Gay Archipelago

The Gay Archipelago

Gay Archipelago, May, 15 2010

The Gay Archipelago is an international region of Second Life consisting of 129 sims today which share traffic, conduct archipelago-wide events, and welcome LGBT newcomers to Second Life. The Gay Archipelago (GA) includes a variety of content, including business, shopping, entertainment, role playing, and services for the gay Second Life community. Linden Labs recently gave the Gay Archipelago its own region allowing it to expand and remain focused on and for the LGBT community.

The Gay Archipelago was founded by Fabrice Snook - and today owned by 35 Estate owners - as a place to meet, welcome and help LGBT people as well as to support the talents of its owners, residents and merchants.

Purpose

The purpose of the Gay Archipelago is to provide a wide region managed by its Estate owners where like minded individuals can live and shop and find services geared to their lifestyle. It helps owners and residents of sims to promote their businesses and events. It coordinates region-wide activities and events, promoting them to all of SL. It works to provide an orderly expansion of the region. It acts as one of the spokespersons for all gay people in Second Life. It provides a center for information not only for the Gay Archipelago itself but for all of gay SL. Through the Linden-sanctioned LGBT Gateway, it aspires to be the first stop for gay people entering Second Life – a place of welcome, orientation, community and help.

What the Gay Archipelago is not

Gay Archipelago logo

The Gay Archipelago

  • is not intended to be the exclusive place for gay-oriented sims and activities.
  • recognizes the advantage of, indeed the necessity for gay people to live in and move through all of Second Life. 
  • does not hold itself to be the exclusive representative of LGBT people in SL. 
  • is not profit driven. The Gay Archipelago committee is voluntary and there are no fees required from anyone living and working within the GA.

History

Fabrice Snook launched Pandore, the first sim in the Gay Archipelago, in May, 2007, as a friendly gay village (today it is a shopping sim). Fabrice then opened Gay France, in July 2007, then Oboulaba, a babylonian themed sim. Oboulaba is now called Chilipepper with shopping, residences and clubs.

In 2008, Sasha Laval, owner of Gay Zone Estate, and Fabrice decided to connect their 7 sims in a new area on the SL grid. Later that year, Badpuppy and Citegay, two sims linked to well-known gay Internet portals in USA and France, joined them.

The continent continued to grow with Gay Europe, Gay Japan, Toozepolis and other new sims. Sascha Laval launched Gay Zone Atlantis, Gay Zone Neptunia, DJ World and Aqua Lounge.

As the Archipelago grew, the emphasis was on cooperation, coordination and unity beginning with Gay France and later with Gay Europe. Today, "SL Gay Cooperation" is today a non-open group that manages the new Gay Europe sim, an openspace that connects the German and French regions.

Also in 2008, IGBC Gay Rehoboth, Jameson Architects, Ferik Island, and Flag Factory opened in the Archipelago. That year, the Gay Archipelago was not more only focused on european range, and GA has choosen to be the first sponsor of the Second Pride Festival in June.

At the beginning of 2009 and after the Lindens’ decision to increase the fees by 66%, many homesteads were closed. At this time, the virtual worlds did not appear so attractive to many professionals and CiteGAY closed its sim as well. Fabrice left SL for several months because of Real Life (RL) commitments. Upon his return, he found that the cluster had decreased to just 8 sims. But with the continued effort of Fabrice and others, Gay Europe was revived and IGBC extended its domain with new sims connected to Pandore. Oiswiss Decuir, owner of Gay Fun World, joined what was now called the Gay Archipelago. Arnel Choche’s Crazy Garden was opened. Later in 2009, Dom Bamatter, owner of Pure Indulgence Estate, joined the group - today Dom Bamatter is the largest land owner in GA with 38 sims.

In autumn of 2009, discussions began with the new Board of Second Pride to define common goals.

By the end of 2009, the Gay Archipelago had 34 sims. Its first winter Festival, The Gay Archipelago Days, was held from December 12th thru 19th with many events and attractions on each sim. The festival ended with a contest for the first Mister Gay 2010. Ardaric Larsson was the winner and all celebrated with a grand party.

In January of 2010, Linden Lab offered to move all sims in the Gay Archipelago to a new, empty area of the grid, favorable for expansion and unencumbered by neighboring sims with no connection to the GA. Linden Lab also facilitated the moving of sims to join Gay Archipelago: Pillars of Hercules, Vulcania, Lothlorian, Gay Italy Friends and Romanum. The move took place on January 12, 2010.

Shortly thereafter, Marcus Steeplechase and Philip Eubanks, owners of Warehouse Plaza and a group of 5 sims, joined the Gay Archipelago. They dedicated one of their sims, Pride, for the site of the then proposed Gateway and Welcome Center for LGBT people entering Second Life. The sim is located in the heart of the Archipelago.

The LGBT Gateway was approved by the Lindens and launched on April 6, 2010. This beautiful building was constructed by Van Auster and provides a beautiful setting for an excellent service. Shortly after, the showcase Community Center was completed by Oxphalaver Moose. This unique design houses the GA Council Chamber, the Womyn's Center, an annex for the Second Pride organization, the Transgender Hub, and public meeting rooms.

In the next months, the Gay Archipelago expanded to 130 LGBT sims. But even as this growth continues, The Gay Archipelago encourages diversity of location of gay sims throughout SL and has never desired to be the only location for LGBT sims. It exists only to enhance the Gay Archipelago Way of Life: opportunities to meet, to share, to learn, to support talent, to have fun, relax, and build a great continent with many links to all of SL and to Real Life as well.

In May of 2010 the 13 sims of the United Continent of Gor moved to the GA. Not only is this the largest cluster of gay Gorean sims, it is the largest cluster of Gorean sims in all of Second Life. It marks the GA as a major center for role play in Second Life and enhances the diversity of lifestyles within the GA itself.

In the January quarter of 2010, the Gay Archipelago launched its first Council organization. This first Council is chaired by Fabrice Snook who will be Chairman until June, 2010. The immediate tasks of the Council are to provide liaison between Linden Labs and the Gay Archipelago, to work with the Second Pride Committee, and to be useful and efficient for the owners, residents, merchants and visitors to the Gay Archipelago.

The Second Pride Festival Parade is scheduled to float(it's a water parade)from the Pride sim on May 29, 2010. This year's theme is Venice and the festival stretches across six sims. In addition to the parade, the festival includes concerts and dances.

The history of the GA is vibrant with growth and promise. It speaks to the LGBT peoples' desire for and appreciation of community.

Council of the Gay Archipelago

Chairman............................Fabrice Snook

Co-Chair............................Sascha Laval

Vice-Chair..........................Marcus Steeplechase

General Secretary...................Thormec Micheline

Committee Chairmen

Grid................................Omatthias Vidor

Club Owners Representative..........InsyX Piranha

Events..............................Oiswiss Decuir

Events Co-Chair.....................Philip Eubanks

Events Planning.....................Othon Weiland

LGBT Gateway........................Myles Capalini

Liaisons............................Thom Nexen

Blogs Reporting Team................Megotta Zuta

Land Rental.........................Coline Liotta

Gorean Sims Representative..........Kreg Skytower

Pure Indulgence & San Francisco Representative.....Gambit Broone

Purpose of the Council:

The managers of Gay Archipelago are GA EStates owners (see below). The GA Council is here to :

Assist and support Estate owners, as requested
Promote the Gay Archipelago
Manage the grid
Manage and promote GA-wide events
Establish and maintain communication protocols
Co-manage the LGBT Gateway (Welcoming & Orientation) with the Second Pride Committee
make liaison with Linden Labs on GA-wide issues
Speak for Linden Labs for the GA community
Help and support the Second Pride Committee

G.A. Estates owners

(FP) Full Prim (HS) Homestead (OS) Openspace

Keokipele Ansar

   Kanaloa Marketplace (FP)
   Vulcania Fine Art (HS)

Maxim Ansar

   Chilipepper (FP)

Alan Bolero

   Thira (FP)

Dom Bamatter with Wendell Thor as CEO & Manager

   (to be updated)
   Alcatraz (FP)
   Bay 1 (HS)
   Bay 2 (HS)
   Bay Isles (OS)
   Belvedere (FP)
   Castro (FP)
   Castro Street (FP)
   Domination (HS)
   Faulkenau Bay (OS)
   Fisherman Warf (FP)
   Fisherman Wharf (FP)
   Golden Gate (FP)
   Golden Gate 2 (OS)
   Pure Domination (FP)
   Pure Heaven (HS)
   Pure Indulgence Estate (FP)
   Pure Indulgence Island (FP)
   Pure Isle (FP)
   Pure Gay Australia (FP)
   Pure Luxury (FP)
   Pure Sin (FP)
   Pure Romance (FP)
   Pure Temptation (FP)
   Rendezvous (FP)
   San Francisco Island ((FP)
   San Francisco Bay (OS)
   Sausalito (FP)
   Straight of Falkenau (OS)
   Tiburon (FP)
   Wayfarer (FP)
   Wayfarer Bay (HS)
   Whitewater (FP)
   White Water Delta (FP)

Tiberius Brouwer

   Isle of Tabor (FP)
   Northern Tabor (HS)
   Silver Tree of Tabor (HS)

Tom06 Castro

   TBONE Island (FP)

Callinet Dagostino

   Rainbow Isle (FP)

Oiswiss Decuir

   Gay Fun Beach (HS)
   Gay Fun World (FP)

Philip Eubanks

   Orpheum (FP)

Emperor Galtier

   Romanum (FP)

Walentine Gazov

   Haven (FP)
   Haven Beach (OS)
   Haven Paradise (FP)
   Rainbow Haven (FP)
   Swedish Archipelago (HS)
   Swedish Pride (HS)

JeanLuc Guyot

   IGBC Heliopolis (HS) - managed by Liamone Troglodite
   IGBC Gay Rehoboth (FP)
   IGBC Rehoboth Bay (HS)
   IGBC Rehoboth Shores (HS)
   IGBC Rehoboth Landing (HS)

Jimmie Hammill

   Hulneth Bay (HS)
   Isle of Scimitar (FP)
   Scimitar Plains (HS)

Jaij Jameson

   Jameson Architects (FP)

Telur Lane/Minoa Palen

   Gay Tropicana (FP)

Sascha Laval

   Crazy Garden (HS) - managed by Arnel Cloche 
   Berlin Dance Arena (FP) - managed by Eniaga Moreaux
   Flag Factory (HS) - managed by Frenchy Kazan
   Gay Europe (OS)
   Gay Germany (HS)
   Gallywood (FP)
   Gay Zone Beach (FP)
   Gay Zone Germany (FP)
   Miscellanious (HS) - managed by AresDE Streeter
   Nyundo (HS)

Benoit Lednev

   Gay France (FP)
   Gay Paris (OS)
   Gay Wild West (HS)
   Pirate Coves (HS)
   Wild West (HS)

Rik Masala

   Ferik Island (HS)

Scottie Menges

   Islands of Hercules (HS)
   Sea of Hercules (HS)
   Pillars of Hercules (FP)
   Spires of Hercules (HS)
   Summits of Hercules (FP)

Ion Michalski

   Abderos (HS)
   Hylas (FP)

Thormec Micheline

   White Water Canyon (FP)

Bearded Munro

   Hillcrest of Tabor (FS)

Levy Munro

   Three Winds North (HS)
   Three Winds South (HS)
   White Water Falls (FP)
   White Water Highlands (HS)
   White Water Peaks (HS)

Chance Rasmusen

   Selene (FP)

Infamous Riddler

   The Secret Receiver (FP)
   Treasure Island (HS)

Evan Rutledge

   Pallas (HS)
   Spice Islands (FP)

Natiala Seiling

   Ceasaria (FP)

Didier Spitteler

   Gay Friendly (FP)

Fabrice Snook

   Gay Archipelago (OS)
   Pandore (FP)
   Sandbox Archipelago (HS)

Marcus Steeplechase

   Caerus (FP)
   Eloi (HS)
   Pride (FP)
   Warehouse Plaza (FP)

Tymus Tenk

   Calas Galadhon (FP)
   Dimrill Dale (FP)
   Glandium (HS)
   Grey Havens (OS)
   Mirromere (HS)
   South Farthing (HS)

Marin Urdaneta

   Tabor East(FS)
   Tabor Bay (OS)

Sterling Whitcroft

   Alex Ander (OS)
   Andros (FP)
   Marathon (HS)
   Rodos (HS)
   Sparta (FP)
   Thrace (HS)
   Troy (FP)

Fourleafclover Woodget

   Highlands of Tabor (FP)

Claude Zepp

   Gay Island Beach (HS)
   Gay Island Lagoon (HS)
   Gay Island Resort (FP)

Non profit Sims dedicated to GA

Gay Archipelago (OS)

GA Real Estate Agency

Gay Europe (OS)

Welcome Hub

Pride (FP)

International Welcome Hub

Sandbox Archipelago (HS)

Public sandbox

Shopping Sims (PG rate)

Crazy Garden (HS)

Flowers, plants, trees

Flag Factory (HS)

Flags, banners

Jameson Architects (FP)

Prefab residences and condominiums

Miscellanious (HS)

Pallas

Custom Designs, Parcels, Sims, Scenes, by Lauritz Larsson Architecture

Pandore (FP)

Multi-mainstores sim (Fashion accessories, Prefab homes, Textures full perm, Boats/barges)

Monthly Fees to Linden Labs generated by the GA Estates

(to be updated)

57 Full Sims x $295 US = $16,815 US

36 Homestead Sims x $125 US = $ 4,500 US

10 Open Space Sims x $75 US = $ 750 US

In all :

Total = $22,065 US per month

Total Land Value = $73,000 US

Sims Alphabetically

Abderos (HS) - Ion Michalski
Alcatraz (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Alex Ander (OS) - Sterling Whitcroft
Anahola Beach (HS) - Keokipele Ansar
Andros (FP) - Sterling Whitcroft
Bay 1 (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Bay 2 (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Bay Isles (OS) - Dom Bamatter
Belvedere (FP) Dom Bamatter
Berlin Dance Arena (FP) - Sascha Laval
Caerus (FP) - Marcus Steeplechase
Calas Galadhon (FP)- Tymus Tenk
Castro (FP)- Dom Bamatter
Castro Street (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Chilipepper (FP) - Maxim Ansar
Crazy Garden (HS) - Sascha Laval - managed by Arnel Choche
Dimrill Dale (FP) - Tymus Tenk
Domination (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Eloi (HS) - Marcus Steeplechase
Falkenau Bay (OS) - Dom Bamatter
Ferik Island (HS) - Rik Masala
Fisherman Wharf (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Flag Factory (HS) - Sascha Laval - managed by Frenchy Kazan
Folsom Street (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Gallywood (FP) - Sascha Laval - managed by InsyX Piranha
Gay Archipelago (OS) - Fabrice Snook
Gay Europe (OS) - Sascha Laval
Gay France (FP) - Benoit Lednev
Gay Fun Beach (HS) - Oiswiss Decuir
Gay Fun World (FP) - Oiswiss Decuir
Gay Germany (HS) - Sascha Laval
Gay Island Beach (HS) - Claude Zepp
Gay Island Lagoon (HS) - Claude Zepp
Gay Island Resort (FP) - Claude Zepp
Gay Japan (FP) - Maxel Cortes - Didier Spitteler
Gay Tropicana (FP) - Telur Lane - Minoa Palen
Gay Zone Beach (FP) - Sascha Laval
Gay Zone Germany (FP) - Sascha Laval
Glandium (HS) - Tymus Tenk
Golden Gate (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Golden Gate 2 (OS) - Dom Bamatter
Grey Havens (OS) - Tymus Tenk
Haven - (FP) - Walentine Gazov
Haven Beach - (OS) - Walentine Gazov
Haven Paradise - (FP) - Walentine Gazov
Highlands of Tabor - (FP) - Fourleafclover Woodget
Hillcrest of Tabor - (FP) - Bearded Munro
Hulneth Bay - (HS) - Jimmie Hammill
Hylas (FP) - Ion Michalski 
IGBC Gay Rehoboth (FP) - JeanLuc Guyot
IGBC Heliopolis (HS) - JeanLuc Guyot - managed by Liamone Troglodite
IGBC Rehoboth Bay (HS) - JeanLuc Guyot
IGBC Rehoboth Landing (HS) - JeanLuc Guyot
IGBC Rehoboth Shores (HS) - JeanLuc Guyot
Islands of Hercules (HS) - Scottie Menges
Isle of Scimitar - (FP) - Jimmie Hammill
Isle of Tabor - (FP) - Tiberius Brouwer
Jamison Architects (FP) - Jaij Jameson
Kahiki (HS) - Keokipele Ansar
Kanaloa Marketplace (FP) - Keokipele Ansar
Magic Folsom (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Marathon (HS) - Sterling Whitcroft
Mirromere (HS) - Tymus Tenk
Miscellanious (HS) - Sascha Laval - managed by AresDE Streeter
Northern Tabor - (HS) - Tiberius Brouwer
Nyundo - (HS) - Sascha Laval
Orpheum (FP) - Philip Eubanks
Pallas (HS) - Even Rutledge
Pandore (FP) - Fabrice Snook
Pillars of Hercules (FP) - Scottie Menges
Pirate Coves (HS) - Benoit Lednev
Pride (FP) - Marcus Steeplechase
Pure Domination (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Heaven (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Indulgence Estate (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Indulgence Island (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Isle (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Gay Australia (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Luxury (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Romance (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Sin (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Pure Temptation (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Rainbow Haven - (FP) - Walentine Gazov
Rainbow Isle (FP) - Adare Breil
Rendezvous (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Rodos (HS) - Sterling Whitcroft
Romanum (FP) - Emperor Galtier
San Francisco Bay (OS) - Dom Bamatter
San Francisco Island (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Sandbox Archipelago (HS) - Fabrice Snook
Sausalito (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Scimitar Plains - (HS) - Jimmie Hammill
Sea of Hercules (HS) - Scottie Menges
Selene (FP) - Chance Rasmusen
Silver Tree of Tabor - () - Tiberius Brouwer
South Farthing (HS) - Tymus Tenk
Sparta (FP) - Sterling Whitcroft
Spice Islands (FP) - Evan Rutledge
Spires of Hercules (HS) - Scottie Menges
Straight of Falkenau (OS) - Dom Bamatter
Summits of Hercules (FP) - Scottie Menges
Swedish Archipelago - (HS) - Walentine Gazov
Swedish Pride - (HS) - Walentine Gazov
Tabor Bay - (OS) - Marin Urdanetta
Tabor East - (FP) - Marin Urdanetta
TBONE Island (FP) - Tom06 Castro
The Secret Receiver - (FP) - Infamous Riddler
Thrace (HS) - Sterling Whitcroft
Three Winds North - (HS) - Levy Munro
Three Winds South - (HS) - Levy Munro
Tiburon (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Treasure Island (HS) - Infamous Riddler
Troy (FP) - Sterling Whitcroft
Vulcania Fine Art (HS) - Keokipele Ansar
Warehouse Plaza (FP) - Marcus Steeplechase
Wayfarer (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Wayfarer Bay (HS) - Dom Bamatter
White Water (FP) - Dom Bamatter - managed by Wendell Thor
White Water Canyon (FP) - Thormec Micheline
White Water Delta (FP) - Dom Bamatter - managed by Wendell Thor
White Water Falls (FP) - Levy Munro
White Water Highlands (HS) - Levy Munro
White Water Peaks (HS) - Levy Munro