Sean Eldridge
Encyclopedia
Sean Eldridge is an American
political activist and philanthropist
. He is a Senior Advisor at the non-profit Freedom to Marry
for same-sex marriages and President of the Telos Foundation.
where he graduated from Ottawa Hills High School. Eldridge then studied at Deep Springs College
and Brown University
, where he helped organize the national Students for Barack Obama campaign in 2007. He attended Columbia Law School
but left to join Freedom to Marry
after the NY State Senate voted against a marriage equality bill in December 2009.
, the campaign to win marriage equality nationwide. He joined Freedom to Marry in 2010 and served initially as Communications Director, and then as Political Director. Eldridge has debated opponents of gay rights on Fox News, ABC News Nightline
and CNN
. In 2011, he joined the Board of Directors of GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders).
Eldridge and his partner, Chris Hughes, co-founder of the social network service
Facebook
, fund progressive organizations and candidates across the U.S. They attended U.S. President
Barack Obama
's first state dinner
in 2009. The couple, whose estimated net worth is more than $700 million, founded the Telos Foundation in 2011. They were featured on the cover of The Advocate magazine's Forty under 40 issue in May 2011.
, New York
.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
political activist and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He is a Senior Advisor at the non-profit Freedom to Marry
Freedom to Marry
Freedom to Marry is a non-profit organization leading the campaign for same-sex marriages to be recognized nationwide in the United States of America...
for same-sex marriages and President of the Telos Foundation.
Early life and education
Eldridge was born in Montreal, Quebec. As a young boy his family moved to Toledo, OhioToledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
where he graduated from Ottawa Hills High School. Eldridge then studied at Deep Springs College
Deep Springs College
Deep Springs is a private, all-male , alternative college in Deep Springs, California, in the United States. A two-year college, the institution currently aims for a student body size of 26, though the number is occasionally lower...
and Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he helped organize the national Students for Barack Obama campaign in 2007. He attended Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
but left to join Freedom to Marry
Freedom to Marry
Freedom to Marry is a non-profit organization leading the campaign for same-sex marriages to be recognized nationwide in the United States of America...
after the NY State Senate voted against a marriage equality bill in December 2009.
Career
Eldridge is a Senior Advisor at Freedom to MarryFreedom to Marry
Freedom to Marry is a non-profit organization leading the campaign for same-sex marriages to be recognized nationwide in the United States of America...
, the campaign to win marriage equality nationwide. He joined Freedom to Marry in 2010 and served initially as Communications Director, and then as Political Director. Eldridge has debated opponents of gay rights on Fox News, ABC News Nightline
Nightline
Nightline, or ABC News Nightline is a late-night news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. It airs weeknights, usually for 31 minutes. Created by Roone Arledge, the program featured Ted Koppel as its main...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. In 2011, he joined the Board of Directors of GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders).
Eldridge and his partner, Chris Hughes, co-founder of the social network service
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, fund progressive organizations and candidates across the U.S. They attended U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's first state dinner
State dinner
A state dinner is a dinner or banquet paid by a government and hosted by a head of state in his or her official residence in order to renew and celebrate diplomatic ties between the host country and the country of a foreign head of state or head of government who was issued an invitation. In many...
in 2009. The couple, whose estimated net worth is more than $700 million, founded the Telos Foundation in 2011. They were featured on the cover of The Advocate magazine's Forty under 40 issue in May 2011.
Personal life
Eldridge and Hughes announced their marriage engagement in January 2011 at a reception in support of Freedom to Marry held in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.