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www.ambiente.us JUNE| JUNIO 2010
FriskyHands.com| Interview with creator Michael Bamford
The ONLY social networking website specifically designed for the
Deaf GLBTQ Community
by Armando Diaz
FriskyHands.com is the ONLY social networking website specifically designed for
the Deaf GLBTQ Community. The site is specifically tailored for the GLBTQ Deaf
and their friends and admirers to help eliminate the isolation those in the GLBTQ
Deaf Community may feel. It has the potential of virtually uniting the millions of
GLBTQ Deaf & their friends across the world. Users can interact through a live
chat, rich web messaging and even stay mobile (through their iPhones). Yet, this
is only the beginning for this intrepid venture.
“After meeting Martin (Ritchie), I realized that in making our great
leap forward as a community, we had left many of our brothers
and sisters behind”. – Michael Bamford
Armando| Michael, tell us what were the inspirations that led you to create
FriskyHands.com?
Michael | I attended Telluride Gay Ski week, in a room full of hot gay men and
women, and saw this very handsome guy sitting alone by a fireplace. Martin
Ritchie has an endearing personality, is instantly recognizable (he appeared on
'Janice Dickenson Modelling Agency'), and he is deaf. Despite his obvious
FriskyHands.com| Interview with creator Michael Bamford
The ONLY social networking website specifically designed for the
Deaf GLBTQ Community
by Armando Diaz
FriskyHands.com is the ONLY social networking website specifically designed for
the Deaf GLBTQ Community. The site is specifically tailored for the GLBTQ Deaf
and their friends and admirers to help eliminate the isolation those in the GLBTQ
Deaf Community may feel. It has the potential of virtually uniting the millions of
GLBTQ Deaf & their friends across the world. Users can interact through a live
chat, rich web messaging and even stay mobile (through their iPhones). Yet, this
is only the beginning for this intrepid venture.
“After meeting Martin (Ritchie), I realized that in making our great
leap forward as a community, we had left many of our brothers
and sisters behind”. – Michael Bamford
Armando| Michael, tell us what were the inspirations that led you to create
FriskyHands.com?
Michael | I attended Telluride Gay Ski week, in a room full of hot gay men and
women, and saw this very handsome guy sitting alone by a fireplace. Martin
Ritchie has an endearing personality, is instantly recognizable (he appeared on
'Janice Dickenson Modelling Agency'), and he is deaf. Despite his obvious
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attributes, Martin was being largely overlooked due to his impaired hearing.
After hanging with Martin for a couple of days. I came to understand the
unique isolation of many hearing impaired members of the LGBTQ community
and determined that these new friends deserved a whole lot better.
To help Martin find a few new friends that knew American Sign Language (ASL)
I went looking for a social networking site that was focused on the hearing
impaired LGBTQ community . . . none existed. I had worked on web sites in the
past . . . since no deaf GLBTQ social networking site exist . . . I determined to use
my expertise to create one!
Armando | What do you anticipate the reception will be of the site?
Michael | Thus far, It has been amazing . . . we have been contacted by people
from around the world! From Sydney to Copenhagen, the hearing impaired
After hanging with Martin for a couple of days. I came to understand the
unique isolation of many hearing impaired members of the LGBTQ community
and determined that these new friends deserved a whole lot better.
To help Martin find a few new friends that knew American Sign Language (ASL)
I went looking for a social networking site that was focused on the hearing
impaired LGBTQ community . . . none existed. I had worked on web sites in the
past . . . since no deaf GLBTQ social networking site exist . . . I determined to use
my expertise to create one!
Armando | What do you anticipate the reception will be of the site?
Michael | Thus far, It has been amazing . . . we have been contacted by people
from around the world! From Sydney to Copenhagen, the hearing impaired
Out in the Tropics Festival June 7-11, 2010 |
| . |
GLBTQs are ready, willing and able to abandon the isolation they've
experienced and build a strong international community.
Armando | Michael what sign are you?
Michael | Australian . . . from Sydney; now living in the
East Village of NYC.
I think that makes me internationally GAY.
Armando | What is your connection or history with
the deaf community?
Michael | Until I met my first hearing impaired friend,
I had had little of any contact with the LGBTQ deaf
community. Frankly, like most, I hadn't given it much
thought. But, after making my first deaf LGBTQ friends,
I found a community that I liked, wanted to be a part
of, and knew to whom I could be of service.
Armando | Where would you like FriskyHands.com to be
in 5 years?
Michael | There are literally hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ
men and women that are hard of hearing, deaf, or interpreters . . .
they are often weary of travel (it is hard to find a 'signer' at an airport or in a
gay bar). In 5 years I hope that this community looks to FriskyHands.com as the
genesis of an international community of signers that travel freely about the
world.
experienced and build a strong international community.
Armando | Michael what sign are you?
Michael | Australian . . . from Sydney; now living in the
East Village of NYC.
I think that makes me internationally GAY.
Armando | What is your connection or history with
the deaf community?
Michael | Until I met my first hearing impaired friend,
I had had little of any contact with the LGBTQ deaf
community. Frankly, like most, I hadn't given it much
thought. But, after making my first deaf LGBTQ friends,
I found a community that I liked, wanted to be a part
of, and knew to whom I could be of service.
Armando | Where would you like FriskyHands.com to be
in 5 years?
Michael | There are literally hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ
men and women that are hard of hearing, deaf, or interpreters . . .
they are often weary of travel (it is hard to find a 'signer' at an airport or in a
gay bar). In 5 years I hope that this community looks to FriskyHands.com as the
genesis of an international community of signers that travel freely about the
world.
Armando | Is there anything you would like to express to our readers about
"FriskyHands.com"?
Michael | We all have friends, lovers, and business associates
that belong to various groups within the broader gay
community that have been marginalized to one degree
or another. Let's reach out and help everyone find the joy
in their lives that we have found in ours . . This is my first
effort, there will be others!
In a recent press release, the site’s publicist Austin
Head writes, “FriskyHands.com allows the gay deaf
community (in all English-speaking countries) and their
supporters to interact through a live chat function, as
well as, email. Soon they will add a video-conferencing
function. This stunning new platform will allow the deaf
and hearing populations to directly communicate without
sign language, in English. Its search function will allow you
to find men or women with common interests in a defined
geographical area for social interaction. No longer will deaf
gay people be isolated from full participation in our
community”.
Photo: Martin Richie
For more info, visit www.friskyhands.com
CLICK HERE for more Armando Diaz, Jr.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
"FriskyHands.com"?
Michael | We all have friends, lovers, and business associates
that belong to various groups within the broader gay
community that have been marginalized to one degree
or another. Let's reach out and help everyone find the joy
in their lives that we have found in ours . . This is my first
effort, there will be others!
In a recent press release, the site’s publicist Austin
Head writes, “FriskyHands.com allows the gay deaf
community (in all English-speaking countries) and their
supporters to interact through a live chat function, as
well as, email. Soon they will add a video-conferencing
function. This stunning new platform will allow the deaf
and hearing populations to directly communicate without
sign language, in English. Its search function will allow you
to find men or women with common interests in a defined
geographical area for social interaction. No longer will deaf
gay people be isolated from full participation in our
community”.
Photo: Martin Richie
For more info, visit www.friskyhands.com
CLICK HERE for more Armando Diaz, Jr.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source