The Los Angeles Chapter of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, an organization that advocates for fair and accurate coverage of the LGBTQ+ community in the Southland while striving to foster community among LA’s queer and trans journalists, news media professionals and creatives, has announced the nominees for three inaugural journalism awards for Southern California journalists and newsrooms who championed LGBTQ+ stories in 2024. The awards will be presented at the 2025 Press Pride Prom, a benefit and awards ceremony presented by ABC7 and hosted by award-winning journalist Tracy Gilchrist.

NLGJA Los Angeles’ Awards Committee has selected three nominees for three new awards. The Troy Masters Legacy Award for Visionaries in Media, presented in collaboration with the Los Angeles Blade, 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. The award is named in honor of Troy Masters, veteran queer journalist and former publisher of the Los Angeles Blade, who passed away last year. The nominees include Mariah Castañeda, co-founder of LA Public Press; veteran journalist LZ Granderson, who currently serves as an OpEd columnist for the Los Angeles Times and an ABC News contributor; and John Griffiths, founder of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and Dorian Awards.

“We are honored to present an award this year in honor of beloved Los Angeles publisher and journalist Troy Masters,” said NLGJA LA co-president Hansen Bursic, “These nominees embody Masters’ dedication to LGBTQ+ journalism and his passion for community building in Southern California and beyond.”

The Excellence in LGBTQ+ Reporting Newsroom 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. The nominees include LAist, Los Angeles Blade, and Variety.

The Queer Beat Award for Excellence in LGBTQ+ Reporting honors a single story or series that demonstrates care, skill and a commitment to fair and accurate reporting of LGBTQ+ themes, issues and people. The nominees include A Night They Can’t Remember, at One of the Country’s Most Popular LGBTQ+ Bars by Kate Sosin and Steven Blum for The 19th; Banned Rainbows and ‘Forced Outing.’ Will Elections Reshape This Relentless School Board? by Jaweed Kaleem for the Los Angeles Times; and She Was Supposed to Be at Pulse Nightclub — And Club Q. Now She’s Fighting To Keep LGBTQ+ People Safe by Lil Kalish for HuffPost.

“These nominees represent the diverse and passionate spirit of Southern California’s LGBTQ+ journalism community,” added NLGJA LA co-president Katie Karl. “At a time when queer and trans stories and journalists are under attack, we are proud to uplift a few of the incredibly talented journalists who are speaking truth to power and helping tell our community’s stories.”

The award winners will be announced at Press Pride Prom, a benefit for the NLGJA LA Chapter and awards ceremony held on July 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Glendale at the historic Grand Central Air Terminal. The event, which offers LGBTQ+ and other attendees the opportunity to relive their high school prom as their authentic selves, will feature food, drinks and a live DJ. The event will be hosted by veteran LA-based journalist Tracy Gilchrist, recently made internet famous with her “Wicked” “holding space” interview with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The event is presented by ABC7.

Early bird tickets are on sale now until June 20. Tables and regular tickets will also be available to purchase through July 18. You can learn more and get tickets here.