Lavender (magazine)
Lavender is a biweekly award-winning print and online magazine, part of Lavender Media, published in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. Each issue highlights current trends and happenings in cuisine, nightlife, news, travel, and style.[1] It is distributed free of charge in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and in some other cities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.[2]
Fall 2015 issue | |
Categories | Free Gay periodical |
---|---|
Frequency | Biweekly |
Circulation | 33,100 = 17,500 (print), 15,600 (Newsstand installs) |
First issue | June 9, 1995 |
Company | Lavender Media |
Country | United States |
Based in | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Language | English |
Website | www.lavendermagazine.com |
History
Founded in 1995 by George Holdgrafer and Stephen Rocheford, Lavender's mission is "to appeal to the greatest number of Minnesota GLBT readers, and direct them to [their] advertisers."[3][4] Lavender published its 500th issue in June 2014.
In 2010, Lavender drew attention to Lutheran pastor Tom Brock who was privately homosexual as well as critical of allowing homosexuals joining the Lutheran clergy. Although Brock was put on leave, he was not fired from his position.[5]
In 2017, Stephen Rocheford, CEO of Lavender, publicly voiced criticism of the exclusion of police officers from the 2017 Twin Cities Pride festival parade.[6]
Controversies
In 2016, after the Orlando nightclub shooting, Lavender editors wrote an article accused of anti-Muslim bias. The opposition to the articles organized a Change.org petition aimed at Stephen Rocheford for singling out Islam as a source of violence.[7]
Awards
In 2016, Lavender was named Magazine of the Year by the Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association (MMPA).[8] It has also received more than 90 MMPA awards in the categories of overall excellence, best digital media, best internet site, best director, best single cover, best feature article, best regular column, best single topic, best how-to article, best use of visuals, best redesign, best media kit, and best editor's or publisher's editorial.[2]
References
- "Lavender". Facebook. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- "About Lavender Media". Lavender. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- "History of the Gay Movement in Minnesota and the Role of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union" (PDF). Quatrefoil Library. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2016.}
- Holdgrafer, George (2014-07-24). "A Reflection on Two Decades". Lavender. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- "Minn. pastor likely to keep job despite gay report". Wisconsin Gazette. Associated Press. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- "Twin Cities Pride to limit police participation in parade after Yanez verdict". KMSP News. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Birkey, Andy (2016-07-01). "Petition launched against Lavender Magazine over claims of white-washing, anti-Muslim bias". The Column. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- "Magazine of the Year". Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.