No one likes writing stories like this.

When the news broke that former Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce leader Jason Núñez had been arrested, many people were shocked. Others were heartbroken. 

Núñez has been part of South Florida's LGBTQ community for years. He's volunteered, led organizations, built relationships and earned the respect of a lot of people.

This story wasn't easy to report because Núñez wasn't a stranger to us. He was part of this community. We knew him. Many of you know him far better than we do. That's exactly why this has been so difficult for so many people. The sadness, disbelief and even anger we've heard from readers isn't something we dismiss. We understand it.

OutSFL worked closely with Núñez throughout his time at the chamber. We covered many of the organization's events and initiatives, and our paths crossed often.

We've heard from readers who questioned our decision to cover the arrest. Some believe we shouldn't report negative stories about our own community. Others felt we moved too quickly.

Frankly, I would be surprised if there weren't strong emotions.

Nobody wants to see someone they know, admire or care about accused of a crime. It's uncomfortable. It's painful. It also creates an impossible situation for community journalism.

I take this feedback seriously because we are not above criticism.  

OutSFL exists to tell the stories that matter to South Florida's LGBTQ community. Most of those stories are celebrations. We cover Pride festivals, fundraisers, drag shows, nonprofit work, political victories, weddings, milestones and the people who make our community stronger. 

That's who we are.

But our job is not to publish only the news that makes us feel good.

Our job is to publish the news.

When a prominent leader of a major LGBTQ organization is arrested on felony charges connected to his leadership role, that's news. It doesn't stop being news because it makes us uncomfortable. It doesn't stop being news because we know the people involved. And it doesn't stop being news because we wish it hadn't happened.

Just as important is how we report it.

We did not declare Núñez guilty. We reported that he had been arrested and that investigators made specific allegations contained in a public arrest affidavit. We sought comment from his attorney and from the chamber. An arrest is not a conviction, and we will follow this case wherever the facts lead. If future developments warrant additional coverage, whether that means dismissal, acquittal or conviction, we'll report those too. 

That's what fairness looks like.

Some have asked whether we could have waited.

Reasonable people can disagree on timing. As editors, those are conversations we have every day. But once an arrest involving a high-profile community leader becomes public record, withholding it serves no one. It creates the appearance that we're willing to protect some people from scrutiny simply because they're well known or well liked.

That's not journalism. That's public relations.

One person's alleged actions do not define our community. They never have. They never will. The LGBTQ community is made up of hundreds of thousands of people across South Florida who work hard every day to make this region better.

It's also possible to hold two thoughts at the same time.

You can appreciate the good someone has done and still believe serious allegations deserve to be reported. You can hope due process works exactly as it should and still believe the public has a right to know. You can feel sadness for everyone involved without pretending the story doesn't exist.

Those ideas aren't in conflict.

We understand why this story has been emotional. It has been for us too. Community journalism means covering people we know. Sometimes they're celebrating remarkable achievements. Sometimes they're experiencing unimaginable loss. Sometimes they're facing allegations that become matters of public record.

This isn't a standard we apply only to others. Earlier this year, we reported on the arrest of a former editor and freelance contributor to OutSFL. It was one of the hardest stories we've ever published, but our responsibility to our readers did not change simply because the news hit close to home.

We don't get to choose which stories happen.

We only get to choose whether we report them honestly, fairly and without fear or favor.

That's the standard our readers should expect from us every time.