Window Media LLC, the publisher behind gay newspapers Washington Blade, Houston Voice, Southern Voice and South Florida Blade has shuttered the titles suddenly due to financial problems, the Associated press is reporting.

In an interview with the AP, editor of Southern Voice Laura Douglas-Brown states that upon arriving at the offices of the paper this morning, she found the locks changed and a note on the door that Window Media had “closed down.” Douglas-Brown expressed shock, saying that employees knew the titles were changing hands but that complete closure was unexpected.

Steven Myers, co-president of Window Media in Washington, D.C, declined comment to the AP about the closure for now, but said that he would offer information on the closures later in the week. The closure is thought to have stemmed not only from across-the-board declines in print media sales and the economic downturn, but also from increased coverage in mainstream media of gay and lesbian issues.

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The drag queen singer known as “Big Mama Capretta” has outed himself as a practicing gay Catholic priest from Colomnbus, Ohio.

Vincent Capretta, known to his flock has “Father Anthony” said in a statement that “It’s Big Mama, y’all! And I am no longer afraid to come out of the closet as a gay Catholic priest! I am enjoying my life being who I am and who God intended me to be! Now let’s dance, y’all!”

Big Mama may not be a household name yet, but he/ she currently has the number 25 spot on the U.S. Billboard Club Play dance chart.

Here’s Big Mama’s latest song. Three hail marys and a couple of bloody marys for the road.

(Pic/ via: The Advocate)

Gays.com pitches itself as a real (free) social network in a space where subscription sites dominate and there is often a focusing on dating first. Members can upload as many pictures and videos as they like at no charge and have complete control over their personal privacy with a wide range of settings.

Other features include LiveFeed, a life streaming style service that delivers content published by other members; a desktop PhotoUploader for bulk uploading; and Communiverse, an interactive visualization tool that helps members reconnect with old friends and explore relationships between existing friends.

It’s a smart offering that focuses on community and networking within the GLBT community, and the URL helps as well; the site founders purchased it for $500,000 in November 2006.

A full tour is available at gays.com/tour