Michael Portantino, publisher of Gay and Lesbian Times, dies at 52
Paper closed in October due to financial difficulties
By Blanca Gonzalez
Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 7:50 p.m.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/09/michael-portantino-publisher-gay-and-lesbian-times/As longtime publisher of San Diego's Gay and Lesbian Times, Michael Portantino, enjoyed the bully pulpit and was not shy about scrutinizing politicians and community leaders he believed had done something wrong.
When he arrived in San Diego in the 1980s, the local gay press was mostly oriented toward entertainment and social activities. Mr. Portantino, who had been a successful stockbroker, bought one of San Diego's smallest gay publications in 1989 with the goal of turning it into a newspaper with coverage of news, politics and community issues. The paper grew to become one of the largest gay publications in Southern California with a circulation of more than 15,000. He was dedicated to the weekly paper and was devastated when he had to shut down the publication in October due to economic difficulties, friends said.
Mr. Portantino died Wednesday after apparently jumping from the Park Manor Suites on Spruce Street. He was 52.
