Joan M. Garry has a nonprofit consulting practice focused on crisis management,executive coaching and building strong board and leadership teams. She is also recognized as one of the most vocal, passionate and effective civil rights leaders in America with nearly a decade of service as the Executive Director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Garry also served as the Co-Chair of the National LGBT Finance Committee for Obama For America 2008. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communications where she focuses on nonprofit media strategy and media advocacy.
During her tenure at GLAAD, Joan persuaded the NY Times to include gay and lesbian couples on its wedding pages, she created a national debate about the homophobic words of radio host, Laura Schlessinger and even debated Jerry Falwell about whether Tinky Winky was gay.
She is also the first woman in the state of New Jersey to legally adopt her partner’s biological children and the first female singing member of the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus.
I asked the following question to a group of nonprofit Executive Directors on LinkedIn.
'OK, you're an executive director. You just suggested a team building exercise for your upcoming staff retreat involving a piñata of your board chair. Perhaps a clue it's time to move on? Other clues?"
I do fundraising trainings with nonprofit board members, some of whom are bigwigs and have big day jobs -- who might take major risks on stocks or who put together multi-million dollar deals. Some of them literally dive off of cliffs. For fun!
Caryl Stern and I go way back. Caryl and I worked together when she was at the ADL and I was at the helm of GLAAD. She was a champion for LGBT inclusion in the work of the ADL. I admire her greatly. She...
I've swallowed everything about the Lance Armstrong/Livestrong controversy whole. I am a nonprofit consultant that helps organizations find their way out of big messes. I find that messes are always symptomatic of larger illnesses (please forgive the pun) and that they are often opportunities to rethink and figure...
As an openly gay American, it will not surprise you that Governor Andrew Cuomo is my very favorite governor (we call him the Cuomo-Sexual at our house). As an openly gay resident of the state of New Jersey, it will not surprise you that Governor Chris Christie is my least...
I am not on the fence. Barack Obama is my president. There will be no suspense in 2012. I will vote for him again. He is the best thing to happen to the gays since (insert your own answer here ____).
I was beyond excited. A major motion picture. Two big celebs. We would finally have cultural shorthand during introductions. Like this past weekend when we dropped our fifteen year old son Ben off at camp. "Hi I'm Joan and..... I tell you what -- let me make this easier for...
Well the New York Times did not disappoint us. Its Pride Parade coverage included an amazing photograph of an extraordinarily agile woman. A pole dancer. Dancing while on a moving bicycle. Let's not underestimate the skill involved here. I mean no disrespect.
I was curious. I was actually looking for an image for a post on a different subject. I wanted a huge crowd of gay people to make a point about straight allies. You'll understand when you read the post I write tomorrow. I'll leave you in suspense (albeit a modest...
OK. So people think I know who is gay and who isn't. They think that, as a gay rights activist, I have access to "the directory." They think that my 'gadar' is of the highest possible caliber.
It is not as finely tuned as you may think. I mean,...
My name is Quinn. I'm a teenager. You might remember that my name was in the news about 15 years ago because of my father. Actually he doesn't really deserve the title "father." His name is John Edwards.
Here's the deal. Tomorrow (10/10), the President will address the national dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay political advocacy group. Several thousand people hanging on his every word. A couple of reporters thrown in for good measure. And more than a few bloggers.
I was thinking that a personal trainer might make a nice gift. Or a guarantee that my memory wouldn't fail me. Or maybe some kind of assurance that our twins would graduate from high school in one piece. Actually I guess I mean two pieces. But I got a highly...
My partner Eileen says she is sick of reading Facebook profiles about what people are eating. "Delicious soft shell crabs with Bobby" or "Try the bison burger at Ted's." She thinks it is stupid. She doesn't really care that much about what other people eat. She cares a lot about...
"Now that savings is POPULAR?" My partner and I opened the paper to find this ad. The catering company should be very pleased (and relieved) that I blocked out the company name. I am simply trying to make a point.
I know what he meant. He meant that together we would fight for full equality and that he would advocate for us to get there. But the line is also true if you look at it the other way. Over the rest of his first term (this is how I...
I know it seems odd. Ironic even. I was listening to the president's speech to the veterans on Omaha Beach, commemorating the anniversary of D-Day and it hit me. Funny I know. I was listening to him address military veterans and I realized what is missing in the president's approach...
(3) Comments | Posted May 14, 2013 | 12:53 PM