aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South

Monday, April 03, 2006

Gay Playboy?

Playboy Enterprises may launch a gay brand:

PLAYBOY Enterprises, the New York-listed adult publisher and broadcaster, wants to use Britain as its base to move into the gay market for the first time.

The company, which describes itself as “pro-sex” rather than pornographic, wants to launch a new gay brand as it tries to boost revenues beyond last year’s $329 million (£189 million).

Christie Hefner, the chief executive, said: “We’ve extended the Playboy brand to women, and where there is a meaningful gay market, launching under a different brand is something we are very comfortable doing.

“In the UK, our television people are very interested, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we launched something this year, given the importance of the market in Britain.”