YNOT – Four agencies representing gay adult talent have banded together to form a new trade association. Among other things, the Gay Talent Agencies Group seeks to establish best practices and “bring a new level of professionalism” to the industry.

GTAG grew out of meeting between four agencies — Pacific Blue Agency, FabScout Entertainment, Adult Models USA, and Baileey Productions — during the recent Phoenix Forum.

“By forming GTAG, all of the founding members are proving their personal commitment to a new level of professionalism and wholeheartedly believe that all models and studios will benefit from this new organization,” said Jaime Clark, president of Los Angeles-based Pacific Blue Agency.

Howard Andrew, president of Fort Lauderdale-based FabScout Entertainment, said the association’s goals closely match the mission FabScout has embraced since its debut nearly 10 years ago.

“We are all about treating the models fair and making sure the models are treating the studios fair,” Andrew said. “Through GTAG, we at FabScout feel we can accomplish that and more and make it an easier road for all of us to travel. We look forward to a new level of communication and openness with all parties involved, and for GTAG to grow with more members in the future.”

Adult Models USA President Stephan Sirard said he believes the association can make a difference in the gay adult industry as a whole.

“I think the creation of GTAG was important to all of us in the gay industry,” he said. “This new association provides a place for thoughts and ideas to flow freely. It’s easier to move things forward when you have consensus. GTAG is a forum for industry participants to join in discussions about how to improve conditions for agencies and the models they represent. It will bring the professionalism to the industry that is so needed.”

Baileey, president of Baileey Productions in Fort Lauderdale, called “the best thing to happen to the gay industry in a very long time.”

“This will benefit not only the agencies, but also the studios and models,” he said.

According to a prepared statement, “GTAG is an industry association proactively representing the interests of its members and is designed to serve the needs of the gay adult model and talent agency industry by striving to achieve acceptable best practices in the industry. Through ongoing networking, educational and professional development programs, GTAG is committed to improving ethics under which members operate their companies and increase awareness about issues that impact the models they represent, the studios to which they provide models and to the adult industry in general.

“GTAG is an all-volunteer group and is administered by a board of directors [composed] of senior executives from gay adult model and talent agencies that have a combined total of [more than] 50 years of industry experience and are still active in their respective companies.”

For more information email the association.