Showing posts with label Ballroom Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ballroom Community. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

GMHC CEO search committee diversity controversy triggers protest

GMHC's search for a new CEO is clouded in secrecy with no input from the agency's clients, activists say

Roberta Kaplan Paul Weiss GMHC Diversity Scandal photo Roberta-Kaplan-Paul-Weiss-GMHC-scandal_zpsdbc92bba.jpg

Members of the Consumer Advisory Board, a committee representing clients served by Gay Men's Health Crisis, made an appeal to GMHC's CEO search committee's leader, Paul Weiss partner Roberta Kaplan, "to include black and Latino voices" on the search committee, DNAinfo New York reported, but Ms. Kaplan "brushed them off."

Activists and clients plan to protest outside GMHC offices on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., demanding justice and transparency by GMHC's CEO search committee and by the agency's Board of Directors.

Over a year ago, leaders from New York City's Ballroom community and other activists launched a protest campaign against the agency's former GMHC CEO, Marjorie Hill, for exploiting New York's Ballroom community and for leaving the agency in a financial mess.

Ms. Hill was fired from GMHC the same year that New York City voters rejected former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's mayoral campaign. After a recent press article reported that former Speaker Quinn, who never delivered any transformative reform for people with AIDS, much less never established a comprehensive city agenda on HIV/AIDS, was being considered for the CEO position, the report triggered a swift backlash of outrage amongst activists. Some activists alleged that Ms. Kaplan, a leading QUILTBAG civil rights attorney and close political ally of Ms. Quinn, was trying to rescue Ms. Quinn's public career at the expense of the agency's critical mission. In the last year, New York QUILTBAG activists have become emboldened to demand real change everywhere from city government to leading HIV/AIDS service organizations, and activists are not going to take anymore empty rhetoric or false promises for change, not even from fake leaders from within the GUILTBAG community. There's no more patience for that.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Public Opinion is Changing Against GMHC and the Latex Ball

Wolfgang Busch publishes remarkable video on YouTube, showing how the Ballroom Community was exploited by Jennie Livingston's documentary, ''Paris Is Burning.''

GMHC has chosen to associate itself with Jennie Livingston and her exploitative documentary, ''Paris Is Burning,'' even though that film sensationalizes members of the Ballroom community. Not only that, but when Ms. Livingston's documentary was in production, she took advantage of many individuals, the Ballroom community alleges.

Despite these sensitivities, it is unknown why GMHC supports ''Paris Is Burning.''

Additionally, each year, GMHC sponsors the Latex Ball, which also exploits the Ballroom community. After years of exploitation and insensitivity, the Ballroom community has called for a boycott of the Latex Ball, as a way to give GMHC a wake-up call.

After a series of videos, Wolfgang Busch, a documentary filmmaker and supporter of the Ballroom community, has released this latest video, which is altering public opinion about GMHC.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

GMHC, It's A Chop : Protest against 2013 Latex Ball at LGBT Community Center

On Friday night, activists continued their protests against the New York City-based AIDS organisation, GMHC.

Activists and representatives from the Ballroom community question where does GMHC receive the funding to sponsor the lush and plus Latex Ball.

The protesters also questioned the motivations of GMHC to become so involved in sponsoring a runway ball, when the AIDS organisation's primary mission is to "fights to end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected." Protesters wonder how can GMHC accomplish its mission in respect of the Ballroom community, if the Ballroom community feel manipulated and exploited by GMHC.

Read more : GMHC : It's a Chop ! Report and Flyer : Why you should boycott the 2013 Latex Ball.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Protest against GMHC's Exploitation of the Ballroom Community

Protesting GMHC outside the Winter Pride 2013 gala at Astoria Manor

4 Reasons Why The House Ball Community Will Boycott The 2013 LATEX BALL Sponsored By GMHC :

1. GMHC violated a 20-year-old House Ball policy at the 2011 Latex Ball. GMHC invited Jeannie Livingston from the film Paris Is Burning, which exploited and unfairly portrayed the community.

2. GMHC is cutting into the House Ball economy. By using subsidies, GMHC gives the free Latex Ball, which undercuts House Ball producers.

3. GMHC is manipulating the House Ball's natural artistic progression. GMHC packages the Latex Ball as a health program, interfering with Ballroom subculture.

4. GMHC is dividing the House Ball community. GMHC's insensitivities has soured relations within our community toward the AIDS services agency.

For more information, please visit the official GMHC ... It's a Chop ! blog.