Members Set to Run for SF Pride Board

In anticipation of next month's general annual meeting, several community members plan to run for the board of the organization overseeing San Francisco Pride, as the current board continues to struggle with negative reaction to its handling of the Bradley Manning fiasco this spring.

It was clear from two recent meetings - a board meeting and a member meeting - that while the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee has been touting its increased revenue stream and festival turnout, a darker current has continued as infighting and frustration have set the organization on what appears to be a long course toward reconciliation.

Emotions ran high at the August 13 member meeting, where the board invited nominations for new board members and themes for next year's Pride celebration.

Accusations of non-transparency were repeatedly raised, and Pride members criticized the board for its failure to follow protocol, often redirecting discussion and neglecting its agenda of tabled items.

"There's a big elephant in this room, and it's that this organization has not been run fairly," said member Thomas Plagemann. "This is about a social justice movement and a transparent show of solidarity and pride. You treated us like shit around the Manning issue."

He was referring to the controversy surrounding the Pride board's naming of Manning, the Army private who gave downloads of classified government documents to WikiLeaks, as a community grand marshal for this year's parade. Two days later, the board rescinded the honor, and ever since, has been met with anger from Manning supporters as well as transparency advocates. (Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison Wednesday.) The board only acknowledged it made a "mistake" in selecting Manning in the first place, and that was back in early May.

Plagemann, like some of the estimated 40 others at the meeting last week at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center, is a new member of San Francisco Pride. The new members are giving momentum to the organization as it restructures after the Manning controversy. A group called SF Pride Members for Democracy, Accountability and Transparency has also sprouted in the Manning aftermath. Group leader and Castro resident Joey Cain said that 30 members gather for its meetings.

Contention at Pride meetings can be subtle. For example, when soliciting theme suggestions for next year's Pride celebration, a member last week suggested "Transparency," and when any nomination procedure occurred, Cain, a former Pride board chair and longtime board member, interjected.

"Someone on this board, read your fucking rules," said Cain as the board reviewed nominations for the three remaining slots among seven new board seats. Some 10 members accepted nominations for the positions. Among them are Cain, Gary Virginia, John Caldera, Kevin Bard, Marsha Levine, and Jesse Sanford Oliver.

Several of the current board members are also expected to seek re-election. An email to Pride CEO Earl Plante to confirm which board members are up for re-election was not returned by press time.

Control over the meeting shifted to the audience while the board grew uneasy, with Secretary Lou Fischer insistently quelling comments or suggestions even from a fellow board member, Treasurer David Currie.

The most uproar occurred when new member Pat Keenan complained that the nomination procedure was not clearly stated, although others in attendance stated that the process was simpler than she suggested.

"Five minutes," said Plante as he piled his papers, feet tapping, six minutes in advance of the Monday meeting's close. Last week's meeting was the first Plante has attended since the Pride parade.

Finance Report

Currie presented the Pride Committee's fiscal report, which shows a 141 percent increase in parade income. Parade contingents increased from some 140 to 210 this year.

Although there was an increase in turnout, gate donations at the festival saw a modest 7 percent gain, while beverage sales increased by nearly 20 percent.

An organizational consultant named Melvin Musick appeared at the August 6 board meeting. Board President Lisa Williams said that Musick has aided the Pride Committee through the peak of its Manning controversy since May for a cost of $3,000.

"I'm here to decide what structure is important for disseminating information. So essentially I'm a doctor, like you might need a doctor, or like I might," said Musick, who was not at the August 13 meeting.

In the only instance of levity, the board solicited suggestions for next year's Pride celebration theme, which garnered titles like, "Let's Have a Kiki" and "A Roof and Respect for All," but that serendipitous moment was cut short when the board resumed its review of allowing military recruiters at the festival, as happened this year when the National Guard had a booth. The board did not come to a consensus on that subject, which was tabled from a July meeting.