Outfest staff hit with total layoffs
02.11.2023 - 22:51
/ qvoicenews.com
With apparently no advance warning, Outfest has laid off all remaining employees, including those people who were placed on mandatory, unpaid leave last month by the organization. Photo: Outfest
With apparently no advance warning, Outfest has laid off all remaining employees, including those people who were placed on mandatory, unpaid leave last month by the organization.
The nonprofit LGBTQ film festival terminated all of its programming in October, though the organization it would be temporary.
Also, in an Oct. 17 social media post from Queer Filmworkers United, a union of workers at Outfest, the group said it obtained an email that Outfest had sent to top donors, saying the organization was in “serious financial jeopardy” and needs to raise $750,000 to fix the problem.
The handful of Outfest employees who were trying to hold down the fort after numerous employees were let go last month were notified via a mass email from the board’s co presidents on Friday at 4:14 p.m. that they were laid off effective immediately, according to screenshots shared on social media by members of Queer Filmmakers United.
“Today, Friday October 27th – with less than two hours notice before the end of the work day – the Co-Presidents of the Outfest Board of Directors Nii-Quartelai Quartey and Bil Bertini permanently laid off all remaining staff at Outfest via a mass email,” Queer Filmmakers United said in an Instagram post.
“This includes the large number of staff members who, two weeks ago, were placed on involuntary, unpaid leaves of absence and were told that they would be returning to work this upcoming Monday, the 30th. Staff were suddenly locked out of their Outfest email accounts, and informed that their health care benefits would