GLAAD might shed as many as half of its
board members amid allegations of influence peddling at the gay
rights group.
On Tuesday, six board members tendered
their resignations. They follow Saturday's announcement that Jarred
Barrios was stepping down from the helm the Gay & Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) after less than two years.
Barrios left after weeks of criticism
over a letter he signed 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.
In a statement released Thursday, GLAAD
said it had accepted Barrios' resignation.
POLITICO.com
on Wednesday reported that several of the former board members
were leaving because of concerns over the group's conflict of
interest standards. But the six would only say they were leaving for
“various reasons” and thanked Barrios for his leadership.
“We believe that GLAAD plays a vital
role in our community and wish it only the best. We also thank GLAAD
President Jarrett Barrios for his service and his 20 plus years he
has committed to social justice and the LGBT community.”
The site also quoted an unnamed source
as saying that about a third or half of the 29-member board may
depart by the end of the week.
Barrios was the first Latino to head
the gay rights group, and the youngest leader it has had. 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.