News Release June 10, 2005
NLGJA News > News Releases > June 10, 2005

Open Letter from NLGJA to the News Industry Regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Coverage During Pride Season

Dear Fellow Journalist:

June is LGBT Pride Month, and Pride celebrations will continue through the summer. As your newsroom prepares its coverage, we encourage you to explore the rich variety of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in your community.

Here are some story ideas:

• Much of the media's coverage of same-sex marriage has framed the debate as a battle between the "religious right" and the "secular left." Many members of the LGBT community find themselves in the middle, struggling to reconcile their religious beliefs with the realities of their lives. Consider finding ways to tell the stories of the non-activists and how they navigate the divide.

• Do many LGBT couples in your community plan to get married if they can legally do so? Are some resistant to the idea of taking part in a traditionally heterosexual ceremony? If domestic partnerships are available in your city or state, check to see how many people have signed up for them. Have their numbers risen since the marriage issue became prominent? If the numbers are low, explore the reasons why. Are same-sex couples unaware of the options open to them, unwilling to make commitments, or simply procrastinating? Also, is there a disparity between lesbians and gay men? For more information, check a book called "The Gay & Lesbian Atlas," which pinpoints where LGBT couples live in major cities and all states, based on 2000 census numbers.

• LGBT couples face a variety of special financial challenges, from obtaining health insurance in the workplace to providing child support after break-ups. How about a business story on this topic, perhaps in conjunction with an examination of similar issues facing heterosexual unmarried couples, including seniors afraid of losing benefits?

• The debate over marriage rights has brought attention to the struggles of Americans who have formed romantic partnerships with citizens of other countries. Federal immigration law doesn't recognize same-sex relationships, and as a result the government often deports the foreign-born partner. Is there any hope for reform? What options do these couples have?

• On the medical front, health officials recently raised the alarm in New York City about an HIV strain that seems especially dangerous. Are gay men in your community worried about this threat, or do some discount it as hype? How are local doctors and public health officials reacting to the "superbug"? Is it business as usual, or are they looking at patients with a new eye? And how has crystal methamphetamine use among gay men contributed to the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases? Consider exploring the public health surveillance of HIV and other STDs in your community and state. What are the trends, and what are officials doing about them?

• HIV and AIDS have long dominated media coverage of gay men’s health. But lesbians and transgender people have health issues of their own, and many pride festivals spotlight the medical threats facing them. Major problems for lesbians include breast cancer and obesity (both possibly more common among lesbians, according to www.lesbianhealthinfo.org) and STDs. Does your community have a lesbian health clinic? Consider telling its stories. Smoking and drug use are two other major health issues in the LGBT community. Are local social-service agencies working to reduce smoking? Have anti-smoking advertisements in the gay press been effective? What are special issues facing advocates trying to reduce smoking in gay men? And in lesbians? How does the bar culture fit into this picture? (The American Legacy Foundation is a source for information on the LGBT community as a priority population.)

• The recent publication of "Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is," a book by NLGJA member Abigail Garner, has brought attention to the rewards and challenges facing the children of LGBT parents. What is it like having gay parents in 2005? What does research suggest about the future for these kids?

• The Baby Boom generation was the first in history to include significant numbers of "out" LGBT people. Now they're aging, and retirement communities specifically targeting gays and lesbians are starting to appear in cities across the country. Are there any planned for your community? What special needs do they address?

Many members of the NLGJA have written and broadcast stories about these topics. We are happy to refer you to appropriate coverage and direct you to members and experts who could serve as resources. If you're wondering when events are scheduled in your community, try this handy website: http://www.interpride.org/12/2005_Events.htm.

To assist your pride coverage, NLGJA’s Stylebook Supplement on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Terminology includes suggestions for language usage and contact information for dozens of LGBT organizations. Our Journalists Toolbox can also come in handy for reporters seeking guidance on covering the LGBT community.

Save your coverage! It may be worthy of an NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Award. Each award includes a $500 prize and a trophy.

Sincerely,

Eric Hegedus
NLGJA National President

Media Contacts:

Pamela Strother
Executive Director
Office: 202.588.9888, ext. 11
Mobile: 202-486-5990
pstrother@nlgja.org

Eric Hegedus
National President
Mobile: 215-840-3909
ehegedus@gmail.com