 |
 |
| Donald Hitchcock (left) was fired May 2 as the Democratic Party’s gay outreach adviser. His partner, Paul Yandura, said the move was in retaliation for a letter Yandura wrote accusing DNC Chair Howard Dean of failing to take adequate steps to defend gay rights. |
|
|
| | |
| |
|
|
| | |
HOME > NEWS > NATIONAL NEWS
By: LOU CHIBBARO J COMMENTS
 
continued...
fault," said this source. "He never received the confidence of Dean and high-level DNC officials that someone like Bond is certain to receive," the source said.
Hitchcock disputes this assessment. "I never had any bad performance review or anyone telling me I was not doing a good job," he said.
He said DNC officials Tom McMahon and Leah Daughtry said at the time they informed him of his dismissal on May 2 that the decision to let him go "was not in the works for several weeks" but had been made within the past few days.
Hitchcock said the firing came after McMahon and Daughtry asked him to resign and he refused.
More clout in DNC?
John Marble, a spokesperson for the National Stonewall Democrats, said the group would have no immediate comment on Hitchcock’s firing. Marble said the group was hopeful, however, that the DNC would respond to concerns expressed by Yandura and other gay Democrats.
"This presents the DNC with the opportunity to lay out a good plan to encourage GLBT participation in the 2006 election cycle and a plan to combat anti-gay ballot initiatives," Marble said.
Andy Tobias, the DNC treasurer, considered the party’s highest ranking openly gay official, said he was sorry to see Hitchcock leave his post at the DNC, but declined to comment on whether his departure was a form of retaliation by Dean.
"Donald is terrific," Tobias said. "I will miss working with him, and I’m really sorry this didn’t work out," he said. "Brian is also terrific, and I think he’ll bring our community even more clout within the DNC, which we deserve. Now, let’s go out and win some elections."
Tobias said he respects and admires Yandura’s work for the party in the past and understands his frustration over the Republicans’ use of anti-gay ballot initiatives as a device to win elections.
"Paul is terrific, but I deeply disagree with his approach," Tobias said. "Paul and I have talked several times, and I let him know we are eager to receive all suggestions that will enhance the dignity and rights of the GLBT community, and at the same time enhance our chances of winning the elections or at least not diminish the chances."
According to Tobias, Yandura has responded to his inquires by rep
| 
