Gay and lesbian group off to a solid start

April 21, 2004

By EMMILY BRISTOL

According to Steve Friess, organizer of last week's National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association mixer at Gipsy, the local LGJA is "doing good work."

More than 25 openly gay and lesbian journalists from radio, television and print media attended, with plenty signing up for membership in the national association. It will still take a few more days for the national organization to sanction it, but Friess said he is confident that the chapter minimum of 10 members has been met and then some.

But the Gipsy mixer was just the beginning of what is turning out to be an exciting week for gay, lesbian and transgender media professionals. Friess said the MGM Mirage donated $5,000 to the upcoming NLGJA conference in New York.

"They're the first Las Vegas organization to step up," Friess said.

In addition, Friess and other NLGJA members held a brown-bag lunch seminar with about 20 R-J editors and reporters to discuss how gays, lesbians and transgenders are portrayed in the local media.