San Francisco Bay Times | |
Type: | Biweekly newspaper |
Foundation: | 1978 |
Publisher: | Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas[1] |
Editor: | Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas |
Language: | English |
Headquarters: | San Francisco and Oakland, California |
Website: | San Francisco Bay Times |
The San Francisco Bay Times, the first LGBTQ newspaper founded jointly by gay men and women, launched in 1978 and remains one of the largest and oldest LGBTQ newspapers in Northern California.[2] The business includes the 24/7 live-streaming Castro Street Cam that streams Harvey Milk Plaza and the Castro live to the world, serving as an emotional lifeline to LGBTQ people elsewhere, including internationally, who seek connection due to isolation in their regions. It also includes the LGBTQ news and events service "Betty's List," as well as "Harvey's List" and the "Bay Times List."
In 1978, a collective of seven women and men joined to plan and produce the first issue of the San Francisco Bay Times. Meetings were held at founding co-publisher Bill Hartman's home located on Central Avenue in San Francisco. The collective included Hartman, co-publisher Roland Schembari, founding editor Randy Alfred, circulation manager Susan Calico, women's section editor Priscilla Alexander, and two others.[3]
Contributors included many pioneering LGBTQ community leaders, such as Cleve Jones, Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, Howard Wallace, and numerous others.
The first issue, which featured politician and LGBTQ activist Tom Ammiano on the cover, included this statement from the Bay Times staff that foreshadowed what many years later would be termed intersectionality: "The Bay Times will be a forum for dialogue. News coverage will report on inter-group relations, and editorial comment will forge links between our movements and those of racial minorities, feminists, rank-and-file labor, environmentalists, the disabled, the old, the young, and the poor."
The following is a timeline of key dates in the San Francisco Bay Times’ history:
As of August 2021, the San Francisco Bay Times contributors include:
Writers: Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Donna Sachet, Patrick Carney, Leslie Sbrocco, Heather Freyer, Kate Kendell, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Julie Peri, Jennifer Kroot, Robert Holgate, Dennis McMillan, Tim Seelig, John Chen, Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Elisa Quinzi, Liam Mayclem, Karen Williams, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Jan Wahl, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis, Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Michele Karlsberg, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Lou Fischer, Karin Jaffie, Brett Andrews, Karen E. Bardsley, and David Landis,
Photographers: Rink,Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins, Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg, Deborah Svoboda, Devlin Shand, Kristopher Acevedo, Darryl Pelletier, Morgan Shidler, and JP Lor.
In November 2017, the San Francisco Bay Times Media Company introduced the Castro Street Cam, four webcams providing 24/7 live-streaming views of the historic Castro Street in San Francisco. Owned and operated by the San Francisco Bay Times, Castro Street Cam is presented by Cliff's Variety store with support from Orphan Andy's restaurant and the Castro Smoke Shop. The cameras of Castro Street Cam offer views of the Rainbow Crosswalk installed at the 18th and Castro intersection, Harvey Milk Plaza, Jane Warner Plaza, and more.
To assist advertisers and others who wish to reach Bay Times readers, supporters, and allies, the San Francisco Bay Times provides a multi-platform approach with its traditional print newspaper, full content online newspaper, website, social media, e-blast system, Castro Street Cam, and LGBT community event marketing.
To receive the e-blast announcements of the San Francisco Bay Times and its related service,"Betty's List," the lists can be joined at sfbaytimes.com and bettyslist.com
The full text of issues of the paper's issues published since 2011 can be viewed on ISSUU (https://issuu.com/sfbt) and its online content can be viewed on the paper's website.