>>> English information on Expreszo

How it started
Expreszo is the only magazine for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth in The Netherlands. In 1997 Expreszo celebrated its 10th anniversary. The magazine was started first as a newsletter from the Rotterdam gay youth group Apollo. After a few years most readers and subscribers were outside this region and in 1990 it was decided to make Expreszo a nation wide published magazine.

Our philosophy
The name Expreszo has nothing to do with the coffee melange 'Espresso'. It's just a combination of two Dutch words: 'Expres' and 'Zo' and in English it would mean something like 'On Purpose'. The name-giving has everything to do with the questions young gays and lesbians are confronted with once they have chosen to be open about their sexual identity. There is no need for questioning — there are only answers: we're young, we're gay and we like the way we are. This positive attitude from young gays and lesbians towards their own identity had to be shared with other young people, who still have troubles with their coming-out. Groups for gays and lesbians and —not to be forgotten: bisexuals— can be of some help, but for young people it's hard to find their way. Publishing a magazine and selling it in the stores around the country, makes it easier for them to get access to a lot of information. The people who make Expreszo think it's very important to show young people that having homosexual feelings is not bad, but can be a lot of fun.
Expreszo gives the readers the role models that they lack in normal life. Of course we talk about serious matters as well. Coming-out is a continuing story — and unfortunately Aids is too. Expreszo isn't only a gay/lesbian lifestyle magazine, it also gives possible answers to daily life matters.

About the makers
Expreszo is not only made for but also made by young people. No wonder that the group of people that make Expreszo has changed during the last 10 years. The number of people involved in making the magazine is around 15 girls and boys: Editors, desktop publishers, photographers, and other staff. We are very proud that over the last few years we have managed to get a team working together that has reached a high professional standard. Every 2 months our readers can get a taste of that.

About our publisher
In 1995 our publisher, the Stichting Hoezo, joined the COC, the largest lesbian and gay association in the Netherlands. Financially the Stichting Hoezo operates independently from the COC. A statute insures that the editorial staff of Expreszo is independant in their writing.

Other facts

• Expreszo is published six times a year.
• The makers of Expreszo are all volunteers. The average age is 25 years old.
• Expreszo is for sale in over 1.000 bookshops in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Expreszo subscribers hardly throw the magazine away, most of them have a complete collection. It's a collector's item.
  
• It's not good for the sales figures, but every copy is read by an average of 3 other people.
• The magazine is mainly read by young people from 14-30 years old. However the eldest subscriber ever known was an 88-year-old man (that was in 1993).
• Expreszo is run without government funding and relies fully on subscriber's fees and advertising earnings.

More information
If you want to have more information or have any comments, please feel free to send an email to: info@expreszo.nl