Unlike the Human Rights Campaign’s Visa card, carrying around the Diversity Platinum card isn’t an invitation to rack up debt. That’s because it’s not even a credit card, but rather a “rewards card” where, for $65/year ($5 of which goes toward a charity like the Trevor Project), you can get a $40 “membership” to GLAAD, an email newsletter, and oh yeah, some discounts at hotels like Kimpton and retailers like Macy’s. Who’s behind this thing? Steve Harris, the editor of A Bear’s Life magazine, who says he wanted “to think what would support the community, what could we do to support the charities and organizations that were feeling the brunt of the economic downturn. We wanted to reach out to the entire gay community. I created it as a platinum card because I feel that we have moved forward from rainbow cards and rainbow colors. I really wanted to create something that people would be proud of to take out of their wallet and show that they were a part of such an important community.” Let me carry it in an iPhone app, and I’ll consider.
the plastics
Do You Have Room In Your Wallet for a Diversity Platinum Card?
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SteveC
What an utterly shit, pointless idea!
Gorbeh
“LGBT Lifestyle”? I can see that being used against us. Good job GLAAD, you’re really helping out!
Jacob Trent
I think this is a great idea. Why is it that everytime someone comes out with something to support us, the community puts it down. Why shouldn’t we get discounts? And if it is supporting charities, even better! I am going to buy mine today and support this. For all the nay sayers.. what have you done lately to support our community?
Go Diversity Platinum!
ChrisM
Good idea, but I agree with others who are pointing out the ill-phrased “LGBT Lifestyle” line. I understand that the reference is to the way the card is used – but let’s keep in mind what our opponents like to say.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
A few years ago a local Gay paper introduced a similar card. Was supposed to generate Gay dollars into Gay and Gay friendley businesses…….I prefer my Gay dollars to go towards Gay friendly cash registers……Plus, I found it to be a great way to hook with cute salesguys… :p
Steve Harris-CEO Diversity Platinum
The “LGBT” Lifestyle was removed from the card.. It only reads: “Membership Rewards” The image that was used in this article is not updated, but we appreciate the attention.
To all of you reading this, we are so proud of this for our community. When you walk into the participating stores, look for the decal above mastercard and visa, We’ll be there!
This will show that we as a “global community” have “buying power”
I hope you embrace this. Please let us know how what stores and restuarants in your area you would like to get on board by going to our web site and clicking on “Suggest a Business” We get 10 – 20 businesses on weekly.
It’s Your Community, Your Card
Steve Harris
Chris
Yeesh, sorry I’m such a failure of a gay for supporting consumerism and materialism.
If I want to support charities, I will support charities. Getting discounts for it seems to cheapen it.
Chris
Yeesh, sorry I’m such a failure of a gay for not supporting consumerism and materialism.
If I want to support charities, I will support charities. Getting discounts for it seems to cheapen it.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@Steve Harris-CEO Diversity Platinum:
First you say: “I created it as a platinum card because I feel that we have moved forward from rainbow cards and rainbow colors. I really wanted to create something that people would be proud of to take out of their wallet and show that they were a part of such an important community.”
Then you say: The “LGBT” Lifestyle was removed from the card.. It only reads: “Membership Rewards”
As per my previous post, I am 100% in favor of such affinity cards and am proud to use them……..You kinda sorta are doing a 180 degree from your original statement of “being proud” by removing the LGBT tag…………yes/no??????
justiceontherocks
Steve, they copied the card directly from your current website. Still says “LGBT Lifestyle.” I wish you luck with this very commercial enterprise, but don’t pee on our legs and tell us it’s raining.
Dannie K
I agree with Jacob Trent. Half the people who put this damn card down as bullshit haven’t done shit for the community. When was the last time we had people trying to help us as a whole? Not never. Everywhere we go we face hardships and trials and now one of the few times we can get discounts and shit? Where do i sign up?
I don’t know bout ya’ll…but i want kids and i don’t want them to grow up in a world of hatred and i know I want to change that. So should you.
justiceontherocks
@DannieK – and you know this how?
Steve Harris
@justiceontherocks: Hey Justin, The text on the card itself was changed two weeks ago at the printers. As I just went to the web site, I noticed that it had reverted back to the old web site with the old logo. I have instructed the web master to put the updated card on the site by morning to reflect the revised text on the card.
I so appreciate al the comments here. As this is a very new product, we want all constructive comments. Just remember, we’re all in this together. Rome was not created in a single day.
Hope you’ll check out the entire web site at http://www.diversityplatinum.com
Happy New Year
Steve
Steve Harris
@justiceontherocks: You should go to the web site at http://www.diversityplatinum.com. Enjoy your card…
Many thanks and Happy Holidays…
Steve
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@Steve Harris: So I am guessing that an answer as to why you did an 180 degree and suddenly decided it wasn’t so important to be proud to be Gay isn’t so important any longer isn’t forthcomming????
Or maybe you missed post #9……………..I am sorry Steve but you suddenly began to spew a lot of corporate babblespeak in post #13
Steve Harris
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: No, that was not the case at all. The consensus from a group of gay men and women who have the card is that the term LGBT Lifestyle not be necessary on the card, that the term “Diversity” was enough. As the card was created not only for the community, but the friends and families, the group agreed that LGBT was a bit restrictive, especially since now “Q” is in the picture and whatever new symbols and or terms maybe coming our way.
I am very proud to be gay. And… extremely proud to be promoting this for my community.
I hope this answers the question.
Steve
justiceontherocks
Steve, I checked out the web site. No idea what you mean “Enjoy your card . . .”
Again I wish you well. From the list of merchants you seem to be off to a good start.
It’s hard to know how to brand campaigns for non-heterosexuals. Glad I don’t have to worry about that one.
MD
Sorry, but the token $5 donation to charity is simply cause-related marketing, intended to increase sales of the card as a marketing measure, and less a genuine offer of philanthropic support.
Oh, and how much did you pay queerty to post this?
SteveC
I’m curious about Queerty’s affinity with this commercial enterprise also.
Are Queerty getting kickbacks to promote this card.
Hey good luck to the owner of the commercial enterprise behind this card.
But come on, it’s nowhere near to being a news story.
Paul S.
I think it is a good news story, I like the fact that we can get a discount at stores that support our community. Has this sort of thing ever been done before?
Daez
I’m entirely in support of this concept. The card (after the membership for GLADD which I really don’t give a damn about, but you might as well write that off as gay charity and the $5 donation is really only $15).
The problem I have is the business listing. I mean, where I live has like one business that I would never bother going to anyways, and maybe one of the nationals (PETCO) is worth checking out. Having Macy’s on board is just a joke since their stuff is so overpriced they would need to give a 50% discount just to make it worth using.
So far, it seems like you are further along just marketing this product to people in California and New York. I can’t see it being worthwhile to pick up in the middle of the country in the middle of a red state.
Steve Harris-CEO Diversity Platinum
@Daez: I am thrilled that so many comments have been posted. If you all get a chance, take a really good look at the site and the listings. There are major pockets throughout the country; Provincetown, Palm Springs, Dallas, Ft Lauderdale area and many others. This is new and this will take time. We are working with many other national brands that will be coming on board as well as insurance companies as well. http://www.diversityplatinum.com
We are asking everyone to embrace the concept. When you pass by the stores, our decal will be in the windows above Mastercard and Visa. We know there are many areas we need to capture, you can help us. If you go to our site, you can suggest local businesses that you frequent and we will get them on board. We’re working as fast as we can. There are more organizations coming on board to support this project. Give it some time, give us your feed back. We are so proud of what we have accomplished so far. We have plans to tie into international discount programs as well and there are a few surprises in store. If you own a business, come on board! There is no fee and all you need to do is offer a discount to your community. Just go to the web site. http://www.diversityplatinum.com
I want to thank all of you for the feedback and QUEERTY for publishing this article. The article was originally published in BottomLine Magazine. We had no idea it would be posted here.
Wishing you all a very happy, safe and prosperous 2011
Steve Harris, CEO
Diversity Platinum Rewards
Your Community, Your Card!
Steve Harris-CEO Diversity Platinum
We also have a facebook page as well.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diversity-Platinum-Rewards-Card/171945822818670
Mike in London UK
To the CORPORATE MONEYGRABBING people who are hogging our GAY LIFESTYLE.
Kindly give it back, its not yours to sell.
Daez
@Steve Harris-CEO Diversity Platinum: So, in short, the places this is currently useful are gay businesses in gay mecas. Not bad for someone who lives there or travels there. I personally do not relish the idea of vacationing in an overcrowded gay meca, but I do not speak for most gays.
Steve Harris-CEO Diversity Platinum
@Daez: No, that is not the case at all. There are businesses coming on board from all over the country and the world. Most of the businesses are gay owned and operated, so when you buy the card, you are supporting your own community. The card is only two months old. We plan on every city in the US. Did you look at the web site and the list?
Again, for all of you interested in this program. 80% of the businesses are LGBT owned and operated that are giving discounts. They are hoping that this program will help generate business for them in tough times. Some of the businesses already support our community and are very happy to give the discounts.
All the larger corporate affiliates have already suported us and want to continue the support. Our donation to the charities is right in the ball park of 8% which is usually what is donated on a corporate level, sometimes less.
Hope this can close this discussion..
Happy New Year all.
justiceontherocks
Steve – quit asking everyone to find business partners for you. That’s your job. You’re the one making money on this. You’re not running a philanthropy. Do your own work.
Susan
Yeah $65 for a card that only gives $5 to charity hardly seems fair to me. Even if it cost $5 to print the card and for shipping, where are the other 55 dollars going? Apparently the businesses who offer discounts aren’t seeing any of it, but it has to go somewhere.
Sounds like a good idea, just seems like a giant greedy scam.
Greg - Dallas
Wow, pretty strong comments being tossed out there. I work for a company similar to the Entertainment books in the Dallas area and I am glad someone thought about this for us Gays. In being fair to this new company and to its owner, marketing and advertising costs alone soak up dollars and I know what staffing costs as I get paid to market the program to corporations and their employees on a much larger level. There’s also office expenses. Since the Gay market is smaller, the profit margin I am sure would be less. Our program costs 35 and that is just for our city, this guy is doing the whole country from what it seems.
I don’t think he’s asking anyone to do his company’s job, he’s asking us to suggest places that we may want to give us these discounts. There is a business model for this he is following. My company does the same every year as we send out an email to our client base asking if there are any companies we have missed the previous year. The feed back is very helpful.
Just looked at the list and found it impressive for a start. If they keep going, it will be a very worthwhile program. I’ll get my card and give it a shot. That was my two cents!
David
“Unlike the Human Rights Campaign’s Visa card, carrying around the Diversity Platinum card isn’t an invitation to rack up debt.”
But, it’s certainly an invitation to buy things in stores where people generally pay with credit or get a hard sell on opening a credit account.
How about you stop pretending that this is an issue of credit vs. rewards card and just admit that you prefer this card because it has nothing to do with the HRC? The HRC does plenty that’s worthy of criticism, but it’s childish to pretend doing something different than whatever HRC does automatically makes the action good.