Equality Ohio, the statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, announced on Thursday that they have dramatically reduced their staff.
The organization cited “ongoing budget constraints as a result of the current challenging landscape” as the reason for the staff reduction.
The exact number of layoffs is in dispute, with laid-off employees – speaking through the union – numbering more than what Equality Ohio is reporting.
The organization said in a statement that they “decreased [their] workforce by 4 [full-time employees]” of their “17 team members.” Although the statement did not define how many of the 17 were part-time employees or contractors, the termination of 4 employees represents an overall reduction of 23.5%.
However, the Buckeye Flame has independently confirmed that six full-time employees have been terminated, a reduction of at least 35%.
According to a statement provided to The Buckeye Flame by the six employees – who are represented by the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board (CMRJB) of Workers United labor union – the terminated staff received an email just before 9 a.m. on Thursday informing them of the layoffs, effective November 13, “just weeks before the holiday season and during one of the most difficult times of the year to secure new employment.”
“This news came as a shock to our team, arriving less than a week after our mandatory participation in Equality Ohio’s 20th Anniversary Gala—a celebration that required many of us to work 8 to 14-hour days to make it a success,” the statement read. “Despite the abrupt notice yesterday, we were still expected to continue working, and were instructed on transition steps, with the option to take the following day off.”
Eliminated positions include: director of advocacy, communications manager, the entire regional organizer team (three staff members covering Northeast Ohio, Central Ohio and the Mahoning Valley) and at least one attorney in the legal clinic.
The statement also noted that “five bargaining unit members, one director, and all elected Union leadership positions were included in the layoffs.”
The six employees said they are working with their union to assess next steps.
Minutes after impacted staff received their layoff emails, the organization sent out an email to their supporters outlining a new strategic plan, which included a “bold ambition” of passing “equality measures in 30 municipalities within 30 counties that do not currently have equality measures by 2029.”
The email did not mention any staff reductions or the elimination of the regional organizer team.
However, “many of the impacted staff had helped shape those very goals during the organization’s recent annual retreat,” the statement from the six employees read.
When contacted for comment, Equality Ohio released a statement that the organization “is not the first to be faced with the reality of downsizing as nonprofit organizations continue to face funding threats nationwide, and sadly we won’t be the last.”
Both the statement from Equality Ohio and from the six terminated employees reiterated resolve in the fight for statewide LGBTQ+ equality.
“Despite these difficult times, we remain steadfast in our resolve and will continue to fight for LGBTQ+ Ohioans who are under attack now more than ever,” said Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio.
“We are still here,” said the six employees. “We are your neighbors, your advocates, your community. Our dedication to collective liberation and to the fight for full liberation continues, in solidarity and with love. We’ll see you in the trenches, as always, together in this work for justice.”
The Buckeye Flame reached out to Equality Ohio with questions regarding the exact number of staff terminated, allegations that the layoffs violated a collective bargaining agreement and how the layoffs affect Equality Ohio’s new strategic plan.
“Give[n] this matter is still in process, this is the only information we are able to provide at this time,” the statement from Equality Ohio concluded. 🔥
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