Zeke Stokes

Featured in Episodes 38 and 73

A veteran of the fights to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and overturn the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) at the U.S. Supreme Court, Zeke Stokes joined GLAAD as Vice President of Programs in 2014. In that role, he oversees GLAAD’s advocacy work to advance the stories of LGBT people that lead to positive cultural change in the United States and abroad. He leads a staff of media professionals in both Los Angeles and New York City charged with executing campaigns and initiatives in GLAAD’s Entertainment, Spanish Language, Transgender, Southern, and Global programs.

Before joining GLAAD in 2014, Zeke served as director of outreach at Media Matters For America, where he was lead brand ambassador for the organization and worked to ensure that the research and rapid response tools produced by the nonprofit were leveraged across the progressive movement to create change. Previously, he was communications director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network – and then director of external relations at OutServe-SLDN – where he played a key role in advancing LGBT military equality. Prior, Stokes managed his own practice, consulting for a variety of political, nonprofit, corporate and governmental clients. He is a former publicist for the March of Dimes, where he managed celebrity involvement. He is a native of South Carolina, and began his career there as director of communications for the South Carolina Democratic Party.

Zeke is a frequent media commentator on progressive issues and has appeared in the pages, online, and on the air of countless local, state, and national news outlets including CNN, The Huffington Post, Sirius XM Radio, Chicago Tribune, Sports Illustrated, and The Advocate.

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