Pride drama: _ _ it happens
by Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief
It’s no secret OKC Pride is in turmoil. According to reports, it’s not the first time, and they are not the only Pride organization to ever experience chaos.
In case you missed it, in OKC reports were revealed exposing alleged misappropriation of funds by now-former OKC Pride president, Lori Honeycutt. It was also found that Honeycutt had a past arrest record for various forgeries, all of which she denied were her.
The case, 18-54410, has been reported to the OKC Police Department (OCPD) and is now in the hands of OCPD Detective Querry in the white-collar division.
To find the back history of this investigation, and any new information, visit The Gayly website at www.Gayly.com and search OKC Pride.
Where the OKC Pride allegations may be more extreme than others, leaders of several Pride organizations in the South-Central region chimed in with their own stories of “drama.”
“After much controversy in KC the Pride fest was taken over by a not for profit business,” said Bill Svoboda, Coordinator of EventPros, Inc., the company who organizes Kansas City Pride.
“The controversy seemed to go on for years. What I perceived was a lack of communication for what the goals and objectives were and what the community understood it was. It was like there was not a lot of trust there. When people started telling me things about what was going on, I specifically thought about how the issues were perceived. If they were rumors, I worked hard to dispel those rumors. If otherwise, I required proof if it was a for-profit business.”
Svoboda said he does not like to dwell on the past.
“That’s when we were able to turn it around because we were so transparent. I own EventPros, and we are hired by the Kansas City Diversity Foundation. I am paid a fee to produce the festival. We run the festival, but we have to answer to the Coalition, the non-profit who owns KC Pride. I don’t work for them, but my company has a contract with them.”
Svoboda said he has to follow the rules and there are goals and objectives he must meet.
“The board is made up of nothing but volunteers. The board cannot benefit financially or monetarily from the non-profit. In the past, people didn’t even bother to get involved. Now, what I have found, is their belief system is tied to them being gay, rather than the big picture.
“Many don’t understand Pride was never started as a big party. It was about Stonewall and protesting for our rights. All the generations before us did something to progress our rights. We need to be happy they all did this to benefit the greater whole of our community.”
He said as an event planner he always has to think like his client. “I am always trying to go and look at their interests.
“You are always going to get complaints. Listening to each is good practice. You learn a lot about how are being perceived and what you can do to make things better.”
Svoboda has no access to the monies which come from KC Pride.
“The most successful events have hired people to run them,” he said.
In Eureka Springs, Arkansas, they hold three annual Diversity Weekends, their version of Pride events. Jay Wilks, the director of Out in Eureka, the organization which organizes the weekends said, “May 2018, we revamped as an all-inclusive Diversity Weekend and have made our books and fundraising open to the public.”
He said they’ve had no issue with monies. The turmoil for them is how and who should handle the event and its promotion.
“Just a few minor squabbles of which entertainment to bring in.
“Our goal as Out in Eureka is to use the resources given to is by the city Advertising and Promotions, and the incredible support of the businesses who have donated to Out in Eureka to help us make is a great event that benefits everyone in Eureka. These sponsors expect what we promised, and they do get that. We provide an info sheet to the A&P after each diversity and then publish it so everyone can see. Once our 501 (c) 4 is in place we will still operate as a transparent organization. Period.”
Wilks said since he has been the director of Out in Eureka, there has been less bantering and more positive feedback than in years past.
“The people of Eureka know me. They know that I can deliver a promise for the events. I always hear, ‘You didn’t do this for the Q or the B,’ but we have made these events diversity-related so anyone, no matter how they identify are welcome, regardless of their orientation, religious background or ethnicity.
“Hearing of the news for the OKC Pride breaks my heart as we should all be in this together,” Wilks said in closing.
The newly elected OKC Pride President, Brandon Odom, declined to comment at this time.
Travis Hooper, President of Wichita Pride and Jose Vega, Tulsa Pride Director did not respond to our calls and emails. A spokesperson for Fayetteville Pride declined to comment saying he hadn’t heard anything about the OKC Pride organization.
Lastly, Svoboda said, “From here, we put our entire arms around the community. We all have our differences, but for the most part, we’re all gay. Use this as a launching pad to start your Pride and then do your special thing or activity.”
For more information, visit www.gayly.com where you will also find information on the June 26th OKC Pride board and members meeting.
Copyright The Gayly – August 1, 2018 @ 11:35 a.m.