The National Board of Directors of GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation
organization, today elected the organization’s new president Herndon Graddick, following a nationwide search.
Sheri Fults, National Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, said in
a statement: “Herndon Graddick is already a well-respected leader
within the LGBT movement, and we believe will be a visionary and
strategic leader for GLAAD’s culture-changing work.”
Search Committee Co-Chair, David Hedley, commented, on behalf of
GLAAD’s National Board of Directors: “We want to first thank the
volunteer Search Committee for their selfless service, and all the
prospective presidential candidates for their interest and the
investment each made in considering being of service to GLAAD.”
Executive Search Recruiter Scott Miller volunteered his firm’s services
pro bono to GLAAD to facilitate the search process.
Herndon Graddick is the current Vice President of Programs and
Communications at GLAAD, a position he assumed in 2010. In his role,
Graddick has lead GLAAD's media initiatives and oversees the
organization's National & Local News; Entertainment; People of
Color; Religion, Faith & Values; Advertising; and Spanish-Language
Media programs. Under his leadership, GLAAD has engaged in numerous
highly visible and impactful campaigns including ‘Stand Up For Ellen,’
which prompted the group One Million Moms a project of the American
Family Association to end their call for J.C. Penney to fire Ellen
DeGeneres as its new spokesperson because she is gay. Graddick also
oversaw GLAAD’s work on the Commentator Accountability Project an
initiative launched in March to highlight the extreme rhetoric of
anti-LGBT activists who currently appear in national news outlets. He
is leading efforts with the Massachusetts Transgender Political
Coalition (MTPC) on the “I AM: Trans People Speak” video series as well
as with film director Brett Ratner to develop a series of videos with
GLAAD featuring high-profile celebrities and public figures speaking out
for LGBT equality. Graddick has also put resources behind GLAAD’s work
to share stories of LGBT people of color and allies with African
American media, sports media, and Spanish-language news outlets, among
others.
Prior to his work at GLAAD, Graddick served as the Executive
Producer of the Global Observatory, a media and communications effort
which aimed to bring public awareness to the climate change crisis. He
also served as Supervising Producer at E! Networks and the day-of-air
news division director at CURRENT TV, the youth-oriented news and
entertainment network created by former Vice President Al Gore. As a
producer at CNN, Graddick also contributed to the creation of daily
primetime programming such as "Paula Zahn Now," "Anderson Cooper 360,"
and "Live from the Headlines."
“Right now GLAAD and our partners in the LGBT movement are making
a significant difference at a time when a difference needs to be
made,” said Herndon Graddick. “I look forward to working with our
dedicated staff to create a culture where there is a welcoming and
respected space for LGBT Americans. GLAAD’s work with the media to
inspire Americans to speak out against anti-LGBT actions and support
equality is needed today more than ever.”
The new president of GLAAD will be formally introduced at the
23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 21, 2012.