GLAAD - Female Executive of the Year

Company: GLAAD, New York, NY
Company Description: GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Executive of the Year – Government or Non-Profit –11 to 2,500 Employees

Nomination Title: Sarah Kate Ellis

Sarah Kate Ellis, who is a married lesbian woman raising twin ten-year-olds, was named President and CEO of GLAAD in early 2014 after a successful career as a media executive. In short order, Ellis refocused GLAAD’s crucial advocacy to accelerate acceptance of the LGBTQ community through a variety of compelling and effective initiatives, campaigns, and programs.

Ellis commissioned GLAAD's annualAccelerating Acceptancereport, providing a window into national sentiment towards the LGBTQ community. In 2018, Ellis launched the GLAAD Media Institute (GMI), which focuses on research into LGBTQ representation and acceptance, consulting on LGBTQ storylines in media and Hollywood, and training activists on LGBTQ media advocacy and storytelling that creates change. Ellis is also the Executive Producer of the GLAAD Media Awards, which is the most visible LGBTQ awards show in the world.

Ellis has been widely recognized for her leadership. Most recently, Ellis has been named to Adweek & ADCOLOR’s 2020 Champions of Diversity and Inclusion, Crain New York Business’ 2020 Notable LGBTQ Leaders & Executives, and Logo30. Other honors include Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Webby Awards, Variety’s Power of New York, OUT100, and Guardian’s World Power Pride List.

In response to the unique and disproportionate challenges facing LGBTQ people during the pandemic, Ellis and GLAAD hosted “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone,” a digital event in April which highlighted the LGBTQ response to COVID-19 and raised over $230,000 for local LGBTQ centers providing critical, life-saving services. Ellis was an Executive Producer of the event. https://www.glaad.org/form/together-pride

During the 2020 election cycle, Ellis launched GLAAD’s 100 Days of Action campaign to educate LGBTQ people about what's at stake during the election and increasing LGBTQ voter turnout. Largely due to GLAAD’s advocacy work, ABC News included two questions centered on LGBTQ issues during its Town Hall with Joe Biden, including a groundbreaking question on transgender Americans. https://www.glaad.org/blog/dont-sit-one-out-glaad-launches-100-days-action-leading-election-day

In May 2021, Ellis launched GLAAD’s first ever Social Media Safety Index (SMSI). The Index found that all social media platforms categorically fail to protect LGBTQ users from discrimination, harassement, and hate online. The Index also provides recommendations for the industry at large and reports on LGBTQ user safety across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.https://www.glaad.org/smsi

In May 2021, Ellis and GLAAD built upon its years-long partnership with P&G by launching The Visibility Project, a new campaign to drive and to sustain LGBTQ inclusion in ads and marketing. With The Visibility Project, P&G and GLAAD will bring together the world’s top brands and ad agencies working to advance LGBTQ inclusion in ads, creating and providing tools, techniques and resources for industry executives, and harnessing the power of advertising to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance. https://www.glaad.org/visibility-project

Despite a loss of more than $2 million to the non-profit at the beginning of COVID-19, Ellis hosted “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone,” which recognized that GLAAD needed to be the leading voice highlighting the LGBTQ response to COVID-19, while also raising funds for local LGBTQ centers affected by COVID-19.

ABC News’ question about transgender Americans included during Town Hall with Joe Biden, largely thanks to GLAAD’s election work, was the first for any nationally-televised forum with a Presidential candidate. GLAAD’s post-election poll also found record turnout for LGBTQ voters at 93%. Thanks to GLAAD’s election work, a Washington Post analysis found that LGBTQ voters made a critical difference in election results in battleground states.

A 2021 ADL report found that LGBTQ people report disproportionately higher rates of harassment than all other identity groups. Recognizing the urgent need to push major social media platforms to make their products safer, the Social Media Safety Index, commissioned by Ellis, marks the first-ever baseline evaluation of the LGBTQ user safety experience across the social media landscape.

Before launching the Visibility Project, Ellis partnered with P&G on industry research which found that marketing and ad executives are more concerned about the risks of inauthentic representation and response from LGBTQ consumers than with a public backlash for LGBTQ inclusion. That research led Ellis to work with P&G to launch the Visibility Project, which will ultimately transform the advertising industry by creating opportunities for meaningful inclusion and authentic representation of LGBTQ people.

The link to “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone,” which was executive produced by Ellis, not only demonstrates how GLAAD highlighted the LGBTQ response to COVID-19 and sent messages of support to LGBTQ youth, but also features a speech from Ellis about the critical importance of LGBTQ community centers.

The link to the advertisement titled “The Conversation” was part of GLAAD’s election campaign and was commissioned by Ellis. The ad educated the public about the lack of protections still facing the LGBTQ community in the U.S. The Advocate op-ed by Ellis highlights the need to amplify LGBTQ issues in the 2020 election and drive LGBTQ voter turnout. The link to The Hill article was an interview Ellis did to highlight GLAAD’s work to urge moderators to include LGBTQ questions during town halls and debates. The link to the Washington Post article highlights how LGBTQ voters made a difference in battleground states in the election, largely thanks to GLAAD’s advocacy work.

The Axios interview was conducted to launch the Social Media Safety Index, in which Ellis discusses the findings from the Index and how GLAAD is working with the tech industry to improve safety on the platforms. The USA Today piece, which interviewed Ellis, also highlights responses from representatives at many of the platforms assessed in the Index, highlighting their willingness to enforce policies that better protect LGBTQ people online.

The link to the Katie Couric interview highlights why Ellis decided to launch the Visibility Project with P&G.