Contact: Jeffrey Garber
OpusComm Group, Inc.
315-637-2018
jeff@opuscommgroup.com
www.opuscommgroup.com
www.glcensus.org

Landmark Research Continues into GLBT Community

A Syracuse University, OpusComm Group GLBT Research Partnership

 Syracuse, NY – June 22, 2003 – The GLCensus Partnership, (Syracuse University and OpusComm Group) are ready to unveil the second annual GLBT Consumer Online Census on July 7th, delving further into the spending habits and overall economic structure of the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender community. New topics will be added to the original survey areas covered in the history-making annual study. Since the beginning with the 2001 research and last year’s 2002/2003, which nearly 9,000 respondents and the attention of worldwide media, politicos and businesses alike, the GLCensus Partnership has accrued a database with thousands more GLBT members registering each month to participate in this year’s study.

 The 2003/2004 G/L Consumer Online Census will be made available to members of the worldwide GLBT community beginning July 7th through August 18th, 2003 at www.glcensus.org. The study will include basic demographics (gender, self-identification, ethnicity, geography, family/relationship structures, occupation, household income), as well as spending habits in a number of targeted industries, such as automotive, financial, health and human services, pet care, travel and entertainment, just to name a few.

 The annual G/L Census survey was intended to become one of the tools used to educate mainstream advertisers about this unique niche market, which has been widely ignored in the past. The results were remarkable, according to Jeffrey Garber, president of OpusComm Group, and founder of the partnership along with Syracuse University.

 “With the G/L Census, our hope was to get a higher, more respectable number of respondents, making it the largest independent survey of the GLBT consumer market to date, enabling it to accurately express the attitudes and opinions of a larger GLBT population”, Garber said. “Launching the ’Stand Up and Be Counted‘ campaign, and choosing the Internet as the vehicle for the study, was obviously a potent combination. Last year we drew a record response of 8,831 respondents. That is practically unheard of in research of any kind, much less in a targeted community considered so elusive.”

Todd Evans, president of Rivendell and new media sponsor of the GLCensus further adds, “In today’s media, advertisers wishing to target the GLBT community require solid research to effectively launch national advertising campaigns.”

 The results of the annual G/L Census are published and made available for purchase. Since then, a large number of the Fortune 100 companies have purchased the information in an effort to successfully market directly to this coveted segment. Garber states: “GLBT consumer clout is gaining fast respect and attention. GLBT consumers are hoping that their consumer loyalty will be valued by advertisers who will in turn, reciprocate in assisting the community in efforts to pursue legislative equality — in essence consumerism is a form of activism.”

 The GLCensus Partnership consists S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and founding partner OpusComm Group, Inc.

 OpusComm Group is an award winning advertising/PR agency with over 18 years of experience servicing the Fortune 500, specializing in consultation of sensitivity issues and market planning for all types of advertisers to target the GLBT community in mainstream media.

 Syracuse University is well respected as one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions in the field of communications, partner S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University is again leading the development of the Census. The research team is led by Professor Amy Falkner and Dr. Beth Barnes, Assistant Dean for Professional Graduate Studies.

 This year GLCensus Partners proudly announces Rivendell, as the lead media sponsor of the GLCensus in addition to (INSERT GLBT LOCAL MEDIA SPONSOR’S NAME) as Detroit’s (INSERT LOCAL CITY) local media sponsor.

 Rivendell Media is considered America's leading gay and lesbian media placement firm. They have been helping agencies reach the gay press since 1979, serving as the national advertising representative for over 200 gay and lesbian newspapers, magazines and entertainment guides.

.For further information or to obtain a 2002 Gay/Lesbian Consumer Online Census media kit, contact Jeffrey Garber, OpusComm Group, Inc. at (315) 637-2018

 GLCensus Partners (www.glcensus.org) - The world leader in GLBT consumer research, GL Census Partners includes:

• The S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University (www.syracuse.edu) - One of the world’s leading academic and research institutions in the field of communications.

• OpusComm Group (www.opuscommgroup.com) - Innovative Advertising, Marketing, Communication, Public Relations and Research experts on the Gay/Lesbian market.