A milestone occurred last week when Microsoft founder Bill Gates purchased a major stake in PlanetOut, the company that owns Gay.com, The Advocate, Out magazine and RSVP Cruises.

Cascade Investments, which manages Bill Gates’ fortune, joined with other investors to purchase about 57 percent of the company. Gates invested about $27 million, following advice from fellow billionaire Warren Buffet, who has bought countless companies in trouble and made them hugely profitable.

Why would anyone invest in a company that publishes gay rags?

As we reported recently, while advertising revenues are declining in most of the print/Internet media, they are growing in the GLBT media because market surveys show that we are loyal to advertisers in GLBT media, and consumers want to support businesses that are GLBT friendly.

Of course, the real reason that companies are discovering and accepting GLBT consumers is the almighty buck. It seems that more people than one might think are interested in reading GLBT news, chatting on GLBT Internet groups and viewing GLBT porn on the Web.

Although we are told that only a fraction of the nation’s population is GLBT, Internet usage surveys show that millions more men and women than we thought are visiting GLBT sites – hence the proliferation of GLBT matching services, porn, blogs, and TV and radio programs.

For those who are skeptical, keep in mind that the two people who are extremely powerful when it comes to GLBT media now happen to be two straight males: Bill Gates (PlanetOut), and Les Moonves (president of Viacom, which owns LOGO and a host of emerging gay and lesbian blogs).

The Honorable Carol A. Corrigan, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court, was the keynote speaker at the recent dinner of the Tom Homann Law Association.

It was a milestone for many reasons.

It was little more than a decade ago when we established a GLBT law group for San Diego. At that time, there were no openly GLBT judges, and few, if any, openly GLBT law firm partners.

The event, held June 28, marked a world of change. Attending were four openly gay and lesbian judges and hundreds of GLBT attorneys. But more important was the presence of dozens of straight judges from the San Diego Superior Court, as well as straight lawyers.

Justice Corrigan, of course, didn’t discuss her personal life, nor did she discuss any cases pending before the court, such as same-sex marriage cases. She spoke about her career, the mechanics of being a justice and the importance of serving others.

Her presence was inspiring to all.

In the next year, the California Supreme Court will decide whether the state can deny gays and lesbians the fundamental right to marry, complete with all the benefits and privileges provided to straight couples.

The court will also address whether individuals can refuse services to gay and lesbian individuals for religious reasons.

(Last week’s incident with the “Set Free Ministries” and “Out at the Park,” for example, shed light on the latter issue. The group essentially refused to serve hot dogs to gay folks, saying that to do so would counter its religious beliefs.)