GLAAD (formerly the
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is a U.S.
non-governmental media monitoring organization founded by
LGBT people in the media. Before March 2013, the name "GLAAD" had been an acronym for "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation," but became the primary name due to its inclusiveness of
bisexual and
transgender issues. Its stated mission, in part, is to "[amplify] the voice of the
LGBT community by
empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively."