There are certain rights of passage for any gay man living in Dallas: Getting harassed by a drag queen for the first time in the Rose Room; grabbing a burger at Hunky's before hitting the bars then stumbling to Panda's for eggrolls at 2:00 a.m.; and grabbing a copy of Dallas Voice to read cover-to-cover the next morning.
For 30 years, Dallas Voice has been the go-to media source for LGBT Dallas, Fort Worth and the entire state of Texas.
Don Ritz, Robert Moore and William Marberry founded Dallas Voice with a mere $750 investment and a first issue of just 24 pages on May 11, 1984. In 2013, the paper was sold to longtime employees Terry Thompson and Leo Cusimano (pictured, left and center) who then brought on Steve Ramos (right) as senior editor in October.
No matter who was at the helm, however, Dallas Voice has always provided thoroughly reported news that affects the lives of LGBT people and insightful commentary, as well as entertaining features and thoughtful critique of film, television, theater and dining in print and online.
If you're gay in Dallas, you already knew that. The publication has likely been a part of your life in some small, or potentially large, way that can't be overlooked or under appreciated.
Today, Dallas Voice's 30th Anniversary edition hits newsstands. It's a look back on three decades of our vibrant LGBT community and the enormous changes that have taken place socially and politically here and nationwide.
This story originally appeared in the Dallas edition of He Said Magazine.