(What’s happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at editor@presspassq.com)

DOROTHY ALLISON, acclaimed lesbian author best known for her 1992 novel “Bastard Out of Carolina,” died of cancer on November 6, 2024, at her home in Guerneville, Calf. She was 75.

TRACY BAIM, co-founder of Chicago’s WINDY CITY TIMES, will serve as the executive director of PRESS FORWARD CHICAGO, a collaborative fund dedicated to strengthening local news organizations as they work towards long-term sustainability. Housed at the Chicago Community Trust, Press Forward Chicago is a local chapter of the national Press Forward initiative, which the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation led to raise resources to revitalize local news.

BAY AREA REPORTER, based in San Francisco, won first place for overall excellence in the non-daily newspaper category at the SAN FRANCISCO PRESS CLUB’s Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards on December 4, 2024. Associate editor MATTHEW S. BAJKO won first place in the sports feature category and second place for his weekly news/political column. Assistant editor JOHN FERRANNINI won first place in the news story category. The newspaper’s editorial board, consisting of news editor CYNTHIA LAIRD and publisher MICHAEL YAMASHITA, won first place in the editorial category.

BOSTON SPIRIT MAGAZINE hosted its annual Prom and Sunset Cruise on September 26, 2024. A portion of the proceeds from the event went to the North Shore Alliance for GLBTQ Youth.

THE CURVE FOUNDATION, publisher of CURVE MAGAZINE, announced that it will again host LESBIAN VISIBILITY WEEK across the U.S. and Canada the week of April 21-27, 2025.

DALLAS VOICE was one of 11 media outlets in Texas — and the only LGBTQ outlet in the state — to receive funding through PRESS FORWARD, which the newspaper said will help it expand its reach into North Texas. The announcement was made October 16, 2024, as part of Press Forward’s first “Open call on closing local coverage gaps.”

ERIE GAY NEWS, based in Erie, Penn., published its 350th issue in January 2025.

MIKE FLEMING, a writer, editor and publisher who worked at many LGBTQ media outlets including SOUTHERN VOICE, DAVID ATLANTA and PROJECT Q, passed away in December 2024 after a battle with cancer. He was 59.

CHAD MANTOOTH has been promoted to the role of associate publisher at DALLAS VOICE. He has served as the newspaper’s advertising director since 2018. In his new role, Mantooth will continue to oversee advertising operations while expanding his focus on strategic initiatives to further enhance Dallas Voice’s presence in the market and its service to the community.

OUT IN JERSEY, based in Trenton, N.J., entered its 30th year of publication with its December 2024/January 2025 issue.

OUTCLIQUE, based in Wilton Manors, Fla., entered its ninth year of publication with its December 2024 issue.

OUTFAU, the student newspaper based at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and sister publication to Wilton Manors-based OUTSFL, announced that CHRISTIAN “CJ” WALDEN is its new executive editor. He replaces founding editor MARY RASURA, who stepped down in November 2024.

OUTSFL, based in Wilton Manors, Fla., entered its third year of publication with its January 2, 2025, issue.

RICK TODD, owner and publisher of Orlando-based WATERMARK, was named among the newspaper’s Most Remarkable People for 2024 last month as part of its 30th anniversary celebration.

TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES
Volume 26
Issue 11