FAQs #4, Why “Gay”?

> 4. Why a “gay” Macintosh group? 

This is a legitimate question, and actually very easy to answer, although the answer is not really *one* answer, but many, reflecting the many and myriad ones of its attendees and membership.  The shortest answer is because we wanted one, we wanted to have one, we wanted to be one — we exist because we want to.  And actually, if you look at Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals as a group and Apple and Macintosh users as a group, the similarities between them is quite startling. 

1. Apple is a company known for its attention to design and style.  Many lesbians, gays and bisexuals excel in this exact area, as interior decorators, hairstylists, fashion designers, etc. 

2. Apple’s classic logo is a slightly modified rainbow apple.  Today’s Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual movement has adopted the Rainbow as its symbol to the world, in effect saying that Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals are every color of the rainbow. 

3. It is generally accepted that Apple maintains a universal marketshare of approximately 10%.  It is also generally accepted that Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals make up 10% of any given population. 

4. Apple’s computers attract a very creative, above-average educated, above-average incomed population. Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals are a very large part of that creative, above-average educated, above-average incomed population. 

5. Apple and many of its largest software partners like Quark have definitely benefited from Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals, and have likewise been very pro-gay, therefore it makes sense for Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals to be very pro-Macintosh. 

6. Mac users as a group love their Macs and feel very strongly about them, and fight Windows-centrism and misrepresentation of Apple and Macintoshes in the workplace and media every day.  Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals as a group love each other and feel very strongly about their love, and fight Heterosexism and misrepresentation of themselves in the workplace and media every day as well. 

7. Apple is just a cool company, and Macintoshes are just cool computers.  Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals are pretty cool people, too. And thus, QMUG/LA is a pretty cool group.