15th Anniversary of Erie Gay News

by Michael Mahler

This issue (January 2007) marks the 15th anniversary of Erie Gay News!

A little history:

Our first issue was published with funds raised from a community dance held by Bridges, a GLBT networking group that started in 1992. We also received a grant from the Pittsburgh-based Lambda Foundation in 1993, which funded printing costs for a year. The Lambda Foundation encouraged us to become more self-sufficient—with ads and donations—and that soon happened. We are one of the few smaller-city GLBT publications that actually supports itself. We have had a web site continuously since January 1996, and have had the eriegaynews.com domain since April 1998.

As part of the city of Erie’s Bicentennial in 1995, a copy of the December 1995 issue is included in the time capsule in the Bicentennial Tower at Dobbin’s Landing. We are very proud that we will be included in Erie’s history when the capsule is opened in 2095.

Although the print version went on hiatus from late 1999 until late 2002, we did maintain the EGN website without interruption, and started up again with a print publication in late 2002. Back issues are being scanned, and we hope at some time to have the complete collection available to read online.

Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for our advertisers, volunteers, contributors and distributors. A lot of people have worked to keep Erie Gay News going, and we look forward to many more years of serving the community!