Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

Mission:

To promote fair, inclusive, and realistic portrayals of lesbians and gay men in the media, and to discourage networks and advertisers from propagating homophobia.

 

Founded:

In 1985, in response to the New York Post's sensationalistic and viciously anti-gay coverage of the emerging HIV-AIDS epidemic.

 

Organizational Structure:

Unlike chapter-driven organizations, GLAAD relies on individual volunteers who function as observers by reporting homophobic media coverage to GLAAD. GLAAD also sponsors an annual awards show, the GLAAD Awards, which is broadcast on VH1 and Logo.

Supporters Say:

GLAAD's list of accomplishments are considerable: Persuading the New York Times to use "gay" instead of "homosexual"; establishing a movement to persuade more than 500 U.S. newspapers to cover same-sex union announcements alongside wedding announcements; and countless smaller victories, chronicled in the organization's annual reports.

Critics Say:

Although GLAAD has never called for any legislation to restrict anti-gay content, some view national media response organizations such as GLAAD as a threat to free speech.

I Say:

Corporations have the right to decide which products they want to sell. When corporations make a business decision to sell anti-gay products, such as certain anti-gay radio programs, it is because they expect to make a profit off of them. By exercising its free speech rights, GLAAD can reduce or eliminate that profit to the point where airing anti-gay content can be more trouble than it's worth--and as long as the government stays out of the picture, none of this poses any threat to the First Amendment.