For Queer Mice
by BROWWWSER
Ring in the New Year!
elcome to the next installment of "For
Queer Mice." Since another year is passing, I thought I'd write a sweeping commentary
about the best queer web sites of 1996 and make predictions about the future of homos on
the net in 1997. Then Jonathan called and said because of the holidays the deadline's been
bumped up a few days. So that idea was scrapped. Instead I'll be reviewing some of the
newest web sites that will keep you busy into the next year.
Out magazine's own web site
Out.com (now defunct) is the number one gay and lesbian web site of 1996. And now they've
started their own online dating service of sorts called Make-OUT.com.
Your fabulous host Edwina at http://www.make-out.com
will do her best to get you lai-- I mean get you a date. She's a matchmaker: "Boys
for boys and girls for girls! That's what I do!" She's the aunt or grandmother you
wish you had. This new site looks great, and those groovy psychedelic icons will remind
you of those disco years you've tried to forget (or your parents tried to forget). And for
$4.95 a month it's almost a bargain. Already there's a few St. Louisans there just waiting
for your e-mail. Now if someone would just give me a credit card I could sign up myself.
Any takers? No? Well, if you want a new way to meet people in your area let Edwina make a
match for you.
Another new and sharp-looking site is OUTBOX at http://www.outbox.com. It's more than just a link
catalogue. Watch for message boards, a gay news wire, forums, chat rooms, and more added
features as the new year continues. Definately a site to keep an eye on.
GayAmerica has links to several gay city guides
across the country and upcoming queer events at http://www.gayamerica.com.
If you'll be traveling out of town and want to find the gay places to go, GayAmerica will
be a great place to begin. Their sister-site, http://www.gaybars.com,
is even more sparse, but GayBars.com should grow
quickly as the word spreads. Now when you get stuck on a crummy business trip, you can
flock with your family friends wherever you go. And when you go, don't be silly, wrap your
willie!
If you're one of those artistic
types or just want to make others think you're artistic, check out the Queer Arts Resource at http://www.queer-arts.org.
This new site is a "nonprofit Internet-based forum for the display and discussion of
queer content in the visual arts." Their first exhibit features three artists with
ranging styles from studies on male nudes to leather workout bench covers worn by human
contact. The well-designed pages and thought-provoking art is definitely worth a visit. So
skip the adult sites or the sex chat lines for a while and try flexing a different muscle.
PlanetOut at http://www.planetout.com
will probably be the biggest gay website of 1997. Now on the World Wide Web, you can see
what this $3 million web site is all about. I'm not kidding. For $3 million you expect a
damn good website. And it is, from graphics to content (and it's so big!). PlanetOut is
the home of PopcornQ, NetQueery, NewsPlanet, Shout, This Way Out online, PNO Shop, and
more. PlanetOut was started by Tom Reilly, a cofounder of Digital Queers, a group that
raises money so nonprofit LGBT groups can buy computer equipment and get online. Then he
convinced backers that queers are good for business (well, we are the ultimate
Double-Income-No-Kids market). Launched first on America Online and the Microsoft Network,
it's now blazing it's way onto the web. It's big, it's well-financed, and I'm insanely
jealous.
There's also a brand new site blazing its own trail through
St. Louis called Gaystlouis.com at http://www.gaystlouis.com. Michael, Kerry, Lady
Kiska de Tasenka, and Browwwser are working to make it the essential queer guide to St.
Louis on the web (I know this is a shameless self-promotion, but hey, I don't have $3
million for ad revenue either). So check out the St. Louis queer scene, read some Comments
& Views, get your own free personal ad, or chat with fellow queeries at their java-run
chat room. Try your hand at the contest or the only gay-themed puzzle page in cyberspace
(that I know of). Then read your Zodiac Homoscope and jump into the Magic Vortex! There, I
promise not to mention it for a while. For a few issues at least!
As always, if you find some interesting queer links, feel free to e-mail me at tlee3@ix.netcom.com. See you next time!
