Syndicated sex advice columnist Dan Savage - known for a political prank that got him a voter fraud charge as well as for his nervy writing style - is bringing a gay advice column to Gay.com and PlanetOut exclusively, owners PlanetOut Partners have announced.
"We're always looking for content that our members find compelling, entertaining and tailored specifically to their lives," said PlanetOut vice president of consumer services Jeff Titterton. "For the millions of members who meet on Gay.com and PlanetOut Personals, Savage's deeply insightful dating and sex advice for gay and lesbian people couldn't be more relevant. Plus, he's totally hilarious."
Savage, of course, is well known for "Savage Love," the nervy sex column he writes for the so-called "alternative" press. He said one reason for bringing a gay version to the PlanetOut operation was the volume of mail he gets from gay men and lesbians.
"'Savage Love' originated and primarily runs in 'straight' alternative weekly papers, and it has always focused on straight sex," said Savage in a statement. "While gay issues and gay sex have always been a part of the column -- and always will be -- I get more mail from gay men and lesbians than I can use in 'Savage Love'. This new column will let me give more advice to more gays and lesbians -- God knows, they need it -- and address gay issues at greater length. I'm really excited about it."
The original "Savage Love" has been a regular feature on Gay.com and PlanetOut.com for over a year as well as being in general syndication. Savage - who is openly gay and lives with a male partner and an adopted five-year-old son - is also known for behaving with the same nerve with which he writes.
He is probably best remembered for a prank he pulled on then-Republican presidential aspirant Gary Bauer during the 2000 primaries, for an article he wrote for Salon.com. As a kind of counterattack against Bauer's anti-gay stances, Savage infiltrated Bauer's Iowa campaign and tried spreading a flu by licking pencils, pens, and even doorknobs, not to mention registering to vote in the Iowa caucuses - for another Republican aspirant, Alan Keyes.
The prank backfired, however, when Savage - a Washington state resident - was was slapped with voter fraud charges, for registering to vote in the Iowa caucuses with his motel room as his listed address. Savage pleaded guilty in November 2000 and got a year's probation, 50 hours of community service, and a $750 fine for his prank. But he also got the editorship of The Stranger, a Seattle weekly, as a result of his notoriety.
