Those for the immediate resignation of Todd J Saporito from Cleveland Pride
503 Comments
K
Kelly Taylor
10 years ago
I'm a black lesbian who feels that Pride is a joyous place to get together with my fellow LGBTQIA brethren. Now that our event has been canceled for a ridiculous reason, I feel that the organization's leader isn't an ally of ours AT ALL. He need to go, and someone who's caring and knows our struggle should be at the helm. Thanks for the forum to speak on these atrocious actions.
B
Brooke Tummino
10 years ago
Ive been to Pride every year since I was 18...& it has only steadily gotten worse. Given the fact that he, & the board, had 14 months to plan something, I find it appalling that he would stoop so low as to cancel it 2 weeks before. There is something fishy going on, & it sure as hell pissing the queers of Cleveland off.
E
ELVIS PACHECO
10 years ago
fire him
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
It's ridiculous. The entire position needs rethought and an advisory board made.
D
David L Munnell
10 years ago
This is absolutely inexcusable and the reasoning ludicrous. The entire executive board should be stepping down, not just the president.
R
Rich
10 years ago
Poor leadership
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Are you afraid of the solidarity Cleveland's LGBTQ population has with police brutality victims?
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I can understand keeping the LGBTQ community safe after the events in orlando. But we just had the RNC, and a cavs parade, come on. Our one day out of the whole year to celebrate everything we've been fighting for and be out, and open, and share the love with everyone taken away from us. Im pissed.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Sorry Todd, but It is time for you to step down and allow someone else to take over this very important event. Your reasoning isn't honest. People need and deserve honesty.
D
Donna Algeri
10 years ago
Deplorable to cancel this event which is important to so many people. We have given of ourselves, helped celebrate over and over in Cleveland. It's our turn!!!
T
Tim Kempf
10 years ago
While Mr. Saporito and his board have done a reasonable job in the past, the time has come to hand the reigns over to a different organization/committee. No singular entity should "own" PRIDE. Be proud of your past successes but step down.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
There is no excuse to not hold such a crucial event for our community during an election year. Cleveland has just held the million+ attendee celebration of the Cavs (on less than a 48 hour notice) as well as the 60,000+ attendee RNC. Cleveland Pride not being held due to "social climate changes" is insulting to the LGBT community who have united strongly over the years for visibility in the city.
It is additionally interesting how, in years prior, Cleveland Pride has had months of thorough marketing strategies prior to the event, numerous fundraising campaigns and events, and formal announcements of the performance headliners to gain interest.
2016? Crickets.
Have you just not been planning and working towards the event you are the president of? Or have you just been too balls deep in the bathhouse to notice nothing has been accomplished? Either way, resign and let those with true Cleveland Pride passion and leadership work to give our community the event it deserves.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Unacceptable
C
Christina Aust
10 years ago
Featured
How can a city host over a million people downtown for the Cavs and then host the RNC both w/out any major incident - but they can't host PRIDE for security reasons? Something is fishy...and we shouldn't stand for it. New leadership is needed.
J
Jacqueline Peery
10 years ago
I'm so disappointed in this "choice"
J
John Smith
10 years ago
Todd Saporito is a narcissist and a fraud who has gotten away with all sorts of nefarious acts and behaviors over the years, why are people now surprised at this news? Todd and those involved in "Cleveland Pride Inc." are people appointed by Todd, some who are on the payroll at FLEX as well, and have been UNACCOUNTABLE for years about where all the money goes! Shame on other LGBT leaders and community members in Cleveland for sitting on the sidelines and letting Todd and his sycophants single-handedly destroy what is left of the LGBT community. In almost every other city, Pride festivals and parades are run by LGBT community centers, NOT a FOR-PROFIT entity that pockets the money! Wake up Cleveland! The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland needs to take hold of "Cleveland Pride" and return it to the PEOPLE, not an unaccountable organization run by crooks!
M
Michael Benzick
10 years ago
Two years in a row because the ceo doesn't care. Time for him to go. Bye Felicia
I'm a black lesbian who feels that Pride is a joyous place to get together with my fellow LGBTQIA brethren. Now that our event has been canceled for a ridiculous reason, I feel that the organization's leader isn't an ally of ours AT ALL. He need to go, and someone who's caring and knows our struggle should be at the helm. Thanks for the forum to speak on these atrocious actions.
Ive been to Pride every year since I was 18...& it has only steadily gotten worse. Given the fact that he, & the board, had 14 months to plan something, I find it appalling that he would stoop so low as to cancel it 2 weeks before. There is something fishy going on, & it sure as hell pissing the queers of Cleveland off.
fire him
It's ridiculous. The entire position needs rethought and an advisory board made.
This is absolutely inexcusable and the reasoning ludicrous. The entire executive board should be stepping down, not just the president.
Poor leadership
Are you afraid of the solidarity Cleveland's LGBTQ population has with police brutality victims?
I can understand keeping the LGBTQ community safe after the events in orlando. But we just had the RNC, and a cavs parade, come on. Our one day out of the whole year to celebrate everything we've been fighting for and be out, and open, and share the love with everyone taken away from us. Im pissed.
Sorry Todd, but It is time for you to step down and allow someone else to take over this very important event. Your reasoning isn't honest. People need and deserve honesty.
Deplorable to cancel this event which is important to so many people. We have given of ourselves, helped celebrate over and over in Cleveland. It's our turn!!!
While Mr. Saporito and his board have done a reasonable job in the past, the time has come to hand the reigns over to a different organization/committee. No singular entity should "own" PRIDE. Be proud of your past successes but step down.
There is no excuse to not hold such a crucial event for our community during an election year. Cleveland has just held the million+ attendee celebration of the Cavs (on less than a 48 hour notice) as well as the 60,000+ attendee RNC. Cleveland Pride not being held due to "social climate changes" is insulting to the LGBT community who have united strongly over the years for visibility in the city. It is additionally interesting how, in years prior, Cleveland Pride has had months of thorough marketing strategies prior to the event, numerous fundraising campaigns and events, and formal announcements of the performance headliners to gain interest. 2016? Crickets. Have you just not been planning and working towards the event you are the president of? Or have you just been too balls deep in the bathhouse to notice nothing has been accomplished? Either way, resign and let those with true Cleveland Pride passion and leadership work to give our community the event it deserves.
Unacceptable
How can a city host over a million people downtown for the Cavs and then host the RNC both w/out any major incident - but they can't host PRIDE for security reasons? Something is fishy...and we shouldn't stand for it. New leadership is needed.
I'm so disappointed in this "choice"
Todd Saporito is a narcissist and a fraud who has gotten away with all sorts of nefarious acts and behaviors over the years, why are people now surprised at this news? Todd and those involved in "Cleveland Pride Inc." are people appointed by Todd, some who are on the payroll at FLEX as well, and have been UNACCOUNTABLE for years about where all the money goes! Shame on other LGBT leaders and community members in Cleveland for sitting on the sidelines and letting Todd and his sycophants single-handedly destroy what is left of the LGBT community. In almost every other city, Pride festivals and parades are run by LGBT community centers, NOT a FOR-PROFIT entity that pockets the money! Wake up Cleveland! The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland needs to take hold of "Cleveland Pride" and return it to the PEOPLE, not an unaccountable organization run by crooks!
Two years in a row because the ceo doesn't care. Time for him to go. Bye Felicia
No comment
Pride should be rescheduled
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