Jarrett Barrios on Saturday announced
he's stepping down from the helm of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation (GLAAD) after less than two years, the
Miami
Herald
reported.
Barrios is leaving after weeks of
criticism over a letter sent to the FCC in support of AT&T's
proposed merger with TMobile. Critics noted that AT&T has
donated heavily to the group and GLAAD has no clear interest in the
telecom industry.
GLAAD also sent a second letter
opposing the FCC's proposed rules on net neutrality, but later
withdrew the letter and claimed it was sent erroneously.
POLITICO.com
on Friday reported that a GLAAD panel voted in favor of removing
Barrios, but he refused to leave. The post noted that Barrios would
likely take up the issue with the full board of directors.
Barrios was the first Latino to head
the gay rights group and the youngest. In 2009, he stepped down as
president of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts,
the job he took after leaving the Massachusetts state Senate, to
replace Neil G. Giuliano, who had held the position since 2005.