The San Diego Gay Times’ first issue was published in 1988 as a weekly periodical covering events, news, and people related to the gay community of San Diego. In mid-1989, Michael Portantino bought the magazine during a period of financial difficulty and turned it around. The magazine gained widespread success throughout the San Diego area due to its support of the LGBT community. In 1991 the magazine changed names twice. It was briefly titled the Gay Times, lasting only 14 issues before it would permanently become the Gay & Lesbian Times. The magazine also began publishing its issues online starting May 22, 2003, while also continuing to distribute physical copies. Although our physical collection goes through the year 2009, the magazine itself was published until October 2010, when it was closed due to serious financial difficulties. Around the time the magazine closed, Mr. Portantino, the longtime publisher since 1989, committed suicide while suffering from a long term illness. The Gay and Lesbian Times is still accessible via their website where the digital issues (http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/), starting on May 22, 2003 through October 10, 2010, are archived and still available.



Bibliography

Gay and Lesbian Times. Home Page. 2013. http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/

Hood, Lindsay. “One Less Voice for the Gay Community.” NBC San Diego. October 11, 2010. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/One-of-San-Diegos-Oldest-Newspapers-Shuts-Down-104720314.html

Hope, Randy. “Gay & Lesbian Times 20th Anniversary: 20 Years of Reporting News and Events of the GLBT Community.” Gay & Lesbian Times. March 13, 2008. http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=about