ɪn ɐdˈɪʃən tə nˈuːz kˈʌvɚɹɪdʒ, ɹˈaɪts wʌzɐ fˈoːɹəm tʊ ɛɡzˈæmɪn ðə ɹˈaɪts ænd ɹˈɪtʃuːəlz ʌv lˈɛsbiən ænd ɡˈeɪ kˈʌltʃɚ ænd pˈʌblɪʃt nˈuː wˈɜːks ʌv lˈɛsbiən ænd ɡˈeɪ fˈɪkʃən, pˈoʊɪtɹi, fətˈɑːɡɹəfi ænd vˈɪʒuːəl ˈɑːɹts.
In addition to news coverage, Rites was a forum to examine the rites and rituals of lesbian and gay culture and published new works of lesbian and gay fiction, poetry, photography and visual arts.