FROM A PRESS RELEASE
The board of directors of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) has announced their acceptance of President Jarrett Barrios' resignation, according to an organizational press release.
The resignation followed a firestorm of bad press over a letter Barrios sent the Federal Communications Commission May 31, urging the approval of a merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. The letter raised eyebrows by many who questioned if AT&T bought Barrios' support for the merger with a recent $50,000 donation to GLAAD.
Barrios emailed his resignation to the board June 18. He stated, in part, "None of you have asked me to resign, and I have appreciated such confidence in me. ... As many of you have observed to me, this entire situation is wrought with miscommunication and assumptions. Be that as it may, I respect the function and responsibility of my position, and know this is the right course of action."
The board will now begin to assemble an executive search committee to identify a new president. It has appointed Chief Operating Officer Mike Thompson as acting president.
The board had already accepted the resignation of several members, including Gary Bitner, Jocelyn Bramble, Kelly Dermody, Humberto Mata, Michael Nutt, James Walker and Randi Weingarten. The board also accepted the resignation of member Troup Coronado. Coronado resigned voluntarily, stating that he wanted "to do what was in the best interest of GLAAD."