Controversy Rocks GLAAD

What’s going on at GLAAD this week?

Jarrett Barrios, the organization’s longtime president, resigned after being criticized for supporting a merger between AT&T and T-Mobile after AT&T donated $50,000 to GLAAD. He drafted a letter to the FCC saying that the merger would be in the best interest of the LGBT community.

“None of you have asked me to resign,” he wrote in an email to the board of directors. “I have been pained by the difficulties that have beset GLAAD over the last three weeks.”

And now six board members have resigned today, according to Politico. They include:

– Gary Bitner, head of public relations
– Jocelyn Bramble, an associate with law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf
– Kelly Dermody, a partner with law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf
– Humberto Mata, founder of Fundacion VIHDA
– Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers

The board members issued this statement: “We believe that GLAAD plays a vital role in our community and wish it only the best. We also thank GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios for his service and his 20-plus years he has committed to social justice and the LGBT community.”

GLAAD’s acting president Mike Thompson says that the organization is currently searching for a new president. There’s no word on whether more board members will be invited to join the organization. There are currently 23 remaining board members.