Niles Merton; Former Publisher of the Advocate

Niles Merton, 39, former publisher of the Los Angeles-based magazine the Advocate, a national gay and lesbian news publication. He served as publisher of the magazine from 1985 to 1993, a period of great political debate over gay and lesbian issues, and during which the Advocate grew to national prominence. The magazine frequently generated attention and controversy with stories that “outed” public figures, and also was nominated for mainstream journalism awards. Before joining the Advocate, he was director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Orange County. On Thursday in Westchester of complications of AIDS.