GLAAD Announces New President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis

GLAAD, one of the country's LGBT organizations, announced Monday that Sarah Kate Ellis, a media executive and LGBT advocate, will become the group's new president and CEO.

"GLAAD's unparalleled history in shifting American beliefs on LGBT families paved the way for our recent legal victories and will be instrumental in inspiring more and more Americans to stand with LGBT people and our families," Steve Warren, national co-chair of GLAAD's board of directors, said in a statement. "We are excited to welcome Sarah Kate at a time when our community needs more of GLAAD's work in the media to share the stories that create real change."

Ellis is a communications strategist who has led national media brands to some major successes, like growing Real Simple into one of Time Inc.'s most popular magazines. She's also had a part in magazines, including Vogue, InStyle, New York and House & Garden. Most recently she served as senior vice president of global marketing at Martini Media, a digital firm specializing in online branding, public relations and marketing. She's also worked as co-chair of Out magazine and led programming to spotlight diversity of the LGBT community and educated the organization's straight allies on a wide range of LGBT issues.

"While our community has made great strides in recent years, our movement has an important and critical journey ahead," Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. "Together with our dedicated staff, I will push for a culture where everyone in the LGBT community is fully welcomed and respected by our neighbors. I look forward to leading GLAAD and creating a world where LGBT people and our families have the freedom to joyously-- and openly-- live a life they love."

Ellis will take her role in January and will be based in GLAAD's New York City office.