ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE: G.L.A.A.D. to be MAD Special Correspondent: C. Dubb

Brandon White at press conference in
Atlanta talking about being the
victim of a bias-motivated attack

This is not about Roland Martin, this is about America an America that has become so damn sensitive that we can not event blow our noses in public without being written up and put on blast. An America, that not too long ago stood around and watched lynchings and women, men and children being burned at the cross in their front yards. Where were organization like G.L.A.A.D, the Catholic Church and N.O.W (National Organization of Women) and others when Negros where facing the roughest times ever in self-righteous America's past?


Don't get me twisted; I have no problems with anyone's lifestyle choice. If you don't believe me, ask one of the coolest and smoothest gay men I know, Art "Chat Daddy" Sims. We kiss and hug like brothers, hell some people even thought we were lovers - that's another story. I know other gay and lesbian men and women and they are alright with me. Just don't bring me the leftovers people (wink).

Today we have this very powerful organization that has decided it is their job to take anyone to task that undermine their perceived struggle for freedom and equality. In doing so they've become sort of like the police of foul mouth behavior. I thought moms and dads dished out punishment for adolescent misdeeds. Let’s take a brief look at what makes G.L.A.A.D. so mad.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a non-governmental media monitoring organization which promotes the image of LGBT people in the media, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively.

Formed in New York City in 1985 to protest what it saw as the New York Post's defamatory and sensationalized AIDS coverage, G.L.A.A.D. put pressure on media organizations to end what it saw as homophobic reporting. Initial meetings were held in the homes of several activists as well as after-hours at the New York State Council on the Arts. The founding group included film scholar Vito Russo; Gregory Kolovakos, then on the staff of the NYS Arts Council and who later became the first Executive Director; Darryl Yates Rist; Allen Barnett; and Jewelle Gomez.

In 1987, after a meeting with G.L.A.A.D. The New York Times_ changed its editorial policy to use the word "gay" instead of harsher terms referring to homosexuality. G.L.A.A.D.'s influence soon spread to Los Angeles, where organizers began working with the entertainment industry to change the way LGBT people were portrayed on screen.

Entertainment Weekly named G.L.A.A.D. one of Hollywood's most powerful entities, and The Los Angeles Times described G.L.A.A.D. as "possibly one of the most successful organizations lobbying the media for inclusion."

Presently in the middle of the Martin debacle, G.L.A.A.D. have actively pressured the Atlanta police department to apprehend the individuals who assaulted a young gay man who video taped beating has gone viral on the web, leading to the arrest or identification of the perpetrators.