The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced today that President Neil Giuliano is resigning to pursue personal interests. Giuliano, the former mayor of Tempe, Ariz., has been president of GLAAD since 2005. Read the full press release after the jump.
GLAAD ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT NEIL G. GIULIANO
Los Angeles, Wednesday, January 28, 2009 – Neil Giuliano, the president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), today announced his resignation to pursue personal interests while completing his forthcoming book about his public and political life. Giuliano has served as president since September 1, 2005 and will continue as president until a date to be announced later this year. Prior to GLAAD, he served for ten years as the mayor of Tempe, Arizona and had retired from a 25-year career as a university administrator and faculty associate at Arizona State University.
“I have informed the national board of directors of my decision to step down as president later this year and look forward to a successful and smooth transition of leadership for GLAAD,” said Giuliano. “It’s been an honor and privilege to work professionally in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality for the last three and a half years. The views of the American people on LGBT issues are clearly moving in the right direction, toward supporting full equality, and it has been a great experience to serve on the front lines, leading an amazing organization at such a historical time in the movement.”
Under Giuliano’s leadership, GLAAD’s budget has grown from $7.5M to $11M, with expanded individual, corporate and foundation support for its media advocacy and anti-defamation work on behalf of the LGBT community. Giuliano expanded GLAAD’s influence as a national voice against the defamation gay people often face and began media programs reaching out to young adults, communities of religion and faith, and the vast sports media world while increasing GLAAD’s outreach and media relations support to local, regional, statewide and other LGBT advocacy organizations. GLAAD also acquired Queer Lounge at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and will launch an advertising media program later in 2009 with the assets of the former Commercial Closet Association. Giuliano’s tenure is also marked by his focus on creating capacity and long-term sustainability for GLAAD. Under his direction, GLAAD successfully completed the their 2003 strategic plan and in Fall 2008 announced a new five year plan to build on awareness, support, volunteers, programs and results for the maturing organization as a way to meet the growing expectation of its constituents and the greater LGBT movement.
“These programmatic areas are where GLAAD needs to be to further influence the culture and the change hearts and minds of people with regard to full equality for gay and transgender people” said Giuliano. “The growth and expansion of GLAAD’s influence is due to the many stakeholders who support our work, especially those serving on the National Board of Directors.”
Yvette Burton, the Co-Chair of the GLAAD National Board of Directors said, “Neil has been a strong leader for GLAAD and has advanced the organization significantly in the last three years. He will leave GLAAD a better and more effective organization than when he arrived and we appreciate his years of dedication and service.” Added Co-Chair Laurie Perper, “The board of directors will begin conversations about this important leadership transition period, and the search process for a new president, at our upcoming board meeting February 6-8 in Los Angeles. This is a signature role in the movement for LGBT equality and we are sure there will be great interest in this opportunity.”
About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.