Rashad Robinson: the media activist discusses working with the press, bringing queer people of color into the limelight and how it feels to come out as a gay Black man every day.(Q & A)(Interview)

You started at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (GLAAD) two years ago as director of media field strategy, and now you've moved into a senior leadership role as director of media programs. How does it feel to move from being an organizer on the ground to managing overall strategy? There's a real benefit to understanding the type of decisions, the type of skills that it takes to be on the ground and to be working in local communities and the impact that we can have. I feel that I can bring a real understanding about what the needs are out in the community. But there is a real difference. There is a much larger responsibility to the overall mission of the organization in my new role, which is very, very exciting. I feel a real responsibility to support and improve and be a cheerleader for the work that we do out in the community.

GLAAD has a reputation as a mainstream gay advocacy organization. What do you think about that perception? Our goal is to change hearts and minds and end homophobia and discrimination. So we do operate to influence opinions within mainstream media. We may have a reputation of being a mainstream organization, but we represent a community that in 36 states you can be fired ...