Description
This collection contains issues of the San Diego Gay Times/Gay & Lesbian times from its first issue in 1988 through the year
2009. The magazine focused on news and events surrounding the San Diego LGBT community as well as the larger LGBT community
both within the United States and around the world.
Background
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.
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not
intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.