 | |
| Type | Bi-Weekly magazine |
|---|---|
| Format | Magazine |
| Owner(s) | Pink Triangle Press |
| Editor | Phil Villeneuve |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Ceased publication | April 24, 2013 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Circulation | 20,000 every 2 weeks |
| Website | www.fabsmag.com |
fab was a Canadian gay magazine that published biweekly issues in Toronto, Ontario from 1994 to 2013. It published alternate weeks to the city's other biweekly gay publication, Xtra! The publication's official spelling uses a lower-case F: fab.
fab was established in June 1994 by No Fear Publishing, [1] originally as a publication focusing primarily on the city's gay party and club scene. [2]
In 1996, fab also launched a national edition, known as FAB National to distinguish itself from the local Toronto publication. The national magazine struggled to build an audience, and was sold in 1998; its new owners ceased publication of the magazine within a few months.
In 2006, under editor-in-chief, Steven Bereznai, FabStyle — a special issue devoted to fashion and design — was launched as a quarterly publication. However, only two issues were ever produced.
In February 2008, Pink Triangle Press –publishers of Xtra! , Xtra! West and Capital Xtra! –purchased the assets of fab. The magazine began publishing under the PTP banner in March 2008. [1] Due to downsizing efforts, Pink Triangle Press announced the magazine's discontinuation on March 12, 2013; [1] the magazine's April 24, 2013, issue was its last. [2] Its past web content and many of its contributors were expected to be integrated into DailyXtra.com, an expansion of Xtra!'s online presence which debuted later in the year. [2]
Described as a "gay scene magazine", fab covered popular Toronto gay culture, including music and clubbing. Feature articles are usually news-related and deal with literature, AIDS, real estate, music, and other current-affairs topics.
Photo spreads were common, and fab covers typically feature sexy and provocative male models. Covers also occasionally featured a public figure, when a major feature interview with that person appeared in the magazine — David Miller appeared on the cover in a leather jacket, [3] Jack Layton and Olivia Chow appeared together flanked by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in dress leathers, [4] and Julian Fantino posed in his police uniform with a row of otherwise anonymous models dressed as The Village People. [5] Exclusive celebrity covers have also included musicians Lady Gaga, Blake McGrath, Joel Gibb, Neko Case and Hawksley Workman, actors Kate Moennig, Scott Thompson, Cheyenne Jackson and Adamo Ruggiero, and local activists George Hislop and Brent Hawkes.
The magazine had several editors prior to 1998, then John Kennedy took over. Over the next four years, he increased readership and advertising revenues. After 100 issues, Kennedy was replaced by Mitchel Raphael in 2002; Raphael left the magazine in January 2006 and was replaced by Steven Bereznai. In April 2007, Bereznai stepped down and was replaced by Paul Gallant.
With the purchase of fab by Pink Triangle Press in February 2008, Gallant was replaced by Matt Thomas and Drew Rowsome. The magazine's final editor, Phil Villeneuve, started in 2012.
At different times during its run, fab's regular columnists included Rolyn Chambers, Drasko Bogdanovic, Daniel Paquette, Paul Bellini, Max MacDonald, Heroine Marks, Todd Klinck, Nina Arsenault, Richard Burnett and Brad Fraser.
The magazine was distributed as a free publication in Toronto, Hamilton, London and Ottawa, and was available in some other Canadian cities for a cover price of $4.50 per issue.
Pink Triangle Press is an independent, Canadian media organization specializing in LGBTQ2S+ journalism, television and online interactive media. Founded in 1971, Pink Triangle Press is one of the longest-publishing LGBTQ2S+ media groups in the world. Today, Pink Triangle Press publishes Xtra, an online magazine and community platform covering LGBTQ2S+ culture, politics and health. Pink Triangle Press also publishes a series of newsletters including Pink Ticket Travel and Wander+Lust. Pink Ticket Travel is a Queer travel newsletter featuring travel tips and guidelines for LGBTQ2S+ travelers. Wander+Lust is a newsletter featuring travel tips and tricks for gay and bi men, including insider recommendations and exclusive offers.
Xtra Magazine is an LGBTQ-focused digital publication and former print newspaper published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The publication is a continuation of the company's former print titles Xtra!, Xtra Ottawa, and Xtra Vancouver, which were all discontinued in 2015.
Xtra Vancouver, formerly Xtra! West, was a gay bi-weekly newspaper, published by Pink Triangle Press in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Xtra Ottawa was a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community newspaper published in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was launched in 1993. Xtra Ottawa, started as a monthly, and was later published 17 times a year, with a publication schedule of every three weeks. The Ottawa edition had a circulation of 20,000 copies which reached 36,000 readers.
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This is a timeline of notable events in the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Canada. For a broad overview of LGBT history in Canada see LGBT history in Canada.
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Jeffrey Round is a Canadian writer, director, playwright, publisher, and songwriter, who has encouraged the development of LGBT literature, particularly in Canada. His published work includes literary fiction, plays, poetry and mystery novels.
The Pink Triangle Trust is a UK-registered charity that offers educational materials about LBGTQ issues and the application of humanism to the study of these issues. Its long-standing secretary was George Broadhead.
Although same-sex sexual activity was illegal in Canada up to 1969, gay and lesbian themes appear in Canadian literature throughout the 20th century. Canada is now regarded as one of the most advanced countries in legal recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.
Gerald Hannon was a Canadian journalist whose work appeared in major Canadian magazines and newspapers.
The Church-Wellesley Review was a Canadian literary magazine.
Les Mouches fantastiques was a Canadian underground magazine published between 1918 and 1920. Based in Montreal, Quebec, it is the first known LGBT-themed publication in Canadian and North American history.
The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) is a charitable organization whose programming works to stop bullying, discrimination and homophobia in schools and communities in Canada, and abroad. Through workshops, presentations, training conferences, and by supporting youth initiatives, they engage youth in celebrating diversity of gender identity, gender expression, and romantic orientation and/or sexual orientation.
