Omar Sharif Jr. Joins The Staff Of GLAAD

At the beginning of 2012, the grandson of legendary actor Omar Sharif came out (as both gay and half-Jewish), with the young man wanting to make a stand about the direction he saw Egypt heading, with the promised freedom of the revolution turning to increased control over people’s personal lives under the new regime. He wrote, “From the vaunted class of Egyptian actor and personality, I might just become an Egyptian public enemy” due to his sexuality, heritage and ‘western’ lifestyle.

Now the actor is joining the staff of LGBT media advocacy organisation GLAAD, as National Spokesperson and Strategic Giving Officer. He’ll work alongside fellow National Spokesperson Wilson Cruz, helping to build relationships with donors and raise vital funds to support GLAAD’s work to lead the conversation for LGBT equality.

Sharif Jr. comments, “I’m thrilled to be joining GLAAD in their culture-changing work. Having lived and worked in over half a dozen countries, I know the influence and impact that American media has globally – particularly in the broader Middle East, where it is widely syndicated and consumed. Working with GLAAD, I know that that I’ll be helping to effectuate change back home and around the world.

“Omar’s story is one of tremendous courage and one that also reflects the journey travelled by countless Americans who’ve come to support equality after a friend, family member or colleague comes out as LGBT,” said GLAAD’s Dave Montez. “As an outspoken advocate for equality, Omar brings not only extraordinary skill and expertise to GLAAD, but also an incredible passion for building a better tomorrow for LGBT people everywhere.”

Sharif Jr.’s decision to become a stronger gay right advocate is partly as a response to his coming out in some parts of the world. He says, “Most of this negativity was spurred on by the Arabic media’s demonization of my gay identity. Having lived through this experience and others, I feel that I am perfectly positioned to embody GLAAD’s mandate to donors as I can speak from the heart and cite personal experience in an effort to highlight the importance of promoting understanding and acceptance and advancing equality through the media. Last year, when I came out, I did not simply find my voice; I found my purpose. With that purpose came a sense of urgency and a responsibility to advocate on behalf of those still silenced by fear or repression.”

At one point Sharif Jr. was the face of Coca-cola in the Arab world, and has also modelled for Calvin Klein in Egypt and has also starred in Arabic films and TV series. He’s got plenty of brains too, as he holds Masters in Comparative Politics (MSc Conflict Studies) from The London School of Economics.