Laura Kiritsy 

Journalistic Voice of the LGBT Community.

By Dani Tifft

It may be hard for some people to think of their jobs as reflections of what they consider important in their lives; for Laura Kiritsy, it’s hard to look at the two as anything but inseparable. As the Associate Editor of BayWindows, New England’s largest LBGT newspaper, Worcester born and bred Kiritsy searches out, compiles, and shares with all of New England information about that community’s political concerns, personal triumphs, and everyday lives. Through involvement in the publication and the LBGT community itself, she has become a trusted journalist and valued spokesperson.

Kiritsy wasn’t always so well informed, though. “I wasn’t as politically aware before I took this job. I wasn’t aware of the good and the awful things that we are confronted with.”  After graduating from Holy Name High School in Worcester and then from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT, she became a case worker for the Department of Youth Services, helping juveniles in the court system. Then, as her desire to be more proactive in gay and lesbian issues grew, along came the opportunity to join BayWindows. The magazine was the perfect outlet for her to “…put the news out there, put the issues out there,” an opportunity that she didn’t, and never will, take for granted.

Just after the recent attack in a gay bar in New Bedford, she had the opportunity to talk with people about the incident at a candlelight vigil.  While she found the events heartbreaking, she also found a certain amount of comfort in knowing that she was pitching in by spreading word. “I get to go down there and be a part of that, I get to see the story first hand and I am able to take part to a degree,” says Kiritsy.

The recent steps toward gay marriage rights have made headlines in the local and national news, and Kiritsy was eager both professionally and personally to cover each and every bit of progress made on the issue. “There is a lot of personal involvement,” says Kiritsy. “My reporting on an event like that that has had a big impact on my life personally.” She knows that the legislation and political climate she reports on and gets to bring to BW’s audience will effect decisions she can make within her own home.

So while BayWindows does not claim to be an activist magazine, Kiristy is proud to say that “We do certainly have a point of view.” And although she may not use the word “activist” when describing herself, Kiristy does service to us all by printing the truth in order to instigate needed change and raise awareness ~ and in our book, that is indeed action enough.

BayWindows can also be found on-line at www.baywindows.com.