Feb 29, 2008  |  By: JOEY DiGUGLIELMO  | COMMENTS     

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.