The board of directors for GLAAD Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination, in conjunction with the Chicago Leadership Council, held a reception Oct. 26 at Linda Warren Projects Fine Arts Gallery, 327 N. Aberdeen St., following the organization’s Fall 2013 board meeting.
Among the speakers at the reception was GLAAD Co-Chair Jennifer Finney Boylan, who is the first transgender head of a national LGBT-rights organization. She spoke on the organization’s influence on how LGBT Americans are depicted in the media.
“Whether it takes us five years or 50 years, GLAAD will leverage the power of the media—to change the culture of our nation, inspire the next generation of LGBT leaders and activists, and to be a vehicle for lasting, impactful change, Boylan said. “In order for us to achieve full equality for gay, lesbian and transgender community, we must inspire change that is that the core of people’s hearts and minds. We must educate the public about our communities … and stand more loud and more proud than our opponents.”
Also speaking was GLAAD’s Strategic Giving Officer Wilson Cruz. He cited numerous advancements the national LGBT community had made in the past year, from “marriage equality, employment non-discrimination and transgender rights to Spirit Day and more inclusive representation of our community in the media.”
“For 28 years, GLAAD has used the power of our collective voices to share and amplify the stories of our diverse LGBT community that have paved the way for acceptance and understanding,” Cruz said.
Also appearing was actress Kate Flannery of NBC’s The Office.