Lesbian Blog AfterEllen Closes After 14 Years

Just a month after the termination of Gawker, the blogosphere is losing another brand. For 14 years, AfterEllen has been a seminal platform for the LGBT community, catering to and empowering a feminist following.

According to Editrix-in-Chief Trish Bendix, the blog was purchased by Evolve Media two years ago from Viacom. After not meeting the company's needs as a profitable LGBT space, they're shutting down the site this Friday.

Bendix posted an explanation to her own Tumblr:

"They gave us two fiscal years to become their LGBT property and profit in that space, and they found we are not as profitable as moms and fashion. And, yes, 'they' are mainly white heterosexual men, which is important to note because not only is this the story for us, but for a lot of other properties--large-scale media outlets, lesbian bars out-priced by neighborhoods they helped establish, housing in queer meccas like Portland that is being turned into condos and AirBNBs."

Evolve will keep the site's archive online with the potential for periodic freelance pieces. After 10 years, this will be Bendix's last week, but she intends to continue writing with the queer community in mind.