XY Magazine is a gay youth-oriented magazine published in the United States of America.

Based in West Hollywood, California, it publishes roughly four editions a year. However, the magazine is notorious for its erratic and sometimes late publications of editions, although XY has announced its intention to publish monthly starting 2006. This lack of structure, though, is almost part of the magazine's appeal. It focuses on pictures and submissions by readers.

Since it launched in 1996, 45 issues have been published but Issue 46 will be coming soon. The founding (& current) editor is Peter Ian Cummings.

As well as its regular issues, the magazine has published a series of specials:

• Two editions of the "Survival Guide" were more serious than usual editions with articles on everything from coming out to age of consent laws to suicide.
• "The Best of XY" contained the best of the magazine's articles, as selected by editors, contributors, & readers.
• "XY: The Photos" contained the best photos from the magazine.

XY also operates the website XY.com. When XY launched in 1996, according to the publisher, the average age of its readers was 22. This has since declined to 19 as of 2001, a demographic shift largely attributable to an increase in under-18 readers, "because people were coming out at younger ages."

XY has faced criticism for the perception that it fosters an interest in underage youth among adults, though most readers would dispute that. Further evidence against the criticism is the publisher's report that half the magazine's readers are under 18 themselves.

"XY is a glossy, color magazine, published bi-monthly, and known best for its original photography, brazenly honest commentary on politics and culture, review of film, music and literature, reader contributions, advice on surviving young and gay, and a rather dark sense of humor." -- Description from XY magazine

XY Foto

A bimonthly sister magazine XY Foto was launched in autumn 2003 containing only photographs. This magazine is printed on matte paper, and is 'anti-porn' (in that they are arousing images but are not technically pornography since they don't include full nudity or sexual acts). So far, seven issues have been published.

External links

• XY magazine

Advertising-free magazines | LGBT magazines | United States magazines | Youth magazines