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

The post Bruce Vilanch To Help GLAAD Celebrate 25th Anniversary! first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Bimma Loft is an immense modern furniture showplace and art gallery near the CalTrans Depot. It was the site of a Gay and Lesbians Against Defamation (GLAAD) Dinner Kickoff Party on April 21. Once they were past the check-in, guests saw the perfect party seating for their living spaces – a discounted large white fabric-covered couch. It had seating for four, and maybe three Bears, though it is forbidden for parties where red wine is being imbibed. The other remarkable items besides the eye-catching artwork on display were the Modafire cabinets, which produced a tremendous amount of warmth. It was announced that purchasers of Modafire portable fireplace units would be given a complimentary GLAAD Media Awards tickets, and people who signed up to be table hosts by April 21, for the June 5 Awards event, would be entered into a raffle for a four-day Puerto Vallarta condo stay.

Hundreds of people, including numerous non-LGBT couples, enjoyed the hors dâ€oeuvres, wine, complimentary cocktails, and the opportunity to mingle and exchange cards and glances. GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios ascended the 30-foot high DJ booth to speak about the organizationâ€s past accomplishments and future goals. He carefully described GLAADâ€s media advocacy, its work in fighting defamation, a how it has changed attitudes.

He then introduced EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors, and he spoke passionately about how GLAAD works with EQCA on equality legislation. SF GLAADâ€s Juan Barajas spoke afterwards, promoting attendance at the June 10 awards, and he enthusiastically encouraged inviting friends to one of the best parties of the year. Jovial and witty Bruce Vilanch is the event host, and actress Cybill Shepard and Levi Strauss President Robert Hanson are the honorees. Hanson is known to tell audiences at large events that their butts look best in Leviâ€s jeans.

City Treasurer Jose Cisneros joined Levi Strauss Foundationâ€s Miguel Bustos and Alfredo Pedroza as they greeted friends, and other gay Latinos from Aguilas were having cocktails and chatting. GLAAD National Board of Directors member John Marez spoke with this yearâ€s awards co-chairs Julie Candice and Richard Klein, they commented to Bimma Loft owner Nancy Arrowsmith about the beauty of her furniture gallery and thanked her for her generosity. Maria Cetto, who is performing with her band Azucar Con Ache at the May 1 NCLR Dinner, settled onto a leather couch with her wife Ann Lazo as they watched the parade of guests. Tingle Tangle Clubâ€s Earl Dax and Wulf Pak slid past Zero Divideâ€s Timothy Wu, pr consultant Mark Rhoades and realtor Joel Goodrich, and there were waves of more and more guests arriving well past the kickoff party closing time. This is a good sign for the upcoming GLAAD Media Awards, and this year may surpass 2009 in attendance.

The post The San Fran GLAAD Dinner Kickoff Party first appeared on We Got Bruce!.