Bound magazine is heading your way
The publishers of Lesbians on the Loose are about to launch a groundbreaking new title. Andrew Georgiou talks with Bound magazine's Merryn Johns.
Lesbians on the Loose magazine has been keeping Sydney's queer women informed and entertained for 20 years and counting. The success of this stand-out magazine has prompted its publishers, Avalon Media, to launch their new title, Bound, which is set to shake up the lesbian publishing space. We talk with Bound's New York-based editor and long-time Sydney lesbian identity, Merryn Johns, about what we can expect to see across Bound's pages.
What is Bound's point of difference in the lesbian publishing space?
Bound is the first truly international, upscale magazine for lesbians and women with a connection to the LGBT community. It draws on a uniquely sourced and qualified pool of international contributors with a global perspective. The editorial of most lesbian magazines, be they from London or San Francisco, is domestic. Bound has a grip on everything from global politics to the celebrity blogosphere. Our design department is in Sydney, our editorial office is in New York, and we have contributors in South Africa, Canada, England, Perth, Singapore, Brazil, Denver, Sri Lanka, New Zealand – you get the picture.
Describe a typical Bound reader.
A typical Bound reader is any woman with a connection to the LGBT community. She is probably over 26, more likely to be over 30, with a postgraduate degree, an above-average income or qualified vocation, and an interest in how lesbian 'lifestyle' spans world culture. Our tagline is Different Culture, Same Lifestyle, which is to say no matter where you live, we are all bound by a common sexuality.
How will Avalon's reputation in the industry assist Bound as a start-up publication?
Avalon Media is the publisher of LOTL, which celebrates 20 years in publishing this year. It is the longest-running existing LGBT magazine title in the southern hemisphere and has a readership which is world wide.
Will Bound be steering away from political content, choosing to focus more on lifestyle and entertainment?
While Bound will be focusing on lifestyle issues, such as celebrity, fashion, culture and art, politics will always be a part of the editorial content. Each issue will have a politically minded feature. In our launch issue we will be looking into the apparently condoned practice of 'rape cure' in South Africa, where lesbians are raped and sometimes murdered, and the law is doing precious little to apprehend the offenders.
Do you think current lesbian magazines are failing to tick certain boxes for their readers?
I think there is an unspoken belief that lesbians are simply not interested in certain things, such as travel, fashion, fine dining, art. Bound will address these misconceptions.
What influenced choosing NYC as a base for the magazine?
Because I am a masochist! No, New York is considered to be the publishing capital of the world, and if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere – as that song goes. Seriously now, the editor-in-chief chose it as a testing ground for the launch of an international publication, being somewhat familiar with the diversity of the city and the tolerance there for intellectualism and forward thinking. It has been challenging but there has been much enthusiasm and encouragement from members of the New York LGBT community. New York is a good base for investigating global lesbian affairs!
How do you see the NYC/Sydney crossover working for local readers?
Readers everywhere are becoming more internationally minded. I cannot tell you how many contributors visit me when they are in New York and how many US readers email letters – I now receive more letters from 'overseas' than from Australia. Also, as gay capitals of the world, Sydney and New York have a natural symbiosis and really, it's no big deal to think about publishing between cities these days. I have been telecommuting on LOTL for over three years. The world has really shrunk and the comprehension of a global geography is an essential part of contemporary publishing. The concept of local is in fact portable.
Will Bound cross over online? If so, how do you see this panning out?
Like many publications these days, Bound will have a virtual presence and a landing place for online readers. We are yet to confirm the exact functionality of boundmagazine.com, but it is in the works.
Where will Bound be sold?
Bound will be sold in Australia in newsagencies, via subscription, and overseas through Borders and Barnes & Noble.
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