Pink Triangle Press
Encyclopedia
Pink Triangle Press is a Canadian
non-profit organization
which specializes in LGBT
media including publishing, online interactive media, and television. PTP's main asset is the LGBT magazine, Xtra!
and its spinoffs Xtra! West
and Capital Xtra!
. The company's headquarters are located in Toronto
, although it also has offices in Ottawa
and Vancouver
.
, when a group of volunteers began to produce The Body Politic, a paper containing news and opinions on gay liberation. By 1976 TBP was being published monthly, and in the early 1980s it claimed a circulation of over 9,000 nationally, and boasted contributions from writers all over the world.
In 1978, Pink Triangle Press was incorporated, its name was chosen as a symbol of history and commitment, as it comes from the symbols placed on suspected homosexual men in Nazi
concentration camps. Later that year, PTP was charged with "publishing immoral, indecent and scurrilous material" because of an issue of The Body Politic which included Gerald Hannon's article "Men Loving Boys Loving Men".
The Press was brought up on similar charges again in May 1982, this time for "Lust With a Very Proper Stranger", an article on fisting
. PTP however won both cases.
In an attempt to broaden PTP's Toronto readership, the collective launched Xtra! in March 1984. Xtra! was meant to be more upbeat and accessible than TBP. By 1985 Xtra! had taken over its parent publication's role of providing local entertainment and community event listings.
Xtra!s circulation had soon overtaken TBP which was in financial trouble, so in an effort to save PTP and keep Xtra! going, TBP was discontinued February 1987.
Xtra! West in Vancouver
and Capital Xtra! in Ottawa
followed in 1993.
In July 2004, Pink Triangle Press became a minority partner in PrideVision TV when the channel was sold by Headline Media Group to William Craig
. PrideVision was subsequently rebranded OUTtv
and a new gay male adult subscription channel, HARDtv, was launched at the same time. PTP owns approximately 25% of OUTtv and 55% of HARDtv while Les Tomlin owns the remaining 45%.
Previous to PrideVision being sold, Pink Triangle Press became partners with television producer Les Tomlin, forming Bumper 2 Bumper Media Inc. which produces Bump!
, the world's first gay travel show, initially airing on PrideVision and now in production on a fifth season. Bump airs on OUTtv in Canada and the Netherlands, Viacom's LOGO network in the US, QUODtv in the UK and on the Mango mobile network in Austria. Bump also recently launched a series of mobile travel guide apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Blackberry.
As well, Pink Triangle Press was a partner in Evanov Radio Group
's license application for 103.9 PROUD FM, a new radio station
to serve Toronto's LGBT community. PTP's agreement with Evanov was discontinued in late 2005 after PTP expressed reservations about the depth of Evanov's commitment to serving LGBT audiences.
Pink Triangle Press also operates a gay telephone personals service under the Cruiseline banner in all three cities where the Xtra! papers publish, as well as five other major Canadian centres across the country. UPDATE: March 2011, Pink Triangle Press sells Cruiseline to First Media Group.
In June 2006 Pink Triangle Press acquired Boston-based publication The Guide, an international gay travel magazine in existence for more than 25 years. PTP ceased printing The Guide in April 2010, and move to an online format only at Guidemag.com.
In February 2008 Pink Triangle Press acquired Toronto-based publication fab
, a gay scene magazine which had previously been seen as Xtra!s competition.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
which specializes in LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
media including publishing, online interactive media, and television. PTP's main asset is the LGBT magazine, Xtra!
Xtra!
Xtra! is a gay magazine, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History and content :...
and its spinoffs Xtra! West
Xtra! West
Xtra Vancouver is a gay biweekly newspaper, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a sister publication to Xtra and Xtra Ottawa....
and Capital Xtra!
Capital Xtra!
Xtra Ottawa is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community newspaper published in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was launched in 1993. Unlike its biweekly sister publications Xtra in Toronto and Xtra Vancouver in Vancouver, Xtra Ottawa, which started as a monthly, is now published 17 times a...
. The company's headquarters are located in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, although it also has offices in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
History
Pink Triangle Press' roots trace back to 1971 (although not in name) in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, when a group of volunteers began to produce The Body Politic, a paper containing news and opinions on gay liberation. By 1976 TBP was being published monthly, and in the early 1980s it claimed a circulation of over 9,000 nationally, and boasted contributions from writers all over the world.
In 1978, Pink Triangle Press was incorporated, its name was chosen as a symbol of history and commitment, as it comes from the symbols placed on suspected homosexual men in Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
concentration camps. Later that year, PTP was charged with "publishing immoral, indecent and scurrilous material" because of an issue of The Body Politic which included Gerald Hannon's article "Men Loving Boys Loving Men".
The Press was brought up on similar charges again in May 1982, this time for "Lust With a Very Proper Stranger", an article on fisting
Fisting
Fisting is a sexual activity that involves inserting a hand into the vagina or rectum. Once insertion is complete, the fingers either naturally clench into a fist or remain straight. In more vigorous forms of fisting, such as "punching", a fully clenched fist may be inserted and withdrawn slowly...
. PTP however won both cases.
In an attempt to broaden PTP's Toronto readership, the collective launched Xtra! in March 1984. Xtra! was meant to be more upbeat and accessible than TBP. By 1985 Xtra! had taken over its parent publication's role of providing local entertainment and community event listings.
Xtra!s circulation had soon overtaken TBP which was in financial trouble, so in an effort to save PTP and keep Xtra! going, TBP was discontinued February 1987.
Xtra! West in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and Capital Xtra! in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
followed in 1993.
Other investments
Pink Triangle Press launched www.Squirt.org in 1998, a gay mens' personals, dating and cruising website, which now has more than 600,000 active members.In July 2004, Pink Triangle Press became a minority partner in PrideVision TV when the channel was sold by Headline Media Group to William Craig
William Craig (broadcaster)
William Craig is a Canadian broadcaster.Craig began his career as a researcher for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's This Hour Has Seven Days. He subsequently joined the programming departments at the CBC, TVOntario and Rogers Cable...
. PrideVision was subsequently rebranded OUTtv
OUTtv
OUTtv is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that airs entertainment and lifestyle programming for LGBT audiences.OUTtv's licensee is OUTtv Network Inc. which is 55.9% owned by Shavick Entertainment, 24.94% owned by Pink Triangle Press, 15% owned by Peace Point Entertainment...
and a new gay male adult subscription channel, HARDtv, was launched at the same time. PTP owns approximately 25% of OUTtv and 55% of HARDtv while Les Tomlin owns the remaining 45%.
Previous to PrideVision being sold, Pink Triangle Press became partners with television producer Les Tomlin, forming Bumper 2 Bumper Media Inc. which produces Bump!
Bump!
Bump! is a Canadian travel documentary television series that premiered in 2004 and originally airs on OUTtv in Canada. The program targets an LGBT audience. Currently, Bump! is hosted by Deb Pearce and Charlie David; David joined as host with the start of Season 2...
, the world's first gay travel show, initially airing on PrideVision and now in production on a fifth season. Bump airs on OUTtv in Canada and the Netherlands, Viacom's LOGO network in the US, QUODtv in the UK and on the Mango mobile network in Austria. Bump also recently launched a series of mobile travel guide apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Blackberry.
As well, Pink Triangle Press was a partner in Evanov Radio Group
Evanov Radio Group
Evanov Communications, formerly Evanov Radio Group, is a Canadian radio broadcasting company.Evanov Communications currently owns and operates 13 radio stations.-Ontario:* Brampton - CIAO* Brantford - CKPC, CKPC-FM* Hawkesbury - CKHK-FM...
's license application for 103.9 PROUD FM, a new radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
to serve Toronto's LGBT community. PTP's agreement with Evanov was discontinued in late 2005 after PTP expressed reservations about the depth of Evanov's commitment to serving LGBT audiences.
Pink Triangle Press also operates a gay telephone personals service under the Cruiseline banner in all three cities where the Xtra! papers publish, as well as five other major Canadian centres across the country. UPDATE: March 2011, Pink Triangle Press sells Cruiseline to First Media Group.
In June 2006 Pink Triangle Press acquired Boston-based publication The Guide, an international gay travel magazine in existence for more than 25 years. PTP ceased printing The Guide in April 2010, and move to an online format only at Guidemag.com.
In February 2008 Pink Triangle Press acquired Toronto-based publication fab
Fab (magazine)
fab is a Canadian magazine which targets the gay community. The magazine publishes biweekly issues in Toronto, Ontario. It publishes alternate weeks to the city's other biweekly gay publication, Xtra!...
, a gay scene magazine which had previously been seen as Xtra!s competition.
Subsidiaries
- Xtra!Xtra!Xtra! is a gay magazine, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History and content :...
- Xtra! WestXtra! WestXtra Vancouver is a gay biweekly newspaper, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a sister publication to Xtra and Xtra Ottawa....
- Capital Xtra!Capital Xtra!Xtra Ottawa is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community newspaper published in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was launched in 1993. Unlike its biweekly sister publications Xtra in Toronto and Xtra Vancouver in Vancouver, Xtra Ottawa, which started as a monthly, is now published 17 times a...
- Index Directory - gay and lesbian business directory
- Ultimate Pride Guide - Pride festivities directory
- Squirt.org - online cruising website
- Xtensions
- Bumper 2 Bumper Media Inc.
- 'Guidemag.com - web-based international gay travel magazine
- OUTtvOUTtvOUTtv is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that airs entertainment and lifestyle programming for LGBT audiences.OUTtv's licensee is OUTtv Network Inc. which is 55.9% owned by Shavick Entertainment, 24.94% owned by Pink Triangle Press, 15% owned by Peace Point Entertainment...
- own stake in world's first GLBT cable channel - HARDtv - gay adult subscription channel
- fabFab (magazine)fab is a Canadian magazine which targets the gay community. The magazine publishes biweekly issues in Toronto, Ontario. It publishes alternate weeks to the city's other biweekly gay publication, Xtra!...
- as of February 2008