Gay Archipelago

The Gay Archipelago is an international region of Second Life consisting of 140 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.

Gay Archipelago, July 7, 2010

The Gay Archipelago was founded by Fabrice Snookas a place to meet, welcome and help LGBT people as well as to support the talents of its owners, residents and merchants. Currently there are 43 Estate Owners in the Gay Archipelago.

Purpose

Gay Archipelago logo

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

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. The immediate tasks of the Council are to provide liaison between Linden Labs and the Gay Archipelago, to help and support 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

Founder/Former Chairman.............Fabrice Snook

Chairman............................Wendell Thor

Vice-Chair............................Sascha Laval

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

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

Committee Chairmen

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

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

Events.....................Co-Chairmen: Oiswiss Decuir / Philip Eubanks

Public Relations/Marketing.....................Co-Chairmen: Othon Weiland / Megotta Zuta

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

Council Ambassador..................Thom Nexen

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

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

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 LGBT organizations
make liaison with Linden Labs on GA-wide issues
Speak for Linden Labs for the GA community
Help and support the Second Pride Committee

Directory of Businesses and Services in GA

Please submit all entries for the Directory in a notecard to Thormec Micheline in-world.

Click here for the Directory.

GA 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

   Alcatraz (FP)
   Bay 1 (HS)
   Bay 2 (HS)
   Bay Isles (OS)
   Belvedere (FP)
   Castro (FP)
   Domination (HS)
   Domination Isle (HS)
   Faulkenau Bay (OS)
   Fisherman's Wharf (FP)
   Folsom (FP)
   Folsom East (FP)
   Golden Gate (FP)
   Golden Gate 2 (OS)
   Golden State Park (FP)
   Magic Folsom (HS)
   Pure Domination (FP)
   Pure Heaven (HS)
   Pure Indulgence Estates (FP)
   Pure Indulgence Island (FP)
   Pure Isle (FP)
   Pure Gay Australia (FP)
   Pure Luxury (FP)
   Pure Romance Isle (FP)
   Pure Sin (FP)
   Pure Temptation (FP)
   Rendezvous (FP)
   San Francisco Bay (OS)
   San Francisco Island (FP)
   San Francisco Marina (FP)
   San Francisco Zoo (FP)
   Sausalito (FP)
   Straight of Falkenau (OS)
   Tiburon (FP)
   Wayfarer Bay (HS)
   Wayfarer Island (FP)
   White Water (FP)
   White Water Delta (FP)

Marge Beaumont

   Tiffanyluv (Sidhe) (FP)

Tiberius Brouwer

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

Myles Capalini

   Cabria Bay (HS)
   Cabrian Outpost (FP)

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)

Ellyse Glas

   Araluv (FP)

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)

Huntington Harbour

   Huntington Harbour (FP)

Jaij Jameson

   IGBC Gay Rehoboth Seal (OS)
   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 Germany (HS)
   Gallywood (FP)
   Gay Zone Beach (FP)
   Gay Zone Germany (FP)
   Miscellanious (HS) - managed by AresDE Streeter
   Nyundo (HS)

Selket Laville

   Navan (HS)

Benoit Lednev

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

Kael Martinek

   Sons of Sunrise

Rik Masala

   Ferik Island (HS)

Scottie Menges

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

Ion Michalski

   Abderos (HS)
   Hylas (FP)
   Phrix (HS)

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)

Dragonlord Sparta

   Tabor Tropics (FP)

Marcus Steeplechase

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

Tymus Tenk

   ARMENELOS (HS)
   Calas Galadhon (FP)
   Dimrill Dale (FP)
   Glanduin (HS)
   Grey Havens (OS)
   Mirromere (HS)
   MISTY MOUNTAINS (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)
   Gay Island Sunbay (HS)
   Gay Island Tropic (HS)

Brent Zulaman

   IGBC Gay Rehoboth Reef (HS)

Sims Alphabetically

Abderos (HS) - Ion Michalski
Alcatraz (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Alex Ander (OS) - Sterling Whitcroft
Andros (FP) - Sterling Whitcroft
Araluv - (FP) - Ellyse Glas
ARMENELOS (HS) - Tymus Tenk 
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
Cabria Bay - (HS) - Myles Capalini 
Cabrian Outpost - (FP) - Myles Capalini
Caerus (FP) - Marcus Steeplechase
Calas Galadhon (FP)- Tymus Tenk
Castro (FP)- Dom Bamatter
Ceasaria (FP) - Natiala Seiling
Chilipepper (FP) - Maxim Ansar
Crazy Garden (HS) - Sascha Laval - managed by Arnel Choche
Dimrill Dale (FP) - Tymus Tenk
Domination (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Domination Isle - (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Eloi (HS) - Marcus Steeplechase
Falkenau Bay (OS) - Dom Bamatter
Ferik Island (HS) - Rik Masala
Fisherman's Wharf (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Flag Factory (HS) - Sascha Laval - managed by Frenchy Kazan
Folsom (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Folsom East (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Gallywood (FP) - Sascha Laval - managed by InsyX Piranha
Gay Archipelago (OS) - Fabrice Snook
Gay France (FP) - Benoit Lednev
Gay Friendly - (FP) - Didier Spitteler
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 Island Sunbay - (HS) - Claude Zepp
Gay Island Tropic - (HS) - Claude Zepp
Gay Paris (OS) - Benoit Lednev
Gay Tropicana - (FP) - Telur Lane - Minoa Palen
Gay Wild West - (HS) - Benoit Lednev
Gay Zone Beach (FP) - Sascha Laval
Gay Zone Germany (FP) - Sascha Laval
Glanduin (HS) - Tymus Tenk
Golden Gate (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Golden Gate 2 (OS) - Dom Bamatter
Golden Gate Park - (FP) - 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
Huntington Harbour - (FP) - Huntington Harbour
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 Reef - (HS) - Brent Zulaman
IGBC Rehoboth Seal - (OS) - Jaij Jameson
IGBC Rehoboth Shores (HS) - JeanLuc Guyot
Isle of Scimitar - (FP) - Jimmie Hammill
Isle of Tabor - (FP) - Tiberius Brouwer
Jamison Architects (FP) - Jaij Jameson
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
MISTY MOUNTAINS (HS) - Tymus Tenk
Navan (HS) - Selket Laville
Northern Tabor - (HS) - Tiberius Brouwer
Nyundo - (HS) - Sascha Laval
Orpheum (FP) - Philip Eubanks
Pallas (HS) - Even Rutledge
Pandore - (FP) - Fabrice Snook
Phrix - (HS) - Ion Michalski
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
San Francisco Marina - (FP) - Dom Bamatter
San Francisco Zoo - (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
Sons of Sunrise - (FS) - Kael Martinek
South Farthing (HS) - Tymus Tenk
Sparta (FP) - Sterling Whitcroft
Spice Islands (FP) - Evan Rutledge
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
Tabor Tropics - (FP) - Dragonlord Sparta
TBONE Island (FP) - Tom06 Castro
The Secret Receiver - (FP) - Infamous Riddler
Thira - (FP) - Alan Bolero
Thrace (HS) - Sterling Whitcroft
Three Winds North - (HS) - Levy Munro
Three Winds South - (HS) - Levy Munro
Tiburon (FP) - Dom Bamatter
Tiffanyluv (Sidhe) - (FP) - Marge Beaumont
Treasure Island (HS) - Infamous Riddler
Troy (FP) - Sterling Whitcroft
Vulcania Fine Art - (HS) - Keokipele Ansar
Warehouse Plaza -(FP) - Marcus Steeplechase
Wayfarer Bay (HS) - Dom Bamatter
Wayfarer Island -(FP) - 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
Wild West - (HS) - Benoit Lednev