by Joe Siegel

The 2025 convention for NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists will be held at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta September 4-7.

Several workshops and social events are planned for the event, which attracts several hundred journalists, news executives, communications professionals, and educators from all over the country.

On September 4, there will be a forum called “Clashes and Compromises: Inside the Collision of Religious Freedom and LGBTQ+ Rights.” Moderated by Ryan Struyk, a CNN producer and gay son of an evangelical pastor in western Michigan, this session will also include panelists who helped forge the coalition behind the Respect for Marriage Act, which enshrined same-sex marriage rights into law.

“Against the backdrop of a federal judiciary that has shifted decisively rightward in recent years, legal experts and faith leaders will come together in this session to break down how the conservative Supreme Court majority is redefining the boundaries between religious freedom claims and anti-discrimination protections, as well as what journalists should watch for next in the courts and Congress,” according to NLGJA.

On September 5, a forum called “The Role of Journalists in Protecting Democracy” will examine “current challenges facing the press and innovative responses. Panelists will discuss how journalists can use their voices to amplify stories of LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities, counter rising misinformation and disinformation, and defend press freedom.”

Also on September 5, there will be two panels focusing on “accurate” and “nuanced” reporting of transgender health “Transgender medicine is a scientifically grounded field that spans mental, physical and public health — yet is so often politicized in public discourse,” according to the panel description. “Covering this topic accurately requires untangling complex issues, highlighting scientific evidence and a commitment to nuanced storytelling.”

In the second panel discussion, “Reporters will join experts in group brainstorming discussions about accurate and appropriate language to use in news coverage of transgender health issues; local and science-based story angles in the trans health domain; and best practices for identifying credible research and information sources on transgender health.”

Other forums include “Out and Proud: Living Your Truth as a Journalist,” “De-dox Yourself on Meta: Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp,” “Queer and Black Voices in the South: Reporting through an Intersectional Lens,” and “Responsible Reporting on Trans Communities.”

There will also be a Career and Community Expo, awards presentations, various meet-up groups, and opening and closing night receptions.

For more information and a full schedule, go to nlgja25.sched.com.

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Volume 27
Issue 6