Excellence in Written Opinion/Editorial

Lokeman is a member of the Kansas City Star’s editorial board. Her entries included columns on Matthew Shepard, the gay pride parade and Jerry Falwell’s meeting with gay Christians. One judge called her “the Frank Rich of Kansas City” for her breezy writing and deft logic.

Second place went to Jack Cheevers, writer for New Times LA, for a set of columns that included commentary on the Knight Initiative and scandals in the LAPD.

Third place went to Michael Alvear, for his work on “Slouching Through Sodom,” a column for the Southern Voice, a gay paper in Atlanta. His two-part piece was called “Standing Up to Hate Means Coming Out Again” and “A Lesson in Self-Defense Against Prejudice.”