At its peak in the early 2000s, it boasted millions of monthly users and expanded internationally with localized sites in France and the United Kingdom. Decline and Acquisition
The site's dominance began to erode in the late 2000s due to a combination of technical failures and the rise of specialized competitors. gaymancom
Platforms like Manhunt and Adam4Adam captured the dating market, while the 2009 launch of Grindr fundamentally shifted the community toward mobile, location-based interactions. A Philanthropic Legacy At its peak in the early 2000s, it
After passing through several corporate owners, including PlanetOut and Here Media, the domain was acquired by VS Media in 2016. Recognizing its historical value and continuing traffic—still drawing roughly 200,000 visitors a month years after its peak—the company chose to donate the domain to charity rather than sell it. In 2017, the domain (appraised at approximately $6
It offered more than just personals; it featured chat rooms, news from sister publications like The Advocate and Out , and a platform for social networking.
In 2017, the domain (appraised at approximately $6.9 million) was given to the Los Angeles LGBT Center.