TO: ALL GMHC CLIENTS:
Re: Former GMHC CAB Leader Fights Expulsion, Charge Discrimination
June 12th, 1983 -- the birth of the People With AIDS self-empowerment movement, when a group of HIV positive gay men unveiled The Denver Principles, stating "We condemn attempts to label us as 'victims,' a term which implies defeat, and we are only occasionally 'patients,' a term which implies passivity, helplessness, and dependence upon the care of others. We are 'People With AIDS.' "
As Clients of many of the HIV Service Provider Organization, we are often used as pawns by the same agency whose primary focus may not necessary be the health and well being of its clients.
At the same time, to often we see that those who position themselves as so-called client leaders, are either co-opted or push for self interest rather than the interest of the group.
Here at GMHC, over the past year, and since the departure of Dr. Hill and the search for a new Executive Director, the interest and input of clients have been subverted and totally ignored. The voices of clients are being silenced, marginalized and amount to a gross violations of our rights as clients.
These violations are being assisted and carried out by none other than one of our own, who happens to be the Chair of the GMHC Consumer Advisory Board, Mr. Manuel Rivera. With the primary purpose of maintaining the status quo, we see Rivera navigating the system with the tacit approval of the GMHC Board, There has been a growing opposition from members within the CAB and GMHC Action Center regarding the leadership style and bullying type behavior coming from the GMHC CAB Chair.
When it comes to represent the interest of clients, the Chair of the Consumer Advisory Board has been missing in action. Have anyone seen the chair of the CAB attending any recent collective events such as World AIDS Day, any lobbying day at City Hall, Albany or D.C.? I don't think so!
In 2009, Rivera was sent to the GMHC Board with a mandate that the board amend its by-laws, and that GMHC Clients would have representation on the GMHC Board. Rivera went to the board, played politics and did nothing toward furthering the empowerment of clients. During the latter part of 2013, Rivera step down as a board member, in which he surreptitiously blocked any moves for his replacement, thus allowing him to consolidate his powers and authority with the board.
As clients, we all remained silent and witnessed the unceremonious departure of Dr. Hill as CEO. We now know that Dr. Hill's departure was engineered by Rivera & Company. There were some members of the board, who had no clue what was really going down, except that a group of disgruntled staff members, along with a few fed-up activist CAB members had complained to the board of her managerial style.
For those CAB leaders who did speak up, we saw a campaign of vilification, lies, distortion and political maneuvering coming from Rivera as CAB Chair. Keeping in mind the concept of the Denver Principles, we asked that you stand up for what is right and sign a petition on Move On dot Org in solidarity with the former Vice-Chair of the CAB. The issue here is whether we will uphold the rights of clients for freedom of expression, due process. and non-discrimination. http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/gmhc-cab-leader-fights
Finally, today will mark the arrival of GMHC's new CEO, Mr. Kelsey Louie. We need to allow Louie the opportunity to do what he was hired to do. While Rivera didn't get his preferred candidate, this is no reason to sabotage Louie's success as CEO. We therefore welcome Kelsey and wish him all the best in his new position here at GMHC.
In Unity and Straight,
Joseph Sellman
Former GMHC CAB Vice-Chair
The Action Committee For Justice And Transparency At GMHC
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