BY AMY WOOTEN
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) came to Chicago in hopes of building a larger base of support in the Midwest.
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The organization's somewhat new executive director, Neil Giuliano, met with local friends and allies of the LGBT community during a fundraiser at the posh Y-Bar on May 2. 'We've got to strengthen the voice for equality outside of the two coasts in this country,' Giuliano said.
Although Giuliano described this year's LGBT visibility in print media, broadcast media, television and film as 'amazing,' he added that GLAAD's work is far from done.
'In fact, it's exactly the opposite,' he told the crowd. ' What the overwhelming visibility of our lives means is that more and more of our stories are being told, and we have to be able to respond. We have to be there.'
The number of people engaged in GLAAD for such things as media training has spiked in 2006. 'They are wanting to step forward and get involved in speaking out about these issues, because they are really inescapable at this point,' Giuliano said.
In the past year, GLAAD has worked with Columbia College Chicago to help train media and journalism students about LGBT issues. It has also trained a local Latina organization. According to Giuliano, GLAAD is currently working on a partnership with Chicago's Gay Games to help the summer sporting event get additional special visibility nationwide.
See glaad.org.
