The organization will honor them along with other Southern California LGBTQ+ journalists and local outlets at Press Pride Prom on May 9, 2026.
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The Los Angeles chapter of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists is set to celebrate Southern California journalists and newsrooms at its second annual Press Pride Prom journalism awards gala on May 9, 2026, at the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
The ceremony will honor Greg Gordon and Lucia Chappelle of This Way Out Radio with the Troy Masters Legacy Award for Visionaries in Media. Presented in collaboration with the Los Angeles Blade, the award honors a journalist or news media professional whose work reflects a dedication to the craft of journalism. The award is named in honor of Troy Masters, veteran queer journalist and former publisher of the Los Angeles Blade. Chappelle will accept the award in person at the ceremony, as Gordon passed away earlier this year.
“For nearly 40 years, This Way Out Radio, which was founded here in Southern California, has diligently captured the stories of LGBTQ+ people from around the world,” said Hansen Bursic, President of the Los Angeles chapter of NLGJA, “Gordon and Chappelle’s work is the true embodyment of this award, and we are thrilled to honor them and their history-making outlet.”
This award is one of four being presented during the event. These awards honor Southern California-based journalists and newsrooms who did exceptional LGBTQ+ coverage in 2025. You can read about each award and the nominees below.
Press Pride Prom is a benefit for NLGJA LA’s LGBTQ+ youth journalism scholarship and is set to take place at the Los Angeles LGBT Center from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, in Hollywood. The event offers LGBTQ+ and other attendees the opportunity to relive their high school prom as their authentic selves.
The event’s principal sponsors include Award Sponsor ABC7, Step & Repeat Sponsors APLA Health and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and Supporting Sponsor First Entertainment Credit Union. The event will be hosted by viral drag queen Ericka Qwerk, AKA Lauren Banall, and will feature food, drinks, live music, and more.
Early bird tickets are on sale now until Sunday, April 19. Tables and regular tickets will also be available to purchase through May 4, 2026, space permitting. You can learn more and get tickets here.
You can read the complete list of nominees below. Download nominee headshots and bios here.
Troy Masters Legacy Award for Visionaries in Media
Presented in collaboration with the Los Angeles Blade
This award honors a journalist or news media professional whose work reflects a dedication to the craft of journalism and a commitment to setting the stage for the next generation of LGBTQ+ industry leaders.
Honorees: Greg Gordon and Lucia Chappelle, This Way Out Radio
Excellence in LGBTQ+ Reporting Newsroom Award
This award honors a news outlet whose coverage of the queer and trans community is well-informed, complex, varied and intersectional, with a track record of promoting The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists’ mission to advance fair and accurate coverage of LGBTQ+ communities and issues.
NOMINEES:
- LA Public Press
- Q Voice News
- ABC7
Queer Beat Award for Excellence in LGBTQ+ Reporting
This award honors a single story or series that demonstrates care, skill and a commitment to fair and accurate reporting of LGBTQ+ themes, issues and people.
NOMINEES:
- After Narrowly Surviving the LA Wildfires, This Recovery Center Has Become a Trans Refuge by Jireh Deng for In These Times
- How Jewel Thais-Williams’ Vision Guides LA’s New Black LGBTQ+ Generation by Leo Aquino for LA Public Press
- Grace Under Fire: Transgender Student Athlete AB Hernandez’s Winning Weekend by Cerise Castle for Capital and Main
Critiquing with Pride Award for Excellence in Arts & Entertainment Reporting
Presented in collaboration with GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics
This award honors a Southern California-based arts & entertainment journalist whose body of work has helped foster important dialogue on LGBTQ+ representation in media and applies a nuanced, queer lens to film and television criticism.
NOMINEES:
- Sa’iyda Shabazz
- Megan Vick
- Dana Han-Klein
For interviews with NLGJA LA organizers or any of the nominees, please contact LA@nlgja.org.
ABOUT NLGJA: THE ASSOCIATION OF LGBTQ+ JOURNALISTS
Founded in 1990, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBTQ+ issues. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.
The Los Angeles chapter of NLGJA advocates for and bolsters the voices of the LGBTQ+ community in the Southland while striving to foster community among LA’s queer and trans journalists, news media professionals, and creatives.