NYC LGBTQ Center Cancels Event Hosted by Right-Wing Queer Group

Following an online outcry and protest threats, New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center canceled an event -- billed as the #WalkAway LGBT Town Hall -- that was to feature controversial queer conservatives and encourage LGBTQ people to "walk away" from the Democratic Party.

Planned for March 28, the town hall was spearheaded by "former liberal" Brandon Straka, a gay man who now claims the Democratic Party "[uses] lies, fear mongering, fake news, hate and division to keep us coming back."

The Center, as it is also called, initially dug in after members of the community -- including bisexual actress and activist Sara Ramirez -- expressed outrage at the nonprofit for hosting such a divisive event. (Ramirez also recently demanded and received a refund on a donation to The Center, saying the organization never used her money to advance bisexual causes.)

In a statement sent to The Advocate on Wednesday, The Center justified its decision to host the event.

"The Center is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization," read the statement. "We do not support or endorse activities held by groups renting our space. All groups utilizing space at The Center must execute a Space Use Agreement and agree to our Space Use Terms and Conditions, Code of Conduct and Pledge of Non-Discrimination. We acknowledge the diversity of our community's perspectives, and while we may be disgusted by or reject the ideas some groups espouse, we will not stand in the way of their right to say them. Our responsibility is to provide space for connecting and organizing across our diverse viewpoints, not to censor."

Following threats of a protest, organized by ACT UP New York member Jason Rosenberg, The Center reversed course.

"Upon further review and consideration, The Center has cancelled the March 28 Walk Away event," read the Friday announcement. "We strongly oppose censorship and fully stand by our commitment to free speech, but as our space use policy states, we reserve the right to cancel any event that promotes discriminatory speech or bigotry; negatively impacts other groups or individuals that use The Center; or conflicts with, or interferes with, Center-sponsored or produced programming. It has become clear that this event would violate all of these important policies.

In recent days we have learned that certain of the panelists announced for this event have made repeated, well-documented past statements that violate our mission, values and the spirit of inclusiveness for all individuals and identities that is core to our work and who we are. Our space is a place of safety and refuge for those most vulnerable among us, and we will do everything in our power to protect that. Permitting this event to proceed would make many of our community members feel unsafe and, among other things, interfere with their ability to participate in other Center programming.

We extend our deep appreciation and thanks to the community members that have reached out and brought this important information to our attention, and we deeply regret the hurt and harm this booking has caused. We take our responsibility as a place of organizing and activism very seriously, and that means we have and will continue to host events that are controversial. And as a non-partisan organization, we also understand that our community members hold differing political views. We support and encourage open dialogue around those views, but not when it interferes with our operations and programming, or threatens the well-being of our community.

The Center is committed to a comprehensive, transparent review of the processes that led to this booking, and how we can further improve our space use procedures and decision-making. We understand that the work to heal and rebuild trust begins today."

Panelists attached to the now-canceled town hall included transgender YouTuber Blaire White, political commentator Rob Smith, and writer Mike Harlow. White may have been the most controversial figure -- she regularly mocks nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people, and published a video titled, "Fat Acceptance is Stupid." As reported by Out, Smith is a black gay conservative, who claims he faced less discrimination for his sexual orientation than for his political leanings.

Straka, meanwhile, says #WalkAway is a grassroots mission against the "divisive tenets endorsed and mandated by the Democratic Party of today." In a video on the #WalkAway website, Straka says liberals and Democrats have cruelly turned against white, straight men.