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GLAAD Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Opinion by GLAAD
(3 Hours Ago) in Society / Gay Issues
LOS ANGELES — The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today marked 25 years of service to LGBT Americans.
To honor GLAAD’s 25th anniversary, Chaz Bono, Wilson Cruz, Amber Heard, Michael Kearns, Kathy Najimy, Holly Robinson Peete, Doris Roberts, Jean Smart, Bruce Vilanch, Steven Weber and more will join GLAAD’s founding members Jehan Agrama, David Bohnett, Dean Hansell and Michael Keegan in Los Angeles on December 3, 2010, for ‘GLAAD at 25,’ an event to recognize and celebrate the people and events that launched GLAAD’s work to amplify the voice of the LGBT community.
Jonathan Murray of Bunim/Murray Productions will receive the GLAAD Pioneer Award for his groundbreaking work to bring stories of LGBT people to Americans as Executive Producer on shows including The Real World, Road Rules and Project Runway. Richard Jennings, former President & Executive Director of GLAAD, will also receive the GLAAD Founders’ Award.
GLAAD will also celebrate this milestone with a series of blog posts at GLAADBlog.org that recognize 25 years of GLAAD’s culture changing work through the voices of former and current GLAAD staff members and volunteers.
“Since 1985, GLAAD has amplified stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people that build acceptance and advance equality through news, entertainment and today, on Facebook and social media outlets,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “Continuing to share these stories is moving the public to support our full legal equality and will lead to a nation where we are all accepted, respected and valued.”
GLAAD began in 1985 in New York City as a response to the New York Post ‘s sensational and dangerous coverage of the HIV/AIDS crisis. GLAAD’s media advocacy efforts quickly spread to Los Angeles, where GLAAD worked with film studios and television networks to stand up against stereotypical and defamatory images and increase LGBT-inclusive programming. GLAAD continues to serve as the leader in working with and through the media to achieve full equality for LGBT people.
Over the course of the coming year, GLAAD is also excited to announce additional events nationwide as well as a national campaign to amplify the voice of the LGBT community in celebration of GLAAD’s 25th anniversary.
For more information about GLAAD’s 25th Anniversary, visit www.glaad.org/25
