Fab.com Benefits Gay Charities in 'Fab February' Membership Drive

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To help underwrite recent efforts to prevent suicides among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, gay social network Fab.com is donating $1 to LGBT support organizations GLSEN and The Trevor Project for each new member who joins Fab.com in February. The donations will be made in partnership with the It Gets Better Project, the widely publicized anti-bullying video initiative addressed at sexual minority youth.

Less than a year old, Fab already has more than 120,000 members with over 20,000 new users joining the free network for gay men on a monthly basis. The goal of the "Fab February" membership drive is to leverage Fab's rapid growth to assist organizations that help combat homophobia and its effects on those with alternative sexual orientations.

"Fab is not only a social connector to gay-friendly people, places and activities anywhere in the world, but a safe place for members to share their personal struggles and concerns over gay issues," said Fab founder and CEO Jason Goldberg. "The outpouring of grief on the site when so many gay suicides were reported last year spurred us to want to contribute to strengthening the gay self-image, and that's how 'Fab February' was born."

"Campaigns like Fab February directly help fund and raise awareness for The Trevor Project's suicide prevention work and GLSEN's efforts to develop positive school environments for all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity," said Dan Savage, co-founder of the It Gets Better Project.

Suicide is one of the top three causes of death among 15- to 24-year-olds and the second leading cause of death on college campuses. LGBT youth are at higher risk because of the high levels of discrimination, fear and hate directed against them. Nearly nine out of 10 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teens are harassed at school each year, while lesbian, gay and bisexual teens have two to six times higher rates of reported suicide attempts, according to GLSEN's 2009 National School Climate Survey.

About Fab.com

Fab.com – the fun way to discover the gay world – is the definitive resource for gay men, helping them find "fab" places to go, things to do and people to meet. Fab's website and mobile applications provide instant access to the largest global index to gay-centric places and events, unique interactive profiles that assist in making new friends, and other features that quickly connect members to the best of gay life. The company is headquartered in New York and has development operations in Pune, India and Deinze, Belgium.

About The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through a free and confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. For more information, visit www.thetrevorproject.org.

About GLSEN

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit http://www.glsen.org/

About the It Gets Better Project

In September 2010, syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage created a YouTube video with his partner Terry Miller to inspire hope for young people facing harassment. In response to a number of students taking their own lives after being bullied in school, they wanted to create a personal way for supporters everywhere to tell LGBT youth that, yes, it does indeed get better. Five months later, the It Gets Better Project™ has turned into a worldwide movement, inspiring nearly 10,000 user-created videos and over 30 million views. The website www.itgetsbetter.org is a place where young people who are lesbian, gay, bi or trans can see how love and happiness can be a reality in their future; straight allies can visit and support their friends and family members; and people can share their stories, take the It Gets Better Project pledge, watch videos of love and support, and seek help through The Trevor Project and GLSEN.

SOURCE Fab.com