that name is so gay...LOL

Makes sense - there are already many, many "men only" sites out there... called porn.

But I think the reason you don't see descriminatory mens' sites is because men don't typically bother with things that don't interest them and are never really bothered by men or women who share their same interests.

@4 Right on! Cause only men watch porn.

Please note- Lezzbook.com likes to have your cellular phone number as well as your Facebook/Twitter information (Cellular Phone numbers for raffles/ giveaways and Twitter/Facebook for identification verification and to "follow"/"friend" members in the hopes of supporting a community); however, it is an option only. We allow prospective members to simply put "No" or "N/A" in those spaces and you will still be approved. The overall reason for the questions is we like to do our very best to verify females are joining. We welcome all input and attempt to hold the fine line between invasiveness and security.

It's sad that this site specifically discriminates agains men. It's never OK for me to say that a group is for men only (although I suspect Gay men might try it) but perfectly OK for a group of women to say the same thing. It's discrimination pure and simple. My lesbian friends and relatives are all out and proud on Facebook so it's not an issue (and I have zero interest in the dating section) but I think it's sad to throw out people because of their gender rather than their behavior. Have we learned nothing?

Spent most of the ride to work yesterday talking about this weeks cover story of The Stranger. The general consensus of the girls I was talking to feel that http://www.lezzbook.com/ is nice in theory but probably going to do them more harm than good. Hopefully they are wrong.....but I don't think that they are.

@8 Please note - Its 2011, discrimination based on sexual preference is a lousy business model.

Also, the fact that I have to be a member of your site (which is impossible as I have a penis) in order to read the disclaimer about your site is just stupid.

I understand there is a lot of controversy regarding "discrimination" and the website. When Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook originally for "Ivy League" schools was he called out for discrimination? The dating website EHarmony doesn't allow for women seeking women or men seeking men on their dating website are they discriminating? There are Catholic and Jewish Social Networks- are they discriminating? The NFL is only comprised of male players - are they discriminating? I guess you can say yes to all of the above. I am curious as to why a straight man or gay man would even want to be involved in a gay women's network? After reading in the article the premise behind the conception of the network it was clearly identified as more of a community resource for women. For discussion though lets say we did open it up for all- the site would loose the very nature it was founded on- to provide a "safer" forum for women to communicate with other women who have the same sexual orientation. If men were allowed to join it would loose its basic premise. Whether we like it or not a large percentage of women who are "out" on such sites as Facebook are harassed because of their sexual preference- after the first instance of harassment most "out" women lock down their privacy levels and blend into the "straight" population. There really is nothing like getting a FB message touting the wonder of a mans penis and how if we just tried "HIM" the proverbial "man" would switch us back to the straight team. So, with the privacy levels up the once openly out female is now undetectable to her fellow lesbians. Its not like we all have rainbow hair and we post "LESBIAN" across our forehead. This is the reality of the world we live in. Hence Lezzbook.com. A social network where we women know EVERYONE online is a woman that loves other women. No guessing. No wondering. Everyone on the site has the same basic premise. Further, Jim from work who's been curious about your social life can't log on and see your latest photo selection from The Dinah Shore vacation you took last year. Regarding gay men I have also begun a creation of a brother site; however, there are numerous social networks in existence for them. I can't help but think of atleast 5 mainstream social networking websites that both men and women can join. There is no shortage of those. Those networks allow for everyone to participate and the women who are lesbians and who are able to be "out" and feel comfortable more power to them. Nonetheless, not every out women on Facebook has a great experience as indicated above. Just as you have made the sweeping generality of discrimination regarding men and the website many lesbian women feel that as well. Instead of simply not being able to join a social network they have their livelihoods taken away because they are "outed" at work or they are sexually harassed on the street or in a dance club and consistently worry about their safety. This occurs with gay men as well so in no way are we not recognizing our gay brothers. The above actions, don't happen to the average straight male. One of the basic premises of the site creation was to deter the continuing discrimination and online harassment lesbian women feel on the internet on a daily basis. To join or support the site is a choice. Lezzbook.com was created because there was an overwhelming need within the lesbian community for a women's only site. What we do is simply offer an alternative to the "mainstream" social network websites. In the creation of the site there is no overt discrimination intended same as only male players being allowed in the NFL- if men could be lesbians we wold welcome them with open arms. Lezzbook creates a needed niche allowing women a unique space which encourages them to "be themselves" without judgement, ridicule, or sexual harassment and that is the purpose of this endeavor.

Hey Lezzbook: do you have an email address/contact info for people who like what you're doing and want to contribute to Lezzbook?

Lezzbook: do you have an email address/contact info for people who want to contribute to Lezzbook?

Bearbook.com is better. It's for gay bears. But, they totally allow girls, as long as the girls don't mind look at fat naked hairy men.

Is it just me, or are Stranger readers harsh about everything? It's bulding community not discrimination. E-Harmony and other sites are very straight/heterosexual focused, why can't there be lesbian specific online spaces? Geezus!

One question I do have for Lezzbook:

There is a rising number of transmen in the communtiy that identify in lesbian space. If you were raised as a woman, are attracted to women, but identify as a man now, can you join lezzbook? (As queer/lesbian women might be that person's primary dating/socializing community).

Cheers!

Furthermore as a Black person I have joined sites specifically for African-Daispora to connect. Why? Because I want a site with articles, people, stats, information, etc. on things going on in my community. Some of you are taking this extremely harshly. The creation of Lezzbook, Adam4Adam, AfterEllen, etc is not straight bashing. It's just the acceptance that in an imperfect society, sometimes various groups that are not heard in mainstream spaces get a place to talk where you don't have to second guess what you're sharing, or who will see it. You can just be around like minded, like-experienced, you like to look at people.

@timtech,

What is this sense of entitlement you have?

Do you not realize that people have the "right" to communicate with whomever they choose?

A social networking site is not usually a business endeavor to those who are socially networking within it.

Sheesh, it has NOTHING to do with you and that just hurts doesn't it?

This is a good idea, 'discrimination' or not.. Glad to see it gaining ground and proliferating.

I would really wonder though, how they can possibly hope to keep men or anyone else out if they don't actually require any sort of 'proof' to become a member. (Personal info like cell phone # or facebook name is encouraged but not absolutely necessary to be approved.. regardless, that could all be faked easily enough). What can they really do to verify? Check between your legs? No, transgender people are allowed too. So what is really stopping anyone from joining just by lying?

The bigger issue is that it's a shame there even needs to be this type of exclusive place, to be 'safe' from everyone else. If society was just a bit more tolerant everyone could be out and proud on facebook and not have to suffer for it.

I imagine someday people will look back on this place in time, like many others, and wonder at the persistent barbarity of our society and our infantile state of affairs. Our technology has outpaced us, our tools are so advanced but we as people are evolving so slowly, socially we're so stunted, it’s sad, really.

lezzbook is everything I hate about being a lesbian.

Remember that year when one guy won all the auctions and the entire issue was just about him? I kinda liked that year.

Hello, for those of you that have inquired and would like to contribute via Paypal or otherwise and speak with us on a one on one basis please feel free to use the email address lezzbook4u@yahoo.com.
Thank you again for your interest and support! It is greatly appreciated!

@lezzbook and others. Legally, private groups can do whatever they want and discriminate in any way they choose, by age, gender, orientation, etc. However, just because other "mainstream" groups/sites are bigoted doesn't mean that lezzbook should follow. I also reject the idea that any non-normative group has to go away and form a protected space to be "safe" by discriminating against groups perceived to be anti-whatever because they are white, male, straight, etc. I am disappointed that any group that has experienced discrimination would turn around and discriminate against anyone else. It seems the height of hypocrisy.

@ 24

I TOTALLY remember that guy! What ever happened to that dude?

For being in Seattle, a lot of these commentators really hate the idea of straight men being excluded from anything. Seattle, if you had half a clue about compassion, there would not be a need for sites like Lezzbook.

I am disappoint.

I don't even have to read this article to know what "Lezzbook" is all about.

It is really sad, the way mainstream culture will suck all the vitality and originality out of what once was an actual thinking/breathing movement.

@Notfacebook'slawyer: The problem with the Lamebook lawsuit isn't so much the word "book" in their name, it's the fact that the logo they were using was very similar to Facebook's logo.

I don't get why people who would otherwise have no interest in joining Lezzbook suddenly have their undies all in a knot because they can't. Really? Who cares? I can't go into Club Z or Steamworks because I have a vagina and that's super ok by me because I would rather gnaw my own arm off than entire either one of those establishments.
No reason to stir up a bunch of imaginary controversy over nothing.
Let the girls have their clubhouse.

I don't get why people who would otherwise have no interest in joining Lezzbook suddenly have their undies all in a knot because they can't. Really? Who cares? I can't go into Club Z or Steamworks because I have a vagina and that's super ok by me because I would rather gnaw my own arm off than enter either one of those establishments.
No reason to stir up a bunch of imaginary controversy over nothing.
Let the girls have their clubhouse.
.

Yawn.

TheStranger.com is already pretty close to this, what with all the vegan nonsense and Mudede communist apologia.

Hell, Dan Savage's columns sound like their written by a middle-aged lesbian these days.

Who wants to design a start-up with me called Cockbloq?

On a side note, the name Lezzbook yes similar to Facebook had a totally different creation and in no way was simply conceived as a "Wow Facebook is so popular- let's just put Lezz in front of Book and go with it" Actually the name Lezzbook was derived of an actual address like book I once owned that comprised all the women I had made friends with or wanted to date. I called it my Lezzbook or book of lesbians. I happened across it when I was cleaning out my garage and made a mental note. So, when I wanted to create this online lesbian community and a friend of mine and I were brainstorming I thought what better name then Lezzbook. All of you Facebook fans please know that the only similarity Lezzbook has with Facebook is name alone. Lezzbook prides itself on having real content, articles, events, a dating and travel division, interviews with celebrities, and more privacy features. One factor in Lezzbook's inception was because Facebook was not working for a certain element of the population. Women wanted more privacy and the ability to go to a site where everyone was on the same "sexual orientation" page. In making the statement, "We would like to be the Facebook for lesbians." was meant only in the recognition of the sheer number of members Facebook has. Lezzbook would love to have 1 million women members simply for the fact of what a wonderful community that would be! Further, on our "Disclaimer" page we have very clearly stated the Lezzbook.com is in NO way affiliated with Facebook.com and that Facebook.com owns the copyright to their name and website. If you look at websites like "Lamebook.com" they are using actual Facebook content, logo, etc. Lezzbook.com in no way condones this type of business model.

To Question #18 - if you were genetically born a women who has changed to a man yes you can join. If you were born a man and identify as a women you can join. The overall premise behind the site is that it has been created for any women that loves other women. So, in one instance you are genetically a woman who has transformed to a man and identifies in a "lesbian" orientation. In the other instance you were born a man but identify as a women and identify in a "lesbian" orientation as well. The key being the "lesbian" orientation. In both instances we encourage in the "About Me" section that you disclose this information; nonetheless, it is not mandatory. Although I have noticed in the member approval process that a lot of members do. Further, in the "Group" section we have the "TransGender" Group for women or men who are or have gone through a gender transition. The overall idea is community.

@32 The lawsuit involving Lamebook is actually based on Facebook's demand that they stop using the word "book" in their mark, as well as the overall look of the site. They (Facebook) have gone after other social networking sites using the word "book" as part of those sites' names so whatever Lezzbook's intentions, they may want to seek legal advice.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/05/lameboo…

Wait, this is for real? I laughed my ass off, somehow thinking I was reading an Onion article, until I got to the comments....

I'm not terribly offended by the "no men" rule here, and I agree with Beth that most straight dudes with honest intentions wouldn't even be interested in joining lezzbook in the first place. But as a reader of The Stranger, I feel entitled, perhaps unjustly, to find it stupid.

I mean, let's face it: unless we're looking between people's legs or decoding their DNA, our definitions of gender or sex are going to be loose at best, tortured at worst (see #37). The premise they begin with doesn't eliminate ANYONE who is a potential harasser or troll on the site. It just defines precisely what fibs they have to tell to get in the door.

Anyway, I agree that a dating site for lesbians that is free of the "hey baby, you're only a lesbo cuz you haven't had a real man" idiots is a great idea... but banning people who admit they are men is a terrible way of creating a safe space for those women. Having a robust moderation system that is capable of identifying offenders and quickly banning them would be far more useful. As another commenter said, ban behavior, not people. And that could include, I think, any men looking for dates... but just banning men period opens you up to the sorts of accusations running through these comments.

Groupon, the social buying site that spurned a $6 billion offer from Google, is pushing ahead with plans for its initial public offering, a debut that could value the company at $15 billion or more.

They are working hard at creating the next .com bubble melt down? Builder Bob says "Can We build it? yees wee Cannnnnnns"

Lez love Lez t-shirts Lez e-cards lez ball caps?
like a 7 year old with a pond of bubble gum eyes crossing as the bubble grows.

Oh man, I'm torn. On the one hand, I could use more dating opportunities (or at least more free lesbian erotica) in my life. On the other hand, the name "Lezzbook" is beyond tawdry, as is this whole "advertising masquerading as journalism" thing. On the other other hand, the money did go to charity. Hmmm . . . maybe if the Lezzbook spokeswoman learns how to use paragraph breaks . . .

@38: It may have started with the word "book" but seeing as how facebook doesn't (and CAN'T) own the word "book", that whole mess turned into lamebook not having a different enough logo from them. That is the only reason why it's been taken as far as it has. Facebook doesn't have a leg to stand on otherwise.

#42. LOL.. Yes, I can learn to use paragraph breaks just for you!

I told my bisexual girlfriend about this. She refused to comment.

It's a Gay! Dating! Website! with a degree of social networking to it. You are missing out on nothing if you're a dude. If you are up in arms over this, I hope Grindr sends you into as much of a rage, but I know it doesn't.

Anyone offended by this is retarded.

what 49 said.

I'm a dude, and I'm fine with this.

People need some perspective on what "discrimination" means. Not being able to everything you want is not discrimination. People have a right to choose who they associate with, unless and until their choices have a direct, negative effect on other people. A city requiring black people to give up their seats on a public bus is discrimination, because that person has been humiliated and inconvenienced. A group of women socializing is hurting no one. It's essentially equivalent to the right of free assembly.

Our sense of fairness usually makes us (rightly) queasy at the notion of excluding someone, especially based on race, gender, etc. However, Lezzbook seems more like constructing an inclusiveness, than exclusion, to me.

"Community" does *not* mean "everybody." If some group of women gains a sense of community (and gets something that they want out of that sense of community), then that is a real benefit. It would be lost entirely if the boundary of that community was not preserved. They have every right to their privacy, and to their mutual choices to exclude men from their club.

Now if they used that club membership in ways that did harm people (men *or* women) that would be different. But we see no evidence of that here, and so I presume innocence.

Intersex?

@jenesaisquoi and anyone else bitching about "discrimination" because some people want to create what they feel to be a safer space - get back to us after you have experienced overt discrimination (job, accommodation, daily life), gay-bashing, personal abuse or homophobic trolling before saying there is no need for such a space.

If you're privileged enough not to have experienced such things, or fear them, how wonderful for you. For many other women, that is not the case - you have no right to dictate what makes people feel more secure.

As a man, I am offended by lesbians denying my access to their sexy, sexy lesbian porn. That's discrimination! Lesbian porn should be available to all!

You are right Trix - I have no right to say anything. I wish I could stay and express my sincere apologies but I have to leave for my Christian hetero-monogamous misogynist racist white men who rule the world meeting so that I have a safe place to express my true feelings and discuss how to maintain my privilege and continue to tweak The System to personally ruin your day.

If you don't like the idea of Lezzbook, then don't join. And if you are a guy who really wants to join Lezzbook..why would you go where you are not welcomed or wanted?

By the way...there is another website out there...rhymes with ShmezzMonnection...it's a total and complete rip-off of Beth's website...no creativity whatsoever....

I prefer mavenrestin.com. It has lesbians.

m a gay man fb mark arthur dimaguila 0921740094/5854965 looking 4 lesbian who want to have kid ,.. shared responsibility.. i can also be a sperm donor skype marky.go1

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