Editorial Board

Rocking the new Erie Gay News logo at the Erie Maritime Museum on Janaury 15, 2022 are (first row) Kim Conti, Gary Snyder, Andrea Shaffer; (second row) Rex Apps, Patrick Hiller, Michael Mahler, Michael Mongera. Not pictured: Nahtanha Klingensmith. Photo by Andrea Shaffer.

Erie Gay News would not be possible without the efforts of our editoral board.

Name	Title	Bio
Rex Apps	Contributing Editor
Kim Conti	Distribution Specialist
Michael Mahler	Editor	Michael Kenton Mahler is editor of Erie Gay News since it was founded in December 1992. He also is a founding member of NW PA Pride Alliance and serves on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and the Erie’s Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Council, as well as the boards for Community Health Net and Drenched Fur. He became the first LGBTQ person to be fully out in May 1992 when appearing on local TV coverage. Michael works as a programmer/analyst for Erie Custom Computer Applications.
Michael Mongera	Contributing Editor	Michael Mongera is a native from Cambridge Springs PA, A 2019 graduate of Mercyhurst University, Mongera received his Bachelor’s in Communication. During this time, he was the co president of Mercyhurst’s literary magazine, LUMEN for 2 years. Mongera has also contributed to articles for The Merciad, and Erie Reader Magazine. He currently works as a Publication Specialist at Christian Faith Publishing.
Andrea Shaffer	Contributing Photographer
Gary Snyder	Contributing Editor	Gary Snyder (He/Him), has been involved with Erie Gay News submitting articles since 2005 and coordinating the Annual Pride Picnic kitchen in 2008. He currently serves as an Advisory Board member of the NWPA Pride Alliance [since 2012 ]. Gary is a graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in HRIM. From 1999 to 2012 he was an active member and then executive officer of the non-profit Burgh Bears social club in Pittsburgh, PA. He has coordinated the annual bear social weekend Drenched Fur in Erie, PA since 2005. Currently Gary is employed by the Erie County Department of Health as the HIV Disease Intervention Specialist, serving as a community member of the HIV Planning Group in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Along with advising the NWPAPA Board, he chairs the Erie County HIV Task Force, serves on the City of Erie's LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council, the Erie Gay News Editorial Board, and is a proud member of the AFSCME Union Local 2666.