New York, NY, June 9, 2010—The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) , the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, is launching a leadership council in Chicago and hosting a free launch event, sponsored by MillerCoors, on Monday, June 21st , 2010 at MillerCoors.

The GLAAD Chicago leadership council is comprised of volunteer leaders who provide critical on-the-ground support and leadership for GLAAD in the Chicago area. As the local voice and face of GLAAD, the Chicago leadership council will offer locally tailored events, monitor local media coverage on LGBT people and issues, communicate GLAAD's impact on local and national issues, and build support for GLAAD's work.

The event is hosted by the founding members of the Chicago GLAAD leadership council and MillerCoors. Founding co-chairs of the Chicago leadership council are Kevin Boyer and Nina Fernandez. Kevin Boyer is the director of public relations and marketing at All Terrain, a Chicago marketing agency. He was the founding co-chair of the Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, a former Board President of the Gerber/Hart Library, served as head of marketing and global PR for the 2006 Chicago Gay Games and is a 2008 inductee into the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame. Nina Fernandez is the Chicago Regional Director fordot429.com, a professional networking site for the LGBT community and its allies. She donates her time to the LGBT community in Chicago and helps raise funds for several non-profits.

The Chicago leadership council is still information. Founding members include John Blazek, Robert Bowden, Kevin Boyer, Nina Fernandez, Byron Hoover, John Libby, Grant McCorkhill, John Myers, Dan Polzin, Hadley Rue, Douglas Sanborn, Ricardo Torres, and Sue Fisher Yellen.

GLAAD has established leadership councils in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, South Florida, Boston, Chicago and Washington DC.

Event Details:

Monday, June 21st, 2010

6 — 8 pm

MillerCoors

250 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, Il 60606

Dress: Cocktail Casual

No Cost to Attend

Please RSVP by Friday, June 18th, 2010 at http:// www.glaad.org/2010/chicagoleadershipkickoff

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About GLAAD

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality.