NLGJA Los Angeles
We are committed to fostering a vibrant community of journalists and other news media professionals from all over Southern California. We strive to be a hub for queer journalists, providing opportunities for us to meet and network, as well as learn, grow and develop media skills.
National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association
NLGJA is committed to fostering fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. We are a national organization of journalists, media professionals, educators, and students working toward the professional development of our members. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NLGJA was founded in 1990 and is led by a board of directors and chapter leaders across the country. Read more about the national organization.
Meet Our Board
Richard Martinez
Richard is the editor-in-chief of Los Angeleno, an arts and culture publication that celebrates the various idiosyncrasies that define Los Angeles. Aside from advocating for the death of the Oxford comma, Richard spends most of their time staring lovingly at the 50 or so plants currently threatening to take over the house. They also do a bit of photography and print design when the stars align.
Lauren Arevalo-Downes
Lauren is a fourth-generation L.A. native, having lived in many different parts of the city throughout her life. A working journalist for over 13 years, she co-founded Los Angeleno to give back to the city that reared her.
Zamná Ávila
Before working as an English Language Development teacher at John C. Fremont High School, Zamná Ávila worked in the journalism industry for 16 years as a reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal in Nevada, an editor at the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, and an assistant editor at Random Lengths News in San Pedro.
During his tenure at Random Lengths News, he proved his initiative and management skills by supervising many aspects of the writing and editing process. He also pushed for higher writing standards by creating style guides. The internship program he established incorporates hands-on mentorship, optional supplemental materials and practical experiences. He now has taken a step back as a consultant for the newspaper while working on pedagogy growth.
Hansen Bursic
An Appalachian-born, LA-transplant, Hansen is a working journalist and documentarian focused on not only elevating LGBTQ+ narratives but bringing radical equity to the journalistic and filmmaking process. He currently sits on the editorial board of the CinéSPEAK publication and serves as the Marketing Manager for Outfest.
Angelina Hicks
Angelina is a student at Chapman University in Orange, CA. She is majoring in Strategic & Corporate Communication and is minoring in Journalism and the Honors Program. She is also the Managing Editor for The Panther, Chapman’s student newspaper, and a student reporter for Voice of OC, a nonprofit newsroom in Orange County. In her free time, Angelina enjoys reading, journaling and scrapbooking. She is expecting to graduate from Chapman in 2023.