MESSAGEs FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ‘gAAAYS iN sPAAACE’

06.29.2021

As some of you may be aware, for the past 2 years GIS and our founder, Dan Deevy, have been the victims of a routine and continuing online bullying campaign by Randall Frank and several members of his group, ‘Lambda Quadrant.’

GIS policy on dealing with this has been to take the high road by ignoring the attacks and choosing to not engage with these individuals.

Up until now, both Dan and the Board of Directors thought that a better use of the organization's time was to instead focus on continuing to create uplifting and positive experiences for the community. They prioritized the good the org has done and continues to do thru Star Trek instead of focusing on this destructive toxicity.

As of 05/16/21, I now hold the position of Chair of the Board of Directors and in my opinion, this strategy is no longer effective.

These individuals have no regard for the very real consequences their actions and their entirely unfounded allegations have on our community. Even in the best of times it’s a shameful act, but particularly now, when the need for unity within our community has reached an all-time high. what they are doing is selfish and despicable.    

And so, in consultation with my fellow board members and the Executive Director of GIS, Dan Deevy, we have decided to address this directly.

I will begin by responding to the most recent libelous statements made against me personally, as well as the continued online stalking I have been forced to deal with.

I met Dan from Gaaays in Spaaace thru a mutual friend who I work with on a Trek themed group. Around the same time, I was approached by Randall. I was also contacted by a peer within my industry, to help an actress he knows, on a charity. These three situations demonstrated several points of connection which I needed to understand in a fuller context.

I was contacted by Randall who told me his side of the story regarding Gaaays in Spaaace. I, in turn, spoke to him and several members of his community who relayed their perspectives on Dan and Gaaays in Spaaace. I check out the people I work with, and I try to be objective in hearing out people on any side of a dispute I may end up dealing with.

I absolutely told Randall I would be looking into Dan and if there was any impropriety involving money, I would expose him and take him down. And I would have done so if I had found any, but I didn’t because NO impropriety exists.

I also gave Dan and his crew their chance to show themselves. The result is I blocked Randall and his friends.

Dan Deevy is a good human being. He started Gaaays in Spaaace because he yearned for LGBTQIA+ inclusion within Star Trek and when that finally happened, he chose to celebrate that and to share it with others. I am proud to stand beside him. Since joining Gaaays in Spaaace I have found a family, a tribe, a community.

I have never seen Dan abuse anyone, on the contrary I have watched him settle disputes with patience, compassion, and fairness. Contrary to any misuse of money I can tell you that Dan and his domestic partner Rich contribute their own money to the organization to make up for what does not come in otherwise.

In fact, the first panel I ever worked on with Dan was Casperia Con. We invited a teacher and his students from a STEM education private school in Africa and Dan agreed to donate a good portion of the admission fees to pay for a yearlong subscription to Netflix so the children there could watch Star Trek.

He also ensured those children got to ask questions on camera of Robert Picardo, a moment I watched unfold that obviously had an incredibly positive impact on them. This is what Trek is about.

Randall admitted that I blocked him but what he won’t tell you is that he then followed me across social media accounts trying to contact me and I kept blocking him. This is harassment. I chose to ignore him and his fellows because I believe in taking the high ground but now, he has continued on twitter, and I think this needs to be addressed.

Let it be known, I do not back any org that I don’t believe in fully. Dan and Gaaays in Spaaace have my full backing, support, and loyalty. That being said, if Dan ever grows horns and starts eating village children, I will be the first to take him down.

If there is any financial impropriety when it comes to money and non-profit organizations there are legal routes which can be taken, and I would encourage anyone with any proof of such to follow such channels.

But online smears and harassment are unacceptable. I hope anyone who is unfortunate enough to come across this online behavior understands there are many sides to any situation.

Lastly, I would like it to be known publicly that I do not want Randall Frank or any member of his organization (Lambda Quadrant) to contact me in any way, including but not limited to, in person, by electronic means (including use of tagging or related tools) on any social media site or by email.

I would also like to say that building something of value is a much more productive use of one’s time rather than fighting to tear down others. Live long and be fabulous.

Inara Tabir, Chair of the Board of Gaaays in Spaaace.

Gaaays In Spaaace is an official 501(c)(3) tax exempt, nonprofit organization. EIN #83-1923528. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.