NLGJA Insight | News from the 2008 NLGJA convention

SLIDESHOW: A night of receptions

2008-08-23T14:02:00.000-04:00

photos by Molly Kearns and Katie Williams

NLGJA membership trends: Perspectives from members

2008-08-23T13:59:00.000-04:00

Reporter Matthew Leung asks 2008 convention goers how they feel NLGJA membership numbers are shaping up.

Groundbreaking journalist Shister inducted into NLGJA Hall of Fame

2008-08-23T13:58:00.003-04:00

by David Chong

NLGJA members honored one of their own Saturday, inducting pioneer journalist Gail Shister into the LGBT Journalists Hall of Fame. Her work for the Philadelphia Inquirer has earned her considerable respect from some of the nation's most prominent journalists.

Former NLGJA board member Bob Witeck presented Shister with the award during the organization's 2008 convention in Washington D.C.

Shister was not only one of the first openly gay journalists at a mainstream publication when she joined the New Orleans States-Item in 1975, but also the paper's first female sports reporter.

The 56-year-old writer said she wasn't afraid to be out in the newsroom, but often felt isolated in the early years of her career.

"I never believed anything would prevent me from entering anything in my profession, but I didn't see people of my own tribe," she said.

She moved on to the Inquirer in 1979, where her television column ran for 25 years, mostly focusing on the news industry.
NLGJA founder Leroy Aarons personally invited Shister to become a founding member of the organization because of her courage to be out throughout her career. She went on to serve as vice president and two-term board member of the organization.

Shister said she never would have imagined at the beginning of her career there would be an organization for LGBT journalists working in mainstream media, but she's proud of how it has developed through the years.

"I feel very maternal now," she said of the organization.

But she said she hopes LGBT journalists do no not become complacent now that her generation has open doors for them.

"Never assume that because we've made strides, the advances are going to stay," she said. "The social climate can change quickly."

Upon accepting the Lifetime Achievement award, she showed some of gruff charm and wit she's famous for quipping, "We're here. We're queer. We're on deadline. And we're not going away."

Liberty and justice for all?

2008-08-23T13:58:00.002-04:00

Keith Quinones uncovers gay foreign service officers who aren't receiving the same benefits as their straight counterparts.

Where does one draw the line when choosing between their partner and their service to the country? Mary Glantz and Michelle Schohn have been partners for nearly 9 years.

Mary works for the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), building peace and promoting core American values in other countries. Michelle went to graduate school and studied for a career in archaeology. Mary and Michelle, along with countless other partners, have been subject to unequal treatment by the US State Department.

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"I think you're sort of asked to choose your job over your partner," Mary said.

In 2002, Mary got posted to Azerbaijan said goodbye to her partner. Michelle chose not to go with her for a number of reasons, mainly because the lack of equality between partners and spouses.

"The department didn't offer to us the same benefits that they've offered to heterosexual married couples" Michelle said.

Spouses of heterosexual FSOs receive certain benefits to protect their safety and security while they're living abroad. Access to medical facilities, emergency evacuation assistance, should a threatening situation arise, and holding of a diplomatic passport and visa are just some of the benefits their spouses receive.

However, those same benefits are not available to the partners of same sex couples. Michelle felt that safety would be in great danger if she decided to go without those benefits. Mary feels her service to our country has gone unnoticed.

"They are asking me to go to fight for freedom and other things but they don't treat me with the same respect as they do to my colleagues" she said.

To beat the policies of the State Department, Michelle put her career in Archaeology on hold and chose to become an FSO.

"It's not fair...I gave up a career that I loved in order for us to be together" Michelle said.

They both felt it would be easier for Michelle to join in hopes of being posted together as two officers.

Acknowledgment of these issues has gone all the way up to the upper levels of the State Department. Michael Guest, the former Ambassador to Romania, went as far as quitting his job as Foreign Service Officer, to take a stand against the State Department.

"My government will pay for my pet canary to be transported overseas but they won't pay for my spouse to be transported," Guest said.

He feared what would happen with his partner on another overseas posting and decided to choose his partner. Although Guest loved his job with the State Department, he handed over his resignation in December 2007.

"I left not just because personal issues, for my partner, but for principle," he said.

All Foreign Service Officers equally put their lives on the line while overseas, heterosexual or homosexual. Why shouldn't their partners and spouses be treated in the same manner?

Glantz, Schohn, Guest, and the many other federal employees, all hope that the State Department decides to revise their policies to a more balanced system. Until then, FSOs must continue to either dedicate their support to their partner or to their country.

Transgender discrimination

2008-08-23T13:57:00.002-04:00

Jean|Gene Beebe examines how transgender people face discrimination.

Putting the 'T' back in LGBT

2008-08-23T13:56:00.000-04:00

Kaitlin Kolarik explores the relationship between a transgender man and his family.

Will gay couples be counted?

2008-08-23T13:54:00.002-04:00

Will gay marriages be counted in the upcoming census? Alex Miranda has the answer.

After a bowl of Cheerios and a glass of orange juice, Ken Seifert and Josh Israel get ready for work. It's a morning routine in their suburban Washington condo. And like their marriage, it's something they don't take for granted. Which is why, after their wedding, they were excited to check 'married' on their 2010 Census form. But Seifert and Israel, and thousands of same-sex married couples across the county, are in for a big surprise.

According to The Census Bureau, when gay and lesbian married couples check 'married' on their census form, The Bureau will literally edit out that answer and reclassify them as "unmarried partners." The agency cites the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars the government from recognizing same-sex marriage. Tim Olson of The Census Bureau says, "As a federal agency, we are required to follow federal law."

But president of People For the American Way Kathryn Kolbert says The Bureau is "distorting the truth." Same-sex marriages in the states of California and Massachusetts "are legitimate legally recognized marriages, and the census ought to reflect that."

And although The Census Bureau will exclude Seifert and Israel's marriage from the 2010 report, the say, "we're a married couple, and we know that to be true."

A day in the life of the student projects

2008-08-23T10:10:00.001-04:00

by Jacqueline Payton and Colin Dugdale

Is experience enough?

2008-08-23T10:09:00.001-04:00

NLGJA student David Chong just finished his master's degree at the University of Southern California. He's come to the convention ready to make professional connections that will hopefully lead to a job. However he worries experience and enthusiasm alone might not be enough to land that first job with the current state of the industry.

'Funky and sleek' European flair hopes to draw crowd to Montreal in 2009

2008-08-23T00:03:00.003-04:00

by Jared Grigsby

While the Royal Canadian Mounted Guard, in their red serge uniforms, might not be visible during the 2009 NLGJA convention in Montreal, there are many other reasons to visit the Canadian city.

"Montreal is a very gay-friendly city," said Bertin Jacques, manager of media relations for the gay and lesbian market of Tourisme Montréal. "It has one of the biggest gay villages in North America."

But despite the opportunities Montreal offers NLGJA, financial difficulties this year may raise questions for the organization as it prepares for next year's convention.

"We're going to have to change strategies to let people know about the convention, what they need, air travel, to get a passport," said NLGJA Deputy Executive Director Thomas Cashman Avila.

What Montreal offers

Convention attendees will find a city anxious to welcome visitors and assist them in maneuvering through its streets.

"We like visitors," Jacques said. "It's not weird that if there's someone on the corner of the street, looking at a map, Montrealers just come to those people and try to help."

According to Heather Dolan, manager of media relations for the Canadian Tourism Commission, Canada promotes its communities as "vibrant cities on the edge of nature." People can participate in virtually any outdoor activity while in Montreal, from golfing, biking the Green Route and kayaking to surfing on the St. Lawrence River at Habitat 67.

When visiting Montreal, be sure to bring plenty of currency. The "funky and sleek" fashion of Europe is easy to find and much cheaper to purchase.

"If you're looking for European flair, it will be ... less expensive than going to Paris," Jacques said. "It's good quality for nothing."

Dolan said Montreal, a city where people can stroll the streets late at night without fear, has a few "must try" cuisine options. The first thing you have to try is the smoked meat.

Jacques said that it's a secret family marinade in which meat is soaked for 10 days.
"It's like pastrami, only better," Dolan said.

Montreal bagels are another favorite and are unlike bagels found in the United States.

"They are boiled in honey water, and it makes it very crispy on the outside of the bagel, and they use a wood oven to cook the bagels as well," Jacques said. "That's why it's very crispy outside and very tender inside."

Visitors to Montreal should find that getting around the city is quite easy. All streets are parallel, and everything is within walking distance. If one does need public transportation, Dolan said, it's easy to use.

A challenge for NLGJA

The Montreal convention will come as NLGJA is dealing with ongoing financial issues. At a Wednesday morning news conference, executive director David Barre said the organization may lose money on the 2008 convention. The organization anticipates falling short of its expected number of attendees and might not meet minimum room, food and beverage requirements at the Washington Hilton.

"Finances are a concern," Barre said. "We are exploring our options right now."

Given the financial concerns, NLGJA has been in discussions with the Montreal Hyatt regarding adjusting the 2009 contract, but there are no plans to cancel with the hotel due to the penalties that would be incurred, he said. Another concern is that the organization's official airline, jetBlue, does not fly to Canada; NLGJA members would not be eligible for the corporate discounts it has made available for previous conventions.

At last year's convention in San Diego, the Canadian Tourism Commission brought a huge contingent to promote Montreal, said NLGJA Deputy Executive Director Thomas Cashman Avila.

"Canada had been courting NLGJA for a long time," he said. "Representatives had been putting Montreal as a destination for the convention for some time. They made it clear that NLGJA was a priority to them."

Despite NLGJA's decrease in membership and convention-goers, Montreal looks forward to creating a new relationship with those unfamiliar with Canada and strengthening ties with those who may not have recently visited.

"We hope this will start a love affair with Canada," Dolan said.

Glamorous or small, same-sex unions could bring big bucks

2008-08-23T00:02:00.004-04:00

by Jenna Oskowitz

Could the advent of legalized same-sex unions in California and other states affect the nation's economy in more ways than a new line of Hallmark cards?

Hallmark and other companies big and small have taken on a more inclusive business formula that is targeting same-sex couples who plan to get married.

"Ever since the legalization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts and California, we have seen a huge upsurge [in business]," said Gretchen Hamm, a Dallas resident and owner of GayWeddings.com.

GayWeddings.com is an online site that provides products, resources and networking to same-sex couples that seek to affirm their relationships through commitment ceremonies, civil unions, domestic partnerships, civil marriage and other alternatives.

Weddings and ceremonies are by no means cheap. According to a 2006 study done by publisher CondeNast, the average cost of a wedding in the United States is $27,852. In addition to the positive impact on small businesses, many analysts, experts and activists point to the strengthening of the economy by allowing same-sex unions.

With California, the country's most populous state, legalizing same-sex marriage, many predict it will see an economic boost over the next three years.

Studies by the Williams Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles have found that the state and local governments will see revenue increases of more than $63.8 million after the first three years of legalization.

The institute estimates that more than 51,000 local couples and 67,000 out-of-state couples will come to the state to marry.

"People are getting married every other weekend," said David Steinberg, a San Francisco resident and NLGJA incoming president. "There is a backlog of people who have been together for a really long time that are rushing to get married before the November initiative."

That potential storm cloud threatens the celebrations in California. In November, the state's voters will head to the polls to decide whether Proposition 8 should become law. The measure, if passed, would outlaw same-sex marriage.

In addition to the monetary benefits California will receive over the next three years if Proposition 8 passes, more than 2,000 jobs are expected to be created and sustained, according to the Williams Institute.

In Massachusetts, the signs are similar.

Over a three-year period, Massachusetts' economy is predicted to see a $111 million boost as well as the creation of 330 permanent jobs.

Massachusetts has gained a reputation as a more tolerant place in part due to its acceptance of same-sex unions.

"The economic boost comes to communities and states who don't discriminate," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of FreedomToMarry.org.

"The boost will not just be from the wedding industry," Wolfson said.

He said it will create strong, stable families who do not have to rely on the safety net of the government.

Voters in a number of other states appear increasingly tolerant of accepting legalized same-sex unions. For example, in New Jersey, a recent Zogby poll found that 59 percent of that state's residents would be fine with public officials allowing same-sex marriage.
Sixty-nine percent said marriage equality is inevitable.

The Williams Institute noted that the Garden State would reap economic benefits as well.
Extending marriage to same-sex couples in New Jersey would boost the state and local government revenues by $19 million while creating and sustaining 800 new jobs for residents, the institute estimated.

In California, since same-sex marriage was officially recognized as legal, the actual number of couples registering has not been measured. The state's marriage license bureau recently changed application forms to say Party A and Party B, so "there has been no way to identify the actual number of same-sex marriages yet," said M.V. Lee Badgett, economist and professor at UCLA.

"To find the economic effect will take a lot of heavy lifting," Badgett said.
Some skeptics and opponents of same-sex marriage argue that legalization will have a negative effect on certain aspects of the economy. For example, some worry about increased insurance premiums.

Badgett says such impact would be minimal. "Small employers are not affected because the number of new couples signing up for insurance is low," she said. It also will not affect many large companies that already cover domestic partnerships.

Film lets Susan tell her story

2008-08-23T00:02:00.000-04:00

by Laura Simmons

After six months of public silence, Susan Stanton once again braved the microphone in front of a room full of journalists - only this time, none of them was writing a story.

About 50 people turned up to hear Stanton speak about the upcoming documentary "Her Name Was Steven" at the 2008 NLGJA national convention.

Stanton appeared with producers from CNN to screen the beginning of the documentary, which follows Stanton through her transition from male to female. It's scheduled to be finished in the fall, but no date is set for broadcast.

Stanton's story first made national headlines in 2007 after Steve Stanton lost his job as the city manager of Largo, Fla. He had decided to transition from Steven to Susan, but the St. Petersburg Times broke the story before he had told his co-workers and city officials.

"A Salem witch trial environment" was how Rose Arce, senior producer for CNN and moderator of the event, described the public hearings that ensued and led to Stanton's dismissal.

After the introduction, lights dimmed and the crowd was privy to about 10 minutes of footage from the beginning of the documentary.

The film paints Steve Stanton as a "man's man" and a "guy's guy," showing him driving heavy machinery as an adult and playing in the dirt as a boy. But it also shows him as a family man. He's often pictured with his ex-wife Donna and their 15-year-old son, Travis.

When the lights came back, Stanton was wiping tears from her eyes.

"I've only seen it once before. This is still real time, real time, and seeing Steve is kind of weird," she said.

Afterward, Stanton took questions from the audience for about an hour. They ranged from how she felt about media coverage of the firing of Steve Stanton to why she decided to let CNN follow her through her transition.

"There's nothing like having your first mammogram with a whole TV crew," Stanton said, laughing.

"It was fun for us, too," Arce said, drawing more laughter from the crowd.
Then Stanton turned serious.

She said she wanted people to "see the transition — not the physical transition on the Discovery Channel — but the psychological, spiritual, social transition, the impact on friends, family and community."

Stanton said she was nervous about the documentary being broadcast but was committed to seeing it through.

"I do ask myself, 'What was I thinking?' but I don't regret it," she said. "There's a lot of misunderstanding (about transgender issues)."

Another person asked whether Stanton would consider turning her extensive journal collection into a book. Stanton has been keeping a journal since she was 8. She actually kept two between 1978 and 2008, one for Steven and one for Susan.

Stanton said she had tried once but was turned down by publishers. But that might change after the documentary comes out, she said.

Stanton said it was her journals that got her through the difficult times in her transition. Although she maintains a healthy relationship with her ex-wife and they raise their son together, she lost all of her friends "except for two or three really good ones," and all of her professional relationships.

An audience member asked if Stanton knew who had leaked her plans to transition to the St. Petersburg Times. She didn't know.

"Whoever violated that trust, that would hurt to know," Stanton said, tearing up. "It's best not to know."

Are LGBT athletes safe at home?

2008-08-23T00:01:00.019-04:00

by Kandice Day

With Olympic hopefuls tugging at our heartstrings for the past 14 days, some things seem to be missing.

"The media is actively avoiding the topic (of gays and sports)," said Cyd Zeigler Jr., president and founder of Outsports.com.

Zeigler is familiar with the media's reluctance to cover gay-related issues, such as the gold-medal quest of Australian Olympic athlete Matthew Mitcham, who came out earlier this year.

Zeigler has advocated accurate coverage of LGBT athletes long before NBA player John Amaechi or baseball player Billy Bean made the headlines. He will moderate a discussion about the fair treatment of LGBT people in sports during this morning's breakout session, "Gays & Sports: Asking the Big Questions."

The panel deals with the intricate relationship between the media and gay athletes and will include speakers from GLAAD, the Associated Press and XM Satellite Radio.

NLGJA member Patty Mattern questions the reason for a lack of LGBT sports coverage.
"The media covers personal lives of everyone, but you don't see husbands or wives of certain people," said Mattern, who planed to attend the 11 a.m. session. "It makes you wonder ... There is a 'veil of silence' around homosexuals and athletics."

Sports Out Loud Managing Editor Buddy Early said journalists just aren't asking the right questions. "Journalists assume that they can't ask the question (of whether an athlete is gay)."

Gay NFL lineman Esera Tuaolo broke his silence after he retired. He said that had he believed he was safe enough to be out during his years on the field, he would have been a happier player. Today, he tours the country speaking to crowds about homophobia in sports and the relationship between the media and gay athletes.

"There is a lot of room for improvement within that relationship," Tuaolo said. "It is (the journalist's) responsibility to ask if an athlete is gay."

Politicians see sexism's role in trivial coverage

2008-08-23T00:01:00.013-04:00

by Oscar Raymundo

The terms used in the media today to describe visible women in politics haven't changed much since Glenn Close's "Fatal Attraction," a 1987 movie used in a reference to Hillary Clinton in the presidential primaries.

"A Woman's Place," Friday's luncheon plenary at NLGJA's 2008 convention, aimed to address the ill treatment of powerful women in the mainstream media and how that might be responsible for cementing the glass ceiling.

U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton; Maryland State Delegate Heather Mizeur; D.C. council member-at-large Carol Schwartz; and Cambridge, Mass., Mayor E. Denise Simmons spoke for an hour and a half to more than 100 attendees about their experiences in the public life and in the media.

Moderator Julie Bolcer, news editor of Go! magazine, began with some stark statistics. According to a poll by the Center for American Women in Politics, women make up 16 percent of Congress, and as of February 2008, 15.7 percent of U.S. mayors were women.
Globally, the U.S. places 72nd in the number of women elected in government.

Media coverage of Hillary Clinton's campaign kept resurfacing during the plenary. Norton, who will join Clinton in Denver on Tuesday to speak at the Democratic National Convention, called media treatment offensive and derogatory in terms of Clinton's gender and a clear example that "we still have no holds barred, particularly in the media."

Mizeur, a superdelegate also traveling to Denver next week, empathized with Clinton's experience of media coverage of her tearing up during the primary. Mizeur said a journalist mischaracterized her as fighting back tears during an important meeting when in reality she was dealing with allergies.

"But apparently dykes don't cry either, so I don't know how that got through," Mizeur said jokingly.

The panel also zeroed in on how journalists can focus on the trivial when covering women politicians. When Mizeur gave a news conference on a nanotechnology bill she had written, a press corps of white male reporters, and even a few of her colleagues, were shocked that she had such a clear understanding of the issue.

"When a woman walks to the podium, trust that we know what the hell we're talking about." Mizeur said.

Simmons, the first openly lesbian African-American mayor in the U.S., said she received her most press when she ended her long-term relationship with her partner. Schwartz got more attention for her wardrobe choices than for her political ones.

"When I first started in 1974, I had a lot of personality and that made me 'not smart,'" Schwartz said. "I began to dress well, and some reporters started labeling me as a 'fashionista.'"

Norton said the superficial media coverage might not even matter, noting that Schwartz, a Republican, was re-elected candidate in a city that's 90 percent Democrat.

The panel addressed the mommy track and that being a parenting politician was not such a big struggle as much as being pigeonholed into a specific role because of either race or gender.

"I always get asked, 'How does it feel to be lesbian, African-American and mayor?'" Simmons said. "Well, I don't slice myself up into three people. I don't separate those identities out, so when I walk into a room, I bring all of that with me."

All of the women have noticed a different treatment in the media than their male colleagues, particularly when it comes to appearance.

"If you're going to talk about me being overweight, talk about them being overweight," Schwartz said. "If you're going to talk about me being old, talk about them being old."
Mainstream media is not the only dispenser of sexism, Mizeur notes. The Internet has accentuated discrimination, especially in blogs and social networks, she said.

"On Facebook, there's a group with 10,000 members named 'Hillary Clinton Stop Running for President and Go Make Me a Sandwich,'" she said.

Mizuer said media are not entirely to blame. They're just a reflection of the conversations that are happening all across the country.

Norton acknowledged that the trivial ways media focus on powerful women might also in part reflect the way that women see one another.

"It's going to take a long time for the men in the press to stop talking about the way we dress if we keep talking about it," she said.

Are we or aren't we in a recession?

2008-08-23T00:01:00.011-04:00

by Jenna Oskowitz

Marilyn Geewax, moderator for "Money Matters," began the Friday afternoon panel in a sullen manner. Describing the state of the economy today, none of the panelists could give an optimistic outlook.

"We are going to try to look at our demise in a positive light," said Geewax, national economics correspondent for Cox Newspapers.

Geewax said she may be unemployed soon, so she is taking the state of our economy personally. Describing how current economic issues could impact voter decision in the November election, five panelists gave their views and opinions on just what is happening on Capitol Hill.

Juliana Measce Horowitz, research associate for Pew Research Center, presented disheartening statistics assessing the current state of the economy. Comparing the cost of living to one's income, 64 percent of Americans felt their income was decreasing. This number increased 6 percent in a five-month period.

From February to July 2008, the percentage of voters who found it more difficult to afford gasoline than taxes, home gas/electric and health care increased from 60 percent to 68 percent. The percentage of Americans who find it more difficult to afford food rose from 27 percent in February to 38 percent in July.

"Those are intense numbers on the economy," Geewax said. "What is going on is big in a historical way."

Economist and research director at The Williams Institute, M.V. Lee Badgett, tried to present information that was not as discouraging. Addressing the role of same-sex marriage in the coming election, Badgett depicted a bright future for them.

"There has been growing evidence of increasing approval of lesbian and gay marriages," Badgett said.

The importance of the same-sex marriage issue has declined since the 2004 election.
Badgett said that 75 percent of Bush voters in 2004 — compared with 68 percent of McCain voters in 2008 — consider same-sex marriage to be one of the most important issues. Among Democrats, 35 percent of Obama voters in 2008 considered the issue one of the most important, compared with 41 percent of Kerry voters in 2004.

Panelist Missy Frederick, staff reporter for the Washington Business Journal, gave the audience a shock when she listed restaurants and stores that have recently closed because of the declining economy.

"Starbucks is closing 600 stores, Bennigan's restaurant chain has gone bankrupt and will close all restaurants, and 11 major restaurants right here in Washington have closed," Frederick said.

After she announced a few of the local restaurants that closed, Butterfield 9 and Colorado Kitchen, a few members of the audience and panel gasped in disbelief.

"People are trying to cut corners where they can," Frederick said. "Anything considered a luxury or not a necessity, people are cutting out."

As Americans are trying to cut the unnecessary, the government tried to jumpstart the economy by awarding rebate stimulus checks.

"The checks were supposed to help but faded," said Richard Leong, senior correspondent at Reuters.

The possibility of a recession feels as though it is hovering over our heads. Leong said that the auto industry, housing and banking are dealing with some major problems right now. On top of all our nation's problems, the credit and loan industry is failing too.

"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own half of all mortgages in the country," Leong said.

By allowing the U.S. Treasury to bail them out of trouble, "they could be facing billions of dollars in lawsuits," Leong said.

With the new digital market revolution, not only are the jobs of journalists at stake, but the effect trickles down through industries.

"Let's say you want to buy a plane ticket, you now use the Internet to purchase tickets at a better fare instead of using an actual travel agent," Geewax said. "And then what if the airline decides it needs another plane, but they can't afford it, so they try to get out a loan, and the credit industry is suffering."

Geewax said there are layers of problems in the economy, and it has become a nexus.
"This is going to be a very rough time," she said.

NLGJA awaits the bill

2008-08-23T00:01:00.008-04:00

by Frank Lin

NLGJA may not meet its contracted room-block obligations to the Hilton Washington, members of the executive board said Friday, putting the organization at risk of serious financial penalties.

NLGJA is obliged to sell a certain amount of room nights in the hotel in exchange for the free use of meeting halls and other convention-related benefits. Estimates compiled 2 1/2 weeks ago showed that NLGJA had sold significantly fewer room nights than the previously agreed upon number, according to the organization's executive director, David Barre.

"We're definitely slow on our numbers," Barre said.

NLGJA is still waiting for a final tally from the hotel, which may include convention attendees who booked a room through another service and have yet to be accounted for.

"People may not have used the NLGJA code when they were booking their rooms," Barre said. "There are many reasons why some rooms may not have been accounted for."

Remarks Barre made during Wednesday's executive board meeting placed the potential penalty in the "tens of thousands of dollars."

"We're waiting to see what the final bill looks like," Barre said. "It's still too soon to tell."

Any financial penalties would place a strain on the convention's budget, which is already not expected to generate enough revenue to cover its expenses.

"We didn't leave any room for fines or penalties in our budget," Barre said. "Ideally, we were hoping to break even."

The executive board is also hoping to renegotiate contracts it had signed last year with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts to hold the 2009 convention in Montreal, and the 2010 convention in San Francisco.

"These contracts were signed before I came on board," said Barre, who began as executive director last August. "Canceling them isn't really an option because of the heavy penalties that we would face."

Instead, Barre has had informal discussions with a representative of Hyatt Hotels to renegotiate the terms of their contract. For instance, Barre said the organization is considering moving next year's convention from Montreal to a U.S. city accessible by jetBlue Airways, a sponsoring partner of NLGJA's annual convention. Barre also hopes that the two-year contract with Hyatt could be revised so that NLGJA is not obligated to sell as many rooms.

"We don't want to overpromise and then not deliver," Barre said. "The number of room nights we've booked in Montreal next year is slightly lower than what we've booked here, but not by much."

According to David Steinberg, treasurer of the executive board, Hyatt Hotels was chosen for its reasonable room rates in San Francisco.

"When we booked the rooms in San Francisco over a year ago, the economy was in a different state," Steinberg said. "Most newspapers had not experienced as much downsizing."

As for how to resolve NLGJA's failure to meet its contractual obligations at the Hilton, Barre said he hoped to present alternative compensation plans to the hotel.

"I plan on talking to Hilton's corporate sales office and seeing what they say," Barre said.

When reached for comment, representatives from the Hilton Washington sales office deferred to the hotel's executive office. The executive office did not respond by press time.

Panel provides layoff comfort

2008-08-23T00:01:00.007-04:00

by David Reinbold

Tom Musbach, managing editor for Yahoo! HotJobs, and three panelists had a message for those anxious, tense and uneasy about their current or future employment prospects: It's OK.

"Life After Layoff: Your Job Is History, but You're Not" gathered panelists who had felt the impact of unemployment to share their experiences and offer advice.

Joining Musbach were Robin Phillips, night home page editor of azcentral.com; Randol White, founder/managing partner of Journalism Junction and Mara Lee, freelance writer.

"This is a reality that we all have to face," Musbach said. "It's common in our industry."

About two years ago, Musbach was laid off from PlanetOut after being there for 11 years. He said he buried his emotions from the layoff for several days before having an anxiety attack while working out at the gym.

"Something that I tell people now is that when it happens, it's going to hurt," he said. "Let yourself grieve because then you can move on afterwards."

Phillips equated her layoff from BusinessWeek online, where she worked as the small business editor, to a relationship ending.

"It's very much like a breakup. I was like, 'Oh, gosh, I'll be different, I'll do better next time,'" she said. "But it's not you, and you have to get past that pretty quickly."

The panelists agreed: Layoffs aren't often about your talent.

To prepare audience members for a better financial future if they are laid off, Lee posed questions.

"How many of you are carrying credit card debt? How many of you know how much you spend every month? How many of you have enough money in cash where you can pay off your expenses in six months?" she said.

Lee said a cash cushion is a must for anybody.

"It's a waste of mental energy to try and decide, 'Am I going to be the one to get laid off?'" she said. But what should someone do when receiving a pink slip?

"If you're being laid off and receiving some sort of severance package, know that everything is negotiable," Phillips said. "It might be difficult, but get the best package possible."
Consider requesting access to office equipment to update portfolios, résumés or video clips.

"From my experience, I would advise everyone to be real clear about what their needs are," Phillips said.

The hunt for that new job might seem daunting, but the panelists pointed out ways to help spot a job and land an interview. Friends in the industry are a readily available resource that could help hunt down that next job.

"It's really important to get the word out," Phillips said. "Be in everyone's mind."

"If people don't know you're looking for a job, who is going to come to you and say, 'Hey, do you want to work for...?'" White said. "Also, never burn a bridge. At work, you never know where everyone is going to move to. They may be deciding if they're going to hire you some day."

The panelists made it clear that networking and communication are paramount and suggested networking sites like LinkedIn, Journalist Junction and Yahoo! HotJobs to aid in the search.

However, don't just rely on the Internet.

"The last three contract jobs that I've had in the last year and a half I got through networking," Lee said.

The panelists also gave notes on negotiating salary and other compensation.

"Put it off as long as possible," Lee said. "You don't want to have yourself ruled out or leave money on the table."

Lee recently started a contract job where her employer made an offer of about $25 per hour. She countered the offer and said that she made $30 per hour at her previous job.

"They came back and decided to pay me $30 per hour," she said. "I just got 20 percent more money because I didn't let them scare me."

"When you're getting a new job, it is like you're buying a used car," White said. "It's a constant struggle to get what's acceptable."

Today's employers are looking for the biggest bang for their buck. To help diversify skills in media on a budget, the panelists suggested blogging.

"All you need is a computer," Musbach said. "You can do writing, multimedia on your blog. You can be pretty resourceful and diversify your skills all on your own."

TIPS FOR THAT NEXT JOB

To remain competitive and desirable to future employers, Tom Musbach, managing editor of Yahoo! HotJobs, recommends his five-point RINSR cycle: Resume, Interview, Network, Salary and Research.

Resume

Update your resume frequently, perhaps once a quarter to keep your accomplishments fresh.
• Think billboard, not encyclopedia! Summarize your accomplishments, not all of your job descriptions. Leave the reader wanting more.
• Forget fancy formats - make sure your resume is easily transferable to text format (for e-mailing or uploading online).
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to the job description.

Interview
• Study the job description thoroughly. Prepare brief stories that illustrate your accomplishments and tailor them to the job description.
• Focus on the value you bring. Make sure you have an answer to the question "Why should I hire you?"
• Bring plenty of questions with you. You are also interviewing to see if this company is the right fit for you.

Network
• Tell everyone you know about your job search; your friends or associates may have suggestions for you.
• Attend professional events (like NLGJA functions!).
• Consider using social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook to connect with former coworkers, etc.

Salary
• Use an online salary calculator (like the one at Yahoo! HotJobs) to get a good sense of target salaries for your desired job in your area.
• Be prepared. Don't just throw out a dollar figure; you should be ready to justify the salary amount you are requesting based on the value you will bring to the firm.
• Be flexible. Salary negotiations are about more than dollars. You may find advantages with more vacation days or a flexible schedule, for example, that boost your overall compensation package.

Research
• Study the company's Web site and become very familiar with the business, products, etc. Your familiarity will help you in the application process!
• Canvas your network to see what your friends know about the employer.
• Search the news outlets for recent reports about company activity, financials, etc.

Panel challenges prayer-based healing theory

2008-08-23T00:01:00.006-04:00

by Oscar Raymundo

Outgoing NLGJA President Eric Hegedus made sure to acknowledge the question mark at the end of the title of the NLGJA breakout session "Pray Away the Gay?" while moderating Friday's discussion on the "ex-gay" movement.

The question mark is crucial, Hegedus said, because there is nothing definitive about the science behind the claims of the many men and women who have denounced their homosexual tendencies as a form of spiritual realigning.

Panelists were David Foucher, publisher of Edge; Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out; and Jack Drescher, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst working in New York City and a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

"The religious right wishes to be modern and enter the scientific debate," Drescher said. "But they constantly dismiss certain science that contradicts their theories."

The ex-gay movement shines a spotlight on the few individuals who claim to have changed a sexual preference to establish that homosexuality is not immutable.

The problem is that there is absolutely no science backing any therapeutic techniques, Drescher said, but the message still reaches millions of Americans across the country thanks largely in part to the media's approach to covering opposing sides of an issue.

"When I speak against the ex-gay movement, I speak for 450,000 psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers," Drescher said. "The other side is representing about 15,000. The media does not cover that there's an enormous disparity between the two positions."

In July 2007, Foucher wrote the four-part series, "My Ex-Gay Life," for Edge publications and found it difficult to report on the topic accurately without coming off as biased.

"I'm a journalist first and gay second," he said. "I admit it's challenging to be objective, but it's my job."

Another reason why ex-gays are gaining traction in the mainstream is because of the media's showbiz model - a fascination with the sensational story and higher ratings.

"Find me real-life people who have gone successfully through this, not someone who aspires to be on Ricki Lake or Jerry Springer," Besen said. "It's all about marketing and media programming."

Drescher said that the movement's marketing is also duplicitous in nature. "They tailored their talk to specific audiences," he said.

The panelists agreed that it is up to the reporters to dissipate the smoke screen and get to the nuances of the actual story, the "nitty gritty details, not just the short sound byte," Hegedus said.

One important detail often left out is the low success and retention rate of the therapy. Another story often untold is that of the ex-gay survivors, the men and women who have gone through the therapy and suffered side effects such as depression and anxiety after treatment.

"In the medical model, you can select which patients are ideal for therapy, but in the faith model God doesn't turn anyone away," Drescher said. "So when it doesn't work, they experience a crisis of faith and often blame themselves. There is harm in trying."

Ann Craig of the Religion, Faith & Values office of GLAAD pointed out that to be objective while reporting on this subject, the media has to realize that it's not just one religion's perspective versus science.

"There are other religions and other voices, and they all don't have the same stance on this issue," Craig said.

But other religious views drown under the loud voices of the religious right, she said.

Hegedus acknowledged that the panel was one-sided but did talk about his various attempts at trying to get members of the ex-gay movement to participate. One wanted travel expenses covered, another confirmed but backed out after learning about a fellow panelist's participation and a third never responded to Hegedus' queries.

Experiences with media and people attract Naylor to journalism

2008-08-23T00:01:00.003-04:00

by Laniaya Hoofatt

With a front-row seat to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, Robert Naylor was affected by the media at an early age.

"I remember seeing the white-only signs," said Naylor, describing the Jim Crow South of his youth in Mississippi. When he was a child, his parents were active in registering blacks to vote.

As a result of the activism of Naylor's family, his home was shot at and intimidation was normal, but they were not deterred from fighting for equal rights. "Separate but equal can never be equal," Naylor said.

National coverage of the events impressed upon him the role of the media. "What I saw were people who came outside of the area and saw what we are going through and seeing the need that was there," he said.

Today, Naylor is currently the director of career development for the Associated Press with more than three decades of journalistic experience. He majored in journalism in college, where he decided against majoring in performance piano and his first choice — an architecture degree — was not offered.

His career took him on many roads; Naylor was an editor for a Mississippi paper and a department press secretary.

The media have evolved over the years since he was a child, Naylor said, and he now watches reporters grapple with how to cover LGBT rights.

He sees a clear difference between the articles written about same-sex marriage by reporters who are gay and those who are not. "The things that people personally care about affect the way they tell the story," Naylor said.

He knows about that commitment to storytelling from personal experiences. Naylor grew up in a Baptist household with two strong parents. Having a sense of personal responsibility, respecting others and simply knowing right from wrong have shaped him for the life he leads.

"I think that is a big part of my passion for newsroom diversity," Naylor said. "Who we are affects the story that we tell."

New media up, newspapers down at job fair

2008-08-23T00:01:00.002-04:00

by Laura Simmons

Justin Ocean shook hands with a recruiter from Gannett Co. and took stock of the options around him.

Ten days ago, he was laid off as editor of The Out Traveler magazine. On Friday, he was at the NLGJA convention job fair to make the rounds and look for a new direction.

Regent Media, which owns several publications including The Out Traveler and The Advocate, recently cut 10 percent of its workforce, including Ocean.

"(I was) shocked, sort of hurt, a little bit angry, but ultimately I knew it was a business decision, not a personal decision," the 26-year-old said.

But he's staying positive.

"I'm casting a wide net," he said. "I've worked primarily in gay media, and I'd like to transition."

The number of recruiters at this year's job fair is up — 44 compared with 38 in 2007 —causing some surprise amid the swirling pessimism surrounding the future of print journalism and the media in general.

Gail Shister, a metro reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, was "shocked and delighted" there were more recruiters at the job fair but remained pessimistic of what lies ahead.

"The Inquirer makes the Titanic look like a cruise ship - it's beyond a mess. We've had tons of layoffs and more are coming," said Shister, who's been at the Inquirer for 29 years.

"I'm flabbergasted frankly that anyone is hiring, given the problems of media in general and newspapers in particular. The fact that anyone is even interviewing is a nice surprise," she said.

And more importantly, many are hiring.

Job openings range from freelance photographers and reporters to entertainment editors and production assistants. But by far, most of the openings were in digital and online media.

The New York Times Co. was at the convention looking to fill 25 jobs in new media, including a Web developer job that opened as recently as Wednesday.

"This is a growing section of the newspaper," said Michelle Agins, who was staffing the table.

"In the past year and a half, there has been a big push for the development of the Web," added Jesus Martinez, who was also staffing the table. "The company is really focusing on digital and nyt.com."

Diane Parker, director of staffing and diversity for The Associated Press, said they were looking to hire in business, entertainment, photography, sports and general assignment news. Some of the positions opened as replacements, but several were new creations, she said.

"I'm not surprised that someone may be flabbergasted that newspapers have openings, but at the AP we have openings," she said. "It's a large organization. We're all over the place. In some area of news, we'll always have some openings."

Parker said the AP has hired from job fairs in the past, although she couldn't specifically remember hiring from an NLGJA conference. As of Friday, Parker had "at least 25" positions she was looking to fill, but "not much traffic."

"I'm waiting to talk to some folks," she said. "I'm like, 'Where is everyone?'"

Metro Weekly was also looking to hire, as were Fox News and NPR. But Reuters was one that was not looking for new employees.

"We really (have) few positions open externally," said Richard Leong, who was in charge of the booth. He said the company came because "it's just important to have a presence."

PR Newswire was another company not at the job fair to hire. Christine Cubé, who was staffing the booth, was there to sign up reporters for their public relations wire service.

David Barre, executive director of NLGJA, said many recruiters come to the convention when they aren't offering jobs to help build their company name or to gain access to reporters. For his part, Ocean decided to try and stop by every booth.

"It sucks to lose your job, but I think that ultimately it's going to be a good step," he said. "I'll just have to find something more stable next time."

Signorile to candidates: Let's talk.

2008-08-22T17:42:00.001-04:00

by Laniaya Hoofatt

Before heading to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Michelangelo Signorile stopped by the NLGJA convention to do a live broadcast of his Sirius Satellite Show. Signorile was joined by Lisa Keen, freelance writer; Kevin Naff, editor of Washington Blade; and Kerry Eleveld, news editor of The Advocate.

The availability of the candidates to LGBT media has been limited and sometimes nonexistent, said the panelists. It is already hard for journalists to gain access to a candidate, but it is even more difficult for a gay-media outlet to get past those sacred gates of their campaign doors.

"I simply want an interview, and I want it in person," said Keen, who has repeatedly tried to get interviews with Barack Obama and has been ignored. "Readers need to find out as much as they can."

The candidates have been hesitant to be too supportive of gay rights and even more hesitant to speak to gay media.

"Candidates don't want to be too supportive of the gays," Keen said.

Signorile and his guests discussed how the gay press has had limited access to Democratic presidential candidates than in past contests. For example, Eleveld had a friend ask Obama at a private event why he didn't do more LGBT media, and Obama responded by saying, "You're right, we need to do more LGBT press."

Aside from an interview with The Advocate, Obama has avoided LGBT press, leaving most gay media out in the dust.

"I don't think either of them want to talk to us," Eleveld said.

The conversation veered into the one opportunity the queer community had to get the questions they wanted answered—last year's Human Rights Campaign forum—and it was done by a panel including Melissa Etheridge, but no journalists from the LGBT press.* The panelists repeatedly returned to that fact.

The panelists want the presidential candidates to understand there is nothing simple about the queer community. Gays are no different than anyone else in this country, they said. They want to be afforded the same rights of their straight counterparts.

Signorile says the real test will come after the election when Obama is inaugurated.

"No candidate really does follow through on their promises. If he [Obama] follows through on one or two promises that would be great, but once they get in office reality sets in and if Obama has the will to do it he will," Signorile said.

*Journalists Jonathan Capehart and Margaret Carlson were in attendance at the event unlike previously noted.

Trans documentary shows daily struggle

2008-08-22T17:32:00.001-04:00

by Laura Simmons

In 2007, Steven Stanton made the decision that would change his life. Steven became Susan.

In doing so, Stanton set off a series of events that would land her in newspapers across the country and make her a poster child for the transgender movement.

As a man, Stanton was a successful city manager in Largo, Fla., for 17 years. But after announcing to the city council that she intended to transition, she is still unemployed.

What happened to Stanton behind the headlines is perhaps best put in her own words. To do that, Stanton will be at the 2008 convention Friday for a partial screening of the CNN documentary with the new working title "Her Name Was Steven."

The documentary, which follows Stanton's transition and subsequent struggle, is scheduled to be finished in the fall. No date has yet been set for broadcast.

Although she's not doing any other interviews until after the documentary has aired, Stanton will answer questions from the audience after the screening. CNN decided to do the documentary because "it's something you wouldn't typically see," said director of CNN public relations, Jennifer Dargan,

"This documentary looks at a person who had — well there's obviously the event that happened in the news and that's a part of it — but this is also a personal journey of a person and what brought this individual to all of the other events that happened," she said.

As a man, Stanton was married, had a young son, Travis, and was making a six-figure salary. Stanton continues to share parenting responsibilities, but the dismissal has left her "pissed off."

In a 2007 interview with Larry King, Stanton said despite everything she stood to lose, she had to come out because "ultimately, you want to be authentic to yourself."

Ina Fried, vice president of print and new media for NLGJA and the chair of Transgender and Allies Task Force, said Stanton's story is unique, but other transgendered people can relate.

"I think what's common for all transgendered people is that the act of coming out at work is stepping into the abyss," she said. "It's pretty interesting in this day and age that we can have a debate over whether you can fire somebody because they're transgender."

And the debate isn't limited to Florida.

This week in Washington, Diane Schroer is in federal court alleging that the Library of Congress rescinded a job offer in 2005 after she revealed she'd be transitioning from male to female. The trial continues this week, and no decision is expected anytime soon.

In a larger sense, the stories of Schroer and Stanton underscore the reality of transgendered rights in the U.S.

Thomas Cashman Avila, deputy executive director of NLGJA, said the organization is working to focus more on transgender issues by featuring speakers such as Stanton.

"I think this is a part of a growing attention towards making sure that we're including trans-issues — that LGBT is not just a convenient acronym — that it's actually reflecting our own diversity," Avila said.

Transgender events at past conventions have included Trans 101 and 102 — workshops to help journalists write accurately about transgender issues, Fried said.

At last year's convention, Christine Daniels, a sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times, spoke about her transition. Daniels was able to keep her job after coming out.

"What happened to Christine Daniels is a good contrast to what happened to Susan Stanton," Avila said.

And increased visibility is essential to transgender people gaining acceptance in the workplace and elsewhere, Fried noted.

"I think we're still at the stage where it's still really important for people to hear and see transgender people," she said. "Most people know people who are gay or lesbian. We're not at a place where most people know somebody who's transgendered."

"Too often transgendered stories are told in ways that aren't thoughtful, aren't accurate, aren't fair. It's great to see NLGJA finding ways to include the issue."

Transgender woman sues Library of Congress for sex discrimination

2008-08-22T16:02:00.001-04:00

by Jean|Gene M. Beebe

In the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., this week, a transgender woman, Diane Schroer, is bringing suit against the Library of Congress. Schroer alleges that the Congressional Research Service, an arm of the Library of Congress, discriminated against her based on her sex. This, she claims, violates her rights under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

Sharon McGowan, an associate lawyer with the ACLU and Schroer's counsel, says Schroer is legally a woman because she identifies herself as such; Schroer's gender identity is that she is female. Schroer, McGowan says, should be recognized as female and have the same protections as any other woman, regardless of the fact that she is transgender.

Yet, admits McGowan: "Diane is suing because she's a transgender woman." There is something unique about being transgender in a world that protects men and women. "When you discriminate against someone because of their gender identity or when you discriminate against somebody because they're changing their sex, that's against the law. That's a very important message to send," McGowan says.

The Congressional Research Service rescinded a job offer after Schroer disclosed that she would be transitioning from David to Diane. Schroer is suing to get the job she was promised as a senior terrorism research analyst.

She applied for the job as David and says she was offered the position. She was introduced to what her boss called her "colleagues." The following day, they met for lunch, and Schroer mentioned that she had a personal issue to discuss: that she was transgender. Says Schroer, shaking her head: "The initial reaction was, ‘Why in the world would you want to do that?'"

The following day, her future boss called and said, "After a long and sleepless night, based on our conversation yesterday, I've decided that you're not a good fit. You're not what we want." Schroer, evidently, was not right for the job.

"I'd been told a lot of things in my life. I'd never been told, ‘You're not what we want. You're not a good fit," Schroer said, sighing. "As you can imagine, it certainly wasn't the high point of my week," she added.

Schroer says she was clearly the best for the position. She says she was extremely well-qualified and anticipated contributing much to the job. As one of the foremost experts on national security, then-Col. Schroer dealt with the office of the secretary of defense, the National Security Council and the White House. He accrued more than 25 years in the U.S. Army as a special forces commander and debriefed Vice President Dick Cheney after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He worked through millions of dollars of educational training and completed 450 parachute jumps.

"So, it surprised me. It very much disappointed me," Schroer says.

Library of Congress officials refused to comment other than offering their legal briefs. They said that transsexuals are not protected under Title VII.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin is fighting for transgender protections to be included in a bill before Congress, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Says Baldwin: "It is high time that America declare discrimination based on gender identity and expression to be unlawful."

If passed, ENDA would protect lesbians and gays, but not transgender people like Diane Schroer. Peter Rosenstein, an LGBT activist and political blogger, thinks that transgender people will eventually be included, but he notes that "when you're talking about civil and human rights you don't get everything you want at the same time."

Meanwhile, Diane waits for a decision from the court and the chance to show her skills for the job, as a career woman, working her own way.

Says Schroer: "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't hope that someone from the Library of Congress would call and say, ‘We've made a huge mistake, and we would very much like for you to start work tomorrow morning.'"

Schroer's trial ends today. It will be months before she hears a decision.

NLGJA members' first impressions of the conference

2008-08-22T15:59:00.000-04:00

NLGJA members trickled in from all around the country...and the world. These are their stories. Video reporting by Matthew Leung.

How did you come out at work?

2008-08-22T10:30:00.001-04:00

Laura Simmons asks NLGJA convention attendees how they came out at work. These are their stories.

Jim Oswald

Karen Bailis

More coming out stories inside

Scott Travis

Michael Triplett

Ann Craig

Steve Honley