Contacts to shopping, humour to directories—our guide to the best gay sites on the web.
General Irish
GayinIreland.com | www.gayinireland.com
The latest gay Irish site to arrive on the web, with features, classifieds, forums and nationwide listings.
GCN | www.gcn.ie
Like the print version, GCN’s website is strong on news and current affairs, and also includes excellent listings.
QueerID | www.queerid.com
Queer in Dublin is a top-notch site covering all aspects of gay life in the capital. Includes features, forums and an event guide.
Gaire | www.gaire.com
Popular Irish classified service, with personals, accommodation listings and forums. Not exclusively gay, but not far from it.
General
Gay.com | www.gay.com
The site at the best gay URL doesn't disappoint, boasting enormous archives of information, with very popular chatrooms.
Mogenic | www.mogenic.com
The most popular gay youth site on the web, Mogenic is based in Australia, but attracts a worldwide following. Crammed with great features, it looks pretty hot, too.
Rainbow Network | www.rainbownetwork.com
Nice-looking UK site, packed with the usual features, some of which require you to sign up for membership.
Planet Out | www.planetout.com
American site, strong on lifestyle and entertainment reviews, with good coverage of gay-themed news stories also.
Gay Wired | www.gaywired.com
Another US site, GayWired is aimed squarely at a 20something audience, and covers the usual ‘lifestyle’ territory.
Techno Dyke | www.technodyke.com
“The gathering place for the web savvy dyke”: a great little site, with fun/interesting content and cute illustrations.
The Data Lounge | www.datalounge.com
A more grown-up affair than the others listed here, with the emphasis on news and debate. Includes some excellent forums.
Contacts/Chat
Gaydar | www.gaydar.ie
Possibly the most popular gay site of all, Gaydar is basically a classifieds ads service spliced with a chatroom.
OUTeverywhere | www.OUTeverywhere.com
Goodlooking, ad-free online community, positioning itself as a non-sleazy rival to Gaydar. Has an Irish version.
Shopping
The Homo Depot | www.the-homo-depot.com
More rainbows on more products than you ever thought possible. Also home of the celebrated Billy Doll: seriously kitsch.
Don't Panic.com | www.dontpanic.com
The place to head for queer t-shirts and accessories.
Books | www.amazon.co.uk
Still the best place to buy books online, including gay titles. If it’s in print, you’ll nearly always find it here.
DVDs & Videos | www.amazon.com
There’s no beating them—the web’s best collection of gay DVDs and videos (no porn).
Humour
Straight Acting.com | www.straightacting.com
Head for the quizzes section to find out how butch you and your dog are. (Aimed at men, but does have a quiz for girls.)
Dyxploitation | www.dyxploitation.nu/
Mixed bag of articles and columns, from the witty to the deranged. Has declined in quality a little from its heyday, but still good.
Directories
Gayscape | www.gayscape.com
Excellent directory, easily tailored both geographically and thematically.
gayindex.co.uk | www.gayindex.co.uk
Extensive directory, also includes search engine. The overall design could do with a tweak, but good otherwise.