A big shout-out to the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) from all of us here at AfterElton.com. For AfterElton.com’s recent "Gay Newsmen – A Clearer Picture" series, all the gay journalists who agreed to participate had attended NLGJA events, and the existence of NLGJA is part of what made those articles possible.

Founded in 1990, the NLGJA is a big reason that in 2007 there are a lot more media stories fairly covering LGBT issues. The NLGJA mentors up-and-coming gay journalists, trains reporters how to increase sensitivity to gay issues in their newsrooms, and helps promote workplace equality.

And NLGJA members are instrumental in getting huge news organizations to adopt same-sex domestic partnership benefits – as NBC did just a couple years ago, the notoriously conservative Clear Channel recently adding those benefits as well.

NLGJA president Eric Hegedus told AE that off the top of his head he can’t think of any journalist for whom coming-out jeopardized their career. In fact, Hegedus thinks “once you’ve got that personal weight lifted off your shoulders (by coming out), it can empower you.” If you want to attend an NLGJA convention, get more info or resources, or find out how to become a member, check out the NLGJA website: www.nlgja.org.