When Every Day Becomes a Celebration
Imagine a world where LGBTQIA+ pride isn't confined to a single month: where every day of the year holds significance, tells a story, and celebrates the rich tapestry of queer history. Today is Gay (www.todayis.gay) has transformed this vision into reality, creating one of the most compelling examples of how the .gay domain can serve as a powerful catalyst for social change.
This groundbreaking project didn't just build a website; it constructed a digital monument to LGBTQIA+ resilience, creativity, and contribution. In an era where "the world quietly removing mentions of 'Pride Month'" threatens community visibility, Today is Gay stands as a defiant beacon, proving that the right domain choice can amplify a mission far beyond technical functionality.
The team behind Today is Gay identified a critical gap in LGBTQIA+ representation and education. As Winona Wee, Co-Lead of W+K Ginger Beers & Senior Creative, explains their mission: "With the world quietly removing mentions of 'Pride Month', LGBTQIA+ folks are losing access to their history. So we've created an ambitious calendar documenting 365 days of LGBTQIA+ celebrations and historical events."
Their vision extends beyond simple documentation. "Our big dream is that this calendar will help LGBTQIA+ feel proud every day of the year, while educating everyone on how LGBTQIA+ people have always been part of history, and how their contributions have positively impacted the world."
The project serves as a comprehensive educational resource, uncovering lesser-known LGBTQIA+ contributions to society. The team shares fascinating examples: "Did you know that the high-five was invented by Glenn Burke, the first major league baseball player to come out as gay,” or that “Michelangelo's grandnephew switched all the masculine pronouns in the great sculptor's romantic poetry to feminine pronouns before publishing them posthumously?"
Today is Gay emerged from a grassroots effort within Wieden+Kennedy London's LGBTQIA+ affinity group, the Ginger Beers. The project required extensive collaboration, with team members splitting research responsibilities across the entire year. As Wee notes, "Each of us took charge of a different month, and the events we chose naturally reflected the diversity in our group — Wil is Australian, Andre's Brazilian, JP's British, and I'm Singaporean."
This diversity enriched the project's scope and authenticity. "Along the way, I learnt so much about queer history: the good, the bad, and the lives and legacies that were missing from our history books," Wee reflects.
Why .gay Was the Perfect Choice
When asked about their domain selection, Wee explains: "It was just the right fit for us, especially since we were championing LGBTQIA+ visibility beyond Pride month."
The .gay domain wasn't a new territory for the team. Wee notes, "This is also the second time I've used the domain .gay - the first being a project for 'www.sexed.gay' championing inclusive sex education for queer Singaporean youths."
The project faced significant logistical hurdles as a not-for-profit initiative. The team had to coordinate research across multiple time zones and deploy both public and internal resources. They created "a rainbow-coded Calendar internally for all Wieden+Kennedy LGBTQIA+ employees worldwide," requiring careful coordination across different offices to ensure technical functionality.
For organizations considering similar projects, the Today is Gay team offers this advice: "Add more milestones and check ins! And make sure you have a good team of people around you who are excited to bring this to life."
The Broader Impact
Today is Gay exemplifies how the .gay domain can serve multiple purposes simultaneously:
Today is Gay demonstrates that the .gay domain isn't just a web address; it's a statement of purpose, a digital home for community building, and a powerful tool for advocacy. By choosing .gay, the project creators ensured their mission was clear from the very URL, creating an authentic and memorable digital presence that serves both the LGBTQIA+ community and broader educational goals.
This case study shows how the .gay domain can be leveraged to create lasting impact, combining community pride with educational value while building bridges between diverse voices and experiences within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
Liz Achanta
