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01/08/2009
-he --o-gies: Blog honor loses some letters
In two different years ('08 and '06), this website was honored as one of the five nominees for a Bloggie Award. But that won't be happening this year, at least not in the GLBT category. Why? Well, because the queer blogosphere, despite its increasing-rather-than-decreasing relevancy in this political climate (Hello -- Rick Warren! Prop 8! ), has fallen out of favor with the Bloggies committee:
What the hell? Sure it's just a silly competition in a medium that's far too diverse to really ever "judge" in such a way. But still, we can't help but see this as a slight of the powerful queer voices who have come into prominence on these here internets. And again, considering the prevalence of gay-related stories that have made their way from blogosphere to MSM, it's seems like an unfair/pointless cut. Especially this year.
Bloggie nomination site [2009 Bloggies]
**Note: Sure, there are other categories like "community weblog." But our community, with the L-G-B-and T as well as the cultural/political/gossip subsets, has enough diversity to merit its own category.
**UPDATE: We've had the chance to chat with Nikolia from The Bloggies. And while we still think this could have worked out in a better way, he did shed some light on the matter. Check it out:
Even though I liked having the category (I'm gay myself), I removed it because I decided that having a social group as a category doesn't make sense; you don't write a Web site differently if you're homosexual. Over the years, people started taking the category to mean gay-themed weblogs, which could be a proper topical category, but not enough are nominated in comparison to other topical categories. After PerezHilton.com won last year, it seemed that the category had completely lost focus, since he neither writes about himself nor gay topics.
We replied:
Hmm -- I get that. I too have been disappointed with folks like Perez being lumped into the LGBT category simply because the writer is gay.
I think a better solution might have been changing it to, "best weblog about LGBT matters" or something like that. The variable isn't the sexuality of the writer, but rather the important content. It's just SUCH a thriving community (we just had a major event in DC; many of our personalities book mainstream gigs; etc), and one that really doesn't stand a fighting chance in some of the other categories. I hate to see the LGBT crew lose any of the attention that we have to fight so hard to build.
But thanks for your thoughts. I'll add them to the post.
Nikolai wrote back:
Good As You wrote:
"I think a better solution might have been changing it to, "best weblog about LGBT matters" or something like that. The variable isn't the sexuality of the writer, but rather the important content. It's just SUCH a thriving community (we just had a major event in DC; many of our personalities book mainstream gigs; etc), and one that really doesn't stand a fighting chance in some of the other categories. I hate to see the LGBT crew lose any of the attention that we have to fight so hard to build."
I was considering it, but looking over the nominations, there really aren't a whole lot in comparison to most of the other topical categories. But maybe if Travel fails to gain nominations, a gay topical category could be a candidate for next year.
We concluded:
Thanks, Nikolai. I understand. And I don't want you to think I'm like RAGING MAD about this -- I just thought it was an interesting discussion to start.
Your thoughts
I say we get you nominated for best politics.
Posted by: Matt Algren | Jan 8, 2009 10:59:26 AM
Honestly, Matt, whenever I do get nominated for these things, I never promote them (and therefore don't stand a chance). So it's really not about that for me. It's just that as a major champion for the rich and diverse LGBT blogosphere, I see this as a slight. In my admittedly biased opinion, I think we are one of the richest communities in the blogosphere. And also one whose issues have repeatedly gone from blogger-to-mainstream-journalist.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jan 8, 2009 11:03:38 AM
You can email this jerk at [email protected]
I want to see what bland blogs get the awards, so I can be sure to tell them why I won't be giving them the time of day.
Posted by: Bobs Friend | Jan 8, 2009 12:38:16 PM
WTF, OVER? (as we say in the Air Force).
Is it so hard to count votes we have to trim back on categories? Yikes! Seems like they should be looking for new emerging categories to add over the years, not getting rid of ones that are popular. Arg
Posted by: Bill Ware | Jan 8, 2009 12:57:12 PM
Bobs Friend: He's not at all a jerk. It was his decision, just one with which I (and many of you) disagree.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jan 8, 2009 1:48:10 PM
Since Toweroad is so far ahead in WEBLOG awards...I went to look again...But hate black background blogs #1... must say though that some of the pics are wonderful!
Posted by: LOrion | Jan 8, 2009 5:34:17 PM
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