GLAAD is again presenting a series of Thank GLAAD Its Friday happy hours in South Florida. According to Elliot S. Elsner, GLAAD’s Membership Event Coordinator, the Absolut Vodka sponsored gatherings are a fun and creative way to bring awareness of the GLAAD organization and educate the GLBT community about the work the non-profit does. 

“The TGIF Series is a perfect opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and support the only media advocacy organization in the country,” Elsner said. 

Besides being an excellent networking opportunity for those interested in the group’s work, planners are hopeful the ‘happy hour’ events will increase the group’s membership.  The GLAAD Host Committee, a group of local community leaders and GLAAD supporters, work to invite friends and associates to the TGIF events and help spread awareness about the work of GLAAD. With the support of the GLAAD Host Committee, GLAAD added 73 Floridians to its membership rolls during last year’s TGIF series. 

Wilton Manor’s Georgie’s Alibi (2266 Wilton Drive) will serve as the venue for all three scheduled TGIF Happy Hours. Announced dates for this year’s series are Friday, September 19, Friday, October 17, and Friday, November 21, 2008. 

TGIF Happy Hours kick off at 9:00 PM with Absolut cocktails and prize give-a-ways.  TGIF Series tickets for all three nights are only $35, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the work of GLAAD.  The series pass also includes a one year membership to the GLAAD organization.  To purchase tickets CLICK HERE.

Florida TGIF Host Committee Members included Gary Bitner, Ron Brenesky, Geo Bustamante, Tim Hennessey, Amber Hitt, Edward Lescurieux, Paul Palmer, Tony Sandonato, Antonio Seminario, B. Rodney White, Michael Williams, Hilton Wolman, and David L. Wylie.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a non-profit organization of GLBT activism which declares itself "dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation".

GLAAD was founded in 1985 in New York City in direct response to the inaccurate, defamatory and sensationalized coverage of the AIDS epidemic by the New York Post. GLAAD's influence soon spread to Los Angeles where organizers began working with the entertainment industry to change the way gay men and lesbians were portrayed on screen.

Since then, GLAAD has expanded its work to build relationships with and train media, community leaders, journalists, and activists, resulting in more favorable media representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives and issues.One of GLAAD's more visible programs is the annual GLAAD Media Awards, which honor individuals and projects in the mainstream media and entertainment industries for their fair, accurate, inclusive and favorable representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. The event is held in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco.

More Info: For more information on how you can be a part TGIF South Florida or for inquiries about partnership opportunities, contact Elliott Elsner, Membership Event Coordinator at elsner@glaad.org, or (323) 634-2047.

Photo Galleries of Last Year’s TGIF Events by GaySoFla Associate Editor Geo Bustamante:

GLAAD TGIF at SCORE
GLAAD TGIF at Rosie’s