Celebrating Black History Month with LGBT Journalist Greats

Throughout the month NLGJA has celebrated black members of the LGBT community and their contributions, continuing with Thomas Morgan III.

Morgan attended the University of Missouri on an ROTC scholarship, where he received an undergraduate degree in journalism. Until 1975, he served as an Air Force information officer and worked as a social aide in the Nixon and Ford White Houses.

Morgan demonstrated his aptitude for journalism as a reporter and editor for The Washington Post and later The New York Times. He also was the 8th president, elected in 1989, of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). When running for NABJ presidency, Morgan also applied for the Nieman Fellowship. Honored with both opportunities he pursed them both concurrently.

"During his NABJ presidency, Tom Morgan made training for professional journalists one of his top priorities. He established our Ethel Payne Fellowship, which provides NABJ members with an opportunity to travel to Africa to pursue an untold story in the Diaspora," said NABJ President Sarah Glover. "I was an Ethel Payne fellow. The program greatly enriched my journalistic experience and I'm working to reestablish this very important program."

Morgan publicly wrote and spoke on national television his experiences managing the disease in hopes of emphasizing the need for more effective HIV prevention and more AIDS funding. In 1995, he retired to focus on his battle personal battle against AIDS.  During this time, he continued to volunteer and advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness. As well as served on the board of several organizations such as the Gay Men's health Crisis in Manhattan.

"President Morgan left behind a memorable legacy and helped grow our membership's reach. He remained active after his board service and was instrumental in forming the NABJ LGBT Task Force," continued Glover. "We will never forget his long-lasting contributions to our esteemed association. Fittingly, he was a recipient of the organization's 1995 Lifetime Achievement Award, one of NABJ's highest honors."

As well in 2005 Morgan was inducted into the LGBT Journalist Hall of Fame for his continual efforts to make strides within the journalism industry. The Times has honored Morgan by naming the Thomas Morgan Internships in Graphics, Design and Photography program to honor talented college juniors and seniors.

The Gayly- 2/19/2016 @ 9:27 AM CST