For Queer Mice
Where to Start
owdy! My name is Browwwser, and in this column I hope to be your guide to some of the best queer websites on the Internet. Since this is my first column, I thought I'd start by saying where to start. There are thousands of LGBT web pages out there, and if you're not careful you could end up really lost with a huge phone bill. So this issue here are some of my favorite places to begin cruising, I mean browsing the Internet.
When I was a little net virgin, I first went to a place called Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com). Under Society & Culture I found over 2600 links for Lesbians, Gays, & Bisexuals, from Anti-Violence to Youth resources. I soon became a net slut. You can be one too! Yahoo is one of the big daddies that started them all, so let this big daddy start you off too.
Although the Queer Resources Directory is short on links, it's the best place to go to get your facts and figures, um, straight. They have over 16,000 files about anything queer at http://www.tcp.com:8000/QRD/. It's kinda skimpy on graphics, but that means it downloads fast, not like those adult sites you usually go to. Whether you're writing a history paper or want to impress your friends, this is the place to go.
By far one of the grooviest URLs on the web is http://www.tatertot.com:80/agenda/, also known as the Homosexual Agenda. Using the fundies' own words against them, they've created a fabulously queer site full of links to help you create your own agenda. For a web guide it's quick and easy like you were last night. Just kidding! Anyway, you go girl! Go now!
The Rainbow Room opens with a quote from Lynne Lavner: "The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision." Heath's page at http://www.crl.com/~heath/rainbow/rainbow.html has been around for quite a while. Many links to keep you busy.
Another great place to start is http://www.infoqueer.org/queer/qis/vlqueer.html. Infoqueer has lots of links to keep you going. It's been around for a while, so it's starting to show it's age (doesn't that sound familiar). They only list one guy from Missouri who has his own gay web page. I know Missouri's not exactly on the circuit, but we're not that bad. Hopefully they'll update their pages soon, but it's still a good place to surf.
For a "brash, adventurous, cynical, funny, lovable, arrogant, sexy, smart, creative, quirky, sarcastic, attractive, exuberant, mischievous, sassy, ambitious" (and a little narcissistic) guide to hot men on the net, check out Q Planet at http://www.qplanet.com/. A huge list of links mostly for men (sorry ladies!). This page started at GeoCities and got too big for it's britches. I suggest taking the guided tour, since every page features a picture of a hunky guy! Sorry ladies!
There are a couple sites that give out awards to the most faboo queer pages on the Internet. The first is the Freedom Award at http://freedom.co.uk/. It's the original, and it's a beaut. They've added a search engine to help you find what you're looking for even faster. A fairly new award is at http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/1728/index.html called the Rainbow Award. Both sites are excellent guides to the best LGBT pages out there.
For an eclectic way of cruising queer web sites, try the next two links. The QueerRing is an ever-expanding ring of queer home pages, all linked together like a giant cyber-doughnut. There were over 220 pages at last count. Click on the "Next Site" button on any page in the Ring and be whisked away to the next page in the Ring. For more info drop by http://www.iesd.auc.dk/~zennaro/queerring.html to start your journey. And find out how you can add your web page to the QueerRing! The Rings are one of the most innovative ideas on the net.
Next try GeoCities West Hollywood at http://geocities.datacellar.net/WestHollywood/. Geocities is a company that hosts non-commercial web pages for free, and West Hollywood is their LGBT neighborhood. You'll never know what you'll find in more than 6,000 different addresses all teeming with gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders of all types. Visit some of the residents and then sign up for your own free web page! You can look me up at WeHo #2555. Won't you be my neighbor?
There are several other great places to start, and more are appearing every day. The World Wide Web is full of queers, so check out a few of these sites. Another groovy URL is http://www.im1ru12.org/TOQP/, also called The Other Queer Page. And the owner's a super nice guy. Or get SMaQed at http://cyber-active.com/lagunatic/smaq/default.shtml. No, it's not an S&M guide (although they probably have a link to one). SMaQ stands for "Sex, Men, and Queers" and has tons of links, many of those for adult sites. Like those "over 18" warnings really stop you! How about GLWEB and the Rainbow Query to search out those elusive queer pages at http://www.glweb.com? The brand new Q Mondo! is at http://www.qmondo.com, or enter the Q-Zone at http://www.lifestyle.com/qzone/. Then visit http://www.cyber-designs.com/pride for the Cyber Designs Pride Guide. And I'm sure there's some out there that I missed.
Thanks for browwwsing with me. If you find some interesting queer links, please feel free to e-mail me at tlee3@ix.netcom.com. I hope this guide has shown you some places to get your feet wet, or at least keep you out of trouble for a little while. See you next time!
"For Queer Mice" appears in SLAM Magazine, the alternative bar rag for St. Louis. For more links, please visit my GAYDAR site (always under construction!). Know some good queer web sites? Please e-mail them to me! Thanks, and happy browwwsing!
Proud to be a member of Geocities West Hollywood.
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