Local Scene >

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is GAY.com Local Scene?
• Which cities are covered? Will more be added?
• What kinds of businesses are included?
• How can I add a business listing?
• If my city isn't listed, can my business still be included in the directory?
• What kinds of events are included in the events calendar?
• How can I add an event to the events calendar?
• How can I change or remove a listing in the directory?
• How can I rate and review businesses?

What is GAY.com Local Scene?

Local Scene helps LGBT local residents and travelers alike in our most popular cities figure out where to go, what to do, and where to meet others in the community. It includes a business directory emphasizing entertainment and nightlife, a calendar of gay events, and feature stories about the local gay scene.

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Which cities are covered? Will more be added?

At this time, we are focusing our efforts on the top six gay cities in the United States: Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco. Over time, we will slowly expand to include other cities, but have not yet determined when, nor which cities will be added.

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What kinds of businesses are included?

Our business listings emphasize entertainment and nightlife: where to go, where to dine, where to stay, where to meet and play. They focus on businesses that make up the city's gay social scene, such as bars and clubs, food and dining, gay bookstores and boutiques, hotels and B&Bs, gay theaters and entertainment venues, and community nonprofits.

Other businesses that are part of the community but not a part of the gay social scene, like real estate and legal services, are not included in our listings.

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How can I add a business listing?

If you know of a business catering to the LGBT community that should be included, whether it's your own business or just a favorite of yours, you can submit it by emailing support@local.gay.com. When you email us, please include as much information as you can, such as:

• Name of the business
• Industry or type of business
• Address, phone, fax
• Website URL and email address for customers
• Hours of operation, acceptable payment types, and price ranges
• Brief description of the business

You may also include a logo or photo of the business provided that the image does not show customers and you own the legal rights to the photo.

Please note that we reserve the right to modify or reject submissions. All submissions to the directory are subject to PlanetOut's standard User Agreement and Community Guidelines, which apply to all content within the PlanetOut network.

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If my city isn't listed, can my business still be included in the directory?

It can be very confusing when businesses are included for the wrong city in the directory. A bed-and-breakfast in Vermont wouldn't be appropriate in the New York City directory, for example. Even though New York City is the closest location we have to Vermont, our members browsing through accommodations will assume the accommodations listed are in Manhattan, not Vermont.

If the appropriate location is not available for your business, you may want to consider contacting our national sales team about other banner advertising options.

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What kinds of events are included in the events calendar?

We strive to include a wide range of events to appeal to the entire spectrum of the community -- concerts and plays, poetry readings, club nights and circuit parties, charity fundraisers, and the like. It's important that the event be of specific interest to some facet of the LGBT community. In addition, the event must be something that members of the community can physically attend. We would not list the television broadcast for the Academy Awards, for example, but would list the Academy of Friends' annual Oscars-related fundraising gala. In general, the announcement of sales and specials do not qualify as events.

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How can I add an event to the events calendar?

If you know of an event of specific interest to some portion of the LGBT community which is open to the public, you may submit it by email us at support@local.gay.com. Please include as much applicable information as you can, such as:

• Name of the event
• Date, date range, or recurrence information
• Name and address of the event's venue or location
• Website URL and customer contact email
• Price(s)
• A brief description of the event

You may also include a logo, flier, or photo of the event or venue, provided that you own the legal rights to the image.

Please note that we reserve the right to modify or reject submissions. All submissions to the directory are subject to PlanetOut's standard User Agreement and Community Guidelines, which apply to all content within the PlanetOut network.

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How can I change or remove a listing in the directory?

If you find a listing for a business that is closed or has other factual inaccuracies that should be corrected, you may click on the "Suggest a Correction" link below the listing or email us at support@local.gay.com to remove or correct the listing. Please include the business name, city, and as much additional information as you can.

Due to changes in the directory and the discontinuation of paid listings, business owners who formerly had a paid featured listing will no longer be able to log in to edit their listings directly. Instead, please email us at support@local.gay.com to request the changes you need.

If the listing is correct but is an establishment you simply don't care for, it is better to add a rating and personal review than to request its removal.

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How can I rate and review businesses?

You must be a logged-in member of GAY.com to rate and review businesses in the directory. If you are logged in, click on the link beneath the business' name, which will say "be the first to add your review" if there are no current ratings or "add your review" if there is at least one existing rating. You will then be able to rate the business on a scale of one (worst) to five (best), and can add a brief personal review explaining your feelings. Although we cannot factually verify individual opinions, we do monitor and evaluate reviews before the go live to prevent spam and nonsensical submissions. Please give us a few days to process pending ratings and reviews.