If only I had the perfect vision to see what will become of two of our most important LGBT institutions in San Diego: San Diego Pride and The San Diego LGBT Center. Both organizations are in the process of leadership transition but from different perspectives.
San Diego Pride fired Executive Director Stephen Whitburn for reasons to do with its board of directors. While Stephen led the organization through some its most difficult times, including resolving the financial issues resulting from the organization buying a building for $1.4 million, the board remained unfazed by community protests for Whitburn’s reinstatement.
Now San Diego Pride is at a crossroads. They have been in the search and selection process since March 4, 2017. The community waits with bated breath to hear who will be the new executive director. We will see whether the San Diego Pride selection committee has done its job. Does the selected candidate have experience managing a substantial budget? Have they managed hundreds of people? Do they have experience interacting with a board of directors? How have they managed media relations in their previous experiences?
We will know how San Diego Pride has handled the critical job of selecting its new executive director. Rest assured, I will be commenting given the unceremonious ouster of Whitburn. If the new executive director is unqualified, I will cry foul.
Now the board of The San Diego LGBT Center must pick a new executive director because Dr. Delores Jacobs has announced she will not renew her contract. I hope The Center board watches carefully as the process unfolds for San Diego Pride. Often many of the board members are not qualified to make the selection of the new executive director. Many are community leaders but have absolutely no experience running an organization. The result is that executive director selection is often based upon popularity versus the candidate’s abilities.
San Diego Pride and The San Diego LGBT Center are essential institutions of our community. Making inappropriate executive director selections can be the beginning of the end for both organizations. The new executive directors need to be able to lead both organizations into the new uncharted arena of media and management in our Trump World. We’ll know if the selection committees have done their job. Hindsight is always 20/20.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
