Glee.com
Encyclopedia
GLEE.com is a social networking site that is geared toward the gay
, lesbian
, bisexual and transgender
communities. The site was launched in February 2007 by Community Connect Inc.
Community Connect operates several niche market
social networking sites and GLEE is their latest venture. As with their other social network sites, GLEE is modeled after the popular MySpace
and Facebook
offering many of the same features.
Currently GLEE.com is available only in the English language and primarily the North American market with approximately 86% of its users in the United States. However, as of October 2008 it is blocking countries such as the UK and Netherlands, possibly with more of Europe affected too; the true extent is unknown. A Glee.com spokesperson purports this move was due to "spammer" activity.
community. Instant messaging
, and email is available with other registered users.
In addition profiles are allowed a mirror on Glee.com's professional networking site, which allows for job search (through an arrangement with Monster.com
) along with the other features found on the social network.
In October 2007 GLEE.com received free publicity from an unlikely source, the United States military
. The advertising firm that handles the military's recruiting advertising inadventantly placed the ads on the site. The mainstream and LGBT press along with several comedians picked up on the gaffe of advertising to an audience that the U.S. military actively bars from joining through its Don't ask, don't tell
policy.
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, bisexual and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
communities. The site was launched in February 2007 by Community Connect Inc.
Community Connect operates several niche market
Niche market
A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact...
social networking sites and GLEE is their latest venture. As with their other social network sites, GLEE is modeled after the popular MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
offering many of the same features.
Currently GLEE.com is available only in the English language and primarily the North American market with approximately 86% of its users in the United States. However, as of October 2008 it is blocking countries such as the UK and Netherlands, possibly with more of Europe affected too; the true extent is unknown. A Glee.com spokesperson purports this move was due to "spammer" activity.
Operations
The site is free to users, generating revenues through advertising. Users register and create profiles, which can include a variety of layout themes for profiles, users also have the option of custom designing a profile layout. Typically, profiles might include uploaded photo albums, music players, lists of interests and friends list. Other features include blog hosting,video hosting, groups, style and news sections, and community bulletin boards covering a variety of issues but with the added emphasis on those issues of importance to the LGBTLGBT
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...
community. Instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
, and email is available with other registered users.
In addition profiles are allowed a mirror on Glee.com's professional networking site, which allows for job search (through an arrangement with Monster.com
Monster.com
Monster.com is one of the largest employment websites in the world, owned and operated by Monster Worldwide, Inc. Monster is one of the 20 most visited websites out of 100 million worldwide, according to comScore Media Metrics...
) along with the other features found on the social network.
Publicity
GLEE.com's launch in early 2007 received generally favorable coverage in internet focused media, with the caveat about competition from established sites and others still on the drawing board divvying up the niche market for potential LGBT users.In October 2007 GLEE.com received free publicity from an unlikely source, the United States military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. The advertising firm that handles the military's recruiting advertising inadventantly placed the ads on the site. The mainstream and LGBT press along with several comedians picked up on the gaffe of advertising to an audience that the U.S. military actively bars from joining through its Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy.