MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts will host the NLGJA’s 16th annual Headlines and Headliners event in New York tonight. What makes this interesting is that Roberts is the first openly gay TV journalist to host the event which benefits the organization for gay and lesbian journalists.

“I am honored to be this year’s host,” Roberts tells TVNewser. “It is going to be a great night. I really believe in NLGJA and its work and I’m proud to be involved.”

Roberts, who joined MSNBC fulltime late last year, was named anchor of the 11am hour last month.

NLGJA’s annual New York benefit gathers big name TV, radio, print and online journalists –tonight that includes FNC’s Jamie Colby, Rick Reichmuth, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Rick Folbaum; from CBS Erica Hill, Chris Wragge, Marysol Castro and Troy Roberts; from CNN and HLN, Don Lemon and Jane Velez-Mitchell; from ABC News Sam Champion, and JuJu Chang; and Roberts’ MSNBC/NBC colleagues Chris Jansing, Natalie Morales, Contessa Brewer and Carl Quintanilla.

In the past, the New York benefit has been hosted by ABC’s Diane Sawyer, NBC’s Meredith Vieira, and CNN’s Soledad O’Brien. Tickets are still available. Go here for more info.