Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (San Francisco, Calif.)

Historical Note

In 1987 The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/San Francisco Bay Area (GLAAD/SFBA) was formed as a chapter of the GLAAD New York national office. However, in March 1990 GLAAD/SFBA elected its own Board of Directors, incorporated and received non-profit status as an independent entity.

Like its parent organization (GLAAD/USA), the San Francisco chapter was created to identify and respond to public expressions, especially in the print and electronic media, which stemmed from homophobia, bigotry, and misinformation about lesbians, gays and bisexuals. The response took the forms of letter writing and telephone campaigns, meetings with media representatives, and even public demonstrations when such actions were required.

GLAAD/SFBA's major goal was, and continues to be, the improvement of public attitudes about homosexuality in an effort to end violence and discrimination against lesbians and gays, thus diminishing their social isolation nationwide. To this end, GLAAD/SFBA has had many noteworthy accomplishments over the years.

Just to mention a few, in June 1990 GLAAD/SFBA began Project 21. This project coordinated a successful state-wide effort to pressure the California State Board of Education to include fair and accurate information about lesbians, gays and bisexuals in the State health, physical education and social history frameworks. In 1992 a billboard advertising campaign was launched, featuring an interracial lesbian couple. In the same year GLAAD/SFBA, along with its affiliate chapters, made a concerted effort to educate art/entertainment editors and reviewers throughout the United States, ensuring unprecedented media focus on Hollywood homophobia for the release of the film, Basic Instincts. The following year in 1993, GLAAD/SFBA organized a community forum to present the homophobic propaganda film, The Gay Agenda, and to brainstorm ways of fighting this type of Christian fundamentalist bigotry.

GLAAD/SFBA was formed as a membership organization with programs organized and run by volunteers. It has been governed by an eight member board (with gender parity) and several standing committees. The board members are nominated and elected by written ballot and are voted on by the general membership. All operations are funded by private donations.

From the guide to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Records - San Francisco Bay Area, 1989-1993, (The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.)