It’s long past time for GLAAD to close its doors. And it’s not too late for Equality California to come back home.
Nonprofit organizations such as GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and EQCA were created for good reasons. GLAAD, founded in 1985, was created to combat bias against LGBT people in the media and to educate journalists about cultures and communities that many of them didn’t understand. EQCA was founded in 1998 to fight for civil rights for LGBT people in California.
But over the past couple of decades, GLAAD has devolved into an organization known best for its celebrity award events, which it uses to suck up money that should go to more important LGBT causes. EQCA continues to do good work in California, a beacon for LGBT rights in the United States. But EQCA has decided to extend its reach nationally with an office in Washington, D.C., already the headquarters for the Human Rights Campaign, perhaps the most effective group advocating for LGBT rights. Other organizations with a national focus such as Lambda Legal also already have offices there. If EQCA is successful in promoting itself as a national LGBT rights organization, it will suck up dollars that might have gone to HRC and Lambda and others with a well-established national focus.
The failure of nonprofits to recognize their success and close their doors isn’t uncommon. Laurie Wolf, president of the Foraker Group, a consultant to nonprofits, which has studied the sustainability of nonprofits, notes that (click here to read more)
GLADD should declare victory and fold up. I love AHF but Michael Weinstein really needs to focus on maintaining the quality of health care and just steer clear of involving himself in land use issues; AHF patients need his undivided attention. If we are talking about making the most of your charitable dollars, I believe the Center still delivers bang for the buck.
Steve Martin
Jim Nasium is right about AHF. They need to stay out of LA development and focus on AIDS Healthcare. I used to donate to them, but now I can’t trust them to do something good with the money.
and while we’re at it, how about AHF? They’ve become group that has lately lost it’s common sense.
Although I do not know much about these organizations, it seems to be the path that humanity takes. People forget the raison d’etre. After a few years, the executives, well paid, can’t resist the money and prestige, as George Harrison said: “They’ve forgotten all about God”.
Agree with Todd Blanco about HRC, which should be known as the Human Rights Corporation. Don’t forget that HRC strongly opposed US v Windsor because “HRC felt time was not ripe” to actively support gay marriage. HRC is a corporate bureaucracy rather than a proactive civil rights supporter.
Thank you! Both should fold. EQCA could easily be folded into another nonprofit and GLAAD has outlived its mission. While we are at it, just what does HRC do with all that money except publish its corporate equality index and have award dinners?