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Lambda gets new location, loses funding By Jonel Aleccia ASHLAND � Turmoil continued at a local center for homosexuals this week as organizers selected a new site, conflict flared with a former director and a longtime supporter withdrew financial assistance. One official, however, vowed that despite the controversy, the Abdill-Ellis Lambda Community Center will continue to provide services to local gays, lesbians and bisexuals. "A lot of people are just waiting and seeing what happens next," said Pat Smith, co-chair of the center�s board of directors. "I can understand that." The center, which now resides in subleased space at 281 Fourth St., Ashland, is tentatively set to move to the Ashland Congregational Church, 717 Siskiyou Blvd. Minister Caren Caldwell said this week that the group is welcome to use the church basement for outreach services. The center can�t relocate, however, until a new tenant is found for the current site. Meanwhile, former director Lannie Thompson Kali said she left the agency this month after less than year because board meetings regularly erupted into nearly violent screaming matches and participants seemed unwilling to take professional advice. "I don�t think they know they lost it because they treated people badly," said Kali, who cites a long career as a gay and lesbian activist. Kali, 29, came to Ashland in November 2000 from San Diego, where she said she had started a shelter for gay and lesbian youth and was honored by a regional group for 10 years of activism. She�s now organizer of the Southern Oregon Stop Hate Crimes Conference planned for October. "I didn�t stop advocating for the community. I didn�t stop and I won�t stop just because I don�t have that job," she said. Smith said Friday that the 13-member board of directors fired Kali; Kali said she took an emergency leave of absence. Smith said Kali�s accusations of verbal harassment are "totally, totally, totally false." "We had strong disagreements with Lannie, but there�s never been any of that," she said. "The board works together very well." Longtime supporter Gerald Garland disagrees. He and his wife, Cherie, who were among original founders of the center six years ago, have decided to revoke between $2,000 and $4,000 in annual support from the center because of continuing conflict. "The folks in charge have run off the most capable people available to them," he said. He said the local chapter of PFLAG � Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays � also will be cautious about support. "If the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities do not care enough to make it work, then why should PFLAG do it for them?" he said. "I think, in a way, what concerns me most is an almost inbred inability to get along." Smith, who said she respects and values Garland�s opinion, was disappointed at his decision to withdraw funds. "I don�t think his decision is reflective of the community at large," she said. "I think eventually he�ll relax about it." Smith said she believed conflicts are common in many oppressed communities. "It�s sad, but a lot of the oppression and turmoil can come from inside," she said. She expressed hope that the center can regroup and continue services, which range from lesbian support groups to HIV testing and education to programs for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. But Garland said unless overt and covert conflicts are addressed, the center won�t fulfill the mission on which it was founded after the 1995 murders of Michelle Abdill and Roxanne Ellis. "If Michelle were here," Garland said, "she�d look at these people and say, �Get a life�." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.