11/12/2009
Equality Arizona Lays Off Staff, Hasn't Offered Specifics
AZ Central reports that Equality Arizona has laid off its staff of two:
"The group, which is Arizona's only statewide advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, laid off executive director Barbara McCullough-Jones (pictured) and field coordinator Meta Goforth-Zinn on Friday. McCullough-Jones, who became the first openly lesbian woman to seek political office in Arizona when she ran for Tempe City Council in 1994, had led Equality Arizona since 2005.
"We're being careful in what we say right now," said Annie Groth, co-chairwoman of the Equality Arizona board, when we spoke with her on the phone this afternoon.
Groth confirmed the layoffs but would not address the motivation behind them, saying she first wanted to speak with a lawyer. McCullough-Jones did not immediately return a call to her cell phone."
Groth said that the group will be "re-characterized" and a statement may come today.
A message on the group's website cites the economic downturn and falling revenues.
Posted 7:57 AM EST by Andy Towle in Arizona, News |
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This is welcome news. The organization was failing miserably. A totally new direction is imperative.
Posted by: Thom | Nov 12, 2009 8:35:14 AM
Sorry to hear this. Barbara was a great leader for equal rights in AZ and was key in the 2004 defeat of the marriage amendment.
Posted by: Tony | Nov 12, 2009 11:10:51 AM
Who didn't see this coming. Good riddance though if legal council is being retained you can sure as shit bet that any monies that should be in the coffers is long gone.
Honestly, at every level of government and ngo and business in this state, you be sure that there is someone in there as crooked as a dogs hind leg.
This org has done nothing positive for years.
Posted by: Marc C | Nov 12, 2009 11:14:51 AM
this organization has been dying a slow death for years. the new leadership ignored most of the community and turned this into a lesbian advocacy group. their fund raising dinners were disasters, and the rebranding to "equality arizona" was a total waste of time and money. the logo looks like it belongs over a row of slot machines. no wonder the monied gays in phoenix left and joined HRC.
Posted by: geeski | Nov 12, 2009 2:50:08 PM