The National Gay Newspaper Guild of the United States elected six officers, each for two-year terms, at its annual meeting held in San Francisco on April 1.

“The significance of the National Gay Newspaper Guild is that it’s an attempt by major papers in the country to work together,” said Thomas E. Horn, publisher of the Bay Area Reporter and host of the April 1 meeting. Bob Ross, the Bay Area Reporter’s founder and late publisher, started the guild, Horn said.

Sue O’Connell of Bay Windows in Boston was elected president. Michael Portantino of the Gay & Lesbian Times in San Diego was re-elected as vice president.

“What makes this guild so significant is that we are a group of the 13 largest and best GLBT publications in the 13 largest cities in the country,” Portantino said. “Combined, our readership dwarfs that of the national GLBT publications.

“Our market penetration in our communities is far superior to that of the national publications,” he continued. “Add our cost effectiveness, and we deliver the GLBT consumer to national advertisers at a significant discount.”

This year’s meeting and elections coincided with the Bay Area Reporter’s 35th anniversary.

Robert Moore of the Dallas Voice in Dallas was re-elected treasurer. Susan Horowitz of Between the Lines in Detroit was elected secretary. Tracy Baim of the Windy City Times in Chicago and Mike Kitchens of Southern Voice in Atlanta were elected officers-at-large.

The Express of South Florida was voted in as a new member of the guild, joining the Bay Area Reporter of San Francisco, Bay Windows of Boston, Between the Lines of Detroit, the Dallas Voice of Dallas, Frontiers of Los Angeles, the Gay & Lesbian Times of San Diego, Houston Voice of Houston, the New York Blade of New York, Philadelphia Gay News of Philadelphia, Southern Voice of Atlanta, the Washington Blade of Washington, D.C. and the Windy City Times of Chicago.

For more information about the National Gay Newspaper Guild, visit www.nationalgaynewspaperguild.com.