Barry Thorsness grew up in Prince George, BC, with a Space Needle on his bed. His best toys from his youngest years came from Seattle.

Seattle was always an adventure. As a student in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia, Thorsness discovered Seattle's Gay bars. The city would eventually become his residence and "spiritual" home.

Thorsness is an immigrant to the US, though his family moved to what is now New Hampshire in the 1650s and have a state park named after them.

He too hid from immigration officials behind bushes as they chatted with his boss.

Thorsness started a nightclub with his brother and then purchased a hotel in Vancouver, which he "turned gay." Then in Seattle, working with Ted Ladd of Tugs Bar video fame, he started a business called RECNET.

After getting his green card, Thorsness's choice was Santa Cruz. He began "specialty nights" in gay bars in the Bay Area and Fresno.

He studied web design at Lake Washington Technical College.

Then he approached George Bakan at the SGN 17 years ago. It has been a wonderful experience for him. As part of George's "team," he helped him feel he was doing something so necessary to help Gay people to be fully accepted.

Through the website, all the international readers, from Saudi Arabia to Iceland, see how "the struggle" can be accomplished. Though unbelievable progress has been made, we are still working toward that goal.

Thorsness's passion for the last 10 years has been "his kids" in Malawi. They have taught him so much about life, as they have gone from starting secondary school to university, trade school, and business.