In 1994, publisher Greg Jeu and his staff launched OutSmart MEDIA

with gay-affirmative couple Rod and Bob Jackson-Paris on the cover of the premiere issue. The couple of the year didn’t last, but OutSmart Media sure did.

Back in the day, local periodicals largely consisted of bar and entertainment guides. OutSmart Media was different: It was created to highlight the diversity of the community and to inspire individuals to take an active role in creating a healthier and safer community. OutSmart Media features the faces of the community, its allies, celebrities and hometown heroes; news coverage spans politics, religion, health, sports and more.

Having won numerous local and national awards for journalistic excellence, OutSmart MEDIA has changed the course of gay media, amassing thousands of marketing partners over the years who acknowledge their support of the community and fund quality journalism.

Fast forward to 2025, and the media landscape has changed.

OutSmart Media launched the OutSmart Foundation for LGBTQ News and Media to fund the vital storytelling, research and activism that journalists and researchers bring to the community table. The Foundation seeks to offer assurance that voices from underrepresented communities will continue to be heard, inspiring, empowering, and igniting change for generations to come.

OUR MISSION

The OutSmart Foundation for LGBTQ News and Media is a nonprofit public charity dedicated to preserving and strengthening community journalism in Houston. Our mission is to sustain OutSmart’s newsroom, support its journalists and internship programs, and fund multimedia projects that tell the stories of Houston’s LGBTQ community. Together, we can continue to build a news organization that represents the diversity, resilience, and spirit of Houston’s LGBTQ community.

What can I do to help?

You can strengthen LGBTQ journalism in Houston through several giving options. Make a one-time donation, become a monthly supporter, or explore planned giving opportunities. Your contribution, at any level, helps preserve and expand vital coverage of our community. Business leaders can also support our mission through foundation partnerships and matching gift programs.

board of directors

  • Greg Jeu

    Executive Director & Founder

  • Kelly McCann

    Board Member & Former CEO of AIDS Foundation Houston

  • Glenda McGinnis

    Board Member & Community Service Advocate

  • James Hurst

    Board Member & 30-Year HISD Bilingual Diagnostician

  • Alex Rosa

    Advisory Board Member & OutSmart Media Creative Director

  • Dalton DeHart

    Advisory Board Member & Distinguished Photographer

  • Ian Haddock

    Advisory Board Member & Founder and Executive Director of The Normal Anomaly Initiative