Just three weeks after well over 250,000 people came to Washington, DC in support of full federal equality in all matters of civil law for the LGBT community, the co-directors of the march have resigned from Equality Across America. The two activists credited their decision to strong differences of opinion regarding the future of EAA, and the direction it should take.
Founder of EAA, Cleve Jones, did confirm that neither of the co-directors would be continuing their involvement with Equality Across America. According to a post on Bilerico Project many of the people involved were in agreement that the split was motivated by disagreements regarding the future leadership and financial arrangements of the new, although promising, organization of activists.
Jones explained "We're still not sure this is a viable organization. It's still not clear to me that EAA is going to happen yet. There needs to be a working group to take EAA forward. I'll be inviting [the March's] steering committee and executive committee members to participate."
As a temporary solution to calm the turmoil and keep the organization running, some of the executive committee members opted to elect Tanner Efinger to the role of interim Project Director, which puts him as the responsible party for the organizations legal contract with the Tides Foundation. However, this decision was only offered to a random select few of the people that should have been involved in the decision making process, and paired with other underlying tensions between various members of both the steering and executive committees, has just left members extremely frustrated. This is now resulting in various members and groups within the committees grasping for control over the current and future leadership of the organization.
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Williams stated in an email that his decision was strongly based on finances. For his work on the march spanning from the 1st of August to the 1st of November, he was paid approximately $9,000.
In his email, Williams stated, "I'm moving on from EAA for personal and professional reasons. First, I need more security in my life, because I worked on the march for less than minimum wage and without health insurance. Second, I share with EAA the goal of full federal equality, but I have different ideas about the road to get there."
He informed most of the committees for the march about his decision to resign after taking a job with a different non-profit group about two weeks ago. McGehee sent notification to only one committee on October 30.
Her statement read, "Although I am equally driven in my desire for full federal equality, there are different directions that my life, both personally and professionally, are going and I have decided that I will no longer be able to serve with Equality Across America as this organization begins to take it's next steps."
Bilerico reported that insiders on this matter "have charged that Williams and McGehee were forced out in an attempt to wrest control of the organization from the popular activists. They claim that Efinger, who also assists Jones with personal matters, is being rewarded for his close friendship with Jones."
Efinger explained that the position is a requirement of the fiscal sponsor, "the duties of which include liaising with them on fiscal paperwork and legal matters. It is not a glorified leadership position - but as Kip was stepping out of that position it needed to be filled. As I currently have the availability to take this on in a volunteer capacity, I agreed to the interim role."
Derek Washington, one of the members of the executive committee, decided to step up and voice his concerns regarding the appointment of Efinger to the interim position and the groups overall direction. While many members have privately said quite the opposite, Washington says he "joined up with the march because of Robin. She worked without a need to be constantly out front."
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He continued to express his unhappiness in continuing should it become "about any one person as if it was some monarchy."
Jones argues that paid leadership positions being discussed now is not something that should be on the table just yet. EAA has yet to come up with bylaws, budget, a mission statement or even organizational structure. While all committee members agreed to stay on board until the march, Jones and Efinger are apparently polling those involved in an effort to figure out who would be willing to continue and become a part of the new organization.
Nothing has been decided, according to Jones. "The steps just haven't been taken. And what about the big picture? Do we want to create a new national organization? Would it be helpful or hurtful? Will it bring us together or further divide us? These things need to be thoughtfully decided."
Despite having left their leadership positions, and despite what direction EAA ends up taking, Williams and McGehee stated that they would not completely give up being involved in LGBT issues.
"In our activism against Prop 8 and for the National Equality March," Williams explained, "Robin and I have found that we work really well together. We're both fully committed to the struggle for full federal equality, and we're developing some ideas and visions about our next steps.
"We hope that no one will be distracted by the civic life and governing structure of EAA, but that we'll all focus on doing good organizing with integrity."
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