| Categories | Gay news periodical |
|---|---|
| First issue | 1997 |
| Final issue | January 2002 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
HERO MagazineTM was an American glossy gay magazine co-founded in 1997 by Sam Jensen Page and Paul Horne. The magazine stopped publication in January 2002.
The magazine rode the wave of the "mainstreaming" of gay culture and was the first gay magazine to be classified as "highly recommended" by Library Journal. It published the first automotive column in a national gay magazine, the first gay man's wedding guide, etc. HERO turned away from the "sex sells" attitude of many other gay publications,[1] and did not accept adult or tobacco advertising. The magazine was also more inclusive of couples and men over 40 than other gay men's magazines at the time.
After fast growth in its first 3 years, the magazine's financial backing was frozen after September 11, 2001, and the publication ceased operations in January 2002. Parent company HERO MediaTM continues to develop other online and print publications, including SpaTravelGuy.com.