Neil G. Giuliano serves as president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). GLAAD is one of the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations, and the only one dedicated to ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of LGBT people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Mr. Giuliano joined GLAAD in September 2005.

GLAAD’s work and influence within the entertainment industry, national and regional news organizations and with journalists at all levels has led to sweeping change in the ways that LGBT people are portrayed in the media. The widely known and respected GLAAD Media Awards have recognized the best of such images since 1990. In 2008, the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards will be aired on Bravo, providing the most visible opportunity for fair, accurate and inclusive images of the LGBT community to reach more than 84 million homes.

Since Mr. Giuliano took the reins at GLAAD, the national organization’s Media Programs Department work has more than doubled its scope to include advocacy efforts in the worlds of Sports; Religion, Faith & Values; Young Adult; and the 2007 acquisition of Queer Lounge, a central venue at independent film festivals for LGBT and LGBT-friendly film professionals. During this time, GLAAD’s budget has also increased by more than 55% to over $10 million.

Under Mr. Giuliano’s stewardship, GLAAD has taken the lead on many pressing issues for the LGBT community. In a momentous shift in media responsibility, The Associated Press changed its Stylebook in 2006 to indicate that the term “gay” or “lesbian” is the preferred terminology to “homosexual” in journalistic reporting. GLAAD also led efforts to ensure that media moments such as Brokeback Mountain and former NBA player John Amaechi’s coming out were used to broaden the dialogue around LGBT issues and raise the visibility of LGBT people in stereotypically “straight” worlds.

During Mr. Giuliano’s tenure, GLAAD has also had to fight media defamation. GLAAD’s swift action responding to the violently anti-gay Snickers® Super Bowl commercial, to actor Isaiah Washington’s use of an anti-gay slur during the Golden Globes® telecast, and to Tim Hardaway’s declaration on a radio show that he hates gay people resulted in media coverage that reflected the impact that defamatory incidents such as these have on the LGBT community.

Beyond responding to media events, GLAAD has taken pro-active steps to build a more fair, accurate and inclusive society. In 2007, GLAAD launched the largest public service announcement (PSA) campaign in LGBT history with a PSA series featuring 22 public figures from television, film and sports. The ads encourage people to be allies to LGBT people, directing viewers to resources at glaad.org.

GLAAD is also actively working to unmask the truth behind the so-called “ex-gay” activists. Through a dedicated microsite, GLAAD offers an overview of organized so-called "ex-gay" groups and their discredited de-gayification techniques. The research on the site shows how these activists divide and destroy loving families, alienate gay people from their faith, and make it harder for loving, committed couples to take care of each other. It also provides important frameworks and questions for use whenever media are asked to promote these absurd yet dangerous claims in their coverage.

Mr. Giuliano has appeared on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, ABC World News Tonight, Showbiz Tonight, and Access Hollywood, and has been quoted by The Associated Press, and in the San Francisco Chronicle, Newsweek and USA Today, and numerous state and regional media outlets discussing LGBT images in the media and issues. He is considered among the nation’s most visible and effective leaders of the movement for LGBT equality, earning recognition as one of Instinct magazine’s Top 25 of 2005 and one of Out magazine’s Out100 in 2006, which recognizes the 100 most influential people in gay culture.

Prior to GLAAD, Mr. Giuliano served for ten years as the mayor of Tempe, Arizona (1994-2004, pop: 170,000) and also had a 25-year career as a senior administrator at Arizona State University (ASU), the largest public university in the United States. His posts with ASU included directing student leadership development, alumni relations, federal government relations and community relations. As a Faculty Associate in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Science, Mr. Giuliano created and then taught a course in Personal Leadership Development for twenty years. He also served as lead organizer and co-chair for the final 2004 Presidential Debate held at ASU, which was viewed by over 57 million people nationwide and around the world.

Recognizing Mr. Giuliano’s leadership and accomplishment, Tempe, Arizona was named an All America City in 2003; an award presented by the National Civic League that is considered the “Oscar” for local government success.

As mayor of one of the largest cities in the generally conservative state of Arizona, Mr. Giuliano was among the nation's most visible openly gay elected officials, whose track record of successful coalition building won him endorsement by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and overwhelming public support. Mr. Giuliano chose not to seek a 5th term in 2004 and was consulting in the real estate development sector in Phoenix and Las Vegas at the time of his appointment at GLAAD.

In ten years as Tempe, Arizona’s Mayor, Mr. Giuliano established a Human Relations Commission, sought appointment of a Hate Crimes Liaison officer in the Police Department, secured management support for a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity, and cast the tie-breaking vote providing domestic partner benefits for city employees. He also led the efforts for downtown revitalization and the creation of Tempe Town Lake and the Rio Salado Project.

Mr. Giuliano received a B.A. degree from the Hugh Downs School of Communication in 1979 and a M.Ed. degree in Higher Education Administration in 1983, both from Arizona State University, where he served as Student Body President.

About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) www.glaad.org, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles, is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

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Contact:
Marc McCarthy
Senior Director of Communications
(323) 634-2051
mccarthy@glaad.org
www.glaad.org