CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation often shines the spotlight on a media outlet that has been reckless in its handling of LGBT portrayals. By doing so, the organization can help rehabilitate the outlet's message and image. But now GLAAD is in the position of responding to a media spotlight placed on it, and leading the rehabilitation is new acting president Mike Thompson.
"My job is to kind of refocus the conversation," said Thompson. "Because of some things that have happened recently there might be question about the commitment to the mission, but I want to be very clear that the staff's focus has never wavered."
Thompson takes over for Jarrett Barrios, who resigned during a public flap involving the Federal Communications Commission and a handful of decisions that the group is now trying to undo.
Thompson is perhaps best known for turning the tragedy of California's Proposition 8 into a triumph for Utah. In 2008, as executive director for Equality Utah, Thompson saw an opportunity in the Mormon Church's claim to be against only marriage equality, not other rights for gay people. He took the church at its word and worked with state lawmakers on a package of bills awarding rights to gay Utahns. It was called the Common Ground Initiative.
"He embraced the language they were using and took what they initially perceived to be negative and made it benign," said former Utah state representative Christine Johnson, now the executive director of Equality South Carolina. Though the statewide initiative didn't pass, local antidiscrimination laws did, including in Salt Lake City, where the church is headquartered.
Johnson describes her colleague as an "empathic diplomat" who knows how to talk with opponents such as the religious right. An ability to bring people together could come in handy for Thompson at GLAAD.
Barrios resigned in June after pushing to broaden the scope of GLAAD's influence. Barrios had sent a letter to the FCC in which GLAAD registered support for a proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. Barrios claimed it would help gay people by improving access to the Internet.
But in the first weeks after Thompson became acting president, GLAAD revoked its support for the merger, and is now officially neutral. The group clarified its position in favor of net neutrality, which AT&T opposes. Since Thompson's appointment, GLAAD announced eight board members were departing. The most controversial board member, former AT&T executive Troup Coronado, was among them.
Amid the fuss over the initial FCC letter were suggestions that AT&T may have made donations to curry favor with GLAAD. Gay bloggers debated whether Coronado should remain on the board, and the undue attention threatened to eclipse GLAAD's less flashy, everyday work on LGBT representations in the media. The controversy led one former board member, Laurie Perper, to suggest on The Michelangelo Signorile Show that it might be time to dissolve GLAAD.
Not on his watch, Thompson says. Without GLAAD, groups like Equality Utah wouldn't have had the advice needed to pass antidiscrimination ordinances, he argues. And, remember, it was GLAAD that comedian Tracy Morgan turned to for guidance when an onstage rant deeply offended the gay population.
"Nobody holds that space that we do," contends Thompson. "And if GLAAD weren't here, there would be this void or vacuum, and opportunities would be missed."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Supreme Court justices appear skeptical of Trump’s immunity claim
April 25 2024 4:06 PM
After a Pennsylvania school board canceled a gay actor's talk, the community fought back
April 25 2024 3:52 PM
Maine signs trans and abortion sanctuary bill into law, despite violent threats
April 25 2024 11:39 AM
Terrorist threat stops Nashville disc golf tournament with transgender player
April 25 2024 10:40 AM
Harvey Weinstein's sex crime conviction overturned in New York, new trial ordered
April 25 2024 10:27 AM
Alleged Minneapolis mass shooters charged after killing one at LGBTQ+ punk rock show
April 25 2024 10:21 AM