TheColu.mn is a new online magazine created by a group of folks who feel that there is a lack of hard-hitting coverage of events that affect LGBTQA communities. We’re committed to telling the stories of our diverse communities and their continued struggles, as well as covering nightlife, sports, news, and community events. But none of this can happen without your help: the community is too darn big for three of us to cover all at once! So send us your stories, photographs, videos, and story ideas! Likewise, if we goof up, we want to hear from you – we make mistakes, too, and we’d gladly engage you in a calm discussion of what we did wrong, and how we could fix it.

We’re your community magazine — We’re LGBT society, now!

Meet the Staff:

Andy Birkey is our Editor-in-Chief. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in forestry, urban studies and sociology, Andy has been active in Minnesota’s LGBT community for the eight years he has lived in Minneapolis, and has worked with and volunteered for a number of causes including LGBT rights, HIV prevention and care, transportation issues and environmental research. He has been writing Eleventh Avenue South, a blog about Minnesota LGBT news, issues, and politics, for five years, and for three years has reported on healthcare, religion, and the LGBT issues for the Minnesota Independent. Andy welcomes news tips, complaints about coverage, and where to find the cheapest happy hour in town with the cutest men. Email: Andy@thecolu.mn

Keith Pederson As a long time activist and professional queer, Keith has thrown in his two cents where it is not desired in too many places to count. For the past decade or so Keith has been working in mental health and public health. His writing and podcasting can be found many places on the Internet, but mostly he’s known around these parts as Mrs. Pederson. Keith is the Style Editor for TheColu.mn. This is just a glorified way of saying he is in charge of all things lifestyle and nightlife related. If you have events you need publicized or events you would like to see covered please contact him at Style@thecolu.mn.

James Sanna is the Assistant Editor. This means he reminds Keith and Andy of everything they forget about, plus coordinating TheColu.mn’s community writers. Fresh from a year covering urban K-12 education issues in Minneapolis and St Paul as a dead-broke freelance journalist, James also brings experience as a queer student organizer and activist at Carleton College. James does not have as many years in Minnesota under his belt as his co-conspirators do, so he’s still getting to know people – he would love to meet each and every one of you! Contact James with any story tips or complaints about coverage, if you want to get involved in TheColu.mn as a volunteer writer or photographer, or if you want to talk bicycles while complaining about the service industry. Email: James@thecolu.mn