It is truly an honor to become the Executive Director and publisher of the nonprofit organization that publishes Hotspots Happening Out Magazine — a publication that has been a staple of our community for more than 40 years.

“I am truly honored and thrilled, alongside our newly appointed Board of Directors, to lead Hotspots Magazine into the next new era of publishing. Together, we will expand our reach across print, digital, social, video, and live experiences while creating incredible events that celebrate, inspire, and unite our LGBTQ community. Our mission is simple — to be the voice of the community while building platforms and experiences that help people live their best lives” 

First and foremost, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the former publishers and leadership of Hotspots for their incredible work, dedication, and commitment to serving our community over the decades. I especially want to thank Jason Bell, Peter Clark, and Jeffrey Sterling for their vision, passion, and leadership in helping build and sustain one of the most recognized LGBTQ publications in our community for more than 40 years. 

I also want to recognize longtime community leader Scott Holland, whose dedication and consistent leadership helped guide Hotspots alongside all three publishers throughout the years. Scott’s commitment to our community and to LGBTQ media has helped shape the voice and spirit of this publication for generations. 

I am also thrilled that Scott, Anthony, Dale, and Frank will be joining me as we move together into “The New Era” — helping lead the next chapter of community media, events, and engagement for our LGBTQ community. 

I also want to thank our readers, advertisers, supporters, and the LGBTQ community itself for continuing to support the voice of your community. Community media only survives when the community stands behind it, believes in it, and participates in it. Your support has helped make Hotspots an institution. 

For nearly 20 years, I have had the privilege of leading LGBTQ media initiatives throughout Florida and across North America. Throughout that journey, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible power media has to inform, inspire, connect, and amplify the voice of our community. Today, I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to help lead Hotspots and future media platforms into the next generation of publishing. 

The world is evolving faster than ever before. The way people consume information, engage with stories, discover events, and connect with one another continues to transform daily. Audiences now expect instant access to information, real-time engagement, immersive experiences, and authentic community connection. 

We are entering a transformational period for media and publishing, driven by innovative technologies that are reshaping how content is created, distributed, personalized, and experienced. These new tools and capabilities will allow us to better serve our readers, strengthen engagement, expand community reach, showcase more voices, and deliver information and entertainment faster and more effectively than ever before. 

When you combine the heart and soul of traditional community journalism with the power of innovative technologies, something truly extraordinary can happen. 

That is the future I envision. 

I look forward to working collaboratively with OutSFL and Happening Out Television Network — partnering together in every possible way to best serve our LGBTQ community. Collaboration, unity, and shared purpose are more important now than ever before. 

To symbolize that spirit of true collaboration and unity, we proudly added the OutSFL logo onto the cover of Hotspots Happening Out Magazine. It represents more than branding — it represents a commitment to working together to strengthen and amplify the voice of our community. 

“The New Era” will serve as the guiding theme for our media platforms, community initiatives, and all events throughout the remainder of 2026 and continuing into 2027. This theme represents the evolution of LGBTQ media and community engagement — one focused on innovation, inclusion, empowerment, collaboration, and inspiring people to live their very best life. 

Through “The New Era,” we will strive to create media, experiences, partnerships, and events that bring our community together in meaningful and uplifting ways while celebrating the voices, stories, businesses, leaders, entertainers, and organizations that make our community so vibrant and resilient. 

Get ready for a fresh new look and exciting new energy for the magazine and future media products. Showcasing our community — and all of you who serve it — will remain our number one initiative. 

I look forward to creating monthly events and experiences that allow everyone to become part of the fabric of our community. 

Most importantly, I look forward to helping build the voice of our community like never before. 

Every person has a role to play. Every story matters. Every voice deserves to be heard and seen. 

Together, we can build something extraordinary for this generation and for generations to come. 

With gratitude and excitement for the future. 

Bobby Blair is an LGBTQ media pioneer and leader known for his philanthropic work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. A Florida native, he lives in Fort Lauderdale with his longtime partner, Brian Neal. Blair was inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame in 2015.