Whether it goes by the name of Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, the measure is more than a hot-news item or the butt of “Saturday Night Live” jokes — it is now federal law. And to further explore the complex law, the Philadelphia chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association is holding a public forum “to shed light on stories that are not being told in mainstream media” about the effects of the ACA on the LGBT community Feb. 27.
NLGJA Philadelphia Chapter president Eric Walter described the event as “public-interest journalism.”
“Even if you’re not gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender,” he said, “it’s important to know how health reform is working, or not working, for everyone.”
Before the ACA, many in the LGBT community were disproportionately uninsured, but the new law includes several safeguards to make it easier for LGBT individuals to access appropriate health care.
But there is still a long way to go before true equality is achieved, especially in mainstream reporting about the law.
“The mission of NLGJA is to work with media outlets to ensure fair and accurate representation of LGBT people and topics,” Walter said. “The main idea behind the event is to take a look at media coverage of the Affordable Care Act. Are we seeing any coverage that includes LGBT stories? If it does, is it a fair and accurate representation? So we want to connect journalists with potential sources to help bring those stories to light.”
The panelists include Trudy Lieberman, a health-care-reform reporter for the Columbia Journalism Review; Mazzoni Center medical director Dr. Robert J. Winn; and Trimpa Group director of research Katie Keith.
A representative from the White House’s Office of Public Engagement is also tentatively set to speak.
The moderator for the discussion is WHYY award-winning reporter and radio personality Malken Scott.
WHYY will host the event at its main office at 150 N. Sixth St. from 7-9 p.m. The forum is free and open to the public, but those interested in attending are required to register online. For more information, visit www.nlgja.org/philly.