Josh Seefried: In His Own Words

OutServe Co-Founder Speaks Out: Advocacy, Resignation And Transphobia
Copies of a new magazine called 'OutServe' intended for actively serving lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender, US military members are seen September 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. The magazine released their first issue in June 2011. The 18-year-old 'Don't Ask, Don't tell' policy, which bars openly gay individuals from serving in the military, was voted down by US Congress last December, but will not officially end until Tuesday September 20, 2011, under terms laid out by lawmakers unless there is some unforseen delay. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
Copies of a new magazine called 'OutServe' intended for actively serving lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender, US military members are seen September 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. The magazine released their first issue in June 2011. The 18-year-old 'Don't Ask, Don't tell' policy, which bars openly gay individuals from serving in the military, was voted down by US Congress last December, but will not officially end until Tuesday September 20, 2011, under terms laid out by lawmakers unless there is some unforseen delay. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

The rumors, accusations, and innuendo surrounding the resignation of OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson less than a year after she was named the head of the largest LGBT organization working for equality in the military have been raging for several weeks now. That was followed by the resignation of Lt. Josh Seefried, one of the co-founders of OutServe, from its board. "Three years ago, when I started OutServe, I didn't know what the Human Rights Campaign was, and now I've gotten to see a whole cycle of… I've had a helluva roller coaster on this," Seefried said, during his first inteview since news of the organizations financial and leadership troubles emerged.

As The Advocate reported, there is little evidence of the trans-bias toward Robinson, however, the organization did seem to be in dire financial straits. In this frank phone conversation conducted from his base in Fort Meade, Maryland, Seefried admitted that there was a failure of the board, that he was planning on leaving the organization in October but that this "debacle" accelerated his departure, and that he has faith in the innovative ideas of the younger generation to continue to create and strive for the rights of current and future generations.

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