.GAY Domains Now Available!

Frequently Asked Questions

• How will .gay remain a safe space for members of LGBTQ communities?

  Top Level Design has established a .gay Rights Protections policy that exists to establish .gay as an LGBTQ-friendly internet space with a robust set of enforceable policies and procedures. This policy exists to discourage homophobic, anti-LGBTQ usage and to provide specific remedies for domains that intentionally use .gay to malign or harm LGBTQ individuals or groups. While the Registry is unable to monitor all content hosted on .gay domains in real-time for compliance, it will accept and investigate complaints in accordance with this policy.

• How will LGBTQ communities benefit from .gay?

  For decades, the internet has been a place where LGBTQ communities go to build relationships, express themselves and be seen. It has long been a place of genuine connection. With .gay we are taking this one step further, by creating a dedicated space devoted to connecting and celebrating members of LGBTQ communities and their allies.

  Further, we want to ensure that .gay will benefit LGBTQ people and communities. This is why Top Level Design dedicating a 20% donation from all new registration revenue (not just profit!) to benefit LGBTQ nonprofit groups each year. That means that every new .gay name registered directly helps address key issues facing LGBTQ communities. Blacknight is also donating €1 from each registration to Irish LGBTQ charity BeLonG To Youth Services.

• Does .gay isolate or exclude members of LGBTQ communities?

  No! Studies have shown LGBTQ individuals are more likely than heterosexual individuals to struggle with social isolation. We believe the .gay domain will provide a platform for direct connection, allowing LGBTQ communities to be seen and celebrated. Further, we believe that choice is empowering, and we support individuals choosing the domains that most resonate with them. We recognise that the .gay domain may not be for everyone. But we hope they are heartened by the fact that .gay exists and that we are engaged with – and giving back to – LGBTQ communities.

• What makes .gay unique?

  While .gay is operationally similar to other domain extensions, it’s also an industry-changing pioneer. First, .gay creates a completely new medium for LGBTQ visibility, positivity and support. Second, it’s the first domain to fund LGBTQ causes with every new domain registered. Additionally, .gay strives to be a safer space and has policies in place to ban or remove anti-LGBTQ usage, including harassment, threats, and hate speech. This unprecedented commitment means that for years to come, .gay will continue to directly support key issues that face LGBTQ communities.

• Who is the intended audience for the .gay domain?

  .gay is open to all. The registry Top Level Design has devoted years of thoughtful planning to ensure .gay delivers on their important mission to create a distinctive digital space that connects and celebrates LGBTQ communities in a way everyone can support. They are proud to join a growing cohort of diverse domains and they view .gay as being a microcosm of broader LGBTQ communities across the globe. Their greatest hope is that everyone will feel safe, supported, and celebrated for who they are, and who they love.

• Can I transfer my domain name to Blacknight?

  Yes! The methods of transfer vary for different types of domains. Initiate your domain transfer here or view our Domain Transfer Guide for more information on the domain transfer process.

  Contact our sales team if you have any questions.

• Can I transfer my website to Blacknight?

  Yes! You can upload your websites files and database to your new hosting plan with Blacknight or, if you don’t have the time we’ll do it for you. Talk to our migration team today about moving your website.

• Do I need to host my website with Blacknight to use your domain registration services?

  No. We are more than happy to offer domain registration services only.

  Blacknight is a full-service domain registrar and hosting company, and for optimum convenience we recommend you use us as a one-stop shop! However, it is not necessary to have your domain registration and hosting with the same company.

• What are generic Top Level Domains?

  The term ‘generic Top-Level Domains’ (gTLDs) describes long-established domains such as .COM, .NET, .ORG, and .BIZ, as well as hundreds of ‘new gTLDs’ which have appeared in recent years, such as .BLOG, .IRISH, .DESIGN or .ROCKS.

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  These types of domains are called ‘generic’ to distinguish them from ‘country-code TLDs’ (ccTLDs) such as .IE or .FR.

• Why should I choose one of the new generic Top-Level Domains?

  The main benefit to choosing a new gTLD (generic Top-Level Domain) such as .BLOG, is availability. The older long-established domains like .COM have millions of registered domain names, and it can be difficult to find a memorable, meaningful name which has not already been registered by someone else. The new gTLDs have opened up hundreds of new namespaces, with new opportunities for great domain names.

  The second benefit of new gTLDs is that many of the new domain extensions are valuable keywords in their own right, and not merely a redundant suffix. A new gTLD is a more efficient. Compare BlueSuedeShoes.com with BlueSuede.shoes.

• Does Google recognise new generic Top-Level Domains?

  Yes, Google and other search engines rank new gTLDs the same way as the ‘old’ gTLDs.

• How do I pick the right generic domain extension?

  The general rule is to make sure it’s relevant to the business, service or information you’re providing. So if you’re selling shoes, something like yourcompany.shoes  would be a good start.

• Should I switch my company’s website to one of the new generic Top-Level Domains?

  The question of whether to migrate an established website to a new domain is one that requires careful consideration and planning. If your website is established and you’ve put a lot of effort in promoting your current domain name then we would not advise you to suddenly switch your website to a new domain, irrespective of the TLD. You could start by simply redirecting the new TLD to your current domain name and move to the new TLD once a proper migration plan is in place.

  Alternatively, you might choose to use a new gTLD to highlight a different aspect of your business, for example: Blacknight.blog; Blacknight.careers.