The south and south west UK’s gay and lesbian lifestyle magazine, Fyne Times, celebrates five years of serving the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) community this month - with a rip-roaring October issue and spectacular website re-launch.

SOUTHERN UK’S GAY COMMUNITY MAGAZINE CELEBRATES ITS CHARITY & LOOKS SET TO EXPAND.

From Oxford and Reading to Exeter and Plymouth, from Cardiff and Swansea to Bristol and Cambridge: each month, Fyne Times delivers readers the very finest contributors – from activist Peter Tatchell to rights group Stonewall; and is the fastest-growing gay regional medium, with plans to expand still further throughout the UK. The new website (www.fyne.co.uk) has been developed along the same principles as the magazine, maintaining an upbeat, and energetic image - with no explicit content - covering the latest news, views and listings plus features on topics ranging from employment, motors and travel to history, health and hate crime; and from family, fostering and adoption, to youth, civil partnerships and helplines.

And Fyne Times doesn’t just provide entertainment, information, insights and ideas. Since 2001, it has given over £10k in donations, over £15k in sponsorships and £10,000s-worth of free publicity to charitable organisations and events. Beneficiaries have ranged from Stonewall to the Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund; from Cardiff Mardi Gras to Oxford, Torbay and Reading Prides; and from Q-Space and the Queer Storytelling Festival to the Oxford Lesbian & Gay Community Centre. The magazine has been particularly active in supporting organizations dealing with sexual health and HIV issues, including Terrence Higgins Trust, Thames Valley Positive Support, dHiverse, Positive Action Southwest, Eddystone Trust, Cardiff Body Positive, Peterborough HIV Support and the Ribbons Centre.

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the UK’s most prominent gay rights organization, Stonewall, said:

“Happy Birthday Fyne Times! Many congratulations on producing such a successful and entertaining gay magazine that focuses on the issues that matter to LGB people leading their lives throughout Britain today. Your combination of fine writers and genuine community commitment augurs well for the next five years.”

Long-term Fyne Times contributor and fan, the UK’s best known human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, said:

“Fyne Times is a great informative read, which educates, empowers and entertains. It keeps readers abreast of the most important topical issues facing the LGBT community today; and also gives direct charitable support to groups engaged in the ongoing struggle for equality and human rights. A model LGBT community publication; socially uplifting and a damn good read.”

Fyne Times editor, Jill Rayner, said:

“Our desire to produce a quality title, which was topical, well-produced and completely non-explicit, culminated in Fyne Times being born in October 2001. Now five years old, we cover a geographical area across the south and south west of the UK, with five regionalised editions being produced each and every month. Our formula has allowed us to distribute in areas with little previous presence, establishing Fyne Times as the community title. I’d like to thank the team here, and all the readers, venues and community organisations around the country, who have helped us grow and thrive over the last five years. Our spanking new website will now make us even more accessible to even more people. And we’ve got our eye on widening the magazine distribution too - so watch this space!”

The 5th anniversary October issue of Fyne Times is out in gay venues and other community outlets throughout south and south west UK, from 1st October. As well as the latest news, views and listings, features cover a wide range of topics, including the soon-to-be-implemented Equality Bill and Black History Month.

For more information about Fyne Times, visit the website: www.fyne.co.uk