It was first published by a local gay man as a double-sided single sheet on a monthly/bi-monthly basis, beginning in early 1992.

[3][4] The first local Family Portrait was taken on the steps of the Erie County Courthouse on October 28, 1995, and appeared in the special December 1995 issue for Erie PA's Bicentennial, and a copy of that issue was placed in a time capsule in the Bicentennial Tower at the foot of State Street.

[6] The editorial staff for most of the first run was Deb Spilko, Michael Mahler and Mike Miller.

[8] The editorial staff currently consists of Deb Spilko and Michael Mahler.

In February 2008, Erie Gay News was selected for inclusion in the EBSCO Publishing LGBT Life with Full Text index.