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Ric Weiland (right) and his partner, Mike Schaefer in happier times. Schaefer said his late partner’s bequest to various gay rights organizations will impact more than one generation of gays. (Photo courtesy of Mike Schaefer)


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NATIONAL

Gay groups marvel at unprecedented $65 million bequest
Microsoft innovator Weiland leaves chunk of fortune to 11 gay, AIDS organizations

JOEY DiGUGLIELMO
Friday, February 29, 2008

Gay rights activists have been contemplating an unprecedented windfall following Sunday’s announcement that late philanthropist Ric Weiland earmarked $65 million of his vast estate for 11 gay and AIDS organizations.

Weiland was a high school classmate of Microsoft Corp. founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen and one of the first five people to work for the software giant. Weiland stayed with the company from 1975 through 1988 and became a multi-millionaire.

Weiland, who was gay, donated millions to various organizations — both gay and others — during his lifetime. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2006 at the age of 53 at his home after years of suffering from depression.

The Pride Foundation of Seattle, where Weiland was a board member, made the announcement. It’s the single largest bequest ever given to gay causes.

In addition to the Pride Foundation, which awards grants and scholarships to gay students in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington state, gay and AIDS organizations slated to receive various amounts are: amfAR, an AIDS research foundation; Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a media watchdog organization; the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a group working for safety in schools; In the Life, a gay television documentary series; the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), a U.S. based human rights non-profit; Lambda Legal, a gay legal organization; the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force; Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG), a family gay rights organization; Project Inform, an anti-AIDS group; and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), which works to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s ban on gays serving openly.

All the groups expressed immense gratitude at being included in the bequest; they were among those Weiland supported during his life.

“He had been a significant supporter for years, so I don’t think it would be right to say we were shocked or surprised, but we are certainly very honored,” said Scott Miller, gay communications officer for In the Life.

“Ric was happiest when he was helping others and so I’m glad that I got to see him at some of his most joyful times,” said lesbian Audrey Haberman, executive director of the Pride Foundation.
Haberman knew Weiland from his Pride Foundation board service and remembers him as “very thoughtful, warm and funny, but also very quiet and very analytical.”

“Everyone on the board was very fond of him but we weren’t always sure what he was thinking,” she said.

Haberman said Weiland, who’d supported Pride Foundation for years, was humble about his large donations and insisted his gifts not be given any more ballyhoo than others. At times, he gave anonymously, she said.

With $11 million to be given in eight annual installments (all Weiland’s gifts to the gay groups will be given over the course of eight years), Lambda Legal got the most money after the Pride Foundation’s $19 million. Executive Director Kevin Cathcart recalled Weiland, like the late Brooke Astor, as an involved and conscientious benefactor.

“He read everything about the cases that I sent him,” Cathcart said. “He was extremely thoughtful about where he gave and was very results oriented.”

Some groups plan to expand their efforts when the Weiland money starts arriving. Cathcart said Lambda will “absolutely” add staff and expand efforts. Others are only beginning to explore how the funds will be best utilized.

Some cited Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest gay rights organization, as a noticeable absence though Weiland had donated to HRC during his lifetime. Gay bloggers have speculated Weiland may have favored championing “underdog” gay groups and figured HRC had substantial donors.

Mike Schaefer, Weiland’s partner, said observers shouldn’t read anything into perceived omissions.

“The reality is that even with that kind of money, he couldn’t give to everybody,” Schaefer said. “And I’m confident Ric’s intention was to encourage collaboration between the groups … he also liked to give some folks help who aren’t always in the spotlight. Like Paula [Ettelbrick] at IGLHRC. That organization is so small and yet it warms my heart to see the amazing work and the global reach and focus it has. It’s astounding, so I think we should rejoice that groups like that were included.”

Not everybody’s rejoicing, though. Long-time New York gay activist Bill Dobbs called the list of recipients “completely unadventurous” and “unimaginative” and questioned the effectiveness of some.
Schaefer said the focus should be on the positive ripple effect the use of the money will have.

“With this much, it’s not just going to help one generation,” he said. “Ric’s long-term vision will help many people in the years to come. There is no one more excited than me to read the stories over the next several years of how this plays out.”

Weiland also included environmental and education organizations, including his alma mater Stanford, in the bequests of about $160 million, the bulk of his estate.

Schaefer, who hasn’t dated since Weiland’s death, said Weiland suffered from “serious, debilitating” depression and called it a “disease for which there is no cure.” He called Weiland’s suicide a “tragic mistake” but is thankful that good is coming from it through the bequests.

“Let’s hope we all are judged by how we lived our lives and not how it ends,” Schaefer said.


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The following comments were posted by our readers and were not edited by the Washington Blade.  We ask that you treat others with respect; any post deemed offensive will be removed.

jeri . on 2/29/08  11:18 AM:
HRC was very notably not among the organizations receiving funding. Many of the organizations are members of United Enda, and are entirely trans-inclusive. For instance, NGLTF supports NCTE, and even shares office space. GLSEN and PFLAG are staunch supporters of trans-equality. Mara Keisling, Director for the National Center for Transgender Equality was awarded PFLAG's Moving Equality Forward Award for 2007. Mr. Weiland obviously believed strongly in transgender inclusion. His generosity is deeply appreciated, but his loss should be even more deeply mourned.
MonicaH on 2/29/08  10:03 AM:
National transgender groups were also left out.

 

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