How a radical shift in focus turned a struggling publication into a media powerhouse
In short: Founded in 1992, Out magazine eventually became the largest-circulation LGBTQ publication in the United States. Its path to dominance involved a controversial pivot toward an affluent, style-conscious male audience, sparking long-standing debates about representation, financial stability, and the magazine's true commitment to the diverse voices within the queer community.
Launched by Michael Goff in 1992, Out initially faced significant financial instability. By 1996, the company was operating with annual revenues under $4 million against $7 million in expenses. The magazine’s trajectory shifted dramatically when owner Robert Hardman hired Henry E. Scott as president. Scott implemented a controversial strategy based on the premise that gay men and lesbians shared little common ground beyond legal and political concerns. He refocused the publication toward an affluent, style-conscious gay male demographic, a move that successfully attracted major fashion advertisers like Saturn. Within three years, this pivot tripled the magazine's revenue and established it as the largest-circulation gay publication in American history.
This commercial success did not silence critics, particularly regarding the magazine's inclusivity. While Out gained international attention for its 2007 'Power Issue'—which featured a cover depicting journalist Anderson Cooper and actor Jodie Foster behind masks—it faced persistent accusations of centering gay men at the expense of other groups. In 2008, for instance, observers noted that no lesbians appeared on the magazine's cover, and they comprised only 22% of the individuals featured in the annual Out100, a list celebrating influential LGBTQ+ figures. Despite these critiques, the Out100 remains the magazine's most recognized tradition, accompanied by awards for categories like Artist and Entertainer of the Year.
The publication's later years were marked by ownership changes and internal turmoil. After being acquired by PlanetOut in 2006 and Here Media in 2008, the magazine faced severe operational challenges. By 2019, these issues culminated in public disputes over unpaid wages. More than forty contributors signed an open letter demanding payment for past work, with the National Writers Union representing 25 freelancers owed over $40,000. Reports from The New York Times and The New York Post suggested the total debt exceeded $100,000. Following these struggles, the magazine underwent further leadership transitions, including the appointment of Raquel Willis as executive editor in 2018, and was eventually acquired by Equal Entertainment in 2022, forming the entity now known as Equal Pride.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Out (magazine)
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