Former Lavender Magazine Staffers Launched Q Minnesota
A new LGBTQ+ publication has emerged in Minnesota following the closure of a long-standing predecessor.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in LGBTQand
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Former staff members of Lavender Magazine have launched Q Minnesota, a new LGBTQ+ magazine and website. The debut issue of the outlet arrived just months after the 30-year-old Lavender Magazine ceased operations.
Why it matters
The launch provides a new source of news and representation for the LGBTQ+ community in Minnesota following the sudden departure of a long-term local media fixture.
Q Minnesota launched in both digital and print formats after Lavender Magazine operated for 30 years. The new outlet comes only three months after the former publication shuttered.
The players
Q Minnesota
This is a newly established LGBTQ+ magazine and website operating in the state of Minnesota.
Lavender Magazine
This was a long-running LGBTQ+ publication that served the Minnesota community for 30 years before closing in 2026.
The details
The publication was founded by former employees of the defunct Lavender Magazine, aiming to continue providing content for the regional LGBTQ+ community. It functions as both a website and a magazine.
Timeline
Lavender Magazine began its 30-year operational run in 1996.
Lavender Magazine shut down its operations in July 2026.
The first issue of Q Minnesota was released on October 1, 2026.
Culture Shift
The transition from the 30-year legacy of Lavender Magazine to Q Minnesota reflects a broader trend of digital-first adaptation in niche community media. This move highlights how former staff members are maintaining continuity in regional coverage despite the volatility of the industry.
Readers can expect to find new editorial content and community coverage in both digital and print formats starting this month. This launch ensures that local LGBTQ+ news remains accessible following the earlier dissolution of their previous primary resource.
The takeaway
The emergence of Q Minnesota demonstrates how local media can reinvent itself to maintain community connection. Readers looking for updated news coverage should look for the new publication's digital platforms as the primary source of ongoing reporting.
Further reading
For more stories on regional representation, visit the LGBTQand section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MPR News.
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