For Joan Garry’s full bio, click here.
Joan is in her last year that begins with a 4. Sometimes she feels like a grownup. Sometimes she feels like she is only eight.
Joan is a a nationally recognized gay rights activist and she thought it was a very hard job until she decided to step down from her role as the executive director of GLAAD to be a stay-at-home mom. Advocating for ‘the gays” may have been easier.
She and her partner Eileen Opatut have been together for 25 years and have three kids, Sarah (17), Ben (12) and Kit (12). Yes, Ben and Kit are twins.
Joan returned home to insure that Sarah had ample time to harass her before leaving for college. Joan returned home so that she would have quality time with Ben and Kit before they began to harass her. There are times when it works out nicely.
During her tenure at GLAAD, Joan persuaded the NY Times to include gay and lesbian couples on its wedding pages, she created a national debate about the homophobic words of radio host, Laura Schlessinger and even debated Jerry Falwell about whether Tinky Winky was gay.
She is also the first woman in the state of New Jersey to legally adopt her partner?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s biological children and the first female singing member of the NYC Gay Men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Chorus.
She is currently writing a book about the modern American family and has persuaded her family to allow themselves to be material.
