OUTeverywhere
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
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| formation = {{Start date|1995}}
| dissolved = {{End date|2019}}
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| region_served = UK
| membership = 200,000 (2006){{Dubious|reason=single source|date=August 2011}}
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| affiliations = Gay Essex Dining, Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus, Age Concern and The House of Homosexual Culture{{cite web |url=http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/vision.cgi |title=The strategic vision and strategy for achieving our goals |publisher=OUTeverywhere |access-date=2011-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904021624/http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/vision.cgi |archive-date=4 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}
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| website = {{URL|www.outeverywhere.com}}
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OUTeverywhere (also known simply as OUT and formerly OUTintheUK{{Cite book | year=2004 | title=Time Out London | edition=12 | publisher=Penguin | isbn=978-0-14-101049-6 | page=293 }}) was a website providing an online lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, chiefly in the UK, although it has members worldwide{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}. The site provided member profiles with picture galleries, private messages, discussion boards (the use of which is restricted to paying customers) and online chat. The community also organised offline events, such as coffee or cocktail outings, sporting events and day trips.
History
The website was created in 1995 after which the membership then increased due to word of mouth in conjunction with a small amount of advertising and PR.{{cite web |url=http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/team.cgi |title=The team leading the way in gay social networking |publisher=OUTeverywhere |access-date=2011-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904021518/http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/team.cgi |archive-date=4 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Initially the site was for gay men only. In 2003 OUTforWomen was launched. At first the two sites were run separately. Eventually the sites started to integrate. Initially integration was limited, but eventually a decision was made to allow full integration between the two sites.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
In May 2005 the site was relaunched under the OUTeverywhere name. The relaunch involved a major redesign of the website, as well as full integration between male and female members. The relaunch also indicated a change of ethos moving the website from an online community to a real life organisation operating both online and offline. Part of this change in ethos was to be achieved by calling the site "Up and Doing".{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05308593 |title=Find and update company information – OUTEVERYWHERE LIMITED |publisher=UK Government |access-date=2023-12-19}} However, the relaunch eventually proceeded with the name "OUTeverywhere" after complaints from long-standing members though the company trades under the name "Up and Doing Ltd".{{cite web |url=http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/terms.cgi |title=Terms of Membership |publisher=OUTeverywhere |access-date=2011-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904020842/http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/terms.cgi |archive-date=4 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}
The website steers away from an emphasis on sex by not allowing nude profile photos and stopping members openly soliciting for sex.{{cite web |url=http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/terms.cgi |title=Terms of Membership |publisher=OUTeverywhere |access-date=2011-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904020842/http://www.outeverywhere.com/gay/terms.cgi |archive-date=4 September 2011 |url-status=dead }} Offline group events are a feature of the community.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/feb/06/gay-stereotypes-rights-venues |title=We don't need gay stereotypes |author=Balaji Ravichandran |work=The Guardian |date=2010-09-30 |access-date=2011-08-16 |location=London}} Previous examples include murder mystery weekends, cheese rolling gatherings, camping trips and bowling.{{cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/gay/features/3317/Gay_bowling.html |title=Gay bowling |publisher=Timeout.com |access-date=2011-08-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910073417/http://www.timeout.com/london/gay/features/3317/Gay_bowling.html |archive-date=10 September 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.outeverywhere.com/dates/comingsoon/ |title=Gay events in and around the UK |publisher=Outeverywhere.com |access-date=2011-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802022213/http://www.outeverywhere.com/dates/comingsoon/ |archive-date=2 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}
In October 2017, it was announced that the website would close on 31 October 2018.
The Website finally closed down in December 2019.
Publicity
OUTeverywhere (then called OutInTheUK) achieved publicity{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702013237/http://www2.disappointment.com/old/blaine/030918.htm |archive-date=2 July 2011 |url=http://www2.disappointment.com/old/blaine/030918.htm |title=September 18|url-status=dead }}{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3139726.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Blaine may have to pay police cost | date=2003-09-25}} when two of its members decided to organise an event to throw sausages at magician David Blaine, whilst he was suspended without food in a perspex box by Tower Bridge.{{cite web |url=http://www2.disappointment.com/old/blaine/030909.htm |title=Throwing Sausages at David Blaine : Day 2 |publisher=disappointment.com |date=9 September 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702013219/http://www2.disappointment.com/old/blaine/030909.htm |archive-date=2 July 2011 |access-date=2011-08-16 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www2.disappointment.com/old/blaine/030911.htm |title=Throwing Sausages at David Blaine – Day 4 |publisher=disappointment.com |date=11 September 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702013251/http://www2.disappointment.com/old/blaine/030911.htm |archive-date=2 July 2011 |access-date=2011-08-16 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|newspaper=Independent on Sunday
|date=21 September 2003 |title=Eggs And Lemons, But No Chipolatas; Blainewatch |quote=The American in the Perspex box has now spent 14 days dangling beside the Thames. Only another 30 days before he gets to eat ... The gay website OUTintheUK.com encourages people to throw sausages at Blaine. The person who gets closest to hitting the box wins, and extra marks will be awarded if it's a chipolata. The protest is later called off on advice from police.}}
In 2006, OUT produced a "newsletter" called "ThisIsGay" using postings from its forums to represent the idea that it covered a whole spectrum of interests. However, after objections from members that it had homophobic undertones and a mention of the newsletter in The Daily Star"[http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=374 Gays fuss over Russ]", The Daily Star, 1 September 2006 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} the last newsletter was "pulled" from publication. That year the site contacted 30,000 members who had not taken part in any of their planned social events as part of a programme to address concerns over cyberstalkers.{{cite news|author=Jamie Doward |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/dec/31/news.theobserversuknewspages |title=Gay site cuts members over cyber-stalker fears | Technology | The Observer |work=The Guardian |date= 2006-12-31|access-date=2011-08-16 |location=London}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.outeverywhere.com/ OUTeverywhere.com]
{{LGBT social networking services}}
Category:LGBTQ online dating services
Category:LGBTQ social networking services
Category:Defunct social networking services