LGBTQ nonprofit rescinds Patricia Todd’s job offer after tweet trying to ‘out’ Kay Ivey
An Orlando-based LGBTQ nonprofit has withdrawn its job offer to outgoing Alabama State Rep. Patricia Todd after she posted on social media calling Governor Kay Ivey gay and saying she deserves to be outed. One Orlando Alliance, central Florida’s largest coalition of LGBTQ advocacy groups, had named Todd, Alabama’s first openly gay lawmaker, as their new executive director earlier this month. “The Board affirms that Ms. Todd’s recent comments are not aligned with the values of One Orlando Alliance,” said Jennifer Foster, chair of the alliance’s board of directors, which unanimously voted Thursday to withdraw Todd’s employment contract. “We strongly believe that coming out is a personal choice, and we do not support involuntarily outing.” “While Ms. Todd has a well-established record of outstanding service to the community, her lapse in judgment has led us to end our relationship with her,” Foster said. “We admire her many decades of exemplary service and believe that, with the right opportunity, Ms.Todd will continue to use her many talents to make significant progress advocating for justice and equality.” The post On Tuesday, Todd took to both Twitter and Facebook in an effort to “out” Ivey. “Will someone out her for God’s sake….I have heard for years that she is gay and moved her girlfriend out of her house when she became Gov. I am sick of closeted elected officials,” she posted. The Alliance Eighteen organizations formed the alliance in June 2016 following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando to offer short-term crisis counseling, emergency care packages, and money to victims and their families. Since then, the alliance has grown to more than forty groups with a long-term vision to support and empower LGBTQ residents in central Florida. Todd had been hired to bring together LGBTQ+ organizations and work to transform Central Florida into an accepting and unified community for all. She was set to begin in her new role June 1. Todd did not respond to requests for comment.
Alabama’s first openly gay lawmaker Patricia Todd to lead LGBTQ coalition
One Orlando Alliance, central Florida’s largest coalition of LGBTQ advocacy groups, on Tuesday named Birmingham-Democrat state Rep. Patricia Todd executive director. Todd, Alabama’s first openly gay lawmaker will lead the LGBTQ coalition in Orlando, Fla., in an effort to bring together LGBTQ+ organizations and work to transform Central Florida into an accepting and unified community for all. Eighteen organizations formed the alliance in June 2016 following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando to offer short-term crisis counseling, emergency care packages, and money to victims and their families. Since then, the alliance has grown to more than forty groups with a long-term vision to support and empower LGBTQ residents in central Florida. Todd has over three decades of experience advocating for justice and equality. Born and raised in Kentucky, Todd served two years in Washington, D.C. with the National Organization for Women before moving to Alabama. She went on to serve as Executive Director for AIDS Alabama, the statewide HIV/AIDS organization, and State Director for the Human Rights Campaign. In 2006, she garnered national attention when she became the first openly gay elected official to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives. She was re-elected in 2010 without opposition. After serving 12 years, she did not seek re-election. Her farewell speech to the House received a standing ovation. “Patricia has been training for this role her whole life. She’s a natural fit and we’re delighted she’ll be joining the coalition in this important work,” remarked Jennifer Foster, Chair of the Board of Directors and one of the original co-conveners of the Alliance. Todd said of her new position, “I am honored to be selected as the Executive Director for One Orlando Alliance. I look forward to working alongside Alliance members to create a more inclusive Central Florida community.” “The work of One Orlando Alliance serves as a national model for how to pull community together in the wake of unimaginable tragedy,” Todd added. “I’m humbled to help tell that story of the origin and even more excited about our shared vision for a stronger, more unified future. Together, the Alliance will ensure that justice and equality are rights of all who call Central Florida home.” The selection of Todd followed an extensive nation-wide search that began in August, 2017. She will begin her new role on June 1.
