The Rainbow is said to have a pot of gold at its end. A Lesbian activist appointed by Mayor Mike Bloomberg to head a LGBT Bronx "Pride" Community Center apparently believed this to be true.
June is labeled "Pride" month by the LGBT community, however, this has not been a "prideful" week for the LGBT community. First the arrest of
Larry Brinkin - a prominent San Francisco gay activist - for possession of child porn and sending racist emails, and now this new arrest in New York.
Lisa Winters, 47 - pictured on the left with fellow Lesbian Christine Quinn - former director of the "
Bronx LGBT Community Pride Center" was arrested for embezzlement.
She channeled to herself over $300,000 from the charity's coffers which she spent on trips to Africa with her African American "wife"
Eileen Scroggins as well as trips to Europe, the Turks and Caicos.
If that was not enough, she also spent tens of thousands on a dog walker, liquor, restaurants, pet stores, attire and so on.
Winters did this by using the center's credit cards, writing checks to herself, and even used a cruise-package meant for an auction to benefit herself. Lisa use the charity's donations to live a lavish life with her
"partner."
She completely disregarded the LGBT people of the Bronx.
The monies that are missing have the "Pride" center in the red. It could likely close for good this Saturday due to the huge deficit Winters left behind. The center assists the LGBT community of the Bronx by providing educational information, testing, counseling, help with housing and other needs for homosexuals of every age and race.
It is unfortunate that Winters took advantage of her position in order to live a nice life with her "spouse" while those who rely on this center now have to suffer its possible closure.
Money is indeed the root of all evil. All charities should be monitored carefully especially those that are focused on "rights" such as those that service the LGBT community. They could be fronts for embezzlement and other forms of corruption.
When donating money, one must know to whom the money is going and what is it being used for.
UPDATE: The Bronx "Pride" Community Center will close on Saturday June 30, 2012 for good due to Winters' embezzlement.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/gay_late_dollar_short_O1k9UMoaE0t7oVMSaC9X8H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Bronx
UPDATE APRIL 1, 2013:
Lisa Winters was just sentenced to 2-6 years in prison for grand larceny. The Bronx Pride center is now defunct.
Source:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/gay_center_boss_bust_jqfhxvFBPp3NTC7TUr3q0K
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/bronx-community-pride-center-ex-chief-2-6-years-prison-article-1.1304842