Los Angeles, CA – March 18, 2024: Today, Q.Digital, the LGBTQ+-owned and operated media company, announced the acquisition of Outsports from Vox Media’s SB Nation. Founded in 1999, Outsports is the internet’s first community covering LGBTQ+ issues and personalities in amateur and professional sports. It joins Q.Digital’s list of leading LGBTQ+ media properties including Queerty, LGBTQ Nation, GayCities, and INTO. Q.Digital ranked #1 on Comscore’s 2023 list of LGBTQ+ media companies for both reach and engagement and is the proud recipient of awards from GLAAD and NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists.
“LGBTQ+ athletes have been coming out and conquering the sports worlds at historic rates, and it’s clear from previous coverage across our platforms that our audience is incredibly hungry for their stories,” says Q.Digital CEO Scott Gatz. “It’s very exciting to expand our storytelling with the experts from Outsports, especially in time for the Summer Games in Paris where more queer athletes will be competing than ever before.”
As part of the acquisition, Outsports’ co-founders Jim Buzinski and Cyd Zeigler, along with their entire staff of contributors, will join the Q.Digital editorial team. “We created Outsports way back in 1999 when gay athletes were scared to be visible and our stories weren’t being told,” Zeigler and Buzinski said in a joint statement. “Our mission was to share the sports news that impacted our community and now, with the support of the Q.Digital team, Outsports will produce even more inspirational, award-winning journalism.”
Vox Media & SB Nation acquired Outsports in 2011, growing the website into the world’s premier publication for the coverage of LGBTQ+ athletes and sports. During that time, Outsports published hundreds of stories that have changed the sporting industry, including the coming out of former NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan, NFL prospect Michael Sam, and trans equestrian Jay Robinson among hundreds of others; the eye-opening list of 186 out LGBTQ athletes at the Tokyo Summer Olympics; and Outsports’ first-ever Power 100 highlighting influential people in American sports.
“We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished with Outsports,” said YuJung Kim, group publisher of SB Nation. “We will continue telling the stories of LGBTQ+ athletes at SB Nation through our communities, and are thrilled that Outsports will continue their important work at Q.Digital, which is undoubtedly a great home for the brand.”
Q.Digital is one of the fastest-growing LGBTQ+-owned and operated media companies. Its platforms reach over eleven million consumers each month, making it a first stop for advertisers looking to reach a valuable, highly targeted audience. Its network also includes Queerty (entertainment & culture), GayCities (travel & nightlife), LGBTQ Nation (news & analysis), and INTO (Gen Z perspective & voices).
Q.Digital’s acquisition of Outsports will enable advertisers to expand their reach with LGBTQ+ audiences in the rapidly growing sports category, made extra impactful by the proximity to the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.
For more information, please visit https://www.q.digital.