National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is an American professional association dedicated to unbiased coverage of gay/lesbian issues in the media. It is based in Washington, D.C., and the membership consists primarily of journalists and students in print, broadcast, and online media.

According to the NLGJA's web site, "The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members."

Founded by Roy Aarons in 1990, it currently has more than 1,100 members in the United States and abroad.

David Steinberg of the San Francisco Chronicle is the association's national President. The rest of the Executive Committee are Oriol Gutierrez, Vice President for Print and New Media; Doug Stewart, Vice President for Broadcast; Ian McCann, Treasurer; and Ken Miguel, Secretary.

David Barre was hired as executive director in August 2007, taking over after the end of Pamela Strother's 10-year tenure. Thomas Avila is the group's deputy executive director.

The organization's 2008 [convention], "NLGJA Goes to Washington," took place in Washington, D.C., in August. The 2007 convention was held in San Diego, California the first week of September and was titled "Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves." One of the keynote speakers was transsexual Los Angeles Times sports writer Christine Daniels.

The 2006 convention, held in Miami Beach, Florida, attracted about 650 journalists. During that event, CNN Headline News anchor Thomas Roberts discussed being gay during a panel about being openly gay on air. Previous conventions have been held in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

The group's first international convention will be held in Montreal, Canada, in September 2009. The group returns to San Francisco in 2010 for its 20th anniversary conference.