As GLAAD’s senior director of communications, Tony Morrison still has a journalist’s passion — which isn’t surprising, considering his over decade-long career in morning television news.
Helping lead GLAAD’s on-the-ground response to the death of nonbinary Oklahoma teen Nex Benedict this year was proof that his inner watchdog is here to stay. GLAAD’s work to fact check and make sure local and national media got Benedict’s story right “solidified that I am doing exactly what I should be doing right now in this life.”
Outside of GLAAD, Morrison’s +Life Media digital series Truth Be Told spotlights folks living with HIV and others in the community who are thriving. He’s come a long way since disclosing his HIV-positive status in a 2021 essay for Good Morning America, his former employer.
“Forcing my truth onto myself was the best thing I have ever done, and I challenge myself daily by centering myself with my truth and owning my story,” he says. “Today, my HIV status is the most managed thing in my life. I wish more people knew that. I want people to spend less time feeling sorry for me and more time advocating for people like me and destigmatizing HIV prevention, treatment, and care.”
“Equality is here to stay, as long as there are LGBTQ+ stories to tell,” Morrison continues. “Your story is the one thing that no one can take from you…. It’s wholly yours. I want people to know and understand that LGBTQ+ advocacy and activism isn’t going anywhere, because there will always be LGBTQ+ people and experiences in need of visibility and representation, because LGBTQ+ people exist in every corner of society, industry, script, business, melody, and story.” @thetonymorrison
