What’s next for national gay rights groups?

By AMY CAVANAUGH

Many national gay advocacy organizations are scaling back services and cutting staff, as the recession takes a toll on nonprofits.

At Lambda Legal, 10 positions were cut last month. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation laid off several staff members Nov. 21. The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has left open unfilled positions, and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association recently reduced its national staff from seven to two.

Now after trimming expenses and cutting staff, some leading gay activists are openly pondering other ways to weather the recession.

Lisa Turner, a member of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund board of directors, said during an International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference panel Dec. 6 that consolidation and mergers might be the answer.

Turner told the audience of openly gay elected officials that there are "too many groups on too many issues."

"I don't understand why we continue to be exclusive," she said. "I mean that in the most respectful way. We have so much overlap. We have so many things we could be doing together."

GLAAD President Neil Giuliano, who also spoke at the panel, said that current "economic realities may force conversations" about mergers.

See What's next for national gay rights groups?
Southern Voice, GA