GLAAD announced that Google’s Vice President of Marketing Adrienne Hayes has joined the organization’s National Board of Directors. Members of GLAAD’s Board of Directors oversee the organization’s work to accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ people and raise funds to support and grow GLAAD.
As Vice President of Global Marketing for Google’s hardware and subscription services, including Pixel, Nest, Stadia, Google One and Fi, Adrienne Hayes is responsible for enriching people’s lives by delivering Google’s helpful experiences directly to people around the world. Prior to spearheading the devices and services marketing organization, Hayes was tasked with helping to reinvent the Moto brand and its mobile phone portfolio as Chief Marketing Officer following Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility in 2012. Hayes is currently the executive co-sponsor of Google’s Pride employee resource group and serves as a champion for Google’s LGBTQ+ community internally and externally, ensuring equity and inclusion are prioritized and protected.
Pamela Stewart, Vice President, National Retail Sales for Coca-Cola North America, currently serves as the Chair of GLAAD’s Board of Directors. In December 2020, activist and entertainer Peppermint, North American Lead for the World Economic Forum, Shameek Bose, Zoom’s Chief Diversity Officer, Damien Hooper-Campbell, and Sony Music Group’s Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Tiffany R. Warren, joined GLAAD’s Board of Directors.
GLAAD’s work continues to remain critical in accelerating LGBTQ acceptance and advancing equality for the LGBTQ community. Recent highlights include:
- From February 24-26, GLAAD hosted its first HIV Stigma and Faith Summit, a three-day virtual event training and educating leaders to better address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Southern region of the United States. The virtual summit featured free daily panels with guest speakers, journalists, HIV experts, faith leaders, and community advocates.
- GLAAD announced the launch of its Biden Equality Accountability Tracker, a real-time record of the Biden administration’s executive orders, announcements, legislative support, and speeches that impact LGBTQ people and rights. As of March 11, GLAAD has tracked at least 24 pro-equality moves in the first 50 days, as well as noted LGBTQ Cabinet and staff appointments in the first days of the administration.
- GLAAD and Athlete Ally, in partnership with runners Aliya Schenck and Alana Boja from Washington University in St. Louis, released a letter from at least 545 NCAA student athletes calling for the NCAA to uphold its nondiscrimination policy and publicly refuse to host championships in states with bans against trans athletes.
- GLAAD announced it will launch its newest initiative, the GLAAD Social Media Safety Index, in Spring 2021. The first-of-its-kind report will rate social media platforms on how safe they are for LGBTQ users and provide recommendations for policy and product updates.
- GLAAD released a Media Report Card on the Equality Act coverage from February 25, when the landmark legislation was passed by the House. The Media Report Card comes after LGBTQ voices were largely left out of mainstream media coverage of the House passage in leading digital and print outlets. The goal of GLAAD’s Media Report Card is to call on mainstream media to do better when it comes to writing about prominent LGBTQ issues, especially when false, inaccurate, and harmful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is part of the story. The Report Card offers suggestions, best practices, and links to helpful resources.
- Ahead of the historic confirmation hearing of Dr. Rachel Levine as nominee for Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services, GLAAD released a guide for journalists with best practices for covering Dr. Levine, the hearing, and all transgender people. The guide comes after many news outlets failed to include Dr. Levine’s name in their headlines when she was nominated by Biden back in January, instead only referring to her as a “transgender doctor.” The guide for journalists included information about Dr. Levine’s career and leadership role during COVID-19, why her qualifications as opposed to her gender identity are the most relevant to center in media coverage, and more.
- GLAAD joined LGBTQ organizations in North Carolina including Equality North Carolina, Campaign for Southern Equality, GLAAD, and The Onslow County LGBTQ+ Community Center in calling on local media outlets for repeatedly and knowingly misgendering and deadnaming Jenna Franks, a transgender woman who was found dead in Jacksonville, North Carolina on Feb 24.
GLAAD also announced that the virtual ceremony for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards will take place on April 8 at 8pm ET on GLAAD’s YouTube, hosted by out actress and producer Niecy Nash. The virtual ceremony will also stream on Hulu on April 8 starting at 10pm ET. The awards will be available to stream on-demand on Hulu until the end of June. GLAAD previously announced that the cast of Glee will reunite during the virtual ceremony for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards for a special tribute to the legacy of the late Naya Rivera’s character Santana Lopez. The special tribute will be introduced by global superstar Demi Lovato, who played Santana’s girlfriend on Glee.
The ceremony will also feature appearances from Ian Alexander, Molly Bernard, Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bennett, Bob The Drag Queen, Sterling K. Brown, Laverne Cox, Wilson Cruz, Mackenzie Davis, Robin de Jesús, Blu del Barrio, Nyle DiMarco, Colman Domingo, Clea DuVall, Brandee Evans, Dan Levy, Jim Parsons, DJ “Shangela” Pierce, Katy Perry, Eureka O’Hara, Anthony Rapp, Bretman Rock, JoJo Siwa, Sam Smith, and the cast of Veneno. To sign up to receive updates about the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards, including new talent announcements, reminders, and a link to watch the ceremony live, click here.