I am honored to be a part of the Gay & Lesbian Times’ 20th anniversary issue. As a former editor, I had the unique privilege working with publisher Michael Portantino and San Diego’s GLBT community during a truly historic time in our community. But before I take you back to the headlines during my stint as editor, I would first like to sincerely congratulate the GLT on this remarkable achievement. As so many GLBT publications across the country continue to disappear from our cities’ newsstands, the Gay & Lesbian Times continues to grow and serve our community. Not only has this publication documented our highest of highs and lowest of lows throughout the last two decades, Michael has used the GLT as a vehicle to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for countless charities and organizations – many of which would not be thriving today if not for his generosity and support. For this, so many of us owe you our gratitude. Congratulations, Michael, and the entire staff of the Gay & Lesbian Times.

Also, if I may, I would like to commend the paper’s commitment to its one, true obligation – and that’s telling the story. The GLT has endured all these years because of its commitment to this one principle. Where other gay publications shrink from the important issues, the Gay & Lesbian Times has consistently been there, reporting the facts, raising discussion, and keeping our elected officials and community organizations honest. I think these are the ingredients of a truly great newspaper, and why so many of us continue to pick up the GLT week in and week out.

As we anticipate the California Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue of same-sex marriage, I can’t help but think back to the very first editorial I wrote as the newly appointed editor of the GLT. It was the summer of 2004, and the same court had just struck down 4,000-plus same-sex marriages after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the city to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. That year was a turbulent one for the GLBT community. Ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage sprung up in states across the country, drawing conservative voters to the polls and effectively deciding the 2004 presidential election. And this was just my first few months at the paper.

San Diego politics was just as tumultuous. Councilmember Donna Frye nearly nabbed the city’s top seat as a write-in candidate for mayor, losing on a technicality. Frye did have a chance to run again after Mayor Dick Murphy stepped down just months after his re-election, but San Diegans elected Mayor Jerry Sanders instead, who turned out to be a great friend and ally to our community.

The mayoral race wasn’t the only story to make national headlines. In perhaps the biggest story of 2005, the community united in response to Bishop Robert Brom’s decision to refuse Catholic burial rights to San Diego gay club owner and philanthropist John McCusker. Buckling to the pressure, Brom eventually issued an apology – a small victory to such a large injustice.

Later that year, San Diego would again make national headlines after five registered sex offenders were discovered working and volunteering for San Diego Pride. The Pride board eventually called for their resignations, but not before the scandal divided the community.

Another community divider was what to make of the Kroll Report, the Audit Committee’s final report on the city’s financial situation, which found that the city of San Diego’s dire financial straits were caused by years of “reckless” mismanagement from a number of past and present city and pension board officials. Despite its newsworthiness, those implicated by the report were none too pleased that we – a newspaper – decided to follow the story: “Stick to award ceremonies, please!” Needless to say the Kroll Report got a bit of ink that year.

The final piece of national news to cross my desk was, of course, the hate crimes which took place during Pride weekend 2006 in Balboa Park, in which six gay men were assaulted with baseball bats; one victim’s skull was fractured, another was stabbed. I am still humbled to this day by the strength of our community’s response to such an ugly crime.

Hundreds of other stories fell somewhere between those mentioned above. While there is not enough space to mention them here, it is heartening to know that these stories have been forever captured in print. Here’s to 20 more years of the Gay & Lesbian Times telling the story.