Does GSA Network Build Leaders?? Labor Lawsuit Filed

Gay-Straight Alliance Network Sued following 10th Anniversary Celebration

Community movement building against trend in unethical labor practices

San Francisco, CA - A community outcry is quickly growing as the knowledge of a labor lawsuit filed in December against the Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) is circulating widely via email, facebook and word-of-mouth. The details of the wrongful termination lawsuit filed are stunning to many in the community and across the country as this is a well known social justice organization that prides itself on being youth driven and a vehicle for leadership development in the queer youth movement.

In the last four years over 10 staff at the GSA Network, majority of which were people of color and/or gender variant, have either been fired or resigned due to the actions of the Executive Director, Carolyn Laub. Many of these individuals are coming forward with similar experiences to tell - all of which reflect on the poor leadership of the executive director and the neglect of the board to take responsibility of the organization. The plaintiff in the lawsuit, a queer person of color who has worked in the field for over 15 years, was fired shortly after a month on the job and relocating from Texas (see case details in link).

"Momentum is building because the community is concerned about the future of the queer youth movement", states Ruth Obel-Jorgensen. "The labor practices at GSA Network are not conducive to building a high-impact social justice nonprofit and they contradict the organization's mission of building leaders. This ultimately impacts the entire movement all the way up to the struggle for marriage equality."

In an effort to show a trend in unethical labor practices to the board of directors, former staff submitted letters documenting their experience (see letters in supporting documents). However, some have expressed a fear of retaliation from the Executive Director that may impact their ability to obtain employment should they also tell their story. GSA Network is being represented by the lawyers of Low Ball & Lynch.

A board meeting was held on Saturday, January 24th where it was hoped that the concerns would be addressed. The board has yet to respond.

Sean Saifa Wall, former Northern California Community Organizer at GSA Network, states: "Three of the five adult board members are employees of Genentech, a biotechnology corporation. It's very clear that GSA Network has abandoned its commitment to social justice in favor of adopting a corporate model that utilizes youth voices simply to secure funding".

The next full board meeting is scheduled for March 21st. The community is hoping for more accountability at this staff meeting in the face of this lawsuit as concerns raised about the executive director by staff have been dismissed by the board of directors in the past.

"We feel the adult board members are overpowering and dismissing the voices of the youth and are operating as a top down corporation rather than a youth leadership social justice nonprofit", stated Wall. "Youth are angry that the leaders of their organization have treated staff so poorly over the last 10 years and they want their voices to be heard and for a change to be made".