Questions Remain for GLAAD After President Resigns

Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, turned in his resignation this weekend, triggering yet unanswered questions about what happens next.

Barrios had come under scrutiny for sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission in support of a pending merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. AT&T is a GLAAD donor, and the connection was repeatedly questioned by XM radio host and Advocate contributor Michelangelo Signorile in on-air interviews and via his blog.

"What our community wants in wireless phone and Internet service is exactly what Americans in general want: more access, faster service, and competitive pricing," Barrios wrote to the FCC in a letter dated May 31. "On all three counts, we believe that the facts strongly favor the merger."

GLAAD's board discussed Barrios' resignation letter this weekend. Meanwhile, Politicoreports that the lead editor for AmericaBlog, John Aravosis, is calling for the resignation of a GLAAD board member with ties to AT&T, which reportedly gave the gay rights group a $50,000 donation before the group sent a letter to the FCC supporting a pending merger with T-Mobile. The board member -- Troup Coronado -- was formerly registered as an AT&T lobbyist.

"The GLAAD Board has received Jarrett Barrios' resignation letter and discussed this among other topics on our call," the board said in a statement issued today about GLAAD's future. "We expect on our next Board meeting set for Wednesday to reach a conclusion on all issues so that Mr. Barrios can begin to help The Board manage transition and bring on his successor."