Erie Gay News Celebrates 30th Anniversary - Community Spotlight #1


Erie Gay News editorial board with Patrick Hiller of Whee! Design, who created the new Erie Gay News logo.
First row (l-r) Kim Conti, Gary Snyder, Andrea Shaffer
Second row (l-r) Rex Apps, Patrick Hiller (of Whee! Design), Michael Mahler, Michael Mongera

Erie Gay News (originally known as Erie Gay Community Newsletter) is celebrating our 30th anniversary in December, 2022! Originally known as Erie Gay Community Newsletter, it was a project from Bridges, an LGBTQ coalition early 90's. After a dance/fundraiser held at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Erie earlier in the year, the organization saw the need for a local LGBTQIA+-focused publication to inform the community about local events and resources, as well as the upcoming 1993 March on Washington. There had been an explosion of local groups in the early 90's.

Our primary mission continues to be serving to inform and serve the regional LGBTQIA+ community. We are proud to cover not only Erie County PA, but also NE Ohio, Chautauqua County, NY and NW Pennsylvania.

We publish in print monthly, and update our website, https://www.eriegaynews.com, regularly. In addition, also have a Facebook page, a Facebook group, an Instagram account, as well as an account on Mastodon.

In addition to providing current news, we also maintain a history of the region's community. Erie Gay News has copies of our print edition at nine different LGBTQ archives, including Amsterdam and Toronto.

The only other LGBTQ-focused print publication in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia Gay News. There is also the online QBurgh in Pittsburgh. Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh do not currently have an LGBTQ print publication.

People who want to help us with our mission of informing the community have several different options: we host monthly folding/distribution work parties at Lake Erie Counseling, 1932 W 8th St. This is a great way to meet new people! Additionally, we deeply appreciate hearing about new distribution points that want to carry the print publication, so if you know of some place that want to support the LGBTQ community and will carry copies, just email us at info@eriegaynews.com. There is no charge to be a distributor.

We also have an editorial board that meets monthly to plan articles and strategize how best to engage. If this is a way that you would like to be involved, just email us!

We are also excited about our plans for our new monthly Community Spotlight series, which will highlight a group or organization that serves the community.

Thanks to everyone who has made the past three decades so rewarding! We deeply appreciate our advertisers, volunteers, and contributors!

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