A new website
aims to generate charitable donations while helping LGBT
folks network.
Matt Small
started his new LGBT social networking website,
FriendsYouKnow.com, with a few things in mind:
“security, philanthropy, quality, and community
awareness.” The LGBT ally has spent the past 19
months developing the site, which was created from a dual
perspective of safety and charity.
The subscription
fee of $9.95 a month (even less if you make a couple
referrals) doesn’t just pay for heightened security.
While the proprietary encryption and credit card
matching are nice, “10% of all subscription
fees are given to LGBT nonprofit organizations that create
awareness of LGBT issues,” Small said.
Small started the
website to provide “a safer online environment for
the LGBT community.” While not gay himself,
Small has “very close friends in the gay
community” and understands the reliance that most
everyone has on the Internet these days.
FriendsYouKnow is an online arena for LGBT people to
“communicate with each other and share their
info.” Make no mistake, though:
“It’s not a dating site,” Small
insisted.
While the website
is currently in its beta-testing phase, it can still be
accessed at a discounted subscription fee. The first phase
of the website, once it has been fully released, will
include “photo sharing, blogging, and a
calendar” to be followed shortly by phase 2: a
community center and a business center complete with
information about topics including health,
fitness, relationships, and finances. (Hannah Clay
Wareham, The Advocate)
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