View source for LPI Media

{{Short description|American publishing company}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2010}}
{{Infobox company
|name   = LPI Media
|logo   = LPIlogo.png
|logo_size = 200px
|type   = [[Private company]]<ref name="Howard Rice Represents"/>
|slogan = 
|foundation     = 
|location       = [[Los Angeles, California]], [[United States]]<ref name="LPI Media Inc. Company Profile"/>
|founder    = 
|successor = [[Here Media]]
|key_people     = [[Judy Wieder]], Corporate Executive Vice President & Editorial Director;<br>[[Joe Landry]], Vice President & Director Publishing;<br>[[Stephen Murray (businessperson)|Stephen Murray]], Director of Corporate Marketing;<br>[[Jeff Lettiere]], Director Circulation, ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]''<ref name="LPI Media Inc. Company Profile">{{cite web
 |last=Hemscott Americas
 |title=LPI Media Inc. Company Profile
 |publisher=Yahoo Finance
 |date=28 December 2007
|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/132/132915.html
 |accessdate=2007-12-28}}</ref>
|num_employees  = 
|industry       = [[Publishing]], [[Periodical literature|periodical]]s<ref name="LPI Media Inc. Company Profile"/>
|products       = ''[[Out (magazine)|Out]]''<br>''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]''<br>''HIV Plus''<br>''Out Traveler''<ref name="out">{{cite web |url=https://www.outtraveler.com/ |title=Homepage |website=Out Traveler |access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref><br>[[Alyson Publications|Alyson Books]]<br>Specialty Publications
|revenue        = {{profit}} {{US$|link=yes}}29.0 million (2005)<ref name="Howard Rice Represents"/>
|operating_income =
|net_income       =
|homepage       = 
}}
{{Portal|LGBTQ}}
'''LPI Media''' (formerly '''Liberation Publications Inc.''')<ref name="Four questions">{{cite web |url=http://www.magazine.org/independent_publishers/The_Four_Questions/#landry |title=The Four Questions |website=Magazine Publishers of America |date=2007 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211103647/http://www.magazine.org/independent_publishers/The_Four_Questions/#landry |archive-date=December 11, 2007}}</ref> was the largest [[gay]] and [[lesbian]] publisher in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_March_22/ai_60499233 |title=PlanetOut and Publisher of the Advocate Sign Letter of Intent to Merge and Form Powerful New Media Company |website=Business Library |date=March 22, 2000 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712140855/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_March_22/ai_60499233 |archive-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> The company targeted [[LGBTQ]] communities and published such magazines, books, and websites, with its magazines alone having more than 8.2 million copies distributed each year.<ref name="Howard Rice Represents"/> ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]'' and ''[[Out (magazine)|Out]]'' magazines were the two largest circulation LGBT magazines in the United States, each with corresponding websites, Advocate.com and OUT.com.<ref name="Howard Rice Represents"/>

Additional publications included ''Out Traveler'',<ref name="out" /> ''HIV Plus'', and LGBT-penned titles through [[Alyson Publications|Alyson Books]] making it the "largest publisher of gay and lesbian print publications" and thus the largest print voice of the LGBT communities, including [[transgender]] and to a lesser degree [[bisexual]] people.<ref name="Howard Rice Represents">{{cite web
 |last=Goodson
 |first=Deborah
 |title=Howard Rice Represents PlanetOut Inc. in Acquisition of LPI Media Inc.
 |publisher=Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin
 |date=November 9, 2005
 |url=http://www.howardrice.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.contentDetail&ID=8468&tID=224
  |accessdate=March 29, 2006 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060329210204/http://www.howardrice.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.contentDetail&ID=8468&tID=224 |archivedate = March 29, 2006}}</ref>

They were also parent owners of Specialty Publications, which produces adult ([[pornographic]]) publications ''[[Men (magazine)|MEN]]'', formerly ''Advocate Men'', ''FreshMen'', ''Unzipped'', and ''[2]''. Specialty Publications was one of the largest gay adult erotica web and video production companies in the world.<ref name="advocate">{{cite web |url=https://www.advocate.com/media/2018/8/04/18-dead-lgbt-magazines-worth-remembering |title=18 Dead LGBT Magazines Worth Remembering |last1=Lewis |first1=Mary Grace |last2=Sobel |first2=Ariel |website=Advocate |date=4 August 2018 |access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref>

__TOC__

==History==
Liberation Publications began with a [[police]] raid at the Black Cat bar in Los Angeles in 1966, prompting a handful of gay men to start a [[mimeograph]]ed sheet newsletter for the gay community. This grew into ''The Advocate'' magazine the following year and remained the only US [[LGBTQ]] magazine for nearly 25 years.<ref name="Happy Bday">{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2002_Nov_12/ai_94598231 |title=Happy birthday to us - letter from the editor in chief |last=Wieder |first=Judy |date=November 12, 2022 |website=BNET Research Center |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108050449/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2002_Nov_12/ai_94598231 |archive-date=January 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/09/07/BU89346.DTL |title=PlanetOut Expands Its Universe: Gay media gets big as Web firm acquires print magazines |first=Dan |last=Fost |website=San Francisco Chronicle |date=7 September 2000 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417045152/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/09/07/BU89346.DTL |archive-date=April 17, 2001}}</ref>

In February 2000, Liberation acquired Out Publishing Inc., which publishes ''[[Out (magazine)|Out]]'' and ''HIV Plus'' magazines.<ref name="Merger to link, NYTIMES">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/23/business/the-media-business-merger-to-link-gay-print-and-internet-outlets.html |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Merger to Link Gay Print and Internet Outlets |first=Alex |last=Kuczynski |website=The New York Times |date=23 March 2000 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104063858/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/23/business/the-media-business-merger-to-link-gay-print-and-internet-outlets.html |archive-date=November 4, 2012}}</ref> Then president and chief executive of Liberation, James Franklin, said the deal would "move the print properties into the electronic arena" and added that the [[Internet]] was popular with gay and lesbian readers because of "the [[closeted|closet]] factor."<ref name="Merger to link, NYTIMES"/> PlanetOut attempted in March 2000 to merge with LPI, but this was called off in March 2001.

''Out Traveler'', a magazine spin-off of ''Out'', launched in 2003.<ref name="out" />

In November 2005, LPI merged with [[Planet Out]], which mainly has developed online properties to become the world's largest media company targeting LGBT communities. LPI's "solid accounts list of fashion, retail and consumer packaged goods advertisers" was cited among its strong selling points.<ref name="Howard Rice Represents"/> Criticism of the merger centered on two aspects: that a [[Consolidation (business)|consolidation]] of national media outlets of a minority community is unlikely to add [[Multiculturalism|diversity]] of voices; and that the publications were established and supported in an effort to secure [[human rights]] for gays and lesbians but now are instead delivering a [[market share]] to corporations.

In April 2008, press reports said that the magazines published by LPI as well as the porn magazines published by Specialty Publications were to be sold by PlanetOut to [[Regent Releasing]], which owns [[here!]], a  cable television network catering to LGBT audiences.<ref name="sass">{{Cite journal|last=Sass |first=Erik |title=PlanetOut Is Out Of Publishing (And $26 Million) |journal=MediaDailyNews |date=2008-04-14 |url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=80435 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609070729/http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=80435 |archivedate=2009-06-09 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
 |last=Bajko 
 |first=Matthew 
 |title=Breaking news: PlanetOut to sell off magazines 
 |newspaper=Bay Area Reporter 
 |date=2008-04-10 
 |url=http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2894 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609115342/http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2894 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-date=2009-06-09 
}}
</ref>
A [[SEC filing]] indicates that the agreement was completed in August 2008, with [[Here Media Inc.]] the new owner of LPI, Specialty Publications, and LPI's book company, [[Alyson Publications]].<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Planetout Inc · 8-K · For 8/13/08
  | publisher = Fran Finnegan & Company
  | date = 2008-08-13
  | url = http://www.secinfo.com/dsvrp.tEX1.htm
  | accessdate = 2009-02-03}}
</ref>

==''The Advocate''==
{{Main article|The Advocate (LGBT magazine)}}

==''Out''==
{{Main article|Out (magazine)}}

==''HIV Plus''==
''HIV Plus'' magazine is based in [[Los Angeles]] and was founded by [[Anne-Christine d'Adesky]] in 1998. Instead of subscriptions, the "national magazine [is] distributed at doctors' offices and organizations offering services for [[People With AIDS|people with AIDS]]" including [[AIDS service organization]]s, [[HIV]] community-based groups, and physicians' offices as well as other qualifying groups and organizations. It offers "the latest stories on research, economics, and treatment".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valleyaidsinfo.org/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=45&Itemid=30 |title=''HIV/AIDS Online Magazines'' |publisher=Valleyaidsinfo.org |accessdate=2013-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103062023/http://www.valleyaidsinfo.org/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=45&Itemid=30 |archivedate=2013-11-03 }}</ref> ''HIV Plus'' provides "news that raises awareness of HIV-related cultural and policy developments in the United States and throughout the world", including issues of "cultural stereotypes about incarceration, drug use, and HIV."

{{cquote|I was the AIDS and Health Editor at OUT Magazine for a couple of years, and I found that the scientific information I needed to report was getting increasingly complex. While there was a small group of long-time activists who had amassed a lot of technical expertise, the vast majority of my readers didn't have this background, and many of them needed to be making treatment decisions for themselves. So I started HIV Plus in 1998, to address this gap. During my tenure as editor, I tried to provide state-of-the-art science reporting that was accessible at different levels, so that anyone who cared could become engaged, and have some say in the ongoing dialogue. - Anne-Christine d'Adesky<ref>{{cite web |title=Awards of Courage |url=http://www.amfar.org/in-the-spotlight/awards-of-courage/2000-honoring-with-pride-anne-christine-d-adesky/ |website=amfAR |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220214/http://www.amfar.org/in-the-spotlight/awards-of-courage/2000-honoring-with-pride-anne-christine-d-adesky/ |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref>}}

Writers and contributors include contributing fitness editor [[Sam Jensen Page]] and columnist [[LeRoy Whitfield]], whose "Native Tongue" column ran in ''HIV Plus'' magazine starting in May 2004 and was "one of the magazine's most popular features."<ref name="LeRoy Whitfield, 36, Dies">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/nyregion/leroy-whitfield-36-dies-wrote-of-aids-battle.html |title=LeRoy Whitfield, 36, Dies; Wrote of AIDS Battle |website=The New York Times |date=October 16, 2005 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529183706/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/nyregion/leroy-whitfield-36-dies-wrote-of-aids-battle.html |archive-date=May 29, 2015}}</ref>

==Alyson Publications==
{{Main article|Alyson Publications}}
[[Alyson Publications|Alyson Books]] is a publisher founded in [[Boston, Massachusetts]] by [[Sasha Alyson]] which specializes in [[feminist]] and LGBT fiction and nonfiction. Notable books and authors published by Alyson include the ''[[Dykes to Watch Out For]]'' cartoon series, by [[Alison Bechdel]]; ''[[Daddy's Roommate]]'' by [[Michael Willhoite]]; ''Melting Point'', ''Doing it for Daddy'', ''[[Macho Sluts]]'', and ''Doc and Fluff'' by [[Patrick Califia]]; ''[[Young, Gay and Proud]]''; ''[[Latter Days]]'', a novelization by T. Fabris for the [[2003 in film|2003]] major motion picture of the same name; ''The Femme Mystique'' and ''Pillow Talk'', edited by [[Lesléa Newman]]; ''[[Revolutionary Voices]]:  A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology''; ''Love, Bourbon Street: Reflections of New Orleans'', winner of the [[Lambda Literary Award#2006 winners|2006 Lambda Literary Award]] for Anthology;<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.lambdaliterary.org/ |title=Homepage |website=Lambda Literary Foundation |access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out]]'', edited by [[Loraine Hutchins]] and [[Lani Kaʻahumanu]]; and ''The Bisexual's Guide to the Universe'', winner of the [[Lambda Literary Award#2006 winners|2006 Lambda Literary Award]] for Bisexual category.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==Specialty Publications==
{{Main article|Specialty Publications}}

LPI Media was the parent company of Specialty Publications, a publisher of adult gay [[erotic]] and pornographic publications. Their ''[[Men (magazine)|Men]]'' magazine (formerly ''Advocate Men'') has been the top-selling gay male erotic magazine for over 25 years,<ref name="advocate" /> and tends to portray men aged 25 to 40. ''[[Freshmen (magazine)|Freshmen]]'' is an erotic magazine published monthly since 1991. It is geared toward gay and bisexual men.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zoom.gay.com/viewArticle.do?id=979&selectedRegionId=7&selectedCountryId=12&selectedStateId=&selectedCityId= |title=Freshmen magazine launches national tour |date=September 15, 2006 |website=Gay |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106043057/http://zoom.gay.com/viewArticle.do?id=979&selectedRegionId=7&selectedCountryId=12&selectedStateId=&selectedCityId= |archive-date=November 6, 2007}}</ref> ''Freshmen'' has long been the best-seller in its [[genre]] and features top-line male porn models from [[Bel Ami (adult film company)|Bel Ami]], [[Falcon Entertainment|Falcon]], and others;  it specializes in young but not [[twink (gay slang)|twinkish]] men, primarily 18 to 25 but some to age 30. Other items, such as calendars and playing cards, are also published using the same label.

"Freshman of the Year" contests are held, with many fledgling porn stars going on to greater success including Sebastian Bonnet, Roman Heart, Dick McKay, Zack Randall,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2007/05/jd_ferguson_presents_the_porn_4.php |title=WORD UP!: JD Ferguson Presents the Porn Stars: Zack Randall |publisher=Papermag |date=2007-05-25 |accessdate=2013-12-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903061628/http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2007/05/jd_ferguson_presents_the_porn_4.php |archivedate=2009-09-03 }}</ref> [[Timothy J. Boham|Marcus Allen]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.23hq.com/silent_monster/photo/1410975 |title= |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2013-11-02}}</ref> and Billy Brandt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://listing-index.ebay.com/actors/Billy_Brandt.html |title=Actors - Billy Brandt |website=eBay |access-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814141436/http://listing-index.ebay.com/actors/Billy_Brandt.html |archive-date=August 14, 2007}}</ref> 

Specialty Publications also produced ''Unzipped'' and ''[2]'', making it one of the largest gay adult erotica web and video production companies in the world.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.advocate.com ''The Advocate'']
*[http://www.out.com ''OUT'']
*[http://www.hivplusmag.com ''HIVPlus'']

{{Here Media Inc.}}
{{LGBTQ|rights=yes}}

[[Category:LGBTQ-related mass media in the United States]]
[[Category:Magazine publishing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:LGBTQ book publishing companies]]