[2] The association was founded by Roy Aarons in 1990, along with other journalists, Elaine Herscher, Shannon Hickey, David Tuller, Victor Zonana, and Kathleen Buckley, who made up its first board.

[3][4] Jen Christensen took over as NLGJA national president following the death of Michael Triplett, who died January 18, 2013,[5] less than six-month after his election.

[6] In connection with Witeck-Combs Communications, the NLGJA launched OutNewsWire in 2008 to simplify the distribution of news articles relating to the LGBTQ community.

[7] As early as 1996, the NLGJA, along with Hollywood Supports, developed "sexual orientation in the workplace" seminars that were conducted in Knight Ridder newspapers across on the nation.

The seminars were designed to place emphasis on acceptance in the workplace, through discussions of stereotypes and business and legal issues involved with the LGBTQ community.