Saturday, March 15, 2014

GMHC CLIENTS SILENCED, RIVERA TAKE LEAD IN CAB COOPTATION

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Re:  The Removal of Joseph Sellman as CAB Vice-Chair

Manuel Rivera, GMHC CAB Chair

It is so sad that the Chair of the GMHC CAB, Manuel Rivera, is allowed to get his way by his bulling and diversionary tactics.  His comments as to whether due process was afforded the Vice-Chair in his appeal process is unbelievable and delusional.   Did anyone see Mr. Rivera at the major "Keep The Promise" march and rally in D.C. in 2012, or in Brooklyn last year?  What about the World AIDS Day 2013 in Time Square or any GMHC sponsored WAD for that matter?  Its amazing that he would reference my involvement with the National Action Network and that I was suspended by Rev. Sharpton.  I make no apology for my advocacy.  At least Rev. Sharpton did participate in the "Keep The Promise" March and Rally in Brooklyn and D.C.  Where was Rivera?

Rivera has now assumed the position of Chief Mouth-Piece for the Weinberg campaign for CEO.

I repeat, the voices of GMHC clients has been silenced and the CAB has been hijacked with the help of Mr. Rivera.  I invite all Stakeholders to the GMHC CAB Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2014, 
3-5 p.m.--446 West 33rd Street (between 9th & 10 Avenues)

If you have personal knowledge of this situation, PLEASE SPEAK UP!  Please E-Mail any comments you may have to the Search Committee for CEO and Members of the GMHC Board at:  2014@gmhc.org 

Joseph Sellman

E-Mail any comments you may have to the Search Committee for CEO and Members of the GMHC Board at:  2014@gmhc.org

8 comments:

  1. Word on the street is that, Manny Rivera is a PHONY, ALWAYS HAS BEEN, AND IT WILL BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HIS TRANSPARENCY WILL BE EXPOSED. I know Manny, and he never "struck" me as one who would BETRAY his fellow compatriots. I cannot judge either way. But Joseph, don't you worry, and hang in there (PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE); your reputation and your work speaks for themselves...

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  2. ACT UP New York weight in on GMHC CEO search and bullying tactics of CAB Chair.

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    1. Well, it did not work. The attempt by CAB Chair Manuel Rivera to control the will of GMHC clients by asserted the Weinberg's campaign for CEO upon the CAB and clients of GMHC failed miserably. The GMHC Board went on to appoint former Harlem United COO, Kelsey Louie. We still demand a seat at the table.

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  4. AIDS Activist Charge Harassment and Discrimination

    An indefinite suspension has been given to AIDS Activist and Occupier, Joseph Sellman, by the Gay Men's Health Crisis, (GMHC).

    Joseph Sellman, who served as one of the more outspoken active members of the Consumer Advisory Board (CAB), was recently ousted as its Vice-Chair with the help of the CAB's Chair, Manuel Rivera, who also serves on Community Board 10 in Harlem and David Hind, who serves as the agency's Staff Liaison to the CAB.

    The punitive action by the Executive Committee of the CAB and the indefinite suspension from the agency comes as a result of a concerted effort by GMHC to silence and marginalize the effectiveness of those GMHC CAB members who dare to speak up on behalf of clients.

    This latest attack on clients comes as a result of a dispute between the CAB and the board regarding a “New Direction” for the agency; the efforts by the CAB to have a say in the selection of the next CEO and the advocacy of a dozen or so GMHC clients to raise awareness to a separate and discriminatory entrance policy. Clients now are required to use a separate entrance from the main entrance to access their HIV/AIDS related services from the agency.

    ACT UP New York had also weigh-in with its letter demanding that there be community input, in addition to the Consumer Advisory Group staging a sit-in. The GMHC Board of Directors, in a move to placate the situation, had immediately added sell-out artists, Manuel Rivera in addition to the director of the legal department at GMHC as non-voting members.

    On Wednesday, April 2, 2014, the NYPD was summons to have Sellman removed from the building in regards to a suspension that he had no knowledge of. In support of its case of suspension, GMHC had relied on un-collaborated incident involving Manuel Rivera and a redacted statement from the Staff Liaison to the CAB, David Hind.

    Please sign a petition to GMHC Chairman of the Board, Mr. Mickey Rolfe and the new CEO, Mr. Kelsey Louie to demand:

    1. That Joseph Sellman be reinstated immediately as GMHC client and member of the GMHC CAB.

    2. That David Hind, the GMHC Staff Liaison to the CAB, be disciplined for his unprofessional conduct and harassment of a GMHC client, and for him having submitted a false and misleading statement that was racist in tone against Joseph Sellman, a GMHC client.

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  5. Manny Rivera's real name is Frank Jackson, the same guy who was locked up in DR in 2000 for child pornography charges and got fired as a senior Vice President from scandal-ridden Correction Services Corporation because of it. Influence peddler in the State Assembly who was the center of a big corruption scandal there 12 years ago.

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  6. Manny Rivera's real name is Frank Jackson, the same guy who was locked up in DR in 2000 for child pornography charges and got fired as a senior Vice President from scandal-ridden Correction Services Corporation because of it. Influence peddler in the State Assembly who was the center of a big corruption scandal there 12 years ago. How does this loser get on a community board to begin with? I hope Manny/Frank lives or works in Central Harlem or else HE needs to step down!

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  7. https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151106/central-harlem/harlem-hosts-historic-lgbt-town-hall-meeting

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