Award winning and Boston-based, The Rainbow Times is dedicated to bridging the gaps between members of the LGBTQ community itself and mainstream culture. Through inclusive reporting that reflects the highest level of journalistic integrity, education and awareness-based initiatives, and philanthropic measures, The Rainbow Times is committed to positively affirm social justice causes while representing the intersections of our diverse identities.
Founded in 2006, The Rainbow Times has become New Englandâs largest LGBTQ newspaper. The Rainbow Times first print issue launched in February, 2007. The Rainbow Times is the only minority-owned publication dedicated to the LGBTQ community and its allies. Through its bold reporting, the publication increases awareness of todayâs LGBTQ issues, while addressing the intersectionality of multiple and shared identities within the LGBTQ community. The Rainbow Times has been praised by the MA House of Representatives as the LGBTQ publication providing âinclusive news coverageâ while âgenerously donating to local non-profits.â The Rainbow Times stands out from other LGBTQ publications through its bold reporting and exclusive in-depth stories â written by PoC, non-trans allies, and trans individuals all falling on different places of the gender spectrum who are also veteran journalists and understand the ins-and-outs of reporting for marginalized groups. Intentionally, The Rainbow Times ensures that its reporting highlights the various intersectionalities found within this vast community. The Rainbow Times is also the most transgender inclusive LGBTQ publication in the region.
The Rainbow Times serves as a vehicle to unify and strengthen the diversity found within the LGBTQ communities in New England and beyond. ISSN 2169-6136 (online) and ISSN 2169-6128 (print).
READERSHIP:
Boasting a monthly readership of 75,000 for the print edition and receiving an average of 2.4 million impressions on its website each month, The Rainbow Times reach is expansive. The publicationâs social media network is the largest of any regional LGBTQ publication of its kind, capturing a social stratosphere audience of approximately 40K followers/subscribers. Its monthly e-blast, The Pony Express, reaches approximately 36,000 subscribers. TRT also boasts the largest LGBTQ Facebook photo coverage in the region. Some of the most historical LGBTQ photo coverage in New England throughout the years can be seen via its FaceBook Photo Albums.
PHILANTHROPY:
To date, The Rainbow Times has given approximately $200K in in-kind and monetary donations to non-profit organizations throughout New England. Its management believes that giving back to the community is the most effective way to measure success. TRT continues to offer donations via its annual event, The Rainbow Times Pride Kick-Off Benefit Cruise (read more below).
ANNUAL PROJECTS:
The Rainbow Times is the proud producer of the New England Pride Guide and New England Pride Map each year. You can view/read one of the former issues of the New England Pride guide here. From 2017 on, TRT has engaged in event creation, its signature annual celebration has become the Pride Kick-Off Benefit Cruise launched from Salem, Massachusetts each June. Proceeds from it fund various LGBTQ+ non-profits locally. The Pride Kick-Off Benefit Cruise â has sold out 3-4 months in advance every year. Since its inception, The Rainbow Times has given monetary and in-kind donations to hundreds of organizations in New England (via the Cruise alone, to Fenway Healthâs LGBTQ Youth Program via The Borum and in the North Shore, to North Shore Pride), totaling more than $500,000. [Still in development stages. Stay tuned for more!]
AWARDS:
The Solidaridad (Solidarity) Award (2013) was awarded to The Rainbow Times. This award honors an organization that has shown support for the Latinx LGBTQ Community and Latin@ Pride through a collaborative and inclusive presence. The Boston Pride committee was âin strong favor of giving this award to The Rainbow Times because of the longstanding promotion of Latin@ Pride. Not only are they a Latino owned and run business, they have given their resources and time to ensure that the community is aware of our events and mission.â
The Rainbow Times was the recipient of the Diamond Service Community Award - Imperial Court of WMA - July, 2014
The Rainbow Times was honored with the LGBT Champion in Media Award from the Promise Place School for LGBTQ Youth - Dec., 2014.
The Commonwealth of Massachusettsâ House of Representatives (signed by Speaker DeLeo and Rep. Liz Malia) awarded The Rainbow Times with a citation in recognition of âyour ten years of providing inclusive news coverage of the LGBT community and your generous donations to local nonprofits has not gone unrecognizedâ - June 7, 2016
The Rainbow Times received the Sylvia Rivera Community Award (2016) from the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition âto the organization that has been capturing our stories, thatâs been sharing our strength and our struggles, and continues to prevail in a society that tries to silence us ⌠The Rainbow Times," said HBGC presenting officers. This award honors a local organization, group, or business that has supported the mission of HBGC while doing its own work that improves the lives of LGBTQ individuals of color. The Rainbow Times was proud to stand beside such amazing community leaders (who were also nominees) such as: The City School, Connected Boston, and The Foundation Movement.
In 2016, North Shore Pride honored The Rainbow Times with the LGBT Community Service Award celebrating its contributions to the community and for standing strong against a direct attack against the LGBT community and the newspaper. In August 2016, seven individuals placed an incendiary device detonating The Rainbow Timesâ newspaper street box in downtown Salem. This explosion was heard up to a mile away, according to the local police. Kim Driscoll, Salem Mayor, asked the local community to ârally around the publishers and The Rainbow Timesâ when the violent act took place. And, the community did. âWeâre a community that doesnât stand for this type of behavior. Weâre all standing very much in support of The Rainbow Times. There is a box there today and itâll be there as long as we can have it there. ... Based on our history, the Witch Trials, and things that happened here know how important it is not to stay silent when something like this happens,â said Mayor Driscoll during a WBUR Radio Boston interview.
The Rainbow Times was awarded the Bayard Rustin Award for Community Service - from Cambridge Mass. Mayor (E. Denise Simmons) and LGBTQ+ City of Cambridge Commission - June 10, 2017
MILESTONES:
Exclusive Op-Ed by Senator Elizabeth Warrenâs campaign (D-MA), to be published exclusively in The Rainbow Times.
Exclusive Op-Ed from Governor Charlie Baker announcing his support (only publication in the commonwealth) to the Yes On 3 Campaign for transgender equality
The Rainbow Times was the first in the scene (1o minutes into it) of the historical shut down of the 45th Boston Pride Parade in June 2015 (headline: #WickedPissed: Activists Halt Boston Pride Parade for 11 minutes). The story yielded over 10,500 social media shares alone and more reads than any other story as of now.
FINDING (The Rainbow Times):
You can find The Rainbow Timesâ coverage via its e-blast, The Pony Express too. Via FaceBook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram, among others, you can find The Rainbow Timesâ presence as well. TRT Talk Radio, its signature podcast, will be coming back to add to TRT's media powerhouse. Online, you can read The Rainbow Times freely via ISSUU.
STATISTICS:
The Rainbow Times advertisements produce results. The print (and online) publication and other special projects are seen by thousands throughout New England. With actual newspaper boxes throughout the region, no other publication ensures definitive spot locations in their distribution area, as The Rainbow Times does (see Readership above).
CMI RESEARCH[1] VERIFIED DEMOGRAPHICS:
91.2% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers have served in the military and 73.7% of those are Veterans
78.3 % plan to buy tickets to performing arts and related events within the next 12 months
85.1% Do not read another LGBTQ publication regionally
23.8% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers identify on the transgender spectrum
50.7% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers identify as gay men
21% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers are people of color (Black, Latinx, Native American, Asian, Middle Eastern, etc.)
43.6% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers own a Condo, House, or living space
80.8% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers own a pet (cat and/or dog and other type of pet)
76.6% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers do not have children
58.5% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers Household Income was $50K and above
41.1% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers Household Income was $75K and above
28.4% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers Household Income was $100K and above
66.4% of The Rainbow Timesâ readers hold a Bachelorâs or Masterâs Degree
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT:
27 other Countries (besides the U.S.) read The Rainbow Times around the world
The states with the highest (The Rainbow Times) readership are: Massachusetts, California, Florida, Connecticut, Texas, New York, Washington and Michigan.
ANNUAL EVENT:
Pride Kick-Off Benefit Cruise â Sold 4 months in advance every year
FOOTNOTE:
[1] Community Marketing Inc. 2018 LGBTQ Report - CMIâs 12th Annual LGBTQ Community SurveyÂŽ attracted 40,000 participants representing 151 countries, making it the largest study of its kind in the world.
