PlanetOut
PlanetOut was an American online media and entertainment company serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender audiences.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
PlanetOut Inc. was an American online media and entertainment company built around LGBT-focused digital communities, editorial content, and advertising. It emerged during the first commercial phase of the public internet, when online services such as MSN and AOL were becoming important venues for identity-based communities that were underserved by mainstream media. Founded by Tom Rielly, PlanetOut launched in August 1995 through the Microsoft Network, initially operating as an online content and community provider. Its early services included forums and editorial programming designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender users. The company subsequently expanded onto the World Wide Web in September 1996 and developed PlanetOut.com as a central destination for LGBT-oriented information and community activity. The company’s early development combined editorial production, online community management, technical infrastructure, and partnerships with large consumer internet services. Its founding and early staff included people responsible for community operations, technology, news, arts and entertainment, and specialized online projects. In April 1996, PlanetOut completed a first financing round involving a minority investment from Sequoia Capital and America Online. The business then experienced management and strategic difficulties. Tom Rielly was removed as president during 1996, Sequoia withdrew its investment in January 1997, and Jon Huggett left the company. Rielly subsequently returned temporarily as chief executive officer. These changes reflected the organizational uncertainty faced by many early internet companies as they moved from experimental community services toward scalable commercial operations. PlanetOut later acquired Online Partners, the parent company of Gay.com, and the combined business adopted the name PlanetOut Partners Inc. Gay.com became a major part of the company’s commercial model, with subscription memberships and online advertising providing important revenue streams. The expanded company also operated PlanetOut.com and related LGBT-oriented digital properties. Its strategy broadened beyond community platforms into a larger LGBT media portfolio, including the acquisition or operation of established print titles such as The Advocate and Out. This combination of digital communities, advertising, subscriptions, publishing, and entertainment positioned PlanetOut as one of the more visible specialized LGBT media businesses of the period. PlanetOut became a publicly traded company in October 2004. Lowell Selvin served as chief executive officer, while Gay.com founder Mark Elderkin became president. The public-company phase brought greater visibility but also exposed the business to financial pressure and the difficulty of integrating online services, publishing assets, and specialty travel or entertainment operations. The company reported a net loss of $3.7 million on revenue of $68.6 million for 2006, according to the cited historical account. The acquisition of RSVP Vacations was subsequently described as a turning point associated with worsening financial performance. By 2008, PlanetOut was seeking to sell its publishing division, identified as LPI, together with specialty publications to Regent Releasing, the parent company of Here! Films. In 2009, PlanetOut combined with Here Networks and Regent Entertainment Media to form Here Media. That transaction marked the end of PlanetOut as an independent corporate entity. Its significance lies in helping establish LGBT-focused online media as a recognizable commercial category during the transition from internet forums and portals to integrated digital, publishing, and entertainment businesses.
History
PlanetOut was founded by Tom Rielly in 1995 during the early commercial development of the internet. It launched in August of that year through the Microsoft Network, offering LGBT-oriented community and editorial programming. Its early operation depended on a mixture of forums, content production, community management, and technical services. Staff associated with the initial operation included Darren Nye, Christian Williams, Jenni Olson, Greg Gordon, David Stazer, Mary Salome, and Eric Mueller. The company also offered services through America Online and later expanded to the open web. In April 1996, PlanetOut raised $3 million in minority investment from Sequoia Capital and America Online. In September of the same year, it extended its services onto the World Wide Web. The company soon encountered internal disagreements concerning management culture and strategic direction. Rielly was removed as president in late 1996, Sequoia withdrew its investment in January 1997, and chief executive Jon Huggett left. Rielly temporarily resumed the chief executive role after the leadership changes. PlanetOut later acquired Online Partners, the parent company of Gay.com. The resulting organization was renamed PlanetOut Partners Inc. and developed a broader commercial model centered on Gay.com subscriptions and online advertising. The company operated multiple LGBT-focused digital properties and expanded into established media brands, including The Advocate and Out. This gave PlanetOut a portfolio spanning online communities, editorial websites, advertising, subscriptions, print publishing, and related entertainment activities. The company entered the public markets in October 2004. Lowell Selvin became chief executive officer, and Mark Elderkin, who had founded Gay.com, served as president. Although the combination of digital and legacy media assets gave PlanetOut substantial reach within LGBT media, the business faced financial and integration challenges. Its 2006 results included a reported $3.7 million net loss on $68.6 million in revenue. The acquisition of RSVP Vacations was later identified in the historical account as a point associated with further deterioration. In April 2008, PlanetOut announced a letter of intent to sell its publishing division, LPI, and specialty publications to Regent Releasing, the parent company of Here! Films. The restructuring of the portfolio preceded a broader corporate combination. In 2009, PlanetOut merged with Here Networks and Regent Entertainment Media to form Here Media. PlanetOut therefore ceased to operate as an independent company, although its websites, publishing assets, and role in the development of LGBT-focused media formed part of the business history inherited by the successor organization.
- 2009
Formation of Here Media
[1]PlanetOut merged with Here Networks and Regent Entertainment Media.
- 2008
Proposed sale of publishing assets
[1]PlanetOut announced plans to sell its publishing division and specialty publications to Regent Releasing.
- 2004
Public listing
[1]PlanetOut Partners became a public company in October.
- 1997
Leadership and investor upheaval
[1]Rielly was removed as president, Sequoia withdrew, Huggett departed, and Rielly temporarily returned as CEO.
- 1996
First financing round
[1]PlanetOut closed a $3 million minority investment round involving Sequoia Capital and America Online.
- 1996
Expansion to the World Wide Web
[1]The company expanded its services from online-service platforms to the web.
- 1995
Launch on the Microsoft Network
[1]PlanetOut began providing LGBT-oriented online community and media services through MSN.
Products and positioning
A pioneering LGBT-focused media and community company that combined online forums, editorial services, advertising, subscriptions, publishing, and related entertainment properties.
Online media and community platform · 1996
PlanetOut.com
PlanetOut.com was the company’s principal web destination for LGBT-oriented information, editorial material, and community services. It represented PlanetOut’s move from hosted forums on services such as MSN and AOL to a dedicated web property. The platform formed part of the company’s broader effort to combine online identity-based community with advertising-supported content.
Online community and subscription service
Gay.com
Gay.com was the major online community property associated with Online Partners and later PlanetOut Partners. Its subscription memberships and advertising were described as central sources of revenue for the combined company. The service helped PlanetOut move beyond editorial publishing into a larger community-based digital business serving primarily gay and broader LGBT audiences.
LGBT print publication
The Advocate
The Advocate was among the established LGBT print publications acquired or operated within PlanetOut’s expanded media portfolio. Its inclusion gave the company a legacy editorial platform alongside its digital communities and advertising products, linking PlanetOut to longer-standing LGBT journalism and culture coverage.
LGBT print publication
Out
Out was part of PlanetOut’s print-media portfolio. The title complemented the company’s websites and online community services, allowing PlanetOut to participate in LGBT-focused magazine publishing as well as digital media and advertising.
Brand decisions
2009
Combination forming Here MediaM&ABackground
PlanetOut sought a broader corporate structure for its media and entertainment assets.
Action taken
PlanetOut merged with Here Networks and Regent Entertainment Media to form Here Media.
Aftermath
PlanetOut ceased to exist as an independent corporate entity.
2008
Proposed sale of publishing divisionM&ABackground
PlanetOut was under financial and portfolio pressure after expanding across digital media, publishing, and related businesses.
Action taken
The company announced a letter of intent to sell LPI and specialty publications to Regent Releasing.
Aftermath
The proposed divestiture preceded PlanetOut’s 2009 combination with Here Networks and Regent Entertainment Media.
1997
Reorganization after management conflictStrategyBackground
The company faced internal challenges involving management culture and strategic direction, followed by the withdrawal of Sequoia Capital and the departure of Jon Huggett.
Action taken
PlanetOut changed its senior leadership, with Tom Rielly temporarily returning as chief executive.
Aftermath
The reorganization preceded the company’s later expansion through the Online Partners and Gay.com combination.
1996
Move from hosted online services to the webStrategyBackground
PlanetOut initially operated through MSN and also provided services through AOL as online-service platforms were becoming important distribution channels.
Action taken
The company expanded its services onto the World Wide Web in September 1996.
Aftermath
The move supported the development of PlanetOut.com as a dedicated web destination.
Sources2 sources
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