Changes

{{TLD|

{{TLD|

|logo  = ‎Dotgay1.JPG‎  

|logo  = ‎Dotgay1.JPG‎  

|status = Proposed

|status = Contracted

|manager  =  

|manager  = [[Top Level Design]]

|country  =  

|country  =  

|language =  

|language =  

|registrations  =

|registrations  =

|date  =

|date  =

|type  = [[Community gTLD]]

|type  = [[Generic Top Level Domain]]

|category  = [[:Category:Culture New gTLDs|Culture]]

|category  = [[:Category:Culture New gTLDs|Culture]]

|community  = LGBT community

|community  =  

|priority = 179 - [[dotgay LLC]]<br>725 - [[Top Level Design]]<br>1089 - [[Demand Media]] ([[United TLD Holdco Ltd.]])<br>1428 - [[Top Level Domain Holdings]]

|priority =

|keypeople  =  

|keypeople  = [[Raymond King]], CEO

}}

}}

'''.gay''' is a new generic top level domain name ([[gTLD]]) proposal to [[ICANN]]. The proposed .gay string is dedicated for the LGBT community.

'''.gay''' is a new generic top level domain name ([[gTLD]]). After years of applicant contention, [[Top Level Design]] became the contracted registry operator for .gay on May 23 2019,<ref>https://www.icann.org/resources/agreement/gay-2019-05-23-en .gay Registry Agreement, ICANN</ref> after a private auction between the four total applicants.<ref>http://domainincite.com/23927-the-internet-is-about-to-get-a-lot-gayer .gay Auction, DomainIncite</ref>

==Current Applicants==

==Former Applicants==

# [[Demand Media]] ([[United TLD Holdco Ltd.]]) - This applicant submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]], which can be downloaded [https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1115 here].

# [[Demand Media]] ([[United TLD Holdco Ltd.]]) - This applicant submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]], which can be downloaded [https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1115 here].

# [[dotgay LLC]] - [[Community gTLD|'''Community Application''']]

# [[dotgay LLC]] - [[Community gTLD|'''Community Application''']]

# [[Top Level Domain Holdings]] - This applicant submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]], which can be downloaded [https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1519 here].

# [[Top Level Domain Holdings]] - This applicant submitted a [[PIC|Public Interest Commitment]], which can be downloaded [https://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1519 here].

==Application Details==

===Application Details===

===dotgay LLC===

====dotgay LLC====

[[Scott Seitz]] is the CEO of [[dotgay LLC]] and selected [[Neustar]] to provide back-end registry services. <ref>[http://domainincite.com/neustar-wins-gay-contract/ Neustar wins .gay contract]</ref> The company is affiliated with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, New York (NGLCCNY) and is also an LGBTBE Certified entity. With community oversight and transparency, dotgay LLC plans to donate 67% of the profits generated from the sales of .gay domain names to non-profit LGBT organizations.<ref>[http://dotgay.com/ About dotgay]</ref> Its application is a [[Community gTLD|Community Application]]

[[Scott Seitz]] is the CEO of [[dotgay LLC]] and selected [[Neustar]] to provide back-end registry services. <ref>[http://domainincite.com/neustar-wins-gay-contract/ Neustar wins .gay contract]</ref> The company is affiliated with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, New York (NGLCCNY) and is also an LGBTBE Certified entity. With community oversight and transparency, dotgay LLC planned to donate 67% of the net profits generated from the sales of .gay domain names to non-profit LGBT organizations.<ref>[http://dotgay.com/ About dotgay]</ref> Its application is a [[Community gTLD|Community Application]].

dotgay LLC’s registration policies will include participation by "Authentication Partners", which will be a global network of LGBTQIA membership organizations and community groups. Eligibility is determined through formal membership with any of dotgay LLC’s Authentication Partners (AP) from the community. Selected community relevant generic terms, such as "travel," will be reserved as index domains and remain community property at the second level (ie travel.gay). Index domains will be used to organize and aggregate community registrants, creating community hubs that will raise visibility within the community and become trusted resources for users.<ref>gTLD Application 1-1713-23699</ref>

dotgay LLC’s registration policies will include participation by "Authentication Partners", which will be a global network of LGBTQIA membership organizations and community groups. Eligibility is determined through formal membership with any of dotgay LLC’s Authentication Partners (AP) from the community. Selected community relevant generic terms, such as "travel," will be reserved as index domains and remain community property at the second level (ie travel.gay). Index domains will be used to organize and aggregate community registrants, creating community hubs that will raise visibility within the community and become trusted resources for users.<ref>gTLD Application 1-1713-23699</ref>

While the contention set for gay remains unresolved, in December 2012 dotgay LLC began an outreach campaign to potential Authentication Partners as described in their application.<ref>[http://dotgay.com/partners#authenticatedpartners-1 AuthenticationPatners, dotGay.com]Retrieved 5 Dec 2012</ref>

In December 2012 dotgay LLC began an outreach campaign to potential Authentication Partners as described in their application.<ref>[http://dotgay.com/partners#authenticatedpartners-1 AuthenticationPatners, dotGay.com]Retrieved 5 Dec 2012</ref>

===Top Level Design===

====Top Level Design====

[[Raymond King]], CEO of Top Level Design together with his business associate [[Peter Brual]] are applying for 10 [[gTLD]]s including .gay. Raymond is also the founder and director of [[ICANNWiki]] and CEO of [[Aboutus.org]]. King assured the presentation and neutrality of ICANNWiki.com will not be affected by his business venture on new gTLDs. [[CentralNic]] will provide back-end registry services for the company. <ref>[http://domainincite.com/9367-icannwiki-boss-applies-for-10-gtlds ICANNWiki boss applies for 10 gTLDs]</ref>

[[Raymond King]], CEO of Top Level Design together with his business associate [[Peter Brual]] are applying for 10 [[gTLD]]s including .gay. Raymond is also the founder and director of [[ICANNWiki]] and CEO of [[Aboutus.org]]. King assured the presentation and neutrality of ICANNWiki.org will not be affected by his business venture on new gTLDs. [[CentralNic]] provides back-end registry services for the company. <ref>[http://domainincite.com/9367-icannwiki-boss-applies-for-10-gtlds ICANNWiki boss applies for 10 gTLDs]</ref>

===Top Level Domain Holdings===

====Top Level Domain Holdings====

The company confirmed that .gay is one of the 68 gTLD strings it is applying on its own behalf. <ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2012/06/01/top-level-domain-holdings-becomes-largest-new-gtld-applicant-to-date-applying-for-68-strings/ Top Level Domain Holdings Becomes Largest New gTLD Applicant To Date Applying For 68 Strings]</ref>

The company confirmed that .gay is one of the 68 gTLD strings it is applying on its own behalf. <ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2012/06/01/top-level-domain-holdings-becomes-largest-new-gtld-applicant-to-date-applying-for-68-strings/ Top Level Domain Holdings Becomes Largest New gTLD Applicant To Date Applying For 68 Strings]</ref>

====Dot Gay Alliance====

 

===Dot Gay Alliance===

It seems the previously announced Dot Gay Alliance is defunct, as it did not apply for the TLD under this name.<ref>

It seems the previously announced Dot Gay Alliance is defunct, as it did not apply for the TLD under this name.<ref>

[http://www.dotgayalliance.com/about/ About Dot Gay Alliance]</ref><ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dot-gay-alliance-announces-plan-to-create-gay-web-address-65200027.html Dot Gay Alliance Announces Plan To Create .GAY Web Address]</ref>

[http://www.dotgayalliance.com/about/ About Dot Gay Alliance]</ref><ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dot-gay-alliance-announces-plan-to-create-gay-web-address-65200027.html Dot Gay Alliance Announces Plan To Create .GAY Web Address]</ref>

==Possible GAC Objections==

==GAC Objections==

A report from Time Techland quoted a statement from [[Milton Mueller]], a Syracuse University professor and ICANN expert, that the contenders for the .gay TLD might face objections among the members of ICANN's [[GAC|Governmental Advisory Committee]] (GAC) from conservative Arab nations. Mueller's statement reads, "It is clear from conversations with government officials in a couple of conservative Arab countries that they object to .gay."<ref>[http://techland.time.com/2011/03/05/icann-vs-the-world/ ICANN vs. the World]</ref>

A report from Time Techland quoted a statement from [[Milton Mueller]], a Syracuse University professor and ICANN expert, that the contenders for the .gay TLD might face objections among the members of ICANN's [[GAC|Governmental Advisory Committee]] (GAC) from conservative Arab nations. Mueller's statement reads, "It is clear from conversations with government officials in a couple of conservative Arab countries that they object to .gay."<ref>[http://techland.time.com/2011/03/05/icann-vs-the-world/ ICANN vs. the World]</ref>

Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) filed an objection against the TLD, citing that "Many societies and cultures consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture, morality or religion. The creation of a gTLD string which promotes homosexuality will be offensive to these societies and cultures. We respectfully request that Icann refuse the application for this gTLD."<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19259422 Saudi Arabia opposes .gay internet domain name, bbc.com]</ref>

Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) filed an objection against the TLD, citing that "Many societies and cultures consider homosexuality to be contrary to their culture, morality or religion. The creation of a gTLD string which promotes homosexuality will be offensive to these societies and cultures. We respectfully request that [[ICANN]] refuse the application for this gTLD."<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19259422 Saudi Arabia opposes .gay internet domain name, bbc.com]</ref>

==Independent Objector==

==Independent Objector==

With Regards to .gay, the IO notes that most objections are based on offense created on religious or socio-cultural norms that are not internationally shared or uniform and are not recognized in any international law. In fact, he notes a number of domestic and international laws that uphold non-discrimination, especially with regards to sexual identity and gender. He notes that LGBTQ rights have been spreading and becoming more of a understood and respected subject as time passes. He recognizes that some parties may continue to oppose or be offended by such identities and behavior but argues that a .gay TLD will create a clearly delineated space where those offending parties will know that the content will include gay-related material and can therefore avoid the offensive websites.<ref>[http://www.independent-objector-newgtlds.org/english-version/the-independent-objector-s-comments-on-controversial-applications/gay-general-comment/ Gay General Comment, Independent-Objector-NewgTLDs.org]</ref>

With Regards to .gay, the IO notes that most objections are based on offense created on religious or socio-cultural norms that are not internationally shared or uniform and are not recognized in any international law. In fact, he notes a number of domestic and international laws that uphold non-discrimination, especially with regards to sexual identity and gender. He notes that LGBTQ rights have been spreading and becoming more of a understood and respected subject as time passes. He recognizes that some parties may continue to oppose or be offended by such identities and behavior but argues that a .gay TLD will create a clearly delineated space where those offending parties will know that the content will include gay-related material and can therefore avoid the offensive websites.<ref>[http://www.independent-objector-newgtlds.org/english-version/the-independent-objector-s-comments-on-controversial-applications/gay-general-comment/ Gay General Comment, Independent-Objector-NewgTLDs.org]</ref>

==Community Objections==

==Community Objections==

===Request for Reconsideration Approved===

===CPEs and Requests for Reconsideration===

In January 2015, a committee of [[ICANN]]'s board of directors overturned a Community Priority Evaluation that initially rejected dotgay LLC's request for the .gay gTLD. Dotgay's CPE was turned down in October 2014 after the Economist Intelligence Unit deemed the company's proposed community was too broad to be described as "gay." A [https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/determination-dotgay-20jan15-en.pdf PDF] of this week's ruling by ICANN's [[Board Governance Committee]] states:

In January 2015, a committee of [[ICANN]]'s board of directors overturned a Community Priority Evaluation that initially rejected dotgay LLC's request for the .gay gTLD. Dotgay's CPE was turned down in October 2014 after the Economist Intelligence Unit deemed the company's proposed community was too broad to be described as "gay." This was because they consistently referenced the LGBTQIA community as their "gay" community, when in fact the wider community does not necessarily identify as "gay."<ref>http://domainincite.com/17516-why-kicking-out-the-gay-community-was-right Why Kicking Out The Gay Community was Right, DomainIncite</ref> The announcement ([https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/determination-dotgay-20jan15-en.pdf PDF]) by ICANN's [[Board Governance Committee]], overturning the first CPE, states:

''The BGC concludes that, upon investigation of Requester’s claims, the CPE Panel inadvertently failed to verify 54 letters of support for the Application and that this failure contradicts an established procedure. The BGC further concludes that the CPE Panel’s failure to comply with this established CPE procedure warrants reconsideration. Accordingly, the BGC determines that the CPE Panel Report shall be set aside, and that the EIU shall identify two different evaluators to perform a new CPE for the Application.''

''The BGC concludes that, upon investigation of Requester’s claims, the CPE Panel inadvertently failed to verify 54 letters of support for the Application and that this failure contradicts an established procedure. The BGC further concludes that the CPE Panel’s failure to comply with this established CPE procedure warrants reconsideration. Accordingly, the BGC determines that the CPE Panel Report shall be set aside, and that the EIU shall identify two different evaluators to perform a new CPE for the Application.''

The EIU will now begin a new Community Priority Evaluation for dotgay's gTLD consideration.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/17910-gay-is-gay-enough-after-all-icann-overturns-community-panel-decision .gay is gay enough after all? ICANN overturns community panel decision, Domain Incite] Retrieved 22 January 2015</ref>

The EIU performed a new Community Priority Evaluation for dotgay's gTLD consideration.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/17910-gay-is-gay-enough-after-all-icann-overturns-community-panel-decision .gay is gay enough after all? ICANN overturns community panel decision, Domain Incite] Retrieved 22 January 2015</ref><ref>https://www.dailyxtra.com/will-dotgays-second-icann-panel-give-it-the-domain-it-seeks-66342 Will dotgays Second ICANN Panel give it the domain it seeks</ref> The EIU reaffirmed the initial decision and came to the same conclusion as the first CPE reviewer. Stating:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, in June 2015, the Q Center Board stood by its initial opposition to the dotgay LLC community bid, reiterating: "[W]e oppose the closed registration model and advocate that the term “gay,” while meaningful and representative of some members of our LGBTQ communities, does not adequately represent the diversity of sexual and gender minority communities and cultures as a whole."<ref>https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/oshea-to-chalaby-et-al-25jun15-en.pdf Oshea to Chalaby, QCenter Letter to ICANN 25 June 2015, ICANN Correspondence</ref>

On April 1, 2015, the Q Center, a community organization located in Portland, Oregon and only objector to Dotgay's bid, retracted its objection. The Q Center expressed that the prior board and management enacted the opposition and that the organization currently does not opposed Dotgay's bid.<ref>www.bna.com Only Gay Community Group to Oppose Dotgay Bid for .gay TLD Reverses Position</ref>

===ILGA Objections===

===ILGA Objections===