On Thursday, Lifelong AIDS Alliance used its own MySpace blog [usual MySpace warnings apply] to tell its side of the story about the firing of non-renewal of contract for its longtime drag host of Gay Bingo.

On Tuesday afternoon, a decision was made by Lifelong AIDS Alliance to discontinue contract negotiations with Thom Hubert (aka GLAMAZONIA), host of our popular Gay Bingo events for the past seven years.

The statement is unsigned on MySpace, but is also printed on Lifelong's main website and is signed there by Lifelong's executive director Dave Richert. He expresses a bit of surprise that the agency wasn't able to control the news about this event in quite the way that it had hoped:

While we planned to share this news with our community in our upcoming email newsletter, word of the impasse spread quickly when Thom contacted the media as well as his friends and supporters. We hope that the following information will help everyone come to a more complete understanding of the situation.

The statement concludes with what seems like a friendly hand-shake while guiding Thom out the door with the other arm firmly pressed on the shoulder blades:

We had earnestly hoped to continue this event with Thom to help these programs and services grow. We are sad that the relationship has come to an end but are still deeply appreciative of the commitment Thom had shown over the past seven years toward Lifelong AIDS Alliance.

But that handshake is offered only after some fairly serious charges are leveled against Hubert:

Throughout the [contract negotiation] process Lifelong listened to Thom's requests regarding Gay Bingo, however there were a few areas that we, as an organization, couldn't overlook -- primarily Thom's refusal to adhere to our harassment policy as it relates to his treatment of our staff and volunteers.

Our harassment policy covers all Lifelong employees, volunteers, board members, donors, and contractors with aim to create "an atmosphere where there is respect for all human dignity." We had asked him to treat our staff and volunteers with dignity. Thom didn't feel that "GLAM" could adhere to the policy.

Which is kind of a nice, bureaucratic way of saying something pretty nasty, no? Aren't they saying there that Thom/Glamazonia is guilty of harassment of LLAA staff and volunteers? Isn't that illegal?

Hubert's response, on his blog, to this part of the statement was, predictably, scathing:

Dave Richart and those who know me, know this is bull.  From our first meeting on October 11 when the policy was 1st brought to my attention, I asked for Lifelong's help in interpreting it to suit an entertainment environment vs. office/workplace for which it is intended.  Not to say that treating people with respect and dignity doesn't translate to the Bingo stage, but in terms of the wording of the policy, 'acting in a flirtatious manner, making sexual remarks, gestures, etc...'

I needed to know how vigorously these guidelines would apply to GLAM, what the consequences might be, etc.  I ASKED to go through the same sexual harassment training that all regular Lifelong employees had gone through (I was on contract) so that I would be on the same page as the rest of the organization and equally equipped to handle/recognize/assess potentially troublesome situations.

Lifelong insists that it isn't trying to "trying to 'de-gay' or 'de-drag' the event" and is now "working with other drag queens locally, regionally and nationally to fill the wonderful shoes left by Thom." 

It's part of the nature of working with drag queens and stage entertainers in general that the relationship between an event's producers and its 'talent' can often be challenging. Lifelong isn't the first local organization or event to fire a long-time drag hostess after producers felt the host stepped over some line -- often unwritten. It won't be the last organization to do so.

But this affair raises a serious question about whether it is still appropriate for Lifelong to produce this or any other entertainment event. See next post, Is it time for Lifelong to let someone else produce Gay Bingo? .

Lifelong's statement
Glamazonia's response