GLAAD National Board of Directors announces new members Jeff Diskin, David Hornik, Meghan McCain, Linda Riley

LOS ANGELES, CA – GLAAD, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, today announced that Republican political commentator, author, and TV personality Meghan McCain; Executive Vice President, Commercial Services at Hilton Worldwide Jeff Diskin; Harvard Law School professor and venture capitalist with August Capital, David Hornik; and Managing Director at Opportunities for Women, Linda Riley will join the organization's National Board of Directors.

As the daughter of U.S. Senator John McCain, Meghan McCain was propelled into the national spotlight at an early age, involved in everything from community events to national conventions. A powerful role model for young women and Republicans alike, she passionately discusses women’s issues, social issues, and marriage equality, among other LGBT issues.  In 2013, McCain launched her genre-busting docu-talk series ‘Raising McCain’ on Pivot, Participant Media’s new television network aimed at the Millennial generation.  Most recently, Meghan has signed on to co-host the late night news program 'TakePart Live' on Pivot—a nightly live show that decodes the news stories of the day with irreverence and insight, and points viewers to related actions.

"Equality is no longer a partisan issue," said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "For years, Meghan McCain has lent her voice and platform to spreading messages of acceptance across party lines. Now, as the American south and our heartland move closer to LGBT equality, it's critical that we continue to build the bridges that unite us in our common ground – whether you're republican or democrat, gay or straight."

Jeff Diskin is Executive Vice President of Commercial Services at Hilton Worldwide and oversees the company's Customer Marketing, Revenue Management, and E-Commerce divisions; including Hilton HHonors, the company's premier guest loyalty program that links 34 million members to Hilton Worldwide's global portfolio of 10 hotel brands and 3,900 properties in 90+ countries. Diskin has been an active supporter of numerous charitable and community organizations, including AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), Heal the Bay, City of Hope and local chapters of the YMCA Youth Programs, in addition to membership and support of numerous business associations and councils.

For nearly two decades, David Hornik has worked with technology startups throughout the software sector.  In 2000, Hornik joined August Capital to invest broadly in information technology companies, with a focus on enterprise application and infrastructure software, as well as consumer facing software and services. Hornik is currently a lecturer at the Harvard Law School, where he teaches entrepreneurship and venture capital, and previously lectured at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, where he taught intellectual property.  He is the author of VentureBlog, the first venture capital blog, and VentureCast, the first venture capital podcast, and is the founder and executive producer of The Lobby conference, an annual gathering of the thought leaders of the digital media ecosystem.

Linda Riley is Managing Director of the UK-based diversity publishing and events company Square Peg Media (SPM). SPM produces established titles and guides that service the UK's LGBT community, such as monthly publications Out in the City and g3 magazines, as well as the diversity workplace guide, Out at Work. SPM also produces specialized diversity events such as the European Diversity Awards, Opportunities for Women, the Alternative Parenting Show, and the Diversity Careers Show. Riley is co-founder and trustee of the Inclusive Foundation, an independent grant-making organization providing grants, advice and assistance to charitable and voluntary organizations working in equality, diversity and inclusion across the UK and Europe. She is also a trustee at Eaves, a London-based charity that provides support to vulnerable women who have experienced violence and is also a Patron of the Albert Kennedy Trust.

"GLAAD's National Board of Directors bring vision, expertise, and tremendous heart to our work to rewrite the script for LGBT equality and protect all that has been accomplished," said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "GLAAD is so pleased to welcome these esteemed new members to our National Board of Directors."