If approved, .gay would exist as a so-called “Top-Level Domain” (TLD), the most well-known example of which is .com, and individuals, businesses and organizations would be able to register domain names ending in .gay. In addition to .gay, the governing body of Internet domain space, ICANN, considering TLD proposals for .sports, .shop and more.

To make .gay an exemplary beacon of social entrepreneurship and an empowering resource for helping people live their lives based on their own conscience. The .gay domain space requires conscientious stewardship and cannot be operated as just a “marketing platform” or a piece of real estate to be subdivided based solely on economic imperatives.

Our business model calls for non-profit LGBT client organizations to receive 67% of the profit generated from the sale of .gay domain names. The funds would be channeled through a tax-exempt foundation operated separately from dotgay LLC. Decisions about how to distribute funding would be in the hands of an independent board of directors.

Expanding the Internet domain name space promotes innovation and choice and .gay can serve as a common platform for enhancing the resources, visibility and solidarity of the LGBT community. As a community whose presence can be aggregated and quantified, we will all be in a better position to be understood and to create real change.

The success of .gay depends on garnering broad support the worldwide LGBT community. We seek endorsement and invite comments from all interested parties. We look forward to being held accountable for “giving back” to the community, by administering .gay in a way that ensures innovation, fairness and success.

Formed to garner support for a .gay TLD and advance a mandate for delivering tangible financial and strategic benefits for the LGBT community. dotgay’s proposal is based on 1) channeling 67% of the profits from the sale of .gay domain names to nonprofit LGBT client organizations, and 2) safeguarding key community domains.