San Luis Obispo’s Gala Pride and Diversity Center held an open Q&A on Nov. 13 to address ongoing concerns about the organization’s financial status following the alleged discovery of embezzlement by former Executive Director Dustin Colyer-Worth.
The Gala Pride and Diversity Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering the LGBTQ+ community through inclusive programs, resources and advocacy, according to their website.
Board President Julia Thompson stated that approximately $42,000 was allegedly embezzled by Colyer-Worth. The funds were buried among legitimate transactions, making detection difficult until recently.
During the session, board members and leadership were transparent about the center’s financial struggles, organizational missteps and plans to move forward.
Charges against Colyer-Worth have not been filed as the board continues to work closely with law enforcement, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney and an insurance agency to recover the stolen funds through an employment dishonesty insurance policy.
“We made a bold move in naming our abuser right off the bat before there were any charges,” Thompson said. “We felt it was crucial to pull back the curtain and not hide anything.”
The center’s financial situation remains critical, with an urgent need for $15,000 to sustain operations through the end of the year, Thompson said.
“The truth is that our financial situation is really dire,” Thompson said.
Despite raising nearly $20,000 in October, which the board praised as a tremendous show of community support, the center continues to face challenges covering operational costs like payroll, utilities and internet, as well as addressing unpaid bills and repairing strained partnerships.
Thompson assured that the center is not at risk of losing its physical space and remains available for free gatherings and volunteer-run events.
“The building was donated to the organization and we do not pay a mortgage here,” Thompson said. “Should we not come out of this financial hole, the Gala Pride and Diversity Center will remain.”
Additionally, board members reassured the community that no programs are at risk of being cut.
“We are focused on ensuring the continuation of the mission of the Gala Pride and Diversity Center through our programs [and] support groups,” Thompson said.
The center is also implementing stronger oversight measures to address past financial mismanagement and prevent future issues.
The board has formed a financial committee and will enhance its oversight skills through training provided by Spokes, a local nonprofit supporting other nonprofits.
It was also disclosed that the mishandling of Tranz Central Coast funds has further compounded the financial challenges and emotional toll on Gala Pride and its community.
Landon St. James, Tranz Central Coast chair, voiced concerns about the hurt and betrayal felt by many.
“I’d like to see an acknowledgment of the justified hurt, anger and betrayal felt by many in this community, regardless of who is responsible,” James said.
Thompson expressed deep regret and personally apologized to the community.
“There was a tremendous amount of hurt caused in a number of ways, not just by the situation we are uncovering right now,” Thompson said. “At the end of the day, the board of directors is responsible for oversight, and we misstepped. We did not catch this for a long time, and I’m truly sorry.”
Gala also appointed two director-level positions overseeing operations and programs, with a focus on strengthening financial oversight and preventing future mismanagement.
Community members expressed admiration for the board’s swift and transparent response, especially their decision to publicly name the former executive director and take immediate steps toward addressing the situation.
“I admire your courage for bringing this to the forefront so quickly,” said Rusty Cook, Gala community member. “I think it [helped] to do that [rather] than keep it hidden, so I applaud you. Thank you so much.”
Looking forward, Gala’s leadership stressed the importance of community support. Despite these setbacks, they expressed confidence in the center’s ability to recover and continue its work.
“We’re going to get through this, and we’re going to thrive because we don’t have a choice,” said JBird, Gala director of operations.
As the center works through its financial challenges, it remains dedicated to supporting and affirming the LGBTQ+ community in San Luis Obispo, according to Thompson.
“As hard as this all is—and this is bloody hard—the bad news is this happened and he got away with it for so long. But the good news is we caught him before he could do more,” said Val Jones, treasurer and finance committee chair.