''Genre''

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

() was a New York city-based monthly periodical from 1992 to 2009 written for gay men. It was owned by gay press publisher Window Media.

History

Launched in 1992 as a quarterly, ''Genre'' originally billed itself as a magazine with a focus on gay men with primary coverage on entertainment, travel and an occasional acknowledgement of political issues. As the magazine evolved, increasing to bi-monthly in 1992, and monthly in 1993, under the editorial leadership of a woman editor and songwriter, Judy Wieder, it focused more on LGBT entertainment and less on male politics. After Wieder secured a cover-story interview with Madonna, ''

The Advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. The Advocate, The Advocates or Advocate may also refer to: Magazines * The Advocate (magazine), ''The Advocate'' (magazine), an LGBT magazine based in the United States * ''The Harvard Advocate' ...

'' took notice and offered Wieder a position editing ''The Advocate''s arts and entertainment sections. Facing increasing competition from ''

Out Out or OUT may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films *Out (1957 film), ''Out'' (1957 film), a documentary short about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 *Out (1982 film), ''Out'' (1982 film), an American film directed by Eli Hollander *O ...

,'' '' Details'' and ''The Advocate'' for advertiser dollars in 2000, publisher Richard Settles changed editorial and art direction to become more of an urban magazine with a focus on New York's" post gay movement fostered by an aging

Generation X Generation X (often shortened to Gen X) is the Demography, demographic Cohort (statistics), cohort following the Baby Boomers and preceding Millennials. Researchers and popular media often use the mid-1960s as its starting birth years and the ...

and former

club kid The Club Kids were a New York City-based artistic and fashion-conscious youth movement composed of nightlife personalities active from the late 1980s to 1996. Coined by a 1988 New York (magazine), ''New York'' cover story, the Club Kids crossed o ...

s, as well as those who outgrew the popular

circuit party A circuit party is a large dance event. It extends through the night and into the following day, almost always with a number of affiliated events in the days leading up to and following the main event. Proto-circuit parties in the late 1970s, t ...

lifestyle of the 1990s. As such the publication began winning over mainstream companies such as Ford Motors, thereby proving that the

LGBT LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...

demographic was a viable consumer market of society, dispelling notions of risk by association. In yet another makeover, ''Genre'' changed editorial directions again in 2002, at the direction of co-owner and associate publisher Doug Shingleton, with editorial content given larger breadth and scope. In addition to fashion, travel and entertainment as reported by most gay national glossy publications, ''Genre'' delved into personal growth of its male readership, including spirituality issues, home design and healthful lifestyle issues facing the community. This redesign resulted in significant circulation and advertising growth, prompting the first successful sale of a national gay publication in the United States. The redesign and editorial were executed by

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...

Andy Towle of Towleroad.com, creative director Randy Dunbar and Michael Davis. In July 2003, Avalon Equity Partners announced its intention to buy ''Genre'' and fold the publication into its growing LGBT media holdings under the Window Media umbrella. In March 2004, Window Media relaunched ''Genre'' with a new logo and a new format continuing to feature fashion, travel and lifestyle articles targeting affluent gay men with monthly profiles of men from across the United States, an idea that drew upon its parent company's national resources. ''Genre'' currently focuses on regional activities in cities where the sister companies' local newspapers are located. The magazine suspended publication in 2009 due to the recession.

References

{{Reflist LGBTQ-related magazines published in the United States Monthly magazines published in the United States Defunct magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1992 Magazines disestablished in 2009 Magazines published in New York City 1992 establishments in New York City