Head of Q Center Resigns: Basic Rights Oregon To Help Decide Center’s Future

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Kyle Curtis, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Barbara McCullough-Jones

In a joint community statement released Friday afternoon, the leadership of Q Center and Basic Rights Oregon announced the resignation of Q Center Executive Director Barbara McCullough-Jones, effective at the end of December. The Board of Directors of Basic Rights Oregon will work with Q Center Board members and convene a community-based conversation to determine the future of Q Center.

“There has been a lot of recent leadership turnover at Q Center,” said Jeana Frazzini, Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon. “This serves as an opportunity to re-set and perform an assessment of the Q Center, to work with the community and determine what needs are being met and which ones are being ignored.”

Prior to the Q Center’s opening in 2006, Portland lacked a LGBT-specific community center. For nearly a decade, the organization has served as a safe space for multi-generational events, programs, services, and advocacy resources.

“This development should be viewed as an important step in the maturation process,” said Frazzini. “This organization has started up from scratch. But the landscape has changed a lot since 2006. As things have really changed, we need a Q Center that reflects those changes.”

Alleged "systemic, widespread failure"

Earlier this week, PQ Monthly printed the resignation letter of a former Q Center employee alleging “systemic, widespread failure” on behalf of the community center's leadership. Charges outlined in the letter against Executive Director Barbara McCullough-Jones include financial mismanagement, lack of long-term strategic planning, and describe a human resource process as “arbitrary” with McCullough-Jones picking personal contacts to fill positions they are “ill-equipped to perform.”

The charges against Q Center leadership raised concerns about the future of an organization that fills a void in Portland’s gay community.

“The allegations in the letter were hard to read,” said Stephen Marc Beaudoin, a former volunteer with Q Center’s gala committee. “Q Center is so important to Portland’s gay community. Despite all of the victories of the past decade, our work isn’t done until every LGBT person from every race and socio-economic background can live their fullest lives.” According to Beaudoin, Q Center is essential to accomplish this goal.

“There is a heightened expectation and awareness of Q Center's role.”

Miguel Cobian was serving as a Board Member when the resignation letter was initially provided to Q Center Board in October. Although Cobian states that it may not have been fair or appropriate for PQ Monthly to print a letter intended to be private, he is glad that Portland’s LGBT community to know what’s going on at Q Center.

The biggest concern that troubled Cobian the most was Q Center’s financial situation. “While I knew that we weren’t necessarily swimming in cash, I had no idea that things were that bad,” Cobian said. “The lack of transparency regarding the financial situation is one of the reasons why I resigned.”

After serving two years as a Q Center Board member, Cobian resigned a week before Friday’s joint announcement. Cobian’s resignation follows the resignation of Q Center’s previous Development Director and Public Relations and Innovations Manager..

The loss of key staff and Board members is cited by Frazzini as a top reason for Basic Rights Oregon’s involvement. “We have heard for months from a lot of community members and previous staff that Q Center was no longer the community center it initially was,” said Frazzini. “We are excited to work with Q Center Board members to create a safe, welcoming space for some of the most marginalized members of our community.”

Changes in Leadership Leads to Uncertain Future

The resignation of McCullough-Jones at the end of month will coincide with a convening of a committee to explore all available options for Q Center’s future. These options could include Q Center’s potential closing.

“The closing of Q Center is a possibility,” said Frazzini. “Our goal is for the LGBT community to decide what Q Center’s future should be.”

Frazzini makes it clear that Basic Rights Oregon is not taking ownership, and that Q Center will continue, at this point, operating independently. The Board of Basic Rights Oregon declined the offer of merging the two organizations, committing to only helping lead a community-driven conversation about Q Center's role.

As announced in the joint statement, this community process is currently comprised by members of the two organizations. However, Frazzini encourages those in Portland’s wider LGBT population to become involved. “This is just the starting point,” Frazzini said. “The announcement is a preview and we expect to expand the community engagement process.” Community members interested in helping determine Q Center’s future are encouraged to contact Basic Rights Oregon.

Response from Portland’s LGBT community regarding Q Center's future is cautiously optimistic.

“I love the Q Center. Portland needs the Q Center,” said Cobian. “Last year, maybe we lost our way a little bit. But I hope that the gay community could continue to support it and help lead it into the future.”

Stphen Marc Beaudoin echoes Cobian’s hopeful statement.“Everyone is hoping, wishing, and wanting a positive outcome,” said Beaudoin, who hopes that the outcome of the community engagement process will result in a stable Q Center with strong community support. “Now, more than ever, people need to offer support than to criticize.”

“We need to work together. So let’s get to work!”