Cathy McElrath Renna

Cathy is a media relations expert and a leader within the LGBT community.

Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
At the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), where she worked for 14 years, Cathy served as a primary spokesperson for GLAAD, as well as its first National News Media Director. She contributed to the strategic, crisis communications and community relations components of some of the organization’s public campaigns. When she served as Training Services Manager, Cathy developed the materials and curriculum for GLAAD’s highly sought after “MediaEssentials” training series. She also developed “Train the Trainer” materials for the organization, as GLAAD’s staff expanded and media training services became an integral part of the work of its Regional Media department. In her role as Community Relations Director at GLAAD, Cathy conducted hundreds of media trainings and presentations across the country to a diverse array of progressive groups of all sizes.

Most notably in terms of crisis and strategic communications, Cathy played a central role while at GLAAD in shaping media coverage of both the beating death of Matthew Shepard in 1998, and the sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church, during which her efforts contributed to thwarting Church officials’ attempts to link the dynamic of abuse to sexual orientation.

After GLAAD
Since leaving GLAAD, Cathy has worked to increase the visibility of clients such as 2004 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the Point Foundation, Family Equality Council and the Williams Institute. In her over 17 years working in media relations, Cathy has garnered placements in major newspapers and television outlets in the United States, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, the New York Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, Newsweek and a cover story of Time magazine.

Non-consulting related work
In addition to her work as a communications consultant, Cathy continues to be highly sought after by the media as a spokesperson on LGBT issues and has appeared on the O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, CNN, MSNBC, Good Morning America and numerous local affiliate shows throughout the country.