As I reflect on my three years with the Gay & Lesbian Times, I realize what a rare opportunity I was given.

At a young age, and with limited experience or knowledge of San Diego’s gay community, I came on board as editor.

To many, the GLT is the voice of San Diego’s gay community. And as editor, I was charged with the responsibility of shaping that voice – a task I don’t think I truly understood until much later. That this was entrusted to me, at the age of 25, with “potential” as my lone qualification – well, let’s just say I understand why my hiring was met initially with apprehension.

But true to form, Publisher Michael Portantino took a risk. Every week, I was allowed to try – but, more importantly, I was allowed to fail. It is to this mentoring that I attribute the greatest professional and personal growth in my life thus far, and the transformation of my relative apathy about this community to my commitment to it.

My generation has grown apathetic to the gay rights movement. After all, we enjoy more rights and protections than ever before, and after years of political activism and fund raising, effective treatment is finally reaching people with HIV and AIDS. Even society’s opinions about gays and lesbians are changing, albeit slowly.

So we’re relatively complacent. And I was no exception when I started at the GLT. After all, how does one truly understand the early AIDS crisis without having lived it, or fear losing a job, without any legal recourse, simply because of one’s sexual orientation? The answer is you can’t.

But during my time here, I’ve had the benefit of being mentored by a civic leader and of learning from an entire community. And it’s this experience that has forever married me to a future of service and community involvement.

In this, my last editorial, I ask you to appreciate how important mentoring is to the future of this community. As I leave the Gay & Lesbian Times to pursue a legal education, I know that my professional aspirations, as well as the tools needed to achieve them, are a reality today because somebody took a risk. Ultimately, it is your willingness to invest in our future leaders that will serve to further our progress as a community.

Before I sign off and pass the torch to our new editor, Joseph Peña, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who I have had the honor of working with while at the Gay & Lesbian Times.

First, I would like to thank the entire Gay & Lesbian Times staff for its unfailing support, as well as the many contributors and freelance writers, too many to name here, who make our publication the best GLBT newsmagazine out there. I would also like to acknowledge former associate editor Rachel Ralston, who I now consider family, for always having my back.

I can’t forget Nicole Murray-Ramirez. (I mean that literally, as he stopped by the office Tuesday to remind me to acknowledge him in this editorial.) Joking aside, Nicole, you are an inspiration and will always be my hero.

And finally, I would like to thank my publisher and friend, Michael Portantino, who has been my mentor. Michael, it’s truly been an honor.