According to a former OutServe-SLDN leader, 19 chapters of OutServe-SLDN are threatening to breakaway unless the majority of the existing board is replaced. In particular they are seeking the resignation of Josh Seefried, co-chair of the current OutServe-SLDN board of directors and alleged instigator of the plan to replace Allyson Robinson.
The group that calls itself the Coalition Of Chapter Leaders is in the process of creating an alternate plan for the organization’s board of directors, which includes replacing most, if not all of the current members of the board.
The 19 breakaway chapters represent 4,000 chapter members, and among these are the women’s and trans affinity chapters.
The quoted source has also indicated that the leaders of these breakaway chapters are mostly enlisted servicemembers. The most senior leader in the breakaway chapters is a CW04 – a warrant officer. The generally younger leadership of these OutServe-SLDN chapters is standing strongly behind outgoing executive director, Allyson Robinson who they see as an inspiring leader.
The chapters that haven’t joined the 19 breakaway chapters are generally led by officers, including a significant number of mid-grade officers.
The alternative plan put forward by the Coalition Of Chapter Leaders includes a plan to install four trans board members to the organization’s 12 member board. Their support of a planned board that would contain the highest percentage of trans board members of any national LGBT organization, along with their continued support of Robinson, seems to indicate that the younger leadership of the enlisted-led chapters are committed to what they perceive as strong and inspiring leadership and the goal of open service for trans servicemembers.
Robinson, when she took over OutServe-SLDN in October of 2012, stated that open service for trans people was the number three priority of the organization. “There are many of us who would love the opportunity to serve our country and who are willing to put our lives on the line for the nation and its people,” said Robinson in an interview published in San Diego LGBT Weekly, Nov. 1, 2012. “We are being prevented from doing so by outdated medical regulations; by a set of archaic policies related to transgender and gender variant people.”
The current board of OutServe-SLDN is planning a change of direction for the organization that appears likely to functionally withdraw the organization’s legal support for trans servicemembers in their trans affinity chapter, as well as de-emphasize the organization’s commitment to open service for trans servicemembers.
“The OutServe-SLDN board and staff are in the process of transforming the organization from primarily a legal services organization into a membership services and advocacy organization,” the board asserted in their June 24 statement. “This not only includes revising our business model to operate effectively under new political and financial realities, but is also part of a larger effort to increase the role of the organization’s 6,500 members in the leadership and direction of the organization,” the board statement continued.
The Coalition Of Chapter Leaders represents 4,000 of those 6,500 chapter members, and an increase in the role of chapter members would mean setting a different direction for the organization that the current OutServe-SLDN board has indicated they want to set.
In a statement released June 29, the coalition specifically indicated that the future direction they want OutServe-SLDN to take doesn’t include board co-chair Josh Seefried. “It is our view, after reviewing the situation and options available, that the best way forward is to address the problems within the leadership.”
The Coalition Of Chapter Leaders statement continued, “We will be asking for the resignation of Josh Seefried, co-chair of the OutServe-SLDN board of directors and coordinator of the process that led to requesting Allyson’s resignation.”
Again, it is obvious that open military service for transgender people is absurd, and is not going to fly with those with any sense.