Pridelines is entering a period of transition, with a new interim executive director being named and its annual gala postponed. Meanwhile, board leaders remain silent on the circumstances surrounding Edward Summers’ departure — prompting frustration among staff.
Michael Riordan has been named the interim Executive Director. She was most recently the Chief Operating Officer for Compass Community Center in Palm Beach County. She replaces Summers.
The appointment was announced in an email, and at least some staff expressed disappointment and concern. OutSFL obtained a response from a staff member, who wished to remain anonymous. The staff member said they were sharing the concerns of colleagues, emphasizing that the issue isn’t with Riordan personally.
It reads in part, “...there has been little transparency or acknowledgment of what has transpired, and many of us are now left with more unanswered questions. The lack of communication from board leadership has created a disconnect that continues to affect our ability to do our jobs effectively and with confidence in the direction we're headed. We deserve better.”
The Pridelines fundraising gala, once scheduled for next month, is postponed indefinitely, according to multiple sources.
Legal Issues
There are lingering questions about Summers’ recent departure. Pridelines described it as the two parties having “parted ways,” while Summers told OutSFL he resigned to attend law school.
Meanwhile, Pridelines’ board chair Veronica Barrios-Garcia later said, “It is our policy not to comment on personnel decisions such as these,” while adding, “It’s important to remember: Pridelines has never been about one individual.”
Barrios-Garcia and other board members have not responded to follow-up questions.
Summers, however, believes members of Pridelines are attempting to damage his reputation. OutSFL received a legal notice warning of a potential lawsuit if the publication continued to pursue the story.
The “intent to sue” letter accuses Barrios-Garcia, along with three other staff members, of spreading “internal rumors and breaches of confidentiality.”
One excerpt reads: “These statements are entirely false, unsupported, and defamatory per se, as they falsely impute criminal conduct and professional misconduct to Mr. Summers. Furthermore, OutSFL has demonstrated reckless disregard for the truth by circulating these unverified claims, which appear to be based on internal rumors and breaches of confidentiality some of which may originate from individuals affiliated with Pridelines [...]”
The letter addresses some specific allegations that have been made. Summers vehemently denies all accusations.
OutSFL is working to discern the validity of the accusations. As mentioned above, OutSFL has reached out to various board members who have yet to respond to follow up questions.
Meanwhile, OutSFL’s legal counsel responded, saying: “The First Amendment to the United States Constitution affords media outlets great freedom to investigate and report upon matters of public concern. That freedom of the press serves as the foundation that our democracy rests upon. This is particularly true where that investigation and reporting concerns public figures, like your client. My client will not be deterred from exercising its constitutional right to engage in investigative reporting through the making of unwarranted threats of litigation. To the contrary, my client will aggressively defend any effort to curtail those rights.”
