Ethan Geto
Geto & de Milly, Inc.
Ethan Geto (he/him) is a principal of Geto & de Milly, Inc., a public affairs/strategic communications firm in New York City specializing in public policy development, advocacy campaigns, government relations, and crisis management.
Prior to forming Geto & de Milly, Ethan served as a senior advisor to a New York State attorney general and held posts on Capitol Hill and at New York City Hall. Ethan joined the Gay Activists Alliance in New York City in 1971, and has been a strategist and advocate for gay rights legislation and policies since, also working on many projects to support people living with HIV/AIDS.
Ethan helped to found a number of groups dedicated to achieving full equality for gay men and lesbians, including Parents of Gays (now PFLAG, Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays). He served as co-campaign manager and director of media relations in 1977 in the campaign to oppose Anita Bryant’s anti-gay referendum. More than three decades ago, he and his firm also organized fundraising dinners at the Waldorf-Astoria to launch the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). He was a leader in the effort to pass the New York City Gay Rights Bill (1986) and served as the chief lobbyist for the Empire State Pride Agenda to secure the passage of New York City’s domestic partnership legislation (1998).
Ethan is a former member of the board of directors of GMHC, where he served as chair of both the advocacy and communications committees from 1992 to 1998. He handled the public relations for the launch and first three years of POZ magazine. Ethan currently serves as pro bono government relations counsel and a member of the board of directors for the New York City AIDS Memorial.