Other Internet Resources Beyond the Web
- Usenet Newsgroups:
These links to public discussion forums are clickable if your browser supports News and is properly configured, and your server carries the groups. Otherwise you'll need to run a news client program such as Free Agent.- can.motss [Members Of The Same Sex] - the main Canadian gay newsgroup
- Additional newsgroups: soc.motss, alt.homosexual, alt.homosexuality, alt.journalism.gay-press, alt.lesbian.feminist.poetry, alt.motss.bisexua-l, alt.personals.motss, alt.personals.motss.women, alt.personals.gay, alt.personals.bi, alt.politics.homosexuality, alt.politics.libertarian.gay, alt.sex.homosexual, alt.sex.motss, alt.sex, alt.sex.men, alt.sex.women, alt.men.politics, alt.men.support, alt.shoe.lesbians, alt.mens-rights, bit.listserv.gaynet, soc.bi, soc.support.transgendered, soc.women.lesbian-and-bi, soc.support.youth.gay-lesbian-bi, alt.religion.gay-les-bi-tran, alt.sex.motss, soc.women, and soc.men.
- More local info can be found in nf.women, nf.arts, nf.wanted, nf.general, and sj.general.
- See these Frequently Asked Questions and subscriber pictures from soc.motss.
- Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Channels:
You'll need IRC client software such as mIRC to join these real-time chat groups.
- #GayStJohns - Newfoundland's gay chat channel on EFNet. We now have a 'bot (robot user), BooBer, that keeps the channel alive when nobody's around.
- #Gay_Halifax - a busy eastern Canadian channel where many Newfoundlanders congregate.
- Other Canadian channels include #Gay_Sydney_NS, #GayMoncton, #GayFredericton, #GaySaintJohn, #GayNBrunswick, #GayCharlottetown, #GayOntario, #GayToronto, #GayToronto30+, #GayTorontoSex, #GayTorontoUncut, #GayTOcafe, #GayOttawa, #GayThunderBay, #GayWinnipeg, #GaySask, #GayEdmonton, #GayCalgary, #GayCalgary30+, #GayAlberta, #GayVancouver, and #GayVancouverIsland
- There are over 350 other gay-related IRC channels - use your client software to search for them (usually part of the "List Channels" function).
- Check out this Gallery of IRC Users.
- Learn more about IRC here, and find a list of Canadian servers here.
- Some public-access EFNet servers that work well from Newfoundland include irc.nbnet.nb.ca, irc.magic.mb.ca, and irc.ais.net .
- Click here for detailed information on how to configure mIRC for connecting to #GayStJohns.
- Telnet Chat Sites:
Telnet sites (also called havens) have all but disappeared with the popularity of IRC, but a few still exist. Many are extensions of dial-up Bulletin Board Systems. If your web browser has its telnet support properly configured, try clicking on these (or telnet manually to their addresses):- Toronto's Gay Blade (blade.com) and its web page
- Vancouver's Rainbow Online (209.82.28.33) and its web page
- The Rainbow Room (lintilla.df.lth.se:6040) and its web page
- Other worlds of Lintilla and Sleepy
- Tainted Love (escargot.com:4000)
- Eye Contact (bbs.eyecon.com)
- Java Chat Sites:
These sites require a Java-capable web browser (such as the latest versions of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer):- Montr�al's Gai.com
- Vancouver's LesBiGay.com
- Gay.com
- Gay Life
- GayWeb
- Chat Planet
- Quantum Leap
- Proprietary Chat Sites:
These sites require proprietary (customized) chat software, and may charge for access to certain areas:
- Video Conferencing:
- There are several gay video conferences and reflectors for use with (free) software such as CU-SeeMe from Cornell University, or
Enhanced CU-SeeMe from White Pine Software, and simple cameras like the affordable, locally-available
Quick-Cam by Logitech.
These are often associated with IRC channels, such as #GayCuSeeMe (read more about it here and
here). Many reflectors will also
allow you to observe (lurk), even if you don't have a camera. Check here or here
for current reflector lists. Another popular product for video/audio/text chatting is NetMeeting by Microsoft.
Some people (like Sean Patrick) have even set up live webcams that you can visit to see what they're doing, 24 hours a day.
- There are several gay video conferences and reflectors for use with (free) software such as CU-SeeMe from Cornell University, or
Enhanced CU-SeeMe from White Pine Software, and simple cameras like the affordable, locally-available
Quick-Cam by Logitech.
These are often associated with IRC channels, such as #GayCuSeeMe (read more about it here and
here). Many reflectors will also
allow you to observe (lurk), even if you don't have a camera. Check here or here
for current reflector lists. Another popular product for video/audio/text chatting is NetMeeting by Microsoft.
Some people (like Sean Patrick) have even set up live webcams that you can visit to see what they're doing, 24 hours a day.
- Streaming Video and Audio:
- Watch and listen to video/audio clips without waiting for long downloads by using such free programs as the Real Player from Real Networks or the VivoActive Player from Vivo Software. L/B/G/T programming can be found at such sites as freespeech.org and GayBC Radio.
- Mailing Lists and Listservers:
- Check here and here for lists of dozens of support and discussion forums held via e-mail.
- EGALE runs several mailing lists of interest to Canadians.
- Amnesty International also has a variety of mailing lists on human rights issues.
- Drop us a note if you'd like to receive NGALE meeting notices and other reminders via e-mail.
- On a tight budget? Get a local dialup e-mail account from the St. John's Infonet.
- Queer Search Engines:
- gaycanada.com, the Canadian gay, lesbian, and bisexual resource directory
- Rainbow Query
- NetQueery
- OutBox
- Qmondo
- GayZoo
- Gayscape
- Gay Nation
- The Gay Resource
- I.Q. - The Search Engine for Queer Internet
- Gayellow Pages
- Gay Stuff
- Alternate Sources
- GaySeek
- PrideLinks