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Dear friend, This is a frightening, uncertain time for many of us and our families - and that includes our family here at GLAAD. First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest wishes that you and the people you love are healthy and safe. Additionally, the economic impact and social isolation that will occur will very likely disproportionately impact LGBTQ people. The LGBTQ community understands better than most how devastating the impacts of a pandemic can be, and I am keeping this entire community in my thoughts every single day. GLAAD will be continuously sharing self-care tips and ways to connect with other LGBTQ people on GLAAD’s twitter and other social media platforms. Here at GLAAD, we’re already experiencing serious repercussions stemming from the spread of the novel coronavirus. We made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the GLAAD Media Awards in New York and postpone our LA ceremony, which we estimate will result in a loss of more than two million dollars for GLAAD. During this time, our staff is working from home to advance GLAAD’s mission. And we are doubling down on two critical programs that are essential to our community during this time of crisis: our “Elections and Protections.” Elections: In this critical election year, GLAAD remains as committed as ever to ensuring that LGBTQ people are registered to vote and educated about where the candidates’ stand on issues that matter to us - and most importantly, that we turn out to vote! In the 2018 midterms, LGBTQ people accounted for 6% of the total voter turnout and helped GLAAD create a Rainbow Wave, electing LGBTQ and other pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot. But in 2020, that won’t be enough - we must increase our share of the vote in order to protect the progress we have made, reverse the damage done over the last four years, and put our country back on the path to full LGBTQ equality and acceptance. I was shocked to learn recently that twenty percent of LGBTQ people in our country are NOT registered to vote - that’s one in five of us. Friends, we cannot win if we don’t use our collective votes and our collective voice. And that’s what GLAAD is focused on making sure of this year. Protections: We are equally committed to GLAAD’s News & Rapid Response program, which ensures that LGBTQ issues are front and center in news outlets around the world. Countless journalists, writers, editors, students and advocates consider the program their go-to resource. The Hallmark Channel recently credited the program for its work to ensure an ad featuring a lesbian couple was returned to its airwaves. Since then we have been going head to head with the anti-LGBTQ ‘One Million Moms,’ the expose them as a fringe anti-LGBTQ organization that should not wield any credibility or power. The American Family Association’s One Million Moms and groups like them will not stop during this time of crisis. Thank you for being a part of this community, and for fighting every day for all LGBTQ people. You are a vital part of this movement, and particularly in times like these, there’s no one I’d rather have by my side. Sending all my best wishes for health, happiness, and safety to you and yours. Warmly, Sarah Kate Ellis |