Lesbian and gay association resurrected

April 14, 2004

By EMMILY BRISTOL

Former Review-Journal education and county reporter Steve Friess is working to relaunch a local chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

Friess helped launch the local chapter in 1997, barely having the 10 paid members necessary. In 1998 the chapter hosted the NLGJA national convention, but later disbanded.

"I found it to be an uphill challenge to get 10 members back in 1997. But this time it will be easy," Friess said.

Friess recently returned to town after working on the East Coast and abroad, and said he was pleasantly surprised with the insurgence of openly gay local journalists in television and print media.

A mixer, coinciding with the National Association of Broadcasters convention, is scheduled on April 18 from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. at Gipsy's, 4605 Paradise Road. Several NLGJA members will be featured guests, including CBS News senior producer Court Passant; Steven Petrow, senior vice president Waterfront Media; and 2004 convention co-chair Mykel MacCarthy, senior broadcast producer for the Fox News Network.

Jere Keys, editor of QVegas, said having a local NLGJA chapter is important.

"It's very exciting. I hope to see a lot of people there. I personally know of a lot of gay and lesbian people in the media in several newsrooms around town. It would be great to meet them and get to know them," Keys said.

The NLGJA acts as a media watchdog concerning gay and lesbian issues, as well as promoting professionalism, workplace equality and mentoring within the gay and lesbian media community. A national convention is scheduled in New York for June 23-27.

Friess said if the local chapter takes off, he hopes to host an educational forum including editors and journalists from around the valley to discuss gay and lesbian issues.

For more information call Friess at 702-384-1435 or go to the organization's Website at www.nlgja.org.