Everyone please give a warm bilerico welcome to Karen Ocamb! She is joining us from Los Angeles where she can give us a new perspective on issues surrounding LGBTQ news and local and national politics.

Karen, news editor for IN Los Angeles magazine, is an award-winning journalist with over 30 years of experience. She started her career at CBS News in New York where she clerked for Dan Rather and Bob Schieffer. She eventually became a producer, leaving CBS News after producing coverage of the 1984 Olympics for CBS affiliates.

As a freelance reporter and independent producer in Los Angeles, Karen has produced, hosted and been a guest on many local public affairs shows. She has contributed to numerous media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, TV Guide Online, The Advocate, and OutQ News on Sirius Satellite Radio. Karen also headed the L.A. Sunshine Coalition that advocated for open government issues and has participated in "sunshine" panels sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists, among other groups. In 2004 Karen was honored by NLGJA/LA and was name Woman of the Year by Christopher Street West, organizers of L.A.'s annual LGBT Pride event.

Look for Karen's first post today or tomorrow!