News conference announces breakthrough in gay consumerism

News conference announces breakthrough in gay consumerismJuly 03, 2001Nicci Brownnicbrown@syr.edu

Syracuse University will host a live news conference, with a simulcast on an interactive Web site, at 2 p.m. EST July 9 to announce the commencement of the first major university study on gay/lesbian consumerism and its effect on mainstream marketing.

The news conference will take place at SU’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The worldwide study of the gay/lesbian community is a joint project of the Newhouse School, OpusComm Group Inc. and GSociety Inc.

“This is the largest, most ambitious research done to date, and we are thrilled that a major, well-respected leader in research as Syracuse University has partnered with us and GSociety to undertake this high-profile study,” says Jeff Garber, president of OpusComm Group Inc. “It is a subject that has been widely overlooked in the past, and mainstream business can no longer afford to ignore the gay/lesbian community and stay competitive in an oncoming economic turndown.”

Speaking at the news conference will be Garber; Cary Gilbert, director of GSociety Inc.; and David Rubin, dean of the Newhouse School.

Individuals can view the Webcast at www.opuscommgroup.com. Beginning at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, questions may be submitted through the Web site for an interactive question-and-answer session that will be part of the news conference.