The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) no longer supports AT&T's $39 billion buyout of T-Mobile.

The group has just sent a letter (PDF) to the FCC rescinding its earlier support for the deal—support that was so controversial, the group's president and six of its board members all resigned in the last few weeks after backing the deal. GLAAD had received money from AT&T, and an ex-AT&T lobbyist served as a GLAAD board member (and may have prompted the initial letter of support).

The endorsement sparked a backlash among GLAAD members outraged that the organization had so quickly agreed to support something so far outside of its competency. Were GLAAD's opinions for sale?

With new leadership in place, GLAAD has notified the FCC that its endorsement no longer stands. "We have taken those concerns [from members] under consideration, and have over the last several weeks engaged in a much more rigorous and consultative examination of the relative benefits and drawbacks to AT&T's application than we undertook in advance of the filing of our initial letter," it said. The group is now "neutral" on the merger.

In addition, GLAAD went out of its way to make clear that it supports net neutrality. "Please be aware that GLAAD disagrees with AT&T's position in this area. GLAAD is a strong supporter of the general principle of net neutrality," said the letter.