Leadership Elections

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Chapter Leadership 

The 2023 nomination period for chapter leadership positions is now closed. Please check back in Winter 2024 for the next round of nominations.

Nomination Process:

Nominees for NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists chapter leadership positions – both new candidates and those planning to run for re-election – shall be required to submit an application detailing, among other things, their journalism and media experience, current employment status and a statement explaining why they are seeking office. The NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists elections chair and national staff shall use the information to confirm the nominee’s membership status and eligibility for office. Upon request, non-confidential information in the application shall be made available to the voting membership. Download the nomination form here.

In the event of a contested election, online voting for Chapter Leadership will be made available to members in good standing. According to NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists bylaws, board elections are advisory but, to date, the board has never failed to follow the election results.

Nominees must be current members in good standing for at least one year by the time of the election deadline. Candidates may only submit nominations in the chapter with which they are affiliated (as reflected on their online member profile) at the time the call for nominations closes.

Please Note – All Chapter Leaders are required to:

  • Attend and participate in chapter board meetings
  • Obligated to organize one local chapter event within the calendar year
  • Maintain current membership in the organization
  • Chapter leaders are expected to participate in chapter leadership calls organized by the national office
  • Carry out strategic goals expectations related to chapters
  • Chapter presidents are encouraged to attend at least one national board meeting annually
  • Chapter leaders are encouraged to attend the Chapter Leadership Meeting held during with the National Convention
  • Chapter leaders need to be available to national office staff

Guidelines for those running for chapter leadership:

  • Provide a comprehensive 200-word biography and platform to be included in your nomination form. This may be distributed to the local members by NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists in the event of a contested election.
  • Any campaigning and electioneering online, including social media and email communications, must come from a personal account. Candidates may not use any NLGJA-sanctioned national or chapter accounts, email addresses, logos or other branding to promote their candidacy.
  • NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists will distribute a listing of candidates and platforms/bios to current chapter members. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists will not provide membership lists to any candidate for campaign purposes.
  • Candidates may reach out to members directly through other means at their discretion, but should act responsibly and be respectful of voting members.
  • While campaigning, candidates should urge all members in good standing to vote, and encourage lapsed members to renew their membership and vote.

**Uncontested chapter presidencies
In the event that a chapter presidency is uncontested, the existing president is assumed to keep their position. If that chapter president needs to step down, they can appoint the chapter vice president to serve in their place, to be ratified by national board vote. In the absence of a vice president, the president may appoint someone else from the chapter, to be ratified by national board vote.

**Chapter co-presidents
Nominees for the chapter presidency may jointly request serving as co-presidents for the chapter, provided that the mandatory offices of vice president and treasurer are also filled. In the event that the offices of vice president or treasurer are vacant, one of the nominees may adjust their nomination to assume that vacancy or the national board will elect a single chapter president from the nominees, leaving the other to decide to serve in one of the vacant positions or another capacity.

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists is a national organization with over 20 local, regional and scholastic chapters throughout the United States. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists relies on the hard work of dedicated volunteers who fill leadership positions at both the national and chapter level in order to advance and promote our mission of ensuring fair and accurate coverage of LGBTQ+ issues and people in media.

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Board & Executive Committee

The application period for Board and Executive Committee leadership positions is now closed. Please check back in Summer 2024 for applications.