Outfest Board of Directors Says It Plans to Recognize Staff Union

Outfest’s board of directors says it voted to recognize its employee union a day after it laid off nearly half of the workers that had pushed for the effort.

The vote took place on Friday during a special session and the film festival nonprofit’s new acting executive director, Zackery Alexander Stephens described it as an enthusiastic approval. “Several board members and I are proud union members,” said Stephens in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “This organization would not be possible without the support of labor unions. This recognition is a powerful promise to continue to support and uplift Outfest staff members and those who will join the organization well into the future.”

Outfest board co-president Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey confirmed the special session, adding, “We appreciate the staff’s patience in providing us the time needed to schedule a vote with quorum. Our board and our organization are pro-union and we are excited to be supporting our staff’s right to unionize. We look forward to welcoming them to the bargaining table so we can continue to advance Outfest’s mission to amplify LGBTQIA+ storytellers.”

In reply, the group of workers who are looking to unionize stated: “We have received word that the Outfest Board of Directors has decided to voluntarily recognize Queer Filmworkers United. While this is welcomed news, QFU has not received a signature from Board representation on our Mission Statement. Until that moment, we have not been formally voluntarily recognized. Four QFU colleagues, a majority of the QFU Organizing Committee, remain laid-off on the heels of our decision to unionize.”

As reported yesterday, the Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival, which was founded in 1982 and has grown into one of the country’s leading queer festivals, is weathering upheaval in its ranks. Executive director Damien Navarro, who has held the post since 2019, stepped aside for a “minimum” 45-day leave of absence. He’s being replaced by Stephens for the time being. Separately, five staffers were notified Thursday that they have been laid off, effective today. According to the union, the affected staffers were told that their termination was due to a lack of funds amid Hollywood’s dual strikes.

Those five staffers were part of a larger coalition of 12 Outfest employees who had notified Navarro and Outfest board members on Tuesday of an intention to unionize following a majority vote in partnership with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9003. In an email obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, they offered a request for voluntary recognition of Queer Filmworkers United as part of a push to “radically improve” working conditions like pay to meet the cost of living in Los Angeles, organizational culture and decision-making processes.

Outfest officials are preparing for the org’s marquee fundraiser, the Outfest Legacy Awards. The event is scheduled for Oct. 22, with headliners Shirley MacLaine set to receive the James Schamus Ally Award while Trace Lysette will be awarded the Trailblazer Award for her work in Monica. As part of today’s release, a rep for the organization confirmed that the event will take place as planned.

“Outfest leadership is committed to ensuring the vitality of this 40-year old community-based organization,” per the rep in a statement that also said that as Outfest experiences “financial hardship,” temporary reductions to programs, administration and staff will be part of that process.

THR reached out to Navarro for response.