Fifty-one percent
of gay and lesbian adults who use the Internet
regularly read blogs, while just 36% of heterosexuals do,
according to a Harris Interactive and Witeck-Combs
Communications poll conducted in March. A nationwide
survey of 2,733 adults shows that 27% of LGBT Web
users have posted a comment on a blog in the last month, in
contrast with 13% of heterosexuals. Additionally, 21%
of gays and lesbians said they written their own blog
in the last month, compared with 7% of their straight
counterparts.
Nearly one in
five LGBT responders said that they feel more positive
towards ads on blogs as opposed to 8% of heterosexual
adults. That shows a 2% drop among gays from a similar
survey done in November 2006.
"Studies
consistently show that gays and lesbians are leaders in
online usage, are very keen to find relevant and
timely information, and feel more strongly about
staying on top of latest trends," Wes Combs,
president of Witeck-Combs Communications, said in a press
release on Monday. "Blogs are fast shaping the
media landscape, and it is one medium that marketers
and advertisers can't afford to ignore, especially
when it comes to reaching gay and lesbian influencers,
voters, and consumers."
As far as blog
subject matter, 28% of LGBT respondents said that they
read news blogs, 26% read entertainment blogs, and 23%
follow political blogs. In comparison, 19% of
heterosexual Web users read news sites, 11% read
entertainment blogs, and 14% read political blogs. (The
Advocate)