Things Change.

Options has been through many changes in its rich history. People still speak emotionally of the paper’s first 15 years when it was a lone media voice, an oasis for people who felt alone, disconnected, disempowered, afraid, or confused. Today, its importance as a unique and important voice, continually building and supporting our community, is as strong as ever.
Always more a public service than a business proposition, Options has been distributed free. Subscriptions too are free for the asking, and advertisers pay a modest amount to reach a desirable consumer audience.
In turn, Options has always lived by the skin of its teeth. Relatively meager donations, uncertain grants, patient creditors, dedicated volunteers, and minimal and underpaid staff have all cobbled together 27 years of issues that have not only chronicled but in many cases led advances in understanding and rights for LGBT people in Rhode Island.
As it turns out, this model simply won't work anymore, and the staff, board and volunteers have taken a step back to re-evaluate, re-structure and build a new model that will take us through the next 25 years. This web site, as well as a promising business plan and a new fundraising committee are just some of the recent upgrades.
In addition, we have taken some stopgap measures to cut our costs while we carve out this new path. We have given up our office, made a committment not to print again until we are caught up on our bills, and printed a short run of the June/July issue. Copies are available at all of our usual distribution points, and they will be handed out freely at the RI Pride Festival on June 20, but we could not afford to mail copies to our subscribers. Instead, they received a letter, explaining the seriousness of our situation: Simply put,

Options needs your help!

Please help us with your financial contribution as we move forward. And look for exciting new changes, with more pages, more coverage and new ideas.
We know you value Options -- where else can you find news and information for and about the Rhode Island LGBT community?
We are working hard to make sure that Options stays around for a long time. Be a part of our future.