The San Francisco Bay Times is a free bi-weekly LGBT newspaper in San Francisco, California that started as Coming Up! in 1978. Coming Up! was billed as "the gay lesbian newspaper and calendar of events for the Bay Area."
Background
Founders of the San FranciscoBay Times in 1978 were Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman. Kim Corsaro served as editor and publisher from 1981 to 2011. The first issue of the paper states that the publication would be created jointly and equally by gay men and lesbians working together, and this goal has remained a key purpose of the paper continuing to the present. In 2018 the San Francisco Bay Times is observing its 40th Anniversary with a variety of events planned.
History
In 1988, Coming Up! changed its name to San Francisco Bay Times. The name Coming Up! now refers to the San Francisco Bay Times events calendar. In June 2011, longtime publisher Kim Corsaro stepped down, with Betty Sullivan of LGBT listserve group Betty's List, and her partner Jennifer Viegas, taking over management of the paper. The Bay Times provides news and information of interest to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in the San Francisco Bay Area. It includes book and music reviews, lists upcoming events in the area in addition to art, entertainment and social issues of interest to readers including news on health and politics. The San Francisco Bay Times is now the largest and oldest LGBT newspaper in San Francisco and Northern California that is 100% funded and owned by LGBT individuals. The paper's website as of March, 2017 has the highest ranking among all LGBT newspaper-related sites in the U.S. and the highest level of audience engagement on Facebook according to Facebook stats. In November, 2017, the San Francisco Bay Times Media Company introduced Castro Street Cam, a webcam 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 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 the most affluent and most highly educated segments of the gay male and lesbian community of the Bay Area, 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 or bettyslist.com
Online Archives
The full text of issues of the paper's issues published since 2011 can be viewed on ISSUU.COM at http://issuu.com/sfbt and its online content can be viewed on the paper's website: http://www.sfbaytimes.com
