Sarah Kate Ellis

Last updated

Sarah Kate Ellis
Sarah Kate Ellis at Collision 2017 2017-05-02 (34280235181).jpg
Ellis in 2017
Born (1971-11-27) November 27, 1971 (age 52)
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Education Russell Sage College (BA)
Occupation(s)Media executive, activist

Sarah Kate Ellis (born November 27, 1971) is an American media executive and activist.

Contents

After Ellis's graduation from Russell Sage College in 1993 with a degree in Sociology and minor in Women's Studies, she began her career in media through the re-launch of Condé Nast's House & Garden. [1]

In January 2014, Ellis was appointed president and CEO of GLAAD, the largest U.S. lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization. [2] [3]

Early years

Ellis was born and raised on Staten Island, New York, where she attended Staten Island Academy. She and her older brother Spencer were raised by their parents, Barbara and Ken Ellis. During her youth, Ellis was an athlete; she participated in field hockey and was a Junior Olympic swimmer. While attending Russell Sage College, Ellis led a media campaign against the college administration's attempt to shut down the only women's center on campus and, in her senior year of college, Ellis came out of the closet as a lesbian. In 2011, Ellis attended the Tuck Executive Education program at Tuck School of Business Dartmouth College and completed it in 2012.

Media work

In 1995, Ellis began her profession in media. She first worked at mass media company Condé Nast, which laid the groundwork for her career advancement. Initially, Ellis worked at Condé Nast's House and Garden . From there, she moved to New York magazine as a senior manager, then to In Style as a director. Following her tenure at In Style, Ellis launched and directed the turnaround of Real Simple, which led her to Vogue where she oversaw ten lifestyle group brands. [4] Ellis specialized in marketing and took on leadership roles. Extending the reach of her efforts, Ellis involved herself as co-chair of OUT at Time Inc., the company's LGBT employee resource group, where she led programming to spotlight the diversity of the LGBT community (2008-2013).[ citation needed ]

LGBT rights activism

Ellis began her activism in 1992, when she marched on Washington to support the rights of women and then marched again in 1993 to support the rights of LGBT people.

On January 1, 2014, Ellis began as president and CEO of GLAAD, [5] the only U.S. organization working to move lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality forward through the power of the media.

One of the first campaigns Ellis pursued at GLAAD was the organization's 2014 protest against the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, specifically the parade's ban of lesbian and gay participants. In an article in the New York Daily News , [6] Ellis wrote about her Irish-American heritage and sexual orientation, calling on parade organizers to end the ban.

In August 2024, the New York Times reported that Ellis had engaged in "lavish spending" at GLAAD that may have violated IRS rules for nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit's own policies. She was reimbursed by GLAAD for expenses including first-class flights, stays at the Waldorf Astoria, a $20,000 home office remodel that included a chandelier, and nearly half a million dollars for a week in a Swiss ski chalet with colleagues. [7]

Personal life

In 2011, Ellis co-authored a memoir with her wife, Kristen Ellis-Henderson, titled Times Two, Two Women in Love and the Happy Family They Made, released by Simon & Schuster. [8] The autobiography chronicled their simultaneous pregnancies and road to motherhood—it was nominated for a Stonewall Book Award. [9] In 2013, the couple was featured on the "Gay Marriage Already Won" cover of TIME Magazine. [10]

Ellis and her wife were also profiled in a special New York Times Style section about marriage equality following its legalization in New York State [11] and were the subjects of The Huffington Post's three-part documentary web series titled "Here Come the Brides." [12] They were named one of GO Magazine's Most Captivating Couples of 2012 [13] and are the mothers of two children. Ellis and her wife married in 2011; [14] they had the first marriage ceremony for a same-sex couple in the Episcopal Church in New York State. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GLAAD</span> American LGBT media monitoring group

GLAAD is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization. Originally founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of gay and lesbian demographics and their portrayals in the media and entertainment industries, it has since expanded to queer, bisexual, and transgender people.

<i>Out</i> (magazine) American LGBTQ magazine

Out is an American LGBTQ news, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any LGBTQ monthly publication in the United States. It presents itself in an editorial manner similar to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was owned by Robert Hardman of Boston, its original investor, until 2000. It then changed hands among LPI Media, PlanetOut Inc., Here Media, and Pride Media. In June 2022, Pride Media was acquired by Equal Entertainment LLC, taking on the name Equal Pride.

<i>The Advocate</i> (magazine) Bi-monthly American magazine covering LGBT-interest topics

The Advocate is an American LGBT magazine, printed bi-monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a website. Both magazine and website have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people. The magazine, established in 1967, is the oldest and largest LGBT publication in the United States and the only surviving one of its kind that was founded before the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan, an uprising that was a major milestone in the LGBT rights movement. On June 9, 2022, Pride Media was acquired by Equal Entertainment LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Quinn</span> American politician

Christine Callaghan Quinn is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she formerly served as the Speaker of the New York City Council. The third person to hold this office, she was the first female and first openly gay speaker. She ran to succeed Michael Bloomberg as the city's mayor in the 2013 mayoral election, but lost the Democratic primary. Quinn is a political contributor on CNN and MSNBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madonna as a gay icon</span> Aspect of Madonnas reputation

American singer and actress Madonna is recognized as a gay icon. She was introduced, while still a teenager, by her dance instructor, Christopher Flynn, an openly gay man who mentored her. Since then, Madonna has always acknowledged the importance of the community for her life and career, declaring that she "wouldn't have a career if it weren't for the gay community".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Henderson</span> American singer-songwriter

Kristen Henderson is a founding member of the all female popular rock band Antigone Rising. She is also the author of a memoir, "Times Two, Two Women in Love and The Happy Family They Made" and a children’s book, “All Moms” Kristen is currently performing in the Drama Desk Nominated Best Musical “F_*k 7th Grade,” at The Wild Project theater in New York City She and wife, Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson, are vocal advocates on LGBT issues, especially marriage and family equality. In 2013, Kristen made the Buzzfeed's Most Powerful LGBT Icons and Allies List alongside The Pope, Madonna, President Obama, Edie Windsor and Elton John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of lesbianism in the United States</span>

This article addresses the history of lesbianism in the United States. Unless otherwise noted, the members of same-sex female couples discussed here are not known to be lesbian, but they are mentioned as part of discussing the practice of lesbianism—that is, same-sex female sexual and romantic behavior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diane Anderson-Minshall</span> American journalist (born 1968)

Diane Anderson-Minshall is an American journalist and author best known for writing about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender subjects. She is the first female CEO of Pride Media. She is also the editorial director of The Advocate and Chill magazines, the editor-in-chief of HIV Plus magazine, while still contributing editor to OutTraveler. Diane co-authored the 2014 memoir Queerly Beloved about her relationship with her husband Jacob Anderson-Minshall throughout his gender transition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT representation in children's television</span> Aspect of childrens television

LGBT representation in children's television is representation of LGBT topics, themes, and people in television programming meant for children. LGBT representation in children's programming was often uncommon to non-existent for much of television's history up to the 2010s, but has significantly increased since then.

Historically, the portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in media has been largely negative if not altogether absent, reflecting a general cultural intolerance of LGBT individuals; however, from the 1990s to present day, there has been an increase in the positive depictions of LGBT people, issues, and concerns within mainstream media in North America. The LGBT communities have taken an increasingly proactive stand in defining their own culture, with a primary goal of achieving an affirmative visibility in mainstream media. The positive portrayal or increased presence of the LGBT communities in media has served to increase acceptance and support for LGBT communities, establish LGBT communities as a norm, and provide information on the topic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivy Bottini</span> American activist and artist (1926–2021)

Ivy Bottini was an American activist for women's and LGBT rights, and a visual artist.

Kitty Lambert is an LGBT rights activist. She was raised Mormon and married a male Mormon missionary when she was seventeen. She did not come out as a lesbian for many years out of fear of losing her children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of gay men in the United States</span>

This article addresses the history of gay men in the United States. Unless otherwise noted, the members of same-sex male couples discussed here are not known to be gay, but they are mentioned as part of discussing the practice of male homosexuality—that is, same-sex male sexual and romantic behavior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacy Lentz</span> American lesbian activist

Stacy Marie Lentz is an American lesbian LGBT rights activist, and a co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, and co-founder of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of the modern gay rights movements after the 1969 Stonewall riots and forms part of the Stonewall National Monument.

Them is an American online LGBT magazine launched in October 2017 by Phillip Picardi and owned by Condé Nast. Its coverage includes LGBT culture, fashion, and politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of LGBT history, 21st century</span>

The following is a timeline of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) history in the 21st century.

References

  1. ↑ "Wonder Women of New York 2022: Sarah Kate Ellis". Multichannel News. March 4, 2022.
  2. ↑ "GLAAD Board of Directors announces Sarah Kate Ellis as CEO and President of GLAAD". GLAAD. November 25, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  3. ↑ Nichols, James (November 25, 2013). "Meet GLAAD's New President And CEO". HuffPost. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  4. ↑ Scipioni, Jade (June 15, 2021). "GLAAD CEO on why she put off coming out at work: 'There were no lesbians who had big careers'". CNBC. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ "GLAAD Board of Directors announces Sarah Kate Ellis as CEO and President of GLAAD". GLAAD. November 25, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ "March 17: The St. Patrick's Day Parade, charter schools and Liam Neeson". NY Daily News. March 17, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ Steel, Emily (August 1, 2024). "A Pattern of Lavish Spending at a Leading L.G.B.T.Q. Nonprofit". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  8. ↑ Times Two. Books.simonandschuster.com. October 2015. ISBN   9781439176412 . Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Kristen & Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson Are Kissing on the Cover for Equality" (PDF). Tandemlibrary.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 29, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "TIME Magazine Cover: Gay Marriage Already Won - Apr. 8, 2013". TIME.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ Belkin, Lisa (July 22, 2011). "Gay Marriage For the Sake of the Children". The New York Times . Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Here Come The Brides: Kristen Henderson And Sarah Ellis Marry -- Part 3 (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. November 16, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ "GO Magazine - America's Most Captivating Couples 2012". Gomag.com. February 10, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Behind the Covers: Portraits of the Gay Marriage Revolution by Peter Hapak". TIME. March 28, 2013.
  15. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (November 25, 2013). "GLAAD Names Sarah Kate Ellis as President, CEO". The Hollywood Reporter .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.