Who We Are
Lighthouse.lgbt is a vibrant platform dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community since 2017. Through our Stories, Events, and Healthcare Blog categories, we amplify queer voices, share resources, and connect individuals worldwide. Based at http://lighthouse.lgbt, we foster inclusion by celebrating authentic narratives, promoting pride events, and providing affirming healthcare guidance. By 2025, we’ve reached over 100,000 readers, creating a safe space for self-expression and support. Our commitment extends to protecting your privacy, ensuring every interaction with our platform respects your identity and data.
Comments
When you leave comments on our site, we collect the data entered in the comments form, along with your IP address and browser user agent string to aid spam detection. This helps us maintain a safe, inclusive community for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. An anonymized string (hash) from your email may be shared with the Gravatar service to check for a profile picture. Gravatar’s privacy policy is available at https://automattic.com/privacy/. Once approved, your profile picture appears publicly with your comment, fostering connection while respecting your privacy.
Media
If you upload images to lighthouse.lgbt, avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS) to protect your privacy, especially important for LGBTQ+ individuals in sensitive contexts. Visitors can download and extract location data from images, so we recommend checking files before uploading. This ensures your safety while sharing stories or event photos, aligning with our mission to create a secure platform.
Cookies
Commenting on our site offers an opt-in to save your name, email, and website in cookies for convenience, lasting one year. This simplifies sharing your voice in our Stories or Events sections. Visiting our login page sets a temporary cookie to check browser compatibility, discarded when you close your browser. Logging in creates cookies to store login details (two days) and display preferences (one year). Selecting “Remember Me” extends login cookies to two weeks; logging out removes them. Editing or publishing an article saves a cookie with the post ID, expiring in one day, ensuring seamless contribution to our Healthcare Blog.
Embedded Content from Other Websites
Articles on lighthouse.lgbt may include embedded content (e.g., videos from pride events, images from health fairs, or social media posts). These behave as if you visited the source website, which may collect data, use cookies, or track interactions, especially if you’re logged into those sites. We carefully select embedded content to align with our mission, but encourage reviewing third-party privacy policies to understand data usage, protecting your experience as part of our community.
Who We Share Your Data With
If you request a password reset, your IP address is included in the reset email to ensure security. We do not share your data beyond what’s necessary for platform functionality, like spam detection or Gravatar checks, prioritizing the privacy of our LGBTQ+ community and allies. Our commitment is to keep your information safe while you engage with our Stories, Events, or Healthcare Blog.
How Long We Retain Your Data
Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely to streamline follow-up approvals, fostering ongoing conversations in our community without moderation delays. For registered users, personal information in your profile is stored and editable at any time (except usernames). Website administrators can view/edit this data to support your engagement. This ensures your contributions to lighthouse.lgbt remain part of our inclusive platform, from sharing stories to accessing healthcare resources.
What Rights You Have Over Your Data
If you have an account or have commented on lighthouse.lgbt, you can request an exported file of your personal data, including anything you’ve provided. You can also request deletion of your data, except for information we must retain for administrative, legal, or security purposes. These rights empower you to control your presence on our platform, reflecting our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community’s autonomy and safety.
Where Your Data Is Sent
Visitor comments may be processed through an automated spam detection service to maintain a respectful environment. We ensure any data transfers prioritize your privacy, aligning with our mission to create a secure space for queer voices and allies. No additional data is sent beyond what’s needed for platform functionality, keeping your engagement with lighthouse.lgbt safe.
