Brazilian gay magazine DOM, which had changed publishers earlier this year, has shut down circulation again. Currently published by Fractal, the same publisher of gay porn magazine G, DOM was shut down not only because of the recession and the difficulty in finding advertisers willing to support a gay publication in Brazil, but also because of internal management issues. At the time being there is no forecast of when the magazine will be available in newsstands again.
With DOM off the market, we are left with only one significant gay publication in Brazil, Junior, which is very sad in the sense that I felt both magazines complemented each other. DOM catered to a more mature and mainstream gay readership, while Junior offers a bit more of an underground approach to a younger readership. I liked that we had both, each pushing different boundaries, setting different standards, and getting advertisers used to the idea of an untapped gay editorial market in the country.
I do not get very personal or political here on MIB, but it upsets me to see that the same global companies which advertise on international publications such as Out and Têtu refuse to advertise on gay publications through its Brazilian branches. If I were to list the Brazilian brands which refuse to lend clothing to a gay publication, you would be surprised. Some of them have been featured in editorials from international gay magazines, but do not agree to be featured in a national gay publication in fear that it will be harmful to the image of the brand. Sort of shocking when you know gay customers represent probably a third or more of their businesses.
With an extremely professional group of editors behind it, DOM was the only gay magazine of its generation to manage to get renowned actors and models to pose for its covers. I hope it will be back on newsstands at some point, with stronger support from advertisers in the country.
