Collection Guide
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San Diego LGBT Periodical Collection
MSS.2012.10.06
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: San Diego LGBT Periodical Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2012.10.06
Physical Description:
21.83 Linear Feet
, 22 boxes, 272 folders
Date (inclusive): 1988-2009
Abstract: 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.
Physical Location: Vault 1, Range 21A, Bays 19-20
Physical Description:
22 Boxes containing 272 Folders (21.83 Linear Feet)
San Diego LGBT Periodical Collection, MSS-2012-10-06, San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
This collection was donated to the SJSU Special Collections by the Lambda Archives of San Diego.
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.
This collection was processed by Brandon Sheirich. The finding aid EAD was encoded by Brandon Sheirich. Reviewed by Danelle
Moon.
The collection is open for research.
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
Scope and Content of Collection
The San Diego LGBT Periodical Collection chronicles the weekly, monthly, and yearly activities of the San Diego LGBT community.
The magazine’s first issue was released in January of 1988 and the final issue was released in October of 2010. This collection
contains nearly every issue from the first one published in 1988 to the last one published in 2009. This magazine covers a
variety of topics ranging from politics, to entertainment, to social issues, and much more. It also reports on the annual
activities of the San Diego LGBT community such as Leather Fest/Pride, the San Diego Gay Pride Parade, Film Out and other
LGBT film festivals.
This collection is arranged into three series covering the three decades during which the magazine was circulated: San Diego
LGBT Periodical Collection: Series I, 1988-1989; Series II, 1990-1999; Series III, 2000-2009. The entire collection is arranged
in chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
LGBT Magazine – San Diego – United States
San Diego Gay & Lesbian Times – San Diego - United States
San Diego Gay Times – San Diego - United States
San Jose State University. Library. Special Collections & Archives