Gay-Rights Group Head Quits Over AT&T Merger Support

Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, stepped down Saturday amid protests from gay activists and bloggers over the organization’s public backing of telecommunications giant AT&T’s bid to buy rival T-Mobile, Politico reports.

The alliance, better known as GLAAD, was one of several advocacy groups to which AT&T donated that sent the Federal Communications Commission letters supporting the merger. GLAAD has received $50,000 from the company, and Troup Coronado, a former AT&T lobbyist, sits on the organization’s board.

GLAAD officials denied any quid pro quo in the alliance’s support for the AT&T and T-Mobile deal, but many activists said the organization should focus its advocacy on gay-rights issues and called on Mr. Coronado to step down as well.