Just moments ago I became stunned as I read the latest status update posted by Southern Voice Magazine: “With deepest regret, as editor of SoVo, I have to tell you that we arrived at the office to learn that our parent company, Window Media, has shut down. While the 20 years of SoVo have come to an end, our civil rights movement is only beginning. I am personally grateful to all of the staff, and to all of you who have had the courage to share your stories. It has been the honor of my life to help you tell them.”
Southern Voice and David magazines have been a very important resource to the GLBTQ community in the south. This is not just a loss for Atlanta, Window Media was also the parent company to the following publications: Washington Blade, 411, Bitch Session, SouthFlorida Blade and Houston Voice.
Sovo.com screenshot at 11:30 a.m. this morning. (Sovo.com)
There are still a few GLBTQ magazines left standing on the southern forefront, including the newly published Gaydar magazine. Most of the remaining have a focus on the gay male community. The lesbian dominated publication, Labrys, moved to an 0nline-only readership in the beginning part of this year as it launched a social network on the popular Ning.com platform.
I am happy that I have saved a few copies of SoVo over the span of the 12 years that I was an avid reader. Personally, I had the honor to grace the cover once and my wife and I both have been highlighted within the pages on several occasions. Each year, SoVo’s “Best of Gay Atlanta” (BOGA) was a very popular time when votes cast over a couple of months would award people, businesses and more…to provide community recognition, awareness and a big “thank you”! This past year our website, TransQueerNation.com, was voted the second best social network just under Facebook. I was blown away with the honor of winning “Best Transgender Activist” since I was up against quite a few people that I personally respect and look up to.
SoVo was a master of on-the-scene coverage and was a community icon. David magazine was dedicated to the gay male community and I know this will be a sad day for so many.
This is a HUGE loss, but the memory and what they stood for will live on forever. Thank you SoVo and David from the bottom of my heart. You will be truly missed and I will cross my fingers for a come back.
Much Love xoxo,
Tristan
Tristan & Sicily Skye
