Liz Achanta
2022 was a big one for .gay! Thousands of people, brands, and businesses joined the .gay community to make the Internet safer and more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people worldwide.
Seeing all these folks joining the movement by claiming their .gay domain is always awe-inspiring, and this year was no exception.
We welcomed thousands of new companies to the .gay community.
Thousands of big and small businesses have already registered their .gay domains. With the help of these companies and individuals, we are well on our way to making .gay a household name. Plus, each registration continues to generate a donation for LGBTQ+ community impact organizations. Through each of your .gay domain registrations, .gay was able to donate $167,471.21 to its LGBTQ+ community beneficiaries, GLAAD, and CenterLink, to date.
We collaborated with amazing LGBTQ + influencers and creators.
We partnered with dozens of amazing LGBTQ + creators to celebrate their work and giveaway FREE .gay domains. Why? Because we want everyone to know that the .gay domain is your home on the web. You can create a custom URL that reflects who you are, your values, and most importantly, is a hate-free zone.
We launched two new blog series: The .gay Community Spotlight and .gay’s Music Monday Feature.
With the introduction of these blog series, we wanted to celebrate the work and mission of outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations who are trying to make the world a better place in their own unique way. We hosted conversations about LGBTQ+ safety and support (and more!) with GLAAD, CenterLink, QDoc: Queer Documentary Film Festival, Equaldex, The Ali Forney Center, The Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, and others – and we chatted with LGBTQ+ musicians like Buddy and Mister Co.
We continued to provide visibility and help create a safer Internet for LGBTQ+ communities.
With over 18,000 .gay names live, we've provided a way for businesses to promote their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives – and together, have made the Internet a safer place for LGBTQ+ people. We also released another new season of our series The Library at TheLibrary.gay and on Revry, in partnership with Two Penguins Productions.
In addition, .gay was featured in USA Today, Metro Weekly, The Pride LA, and OutSmart Magazine this year.
And now, without further ado, here’s a look back at 50 of the DotGay(est) moments of the year (in no particular order)!
ThePhluidProject.gay - a gender-free apparel and accessories brand devoted to bringing progressive fashion to the masses joined the .gay community.
Fashion designer Hasan Foster brought FollyWhat.gay into the world, a men's streetwear brand with bold designs and a fresh take on Gay iconography and pop art.
Atwater Skin launched AtwaterSkin.gay as a modern, uncomplicated alternative to a men’s grooming regimen that offers clean, high-performance products that work.
LGBTQ+ Community leader and founding Portland Q Center Executive Director Kendall Clawson brought KendallClawson.gay online, working to reach kids and families with the story of Pride.
Queer-owned Austin design studio Object Lover joined the .gay domains with ObjectLover.gay to showcase their original, bright, and super fun colorful pots.
Austin's Liberation Barbell Club set up Barbell.gay because they believe everyone should be able to work out at their gym. Regardless of who you are, what you look like, or what colors of the rainbow you claim.
DykesDay.gay, an upcoming anthology of writings from queer people of color celebrating a fictional surrealist holiday for Lesbians, was inducted into the .gay domain community.
Photographer Matthew Dean Stewart launched MatthewDeanStewart.gay to feature his handmade and very queer candles.
We raised our glass for Glenglassaugh for launching Glenglassaugh.gay where you can experience the love, care, and attention that goes into every bottle of this handcrafted Scotch Whisky.
We also cheered to FordsGin.gay - The to-go cocktail gin for a reason: crisp, clean, and full of flavor. And another spirit joining the community of .gay domains.
The .gay community of sites grew thanks to WebComics.gay from Hiveworks - a webcomic and graphic novel publisher owned and operated by primarily LGBTQ+ creators. They tell their stories and help others tell theirs all year long.
Casa Herradura joined the .gay movement with ElJimador.gay - a premium 100% blue agave tequila.
With FGYT.gay, we welcomed The Foundation for Gay Youth and Technology to the list of organizations using .gay domains to further their mission and impact.
Through ConversionMovie.gay, we invited you to the world premiere of the powerful documentary "Conversion." A personal cinematic journey of 5 survivors from the United States and Canada as they move through the mental and physical ramifications of enduring conversion therapy, ultimately finding the hope and strength to fight against it.
Artist Will Hübscher used BeautifulDecayArt.gay to display his art of combining decaying flowers, petals, and leaves with old wood and antiques.
Had a blast working with Acacia to launch Acacia.gay, a site dedicated to Intimacy Coordination in film.
To continue their commitment to promoting visibility and inclusivity for the LGBTQ+, Parde Beauty launched PardeBeauty.gay to promote their vegan, 10-free, and cruelty-free nail polishes.
The Internet got spicier and gayer thanks to HotSauce.gay.
Kill Rock Stars artist Caleb Nichols launched CalebNicholsIs.gay in support of his debut album release for the legendary record label.
We loved partnering with Ecuadorian American influencer, Jessenia to launch IamJessenia.gay, which focuses on helping others in her career, sharing her journey to self-love and growth.
Our .gay grew our team this year, too! Manchic.gay launched the same week digital content creator Jorge Gallegos joined forces with .gay in the role of Content Marketing Specialist.
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 Jasmine Kennedie helped us give away free .gay domains during Pride season through JasmineKennedie.gay.
Model and underwear designer On Mekahel brought up the heat with IamOnMekahel.gay.
We partnered with queer musician Lord Troy and launched LordTroy.gay as a way for them to show their pride all year long.
This year for pride, we also teamed up with GoDaddy and Lesbian couple Steph and Katie to give away free .gay domains via Lezseetheworld.gay.
LGBTQ+ educator Lex Horwitz found a way to be even more visibly queer with LexHorwitz.gay.
With the help of Namecheap, LGBTQ+ Youth Advocate Desmond Napoles gave away free .gay domains for Pride through DesmondIsAmazing.gay.
We partnered with Gay dads Jon and Triton and Namecheap so they could adopt 2DadsWithBaggage.gay.
This year, we kicked off Trans Day of Visibility by welcoming Willow Pill, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14, to the .gay community with WillowPill.gay.
During Trans Day of Visibility, we also welcomed Trans athlete Chris Mosier to the .gay community of sites with TheChrisMosier.gay.
Trans advocate Rose Montoya also activated RosalynneMontoya.gay during this time.
Artist Ezra, joined Trans Day of Visibility with EzraMichelMusic.gay.
We partnered with digital content creator DeAndre Upshaw to launch HeyItsDeandre.gay during International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT).
Artist Lucy & Lamer joined the fight against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia with LucyandLamer. gay.
Model and Trans actor Devin-Norelle activated DevinNorelle.gay during IDAHOBIT.
Drag Race alum Gia Gunn launched GiaGunn.gay.
We partnered with content creator George Says for Hispanic Heritage Month to talk about what it's like to be Gay and Latino in Canada and the importance of having a safe place on the Internet for LGBTQ+ communities by activating GeorgeSays.gay.
As part of our second-anniversary celebrations, we created a colorful capsule collection in collaboration with LGBTQ+ artist Lisa Marie, available at LisaMarie.gay.
Influencer Diego-Gonzalez Zuñiga joined the #DotGayDay party by giving away free .gay domains via DiegoDowntown.gay and our registrar partner, Rebel.
Digital creator Blossom Brown changed her website to MxTheyThem.gay because .com was just not gay enough.
Pit crew member Bruno Alcantara showed his pride and support to LGBTQ+ communities by launching BrunoAlcantara.gay.
For National Coming Out Day (NCOD), we teamed up with several influencers like Emilia Fart to create more LGBTQ+ visibility by activating her .gay domain EmiliaFart.gay.
In honor of NCOD, artist Carley Bearden gave away free .gay domains through CarleyBearden.gay.
Musician Onicks shared their coming out story and support for the .gay domains by launching Onicks.gay.
We helped content creator Freddy Rodriguez become a 365 days a year rainbow and fleaker of sunshine with BluePerk.gay.
During NCOD, Mexican photographer Henry Jimenez also set up HenryJimenez.gay.
In honor of World AIDS Day, we had the opportunity to chat with Mexican activist and filmmaker Leo Herrera about the inspiration behind his film The FATHERS Project via LeoHerrera.gay.
KikiPedia.gay joined the .gay community of sites as your one and only source to find LGBTQ+ places and events around you - from gay bars, to drag shows, circuit parties, virtual events, and much more.
Target launched Target.gay, using the domain to highlight their LGBTQ+ employee resources.
Google Domains onboarded .gay, making it accessible on their global platform.
It was definitely a great year for the .gay community, and we can't wait to see what fantastic possibilities 2023 will bring. We're excited to keep providing visibility and helping create a safer internet for LGBTQ+ communities.
.gay loves you! 💖
Liz Achanta
January is often a time of reflection and of looking forward: acknowledging what you have accomplished, and finding ways to improve for the following year.
