My name is Adam Polaski, and I'm a journalist and writer committed to providing critical coverage of and perspective on gender issues and the LGBT community.

I'm the Online Content Manager for Freedom to Marry in New York City, where I cover developments in the campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide.

My interests range from social justice issues and politics to the arts and culture - and I've written about them at The Bilerico Project, The Good Men Project, and Generocity.

I graduated in May 2012 from Ithaca College, where I co-edited Buzzsaw magazine and studied as part of the Park Scholar program, a full merit scholarship based on dedication to communications, commitment to service, and academic excellence.

Send me an email at apolaski7@gmail.com, and check out my resume and portfolio on the site!

Portfolio

"Interview: GLAAD President Addresses Recent Controversies" The Bilerico Project, June 8, 2011

After being criticized by bloggers and a former board co-chair, GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios speaks about the organization's finances, recent endorsement of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, and their stance on net neutrality.

"The Man in the Women's College" The Good Men Project, March 21, 2011

Aden, who transitioned to male while attending an all-female college, chose not to transfer schools even as he faced harassment and tension from classmates and administration. This is his story.

"The Lez Get Real Saga" The Bilerico Project, June 14, 2011

A few days after "The Gay Girl from Damascus" was revealed to be a heterosexual man, the same proved to be true of "Paula Brooks," the longtime editor of lesbian blog Lez Get Real. I spoke with each of the key players in the story, including "Paula Brooks" himself.

"Committing to Being Dead" The Good Men Project, June 1, 2011

Matt Thompson had given up any possibility of returning home from Iraq - but he returned safely. Now, over a year later, he still can't shake the urge to go back.

"Examining Other Minority Groups' Opposition to Net Neutrality, Support of AT&T Merger" The Bilerico Project, June 12, 2011

After GLAAD's FCC debacle, it's surfaced that many other organizations with little obvious interest in net neutrality and the effects of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, including the NAACP, LULAC, and NGLCC. But does their opposition to net neutrality make sense?

"The King's Speech: A Stutterer's Reflection" The Good Men Project, December 28, 2010

Colin Firth's character and I have the same speech impediment: stuttering. I may not be a king, but this movie is my life.

"Interview: Openly Gay Presidential Candidate Fred Karger" The Bilerico Project, January 6, 2012

Fred Karger is still running for president, and he's the first openly gay person to do so. Here, he speaks with The Bilerico Project about his lack of support, his disappointment with The Victory Fund, and what his campaign is trying to achieve.

"SlutWalk Ithaca: Reclaiming Our Bodies" Buzzsaw, November 9, 2011

Why SlutWalk is about more than just reclaiming a word

"LGBT in the Red States" Buzzsaw, December 8, 2011

The push for equality in conservative USA, a series of five audio stories and slideshow

Staking a Claim Buzzsaw, February 20, 2012

A 15-minute documentary about youth involvement in local politics through the lens of Svante Myrick, a 24-year-old Cornell University graduate who became the youngest mayor in Ithaca's history.

"The Big, Gay Elephant in the Room" Buzzsaw, October 17, 2010

How Republicans are rehabilitating their image by coming out for gay rights

"Mark Horvath: Shattering the Self-Made Man Myth" The Good Men Project, May 6, 2011

Mark Horvath, by pooling resources and drawing on thousands of social media addicts, is working to show how communities can effect change.

"Making Charity More Sociable" Main Line Today, November 24, 2009

With help from a well-connected Main Line native, givezooks! looks to spark an online philanthropy revolution.

"Is My Generation Destroying Gay Subculture?" The Bilerico Project, October 6, 2011

On the LGBT community's road to "equality," is it contradictory to also desire a degree of separation, a maintaining of "the gay subculture"?

"DADT Repeal Risks Distraction from Anti-War Efforts" The Ithacan, October 12, 2011

The Don't Ask, Don't Tell debate puts my pro-LGBT and anti-war values at odds. Isn't it contradictory to be simultaneously in favor of a more expansive

"HRC Store Vandalism Ineffectively Protests Gay, Inc." The Bilerico Project, June 29, 2011

The Human Rights Campaign gift shop in Washington, D.C. was vandalized as a tribute to the 42nd anniversary of Stonewall and the riots that "started the movement." But this is not an example of intelligent, critical discourse.

"Blurring the Lines of Military Masculinity" The Good Men Project's "Good Feed," March 8, 2011

Could the mere insinuation that the military isn't the end-all, be-all Mecca of masculinity shake the foundations of what it means to be a man? Oscar-nominated documentary Restrepo addresses the question.

"The Broadband Internet Desert" Buzzsaw, April 6, 2011

Exploring the digital divide in rural and urban communities

"The Joy of Sox: Learning the Ins and Outs of Starting a Non-Profit" Generocity, July 7, 2011

Every good non-profit organization deserves a good genesis story. And The Joy of Sox, a new “start-up” non-profit based out of Wayne, sure has a good one.

"Citizen Kind" Main Line Today, Spring 2010

I published twelve posts for "Citizen Kind," a blog highlighting the non-profit or service efforts of people in the Greater Philadelphia area.

"My Night as Ricky Martin" The Good Men Project, July 27, 2011

Wait, did my impersonation of the openly gay Latino superstar contribute to erasure of his gay identity?

"A Response to 'Great Sexpectations' in The Ithacan" Buzzsaw, February 11, 2012

A media criticism of a cover story in the Ithaca College student newspaper - how it villifies sex and fails to accurately represent the LGBT community.

"Are Out Celebrities Instant Gay Activists?" The New Gay, January 18, 2011

With so many openly gay famous people, are we at the point now where not everyone has to be an outspoken advocate? Or is it still irresponsible for celebrities to shy away from activism?

"Love in the Time of Lymphoma" The Good Men Project, March 29, 2012

When Daniel Haack was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 22, he started using a different line at bars: “Hey, my name’s Daniel, and I have cancer.”

"Olympic Countries that Are Gold-Medal on Marriage" Upworthy, August 3, 2012

Series of graphics originally published on Freedom to Marry's blog was picked up by Upworthy, a social media outfit that distributes the most share-able content on the Web.

"Coming Out of the Cyber Closet" The Good Men Project, June 7, 2011

YouTube videos are just one way LGBT people are utilizing the Internet as an integral part of the coming-out process.

"Embracing my A Cappella Quirks with 'Born This Way'" The Bilerico Project, April 14, 2012

Yes, I may not love the original version of "Born This Way," but now, in the context of bringing a community of individuals together for a worthwhile group cause, I understand its significance.

"Corporations and Businesses Stand for the Freedom to Marry" Freedom to Marry, June 5, 2012

Powerful voices are speaking out about the importance of the freedom to marry - and in some cases, advocates are emerging from fields that have remained firmly neutral on social issues.

"NY Couple Christopher and Carl Commemorate 10 years by Tying the Knot" Freedom to Marry, July 23, 2012

In honor of the first anniversary of marriages in New York, Freedom to Marry profiled seven same-sex couples who've married in the last year in the state.

"Why a Gay Cupcake is Worth a Thousand Words" AlterNet, July 3, 2012

When we take the time to explain why marriage matters to our friends and family members we continue propelling the national conversation on marriage forward.

"Putting a Face to the Student Debt Crisis" Buzzsaw, November 21, 2011

The average American college student graduates with $24,000 in debt. And yet, despite these staggeringly high numbers, we rarely talk about the student debt crisis.

Media Coverage

"GLAAD President Not "Qualified" To Speak"The Gist by Michelangelo Signorile, June 9, 2011

Michelangelo Signorile cites my work in The Bilerico Project about GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios and his role in the AT&T Net Neutrality scandal.

"GLAAD Under Fire for Backing Merger"Windy City Times, June 15, 2011

The Windy City Times cites my work in The Bilerico Project about GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios and his role in the AT&T Net Neutrality scandal.

"Anne Hathaway To Donate Money From Wedding Photos To Gay Marriage Advocacy Groups"The Huffington Post, October 17, 2012

The Huffington Post cites my work at Freedom to Marry and links to my article explaining that actress Anne Hathaway will support Freedom to Marry with her wedding photos.

"Anne Hathaway Will Donate Her Wedding Money to Marriage Equality"The Advocate, October 17, 2012

The Advocate cites my work at Freedom to Marry and links to my article explaining that actress Anne Hathaway will support Freedom to Marry with her wedding photos.

"Mediaite: How the gay Netroots took down the head of GLAAD"AmericaBlog Gay, June 21, 2011

"Bringing down the head of a national organization is no small task," John Aravosis writes. "A lot of us helped, with Bilerico's Bil Browning and Adam Polaski at the top of the list."

"Lesbian Blogger Hoaxes Harm the Credibility of News-Gatherers"LGBT POV, June 14, 2011

Karen Ocamb credits and links to my "in-depth reporting" on the Lez Get Real scandal, where a lesbian blogger was revealed to be a heterosexual man.

"Presidential Candidates Trending Toward Support for LGBT Americans, Says New Study"Marriage Equality USA, September 16, 2011

In a press release, MEUSA's Ned Flaherty credits my work interviewing GOP presidential candidate Gary Johnson and breaking the news that he opposes workplace discrimination for LGBT Americans.

"Chronicling Homelessness: Mark Horvath"House the Homeless, June 21, 2011

In a look at Mark Horvath's life, this blogger relies heavily on my reporting about the man who founded We Are Visible, a website dedicated to telling the stories of homeless Americans.

"Catholic Knights Of Columbus Spends $15.8 Million To Fight Gay Marriage"The New Civil Rights Movement, October 18, 2012

The New Civil Rights Movement quotes my work at Freedom to Marry about the Knights of Columbus' investment in groups that oppose the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. They also republish the graphic I researched and designed.

"Love In The Time Of Lymphoma"The Huffington Post, March 29, 2012

The Huffington Post republishes my article for The Good Men Project, about a gay man who finds his romantic and dating life is dramatically altered when he is diagnosed with lymphoma.

"How Lez Got Unreal"Velvet Park, June 15, 2011

This lesbian blog cites my reporting about the Lez Get Real scandal, where a lesbian blogger was revealed to be a heterosexual, married man.

"GLAAD, AT&T, and Net Neutrality: A Tangled, Sticky Web"Towleroad, June 10, 2012

This gay blog takes a comprehensive look at the GLAAD AT&T Net Neutrality scandal, for which I provided original reporting on The Bilerico Project.

Awards & Societies

• National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association Award, "Excellence in Online Journalism," 2012 Third-place Award recognizing my independently-reported four-part series on Lez Get Real for The Bilerico Project, published June 2011.
• GLAAD Media Award nomination with The Bilerico Project, Outstanding Blog, 2012 The Bilerico Project was nominated for Outstanding Blog in January 2012, recognizing the blog's work in 2011, during which I served six months as Editorial Intern and then Associate Editor.
• Park Scholar Award, 2008-2012 Full merit-based scholarship to Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications, based on academic success, leadership skills, service commitment and passion for communications
• Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership, 2011 Ithaca College award recognizing students who excel academically, perform service to the College community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment.
• Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honors Society, Inducted Fall 2009 The National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and universities. Served as chapter secretary 2010-2012.
• Oracle Honor Society, inducted Fall 2009 Historic Ithaca College honors society that recognizes academic excellence, including first-year students who maintain a GPA that puts them in the top 10% of all students in their school.