My brother Mike has been ably chronicling the sad, slow-motion implosion of Ottawa’s Pink Triangle Services:
Despite a plunge in community donations and a depleted budget surplus, the head of Pink Triangle Services is blaming a recent public controversy on “sexism, biphobia and trans-phobia.”
PTS president Ruth Dulmage addressed an Oct 25 special general meeting called in response to a public controversy over the legitimacy, finances and ethics of the organization’s board of directors.
“Whether you believe that sexism, biphobia and transphobia are the root causes or underpinnings of recent challenges or whether you are understandably fearful of change, growth and expansion or whether some of the resignations personally affected or concerned you or whether some of the historical problems, that have now been solved, concerned you, we ask that you move along with us and support PTS in any way you can.”
Dulmage offered the organization’s members no admission that she or the board accepted blame for the controversy or for past behaviour. Instead, she urged that people move on without a pause to carefully examine the issues that had created the fuss.
Whatever the underlying causes, it’s sad to see a venerable community institution in a state that looks very much like its death throes — especially one that has done so much good over the years.
Folks throughout the non-profit sector will be able to relate to the dilemma. You look for volunteer board members who have passion and commitment to change, and that implies a certain critique of the world around us; but in a politically-charged atmosphere, that critique can be turned inward as easily as outward. Add a few personality clashes and accusations of misconduct or conflict of interest, and even strong, longstanding groups can be laid low.
(Aside: On the other hand, it always cheers me to see an Xtra newspaper box on the sidewalk. Xtra is, for all intents and purposes, the successor publication to The Body Politic; it’s now a weekly presence in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa, distributed everywhere from gay bars to street corners to family grocery stores.)
