Exclusive: GLAAD Media Director Damon Romine to exit post to take job with Screen Actors Guild

Damon Romine will be leaving his post as director of entertainment media at GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, to join Screen Actors Guild as director of communications. He begins the new job April 1.

“Damon’s extraordinary background and expertise in communications make him a valuable addition to our team,” Pamela Greenwalt, SAG’s communications executive director said about their new hire. “I know he will serve the members of Screen Actors Guild well.”

(Update: I’m told Damon’s leaving is unrelated to the already announced departure of Executive Director Neil Guiliano.)

Damon (pictured with brothers Benjamin and Peter Bratt promoting their film La MISSION) has been the face of GLAAD the past four plus years, leading its highly visible entertainment advocacy efforts. Of note, he created the “GLAAD Network Responsibility Index,” now in its third year, which grades the broadcast and cable networks on their LGBT diversity. After two years of receiving failing grades from Damon, the Fox network has added two bisexual characters to its primetime lineup and the upcoming LGBT-inclusive series Glee.

The communications veteran also created GLAAD’s “Be an Ally & a Friend” public education campaign, enlisting more than four dozen celebrities to tape messages asking straight allies to support the LGBT people in their lives. The multi-platform campaign, which has featured messages from Ellen DeGeneres, T.R. Knight, Kevin Bacon and others, has grown to be perhaps the largest national LGBT equality campaign ever created.

In addition to regularly consulting with TV producers to improve their LGBT content, Damon also lead the org’s efforts to create their first online blog and oversaw the group’s annual Queer Lounge during Sundance. His tenure found him facing off at times with people as varied as Isaiah Washington, Jerry Lewis, Simon Cowell and Soprano’s star Joseph “Gay Vito” Gannascoli.

“I have had a terrific run at GLAAD and I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved during my tenure,” Damon tells Greg in Hollywood exclusively. “It’s great to see the incredible change in the media landscape that has happened in just four short years and I have no doubt that my colleagues at GLAAD will continue to thrive without me.”

During last year’s same-sex marriages in California, Damon personally coordinated all of the media for George Takei and Brad Altman’s engagement and wedding. Damon would go on to have his own highly-publicized wedding when he and Charles Robbins (the Executive Director of The Trevor Project) married in a double ceremony with Damon’s father and his partner, making this the first same-sex double wedding in the state shared by a father and son.

Best wishes to Damon!