Arkansas Blog

NEWS RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA –Los Angeles-based political strategist Chad Griffin has been honored as one of The Advocate’s 2008 People of the Year. The list, appearing in the January issue and selected by The Advocate’s editorial staff, includes 19 other luminaries of activism, politics and entertainment such as Steve Hildenbrand, The Obamas, Al Gore, Tina Fey, Clay Aiken and Hilary Rosen. The list seeks to honor those who have made a profound impact for 2008 in the area of gay rights. The only Angeleno to make the list, Griffin, president of the firm Griffin | Schake, is known for his campaign-style approach to communications for his A-list clients, political initiatives and philanthropic organizations.

Griffin shares the title of Person of the year with Barney Frank, Tina Fey, Hilary Rosen, Bruce Bastian, The Obamas, Clay Aiken, Suze Orman, Steve Hildenbrand , Lawrence King , Amy Balliett, Matthew Mitcham, Sunil Bubu Pant, Al Gore, Thomas Beatie, Wanda Sykes, Jason Rae, Gus Van Sant  & Dustin Lance Black, Keith Olbermann, Jared Polis & Linda Ketner and Luc Montagnier & Francoise Barre-Sinoussi.

Griffin was recognized for his career shaping the policy debate around some of the nation’s most important social issues – equal rights, early childhood education, universal health care, stem cell research, alternative energy and energy security, anti-smoking and global warming. The Advocate also applauded him his efforts to produce the Senator Feinstein and Superintendant O’Connell television ads for the final push against Proposition 8. A veteran of the Clinton White House, Griffin was the youngest staffer ever to serve in the West Wing. Harnessing the hard-nosed, fast-paced style of the political world, the passion of the philanthropic community, and the creativity and profile of the entertainment industry, Griffin has helped to advance the causes of a roster of change-making clients.

About Griffin | Schake

Griffin | Schake provides strategic communications and issue campaign management to advance the causes and elevate the profiles of changemaking organizations and individuals. Founded by political and communications strategists Chad Griffin and Kristina Schake, Griffin | Schake practices a campaign-style approach to communications that has become its trademark. Griffin | Schake’s clients have included a powerful roster of clients such as Rob Reiner, California First Lady Maria Shriver, Janet and Jerry Zucker, Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher, Chris Albrecht, Brian Kabateck, Make It Right, Live Earth, The Women's Conference, The California Endowment, Entertainment Industry Foundation, CuresNow, Parents' Action for Children and Shangri-La Construction. For more information, visit www.griffinschake.com. 

About The Advocate

Celebrating over 40 years in print this year, The Advocate is the world’s leading LGBT news magazine. As of February 2009, the magazine will report monthly on news politics, business, medical issues, and arts & entertainment. Hailed by The Washington Post as the “standard of gay journalism,” The Advocate distributes almost four million copies each year. Please visit www.advocate.com. The Advocate is currently available to consumers as a bi-weekly publication via subscription or by logging on to its award-winning website at www.advocate.com.