. This grant will help us make those connections even more quickly.”

SAVE Foundation is a major collaborator with O.U.T. on this grant, and will work with O.U.T and national experts in each field of expertise to develop the curriculum for the trainings to be offered to all local LGBT leaders, organizations and allies in Florida. Other organizations submitting letters of collaboration and support for the grant included the ACLU of Florida LGBT Advocacy Project, the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay Business Guild, and Yes Institute.

Noting the unique collaboration that exists between the organizations working to advance equality in Florida, the same funders who awarded O.U.T. and SAVE Foundation a $150,000 grant have announced a $150,000 grant to ACLU of Florida. The Tides Foundation’s State Equality Fund recognizes how the combined $300,000 will allow for real progress on issues affecting the LGBT community in Florida.

Barney Frank: U.S.A.’s Most Powerful Gay Man

OUT Magazine has compiled their list of the 50 most powerful gay men and lesbians and Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) has topped the list!

Courtesy of OUT:

What a difference a year makes. The global economic crisis has pushed Democratic congressman Barney Frank to the top of Out magazine’s third annual list of America’s most influential gay men and woman. The 69-year old head of the House Financial Services Committee, who ranked second last year, has been a leading voice for banking reform in the wake of the financial crisis, as well as a prominent advocate for gay civil rights.

Others on the list include Ellen DeGeneres (#2), CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper (#3), media mogul Barry Diller (#8), and financial guru Suze Orman (#22). But what’s most striking is the number of new names on the list—17 in total—that reflect the growing visibility of America’s gays and lesbians. New names include MSNBC host Rachel Maddow (#4), the Oscar winning screenwriter of Milk, Dustin Lance Black (#25), Facebook co-creator Chris Hughes (#32), newly-out comedian and actress Wanda Skyes (#35), and Michelle Obama’s dressmaker Jason Wu (#44).

“Barney Frank represents a remarkable American, not just for the crucial role he plays in determining how the stimulus money is spent, but in using his position to elevate the cause of gay and lesbian civil rights,” said Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin. “In a year marking the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, his success—and that of the others on this list—reflects a growing consensus that all Americans deserve equal rights and protections.”

Frank is joined by a cadre of politicians and activists whose profiles have been given a boost by the Obama presidency. They include the controversial gay Episcopalian bishop V. Gene Robinson (#7), congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (#11), congressman Jared Polis (#16), and director of the Export-Import Bank Fred Hochberg (#12).

Also on this year’s list is Matt Drudge, the owner of the right-wing news-aggregating site Drudge Report. Although he has not publicly acknowledged his sexuality, the 42-year old journalist has enjoyed a long-term relationship with a male landscape gardener.

Editorial staff began assembling the 2009 list at the beginning of the year, basing their rankings on each candidate’s cultural resonance, political influence, media profile, and wealth. “For many of the most powerful gay men and women in America, sexuality takes a backseat to their career accomplishments, but we think their achievements deserve acknowledging,” says Hicklin.

The full Power 50 can be found at http://www.out.com/power50.

On a side note, you WON’T find Clay Aiken in there anywhere!

Andy Samberg Stars on Out’s March Cover

Courtesy of OUT.com:

The comedy star explains why his performance in the upcoming movie “I Love You, Man” challenges gay stereotyping

NEW YORK (February 18, 2009) – Andy Samberg built a career out of his lauded digital shorts for “Saturday Night Live.” In a new interview with Out magazine, Samberg explains why his gay character in his new movie, which also stars Paul Rudd, breaks with convention. “No-one is going to look at my character in I Love You, Man, and say, ‘It’s funny because you’re a straight guy playing a gay guy.’ It’s funny because the character is funny.’”

Responding to recent criticism that “SNL” has resorted to gay stereotypes, Samberg claims the source of humor is not homosexuality, but in the fraught relationship straight men have with it. “It’s bro-gay,” he says, “which I just love because dudes that are bros and super anti-gay are the ones who need to get it the worst. They’re the ones we have the most fun f***ing with.”

In his editor’s letter, Out Editor-in-Chief Aaron Hicklin explains that Samberg was chosen in part for his now famous digital short for “SNL” in which he lampooned Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with a gay love song shortly after the president delivered a speech at Columbia University claiming there were no gays in Iran. Hicklin writes, “The execution of gays in Iran is a serious matter, of course, but as Charlie Chaplin demonstrated in ‘The Great Dictator,’ there are few more satisfying ways of disarming your enemy than by making him look ridiculous.”

On sale date: February 24, 2009

About Out
Out is the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle magazine for gay men, with a circulation of 200,000 per issue.

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