Program areas at GLAAD
The GLAAD Media Institute (GMI) equips diverse stakeholders to end discrimination and accelerate LGBTQ acceptance, through: 1) Research (Fielding studies, evaluating data, and developing metrics that generate free annual accountability resources, such as: GLAAD's annual Accelerating Acceptance Survey, State of HIV Survey, Where We Are On TV index, The Studio Responsibility Index, and Social Media Safety Index); 2) Training (Equipping participants to be compelling storytellers and media-savvy advocates for LGBTQ acceptance); and 3) Consulting (Helping corporations, companies, and organizations stand for justice). The GMI has engaged nearly 100,000 participants and has enjoyed select accomplishments such as sessions on LGBTQ inclusion in corporate settings at business convenings like The World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos and various storylines in the most popular films, TV series, and video games.
GLAAD's Entertainment Media team accelerates LGBTQ acceptance by advocating for fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of LGBTQ people in the media, including film, television, comics, video games, and music. The program also combats problematic content and defamation in entertainment media. The program's GLAAD Media Awards (GMA) is the world's most watched and celebrated LGBTQ recognition event. Every year, the GMAs honor fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBTQ representation across local, national and international outlets. The GMAs also drive GLAAD's mission-critical work to amplify under-represented community issues, stories, and voices, and to build awareness of/support for LGBTQ equality and acceptance. This year the awards celebrated nearly 300 nominees across 30 categories to raise the bar for LGBTQ representation across media.
GLAAD's News & Rapid Response Program ensures accurate, fair media representation, as the go-to LGBTQ news source for academics, journalists, editors, and news outlets in print, broadcast, and online media. The program: 1) Corrects unfair or inaccurate news coverage; and 2) Pitches LGBTQ content in print and online media. Snapshots of recent accomplishments include: Educating reporters and their readers about transgender people and briefing local journalists in the U.S. South about LGBTQ and HIV news reporting.
GLAAD's Spanish-Language/Latinx Media Program increases understanding and support among the Spanish-speaking/Latinx community through: 1) Consulting for media professionals and individuals on stories, movies, and TV shows; 2) Media training for nonprofit staff, activists, and journalists in the U.S. and in predominantly Spanish-speaking countries; and 3) Driving culturally relevant, dedicated media work and campaigns that correct misinformation, increase relevant coverage and build equality and acceptance of LGBTQ people.
GLAAD'S Transgender Media Program increases the quantity and quality of transgender representation in news, entertainment, and digital media. The program also works with companies and brands seeking to create a more gender-inclusive workplace. Curated research, training and consulting equip the transgender community and our allies with the information and resources necessary to create media impact. Recent accomplishments include working with Amazon's IMDbPro to ensure trans people can remove their birth names from the site; educating the writers and producers of The Problem with Jon Stewart and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on how to cover recent attacks on trans youth.
GLAAD's Communities of Color Program creates and amplifies narratives by and about LGBTQ People of Color with a focus on reducing HIV/AIDS stigma and and increasing LGBTQ acceptance. Levers include: 1) Targeted News & Rapid Response to ensure local and national coverage on key community issues; 2) Strategic Research & Consultation to equip activists, spokespersons, and everyday citizens with media engagement training; and 3) Dedicated Media & Community Outreach to increase visibility through state-of-the-art digital storytelling.
GLAAD's Youth Media Activism Program rallies a nationwide network of young LGBTQ/ally activists to promote LGBTQ acceptance. Features include: 1) The 20 Under 20 recognition program for next-generation LGBTQ changemakers; 2) GLAAD Internships to help young people reach career goals, by working with experts in journalism, entertainment, public relations, political activism, and academia; and 3) Spirit Day--the world's largest anti-bullying campaign. Spirit Day annually inspires awareness among millions of teachers, students, workplaces, celebrities, public figures, and media outlets. Last year's program drew 1.9 billion impressions.
GLAAD's Visibility Project campaign helps brand leaders, advertisers, and agencies advance fair, accurate and robust LGBTQ visibility. Based on responses from hundreds of marketing and advertising executives, the Project helps advertising reflect the increasing number of people who identify as LGBTQ - and the humanity, diversity and inclusion all consumers expect. GLAAD appears at leading advertising industry convenings and in direct meetings with leading brands to share research on LGBTQ representation.
GLAAD's Gaming Program works directly with the video game industry to increase the quantity and quality of LGBTQ characters in video games, and to provide video game companies with the education and resources they need to create a more LGBTQ-inclusive workplace. Recent accomplishments include working with Respawn Entertainment to help them create the first transgender character for Apex Legends, and working with Epic Games on their annual Rainbow Royale event celebrating the LGBTQ community which included adding Supergirl's Dreamer to the game as the first trans character in Fortnite.