by Joe Siegel

Q Minnesota is a new monthly LGBTQ publication debuting in October. It is published by Gateway Media LLC and founded by four co-founders: Andrea “Andy” Lien (editor-in-chief and publisher), Barry Leavitt (VP, sales and events), Nell Gelhaus (VP, digital content and marketing) and Brad Leventhal (investor).

Lien, Leavitt and Gelhaus had worked for Lavender Magazine, based in suburban Edina, Minn., in various capacities. That magazine shut down earlier this year after serving the Minneapolis area’s LGBTQ community for over 30 years.

“The community has had its own published media for 47 years. Losing it wasn’t an option, so we picked up the baton — with more experience and a real sense of urgency about getting it right,” said Lien.

According to Leavitt, starting Q Minnesota was a necessity.

“Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ community is very spread out, and since we do not have an LGBTQ+ district where everyone gathers, Q Minnesota will help connect people to what’s happening in our community,” said Leavitt. 

As far as the operations of the new magazine, “There are 5 people currently involved in the day-to-day running of the company. We also have freelance writers and independent contractors for other areas of the company, like distribution. As we grow, we will look at opportunities to increase our staff,” said Leavitt.

Q Minnesota is also aiming for a wide demographic. “We’ve been hearing from people within the community who are very excited by our commitment to having a publication and website that fully represents the diversity within our community.  Every part of our community should see themselves reflected in Q.”

In fact, the founders chose the new publication’s name with purpose. “We didn’t pick ‘queer’ by accident. We talked with a lot of people before we landed on it, because we wanted a name wide enough to hold this whole community,” Leavitt said. “We wanted the name to be clear about who this is for and what it’s about. Q Minnesota isn’t part of any other Q-named publication out there — we respect what each of those represents, but this one is ours, built for this community, right here.”

Leavitt said the staff of Q Minnesota maintain a close relationship with their readership. “We’ve been engaging with the community through one-on-one and group conversations at a variety of events or just listening over a cup of coffee. On a personal note, it’s what I’ve done during more than 27 years of working in LGBTQ+ media and I look forward to continuing to engage with our community.”

From 1999 to earlier this year, Leavitt oversaw advertising sales, sponsorships and events for Lavender Magazine.

From 2011 to 2018, Lien ran the full editorial operation of Lavender Magazine. She shaped 180 issues, wrote more than 300 articles and led the team to win 18 Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association awards, capped by Lavender’s recognition as the association’s 2016 Magazine of the Year. Most recently she served as the editorial director of consumer publishing at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

From 2014 to 2016, Gelhaus wrote and photographed for Lavender Magazine, where her column “Playing For The Other Team” earned three Silver Awards from the Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association. She is the founder of In-Haus Digital Marketing and previously managed local SEO at Best Buy.

Each issue of the new publication, including ads, will be available in a digital edition and a premium-finish, full-color print edition. Distribution and free pick-up of the print edition will be at high-traffic pickup points across the Twin Cities metro area and greater Minnesota, and the digital edition will be accessible on qminnesota.com.

“The website is where we will live day to day — news, events, the fast-moving stuff will belong there. That’s what will let the magazine slow down and do what print actually does well: tell a story all the way through,” said Gelhaus. “This isn’t a magazine site with a blog bolted on. It’s a real destination — directories, events, guides, video — the kind of thing you bookmark, not just visit once.”

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Volume 28
Issue 7