The Bay Area Reporter will be the recipient of this year's Legacy Award from NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists when it meets in Chicago later this month for its convention.
According to the journalists' group, the award was created to recognize an outlet, publication, or news organization that has exhibited innovative, high-quality, and sustained news coverage of the LGBTQ community over an extended period of time. The B.A.R., the country's oldest continuously published LGBTQ newspaper, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021.
"The outlets, publications, or news organizations that are recognized by the award have exemplified NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists' mission to promote and foster fair and accurate LGBTQ news coverage," the organization stated in an email announcement. "The Legacy Award is the association's only award that is presented to an outlet, publication, or news organization to recognize the work of its entire staff, rather than an individual."
The B.A.R. is independent and has been owned since 2017 by Michael Yamashita, who became publisher in 2013. He is the first gay Asian American publisher and owner of an LGBTQ newspaper. Yamashita has long ties to the B.A.R. as he was hired as its general manager in 1989.
"I'm grateful for NLGJA's recognition of the B.A.R.'s advocacy journalism covering five decades," Yamashita stated in an email. "It means even more that fellow journalists bestowed this distinction. LGBTQ media is as important as ever for our community, now that we must contend with misinformation and an emboldened backlash on LGBTQ rights and people."
NLGJA will hold its convention September 8-11 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago and will also offer a virtual program for those not attending the in-person event.
Several journalists will be recognized at the conference.
Chuck Culpepper will receive the Lisa Ben Award for Achievement in Features Coverage. Culpepper is a reporter at the Washington Post covering national college sports, golf, international sports, and tennis. The award is named for the pseudonym Edythe Eyde used for her pioneering publication, Vice Versa.
New York Times journalist Jane Coaston is the recipient of the 2022 Jeanne Córdova Award. Coaston is host of the Times' podcast "The Argument." Córdova was a journalist and the editor and publisher of Lesbian Tide, which chronicled the 1970s lesbian feminist movement.
Errin Haines, editor at large and co-founding member of the 19th, a nonprofit independent news site focused on the intersection of gender, politics, and policy, will receive NLGJA's Leadership Award.
Award-winning journalist Tamron Hall will receive the Randy Shilts Award for LGBTQ Coverage. Hall hosts the nationally syndicated "Tamron Hall" show. The Shilts award honors journalists who consistently bring stories about LGBTQ issues to life in mainstream media outlets.
For more information about NLGJA, visit its website.
DPH's Goodwin receives Hero Award
The San Francisco HIV/AIDS Provider Network recently presented Dean Goodwin, manager of community-based organization contracting at the Department of Public Health, with its Hero Award.
Goodwin, a gay man, is also the former acting assistant director of HIV health services at DPH's AIDS Office. He received the award due to his tenure and commitment to the AIDS Office, a news release stated.
"It is rare to have a public servant in such a key role, for as long as Dean has been with DPH's AIDS Office," stated Bill Hirsh, a gay man who's executive director of the AIDS Legal Referral Panel and co-chair of HAPN. "Dean has always been committed to serving the community and his service has truly been extraordinary. We're so appreciative of Dean. He is a hero and deserving of this award."
HAPN is a coalition of community-based nonprofit agencies that serve people living with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco. It works to prioritize severe needs and special population clients and works to improve coordination among agencies.
The award was presented August 5 at Project Open Hand.
Goodwin said he was proud of the recognition.
"This award from HAPN truly meant so much to me," Goodwin wrote in a Facebook message. "After spending over 20 years working in DPH HIV Health Services alongside the providers, staff, and persons living with HIV who are involved at every level of the San Francisco HIV system of care, they have all been heroes of mine and of our community. They have developed a model built-of innovation, compassion and inclusion.
"I was moved by the award and the tributes provided that day and they continue to inspire me," he added.
Previous HAPN Hero awardees include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and former city health director Barbara Garcia.
Citi announces new policy for trans customers
Citi has announced that eligible debit customers now have the ability to use their preferred name on their debit cards without requiring a legal name change. The shift came about in part due to findings of the National Center for Transgender Equality's 2022 U.S. Trans Survey, which stated that nearly 70% of transgender respondents reported that none of their IDs had their chosen name.
According to a news release, customers who choose to update their debit cards can do so by calling the number on the back of their Citi debit card or visiting their local Citi branch.
This is the latest expansion to Citi's chosen name, a feature in support of Mastercard's True Name Initiative, after it launched in October 2020, allowing customers to update their U.S. branded credit cards to reflect their self-identified chosen first name, the release stated. Since launching, more than 31,000 U.S. cardmembers have updated their chosen first name.
"We are thrilled to launch the expansion of our popular chosen name feature to debit cards," stated Craig Vallorano, head of U.S. retail banking at Citi. "This is one more way for us to help our customers to be their most authentic selves when banking with Citi. We're excited to take another big step forward with our commitment to keeping our bank and our branches a safe and inclusive environment for our colleagues and customers alike."
Customers can learn more by clicking here.
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