An interview with Mark Robins from @GayVancouver

I made myself a promise this 2010 to get more involved in GLBT issues locally (even though I have blogged about these before, I never really made much of an effort to connect with the local online queer community, until earlier this year). My friendship with Mark Robins and his partner David strengthened this year thanks to their kindness and taking me under their wing. Mark created and runs the website GayVancouver.net, one of the best local resources for the GLBT community.

I wanted to learn more about GayVancouver.net, so I interviewed Mark and below are his responses.

Mark, thanks very much your friendship and for the great work you do with GayVancouver.net. You are a role model and an inspiration. And you know I’m not one for platitudes!

1.- Mark, you’ve created a wonderful concept with GayVancouver.net, and the focus is, as we’ve talked a lot, much less on “the sex” and much more on the community. Was this a design feature from the start or how has the site evolved through time?

Contrary to popular belief the LGBTQ community is not defined by who we have sex with. Sure we don’t shy away from sexuality – it is part of our DNA – but that doesn’t mean it all has to be about sex. I’m not taking the high road here but the site has just naturally evolved into what it is today. We’ve never had any real sexual content on the site but we have in the past featured porn advertisers. Interestingly that got us into some trouble with our relationship with Tourism Vancouver and we still have a special entry page for our link from Tourism Vancouver warning visitors of possible sexual content. It is a bit silly because its not like we have photos or videos of naked men on our site (we never have). We get so wrapped up in the sex sometimes that we forget our community is so much more.

2.- You have taken it upon yourself to showcase queer artists and professionals on GayVancouver.net. Do you feel it necessary to make an effort to highlight that queer folks do much more than the stereotypical jobs/trades, and if so, why?

I love the diversity of our community: we’re doctors, lawyers, dentists, construction workers, artists, the list goes on. I think our community continues to desperately needs role models as well and if we can help highlight some of the amazing queers in our community than I think that is a great thing. A lot of times I do go out of my way to specifically say someone is gay, lesbian, whatever as a descriptor in our articles. That irks some people a bit but I think it is important to constantly remind people that we are everywhere and a lot of times people claim they simply don’t know any gay people and when they do they tend to go foward with a completely different perspective.

3.- You do GayVancouver.net as a labour of love on top of your day job – do you think you’d ever quit your day job and focus solely on the site – and if so, how would you see yourself growing with the site?

I wish! I’d love to do this full-time but that simply isn’t reality at this time – got to pay the bills somehow. This is my passion, this is my way of giving back to the community. Most people don’t realize I’ve been doing for more than ten years and wouldn’t be continuing to do it if I didn’t think it was worthwhile.

4.- Can you give us some “projected” changes to GayVancouver.net? What do you think needs to change/evolve with the site?

We went through a complete redesign last year that I think raised us to the next level. We’re talking right now with a local company about developing a mobile version of our site so that will probably be our next step.

5.- Creating the site has given you some insight into the queer community. Do you find yourself attracted to the idea of participating in GLBT politics?

Absolutely not. I’ve been lucky to have been appointed to the City of Vancouver’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee but that is about as close as I want to get to politics. My father was a city council member in the small town we grew up in and even ran as an MLA once – I saw how tough it was to be a politician when he was involved and have no desire. Zero, zilch, nada, none. Truth be told I don’t have the patience to be a politician. I’m more of a “jump in and do it” kind of guy rather than a let’s build consensus and get everyone on the same page kind of guy and I am definitely not a glad hander.

6.- Who is your hero and why?

Wow, I didn’t realize how tough this particular question was going to be since I ask most everyone the same question in our “69 Seconds With” features. Right now it is probaly my Mom. She died recently, very suddenly. It wasn’t until after she died that I realized how much she kept our family together. She was our rock and I miss her very, very much. Of course if I am permitted a second hero it would be my partner David. He’s an amazing person and I am very lucky to have him in my life. He pushes me a lot but is always there to pick me up. I think he has such a complimentary personality to mine and people are automatically drawn to him. I try to be like him (but usually fail miserably).

Follow Mark on Twitter (@GayVancouver) and on Facebook (GayVancouver Online)

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