About Us

The Rainbow Times

Boston-based, The Rainbow Times is the only minority-owned (partly women, partly Hispanic, partly transgender) publication dedicated to the LGBTQ community and its allies. Founded in 2006, The Rainbow Times has become New England’s largest LGBTQ newspaper. Through its bold reporting, the publication increases awareness of today’s LGBTQ issues, while addressing the intersectionality of multiple and shared identities within the LGBTQ community.

The Rainbow Times stands out from other LGBTQ publications through its bold reporting and exclusive in-depth stories — written by PoC, non-trans allies, and trans individuals all falling on different places of the gender spectrum who are also veteran journalists and understand the ins-and-outs of reporting for marginalized groups. Intentionally, The Rainbow Times ensures that its reporting highlights the various intersectionalities found within this vast community. The Rainbow Times is also the most transgender inclusive LGBTQ publication in the region.

The Rainbow Times has been praised by the MA House of Representatives as the LGBTQ publication providing “inclusive news coverage” while “generously donating to local non-profits.” Boasting a monthly readership of 75,000, The Rainbow Times is a multiple award-winning publication that serves as a vehicle to unify and strengthen the diverse communities in New England and beyond. ISSN 2169-6136 (online)  and ISSN 2169-6128 (print).

 

Our Mission

The Rainbow Times is dedicated to bridging the gaps between members of the LGBTQ community itself and mainstream culture. Through inclusive reporting that reflects the highest level of journalistic integrity, education and awareness-based initiatives, and philanthropic measures, The Rainbow Times is committed to positively affirm social justice causes while representing the intersections of our diverse identities.

 

Readership

Boasting a monthly readership of 75,000 for the print edition and receiving an average of 2.4 million impressions on its website each month, The Rainbow Times reach is expansive. The publication’s social media network is the largest of any regional LGBTQ publication of its kind, capturing a social stratosphere audience of approximately 40K followers/subscribers. Its monthly e-blast, The Pony Express, reaches approximately 36,000 subscribers. TRT also boasts the largest LGBTQ Facebook photo coverage in the region. Some of the most historical LGBTQ photo coverage in New England throughout the years can be seen via its FaceBook Photo Albums.

 

Awards

The Solidaridad (Solidarity) Award (2013) was awarded to The Rainbow Times. This award honors an organization that has shown support for the Latinx LGBTQ Community and Latin@ Pride through a collaborative and inclusive presence. The Boston Pride committee was “in strong favor of giving this award to The Rainbow Times because of the longstanding promotion of Latin@ Pride. Not only are they a Latino owned and run business, they have given their resources and time to ensure that the community is aware of our events and mission.”

The Rainbow Times was the recipient of the Diamond Service Community Award – Imperial Court of WMA – July 2014

The Rainbow Times was honored with the LGBT Champion in Media Award from the Promise Place School for LGBTQ Youth – Dec. 2014.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ House of Representatives (signed by Speaker DeLeo and Rep. Liz Malia) awarded The Rainbow Times with a citation in recognition of “your ten years of providing inclusive news coverage of the LGBT community and your generous donations to local nonprofits has not gone unrecognized” – June 7, 2016

The Rainbow Times received the Sylvia Rivera Community Award (2016) from the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition “to the organization that has been capturing our stories, that’s been sharing our strength and our struggles, and continues to prevail in a society that tries to silence us … The Rainbow Times” said HBGC presenting officers. This award honors a local organization, group, or business that has supported the mission of HBGC while doing its own work that improves the lives of LGBTQ individuals of color. The Rainbow Times was proud to stand beside such amazing community leaders (who were also nominees) such as The City School, Connected Boston, and The Foundation Movement.

In 2016, North Shore Pride honored The Rainbow Times with the LGBT Community Service Award celebrating its contributions to the community and for standing strong against a direct attack against the LGBT community and the newspaper. In August 2016, seven individuals placed an incendiary device detonating The Rainbow Times’ newspaper street box in downtown Salem. This explosion was heard up to a mile away, according to the local police. Kim Driscoll, Salem Mayor, asked the local community to “rally around the publishers and The Rainbow Times” when the violent act took place. And, the community did. “We’re a community that doesn’t stand for this type of behavior. We’re all standing very much in support of The Rainbow Times. There is a box there today and it’ll be there as long as we can have it there. … Based on our history, the Witch Trials, and things that happened here know how important it is not to stay silent when something like this happens,” said Mayor Driscoll during a WBUR Radio Boston interview.

The Rainbow Times was awarded the Bayard Rustin Award for Community Service – from Cambridge Mass. Mayor (E. Denise Simmons) and LGBTQ+ City of Cambridge Commission – June 10, 2017

 

Philanthropy

To date, The Rainbow Times has given approximately $200K in in-kind and monetary donations to non-profit organizations throughout New England. Its management believes that giving back to the community is the most effective way to measure success. TRT continues to offer donations via its annual event, The Rainbow Times Pride Kick-Off Benefit Cruise (read more below).

 

Milestones

Exclusive Op-Ed by Senator Elizabeth Warren’s campaign (D-MA), to be published exclusively in The Rainbow Times.

Exclusive Op-Ed from Governor Charlie Baker announcing his support (only publication in the Commonwealth) to the Yes On 3 Campaign for transgender equality.

The Rainbow Times was the first in the scene (1o minutes into it) of the historical shut down of the 45th Boston Pride Parade in June 2015 (headline: #WickedPissed: Activists Halt Boston Pride Parade for 11 minutes). The story yielded over 10,500 social media shares alone and more reads than any other story as of now.

 

Statistics

The Rainbow Times advertisements produce results. The print (and online) publication and other special projects are seen by thousands throughout New England. With actual newspaper boxes throughout the region, no other publication ensures definitive spot locations in their distribution area, as The Rainbow Times does (see Readership above).

 

Social Media Network

The Rainbow Times‘ social media network has the strongest (and largest) following than any other LGBTQ publication in the region. TRT reaches over 35K e-readers via FaceBook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, YouTube, Issuu, and its monthly e-newsletter “The Pony Express.” Your message is sure to reach others when you use The Rainbow Times for online/digital advertising! You can always reach our advertising department via sales@therainbowtimesmass.com or by calling 617-444-9618.

 

CMI Research[1] Verified Demographics

91.2% of The Rainbow Times’ readers have served in the military and 73.7% of those are Veterans

78.3 % plan to buy tickets to performing arts and related events within the next 12 months

85.1% Do not read another LGBTQ publication regionally

23.8% of The Rainbow Times’ readers identify on the transgender spectrum

50.7% of The Rainbow Times’ readers identify as gay men

21% of The Rainbow Times’ readers are people of color (Black, Latinx, Native American, Asian, Middle Eastern, etc.)

43.6% of The Rainbow Times’ readers own a Condo, House, or living space

80.8% of The Rainbow Times’ readers own a pet (cat and/or dog and other type of pet)

76.6% of The Rainbow Times’ readers do not have children

58.5% of The Rainbow Times’ readers Household Income was $50K and above

41.1% of The Rainbow Times’ readers Household Income was $75K and above

28.4% of The Rainbow Times’ readers Household Income was $100K and above

66.4% of The Rainbow Times’ readers hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree

 

National & International Footprint

• 27 other Countries (besides the U.S.) read The Rainbow Times around the world
• The states with the highest (The Rainbow Times) readership are Massachusetts, California, Florida, Connecticut, Texas, New York, Washington, and Michigan.

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Annual Event

Pride Kick-Off Benefit Cruise – Sold 4 months in advance every year. Contact sales@therainbowtimesmass.com to sponsor or to become a community partner. The benefit cruise has given proceeds to Fenway Health’s Youth LGBTQ Program, The Borum, and to Northshore Pride in the past.

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History

Founded in 2006, The Rainbow Times has become New England’s largest LGBTQ newspaper. The Rainbow Times first print issue launched in February 2007. The Rainbow Times is the only minority-owned publication dedicated to the LGBTQ community and its allies. Through its bold reporting, the publication increases awareness of today’s LGBTQ issues, while addressing the intersectionality of multiple and shared identities within the LGBTQ community. The Rainbow Times has been praised by the MA House of Representatives as the LGBTQ publication providing “inclusive news coverage” while “generously donating to local non-profits.” The Rainbow Times stands out from other LGBTQ publications through its bold reporting and exclusive in-depth stories — written by PoC, non-trans allies, and trans individuals all falling on different places of the gender spectrum who are also veteran journalists and understand the ins-and-outs of reporting for marginalized groups. Intentionally, The Rainbow Times ensures that its reporting highlights the various intersectionalities found within this vast community. The Rainbow Times is also the most transgender inclusive LGBTQ publication in the region.

The Rainbow Times serves as a vehicle to unify and strengthen the diversity found within the LGBTQ communities in New England and beyond. ISSN 2169-6136 (online) and ISSN 2169-6128 (print).

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Experience

The Rainbow Times has a team of experienced and professional members of the newspaper industry with over 25 years of publishing and journalism experience. Our team strives to bring you the much needed, desired and hottest news topics to the prevalent LGBTQ community in our areas of coverage. TRT proudly offers the most comprehensive Transgender coverage than that of any other LGBTQ newspaper in the region and at least 1/3 of its staff is transgender. Additionally, TRT is bilingual and publishes content in Spanish, via Latin Vision, for its LGBTQ Spanish-speaking readers.

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Spanish LGBTQ

Visión Latina reaches LGBTQ Hispanic readers online too! Statistic from recent independent research shows that TRT is the most read LGBTQ newspaper by Hispanic LGBTQs. Its management is composed of professionals who have experience targeting both, the LGBTQ mainstream and Hispanic markets.

 

Footnote

[1] Community Marketing Inc. 2018 LGBTQ Report – CMI’s 12th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey® attracted 40,000 participants representing 151 countries, making it the largest study of its kind in the world.