Gay finance company controversy
National gay and lesbian financial organisation GAL Home Loan Service has found itself at the centre of a dispute for allegedly failing to pay sponsorship money on time to several queer organisations.
Melbourne’s Midsumma festival was paid $10,000 by GAL last week only after it began legal proceedings against the company.
Midsumma president Kris Darmody told the Star she was pleased to receive the money but had now terminated the festival’s sponsorship agreement with GAL.
However, Sydney HIV/AIDS charity the Luncheon Club claims it has still not received promised sponsorship money from GAL.
According to president Carole Ann King GAL still owes the club $1,000 on a pledged $3,000 for Christmas hampers.
But GAL told the Star it had met its obligations to the Luncheon Club and all money had been paid, but refused to comment further.
GAL chief executive officer Col Hahne last week told Melbourne queer paper MCV he didn’t owe money to any of the organisations in question.
To the best of my knowledge all of our sponsorship obligations have been met, he said.
Adelaide’s queer festival Feast, meanwhile, is trying to clarify whether around $5,000 owed to it by GAL has been paid.
Feast chair Sam Jacob said it had not received the funding as of two weeks ago, the last date for which it has bank records.
But Jacob said Feast was still acting in good faith towards GAL and its sponsorship agreement remained intact.
New Mardi Gras, which signed a three-year sponsorship deal with GAL in January, could not be reached for comment.