Oklahomans For Equality Faces Closure After Embezzlement Case

Oklahomans for Equality said it needed to raise $100,000 by February 14th, 2024, or it could close its doors.

This came after a former volunteer was under investigation for embezzling around $130,000 from the charity. Investigators believe that money was spent on several things, including personal trips, medical expenses, and credit card payments.

The organization said it would implement new controls to make sure something similar wouldn't happen again.

Previous Story: Oklahomans For Equality At Risk Of Closure In Tulsa

Over the weekend, the equality center put out a call for help, and volunteers said Tulsans and local businesses followed through. With less than a day to go, the organization had $70,000, so it still needed to raise $30,000.

"So, we have a gallery opening every month with a new artist and different forms of art. It doesn't have to be paintings or pictures, sometimes we have photographers or sculptures," Eddie Carreno, a member of the board of directors at Oklahomans for Equality, said.

An art exhibit is just one of the things Tulsans can find inside the Oklahomans for Equality Center walls, the artists will sometimes have their own theme," Carreno said.

But the center may not be able to offer these programs to the community much longer, "just the idea of losing Oklahomans for equality, it would be a loss," said Carreno.

The non-profit that supports the LGBTQ+ community was at risk of closing its doors for good. "With our major events, the money that those brought in, we thought we had enough to get through the year and to our next major event, and we realized that we didn't," Carreno said.

The Equality Center needed to raise tens of thousands of dollars by Valentine's Day. Local places like Magic City Books, the Saturn Room, and All Souls Unitarian Church pitched in to help. "They've been great partners to us. They've hosted events with us and partnered with us on other programs, and maybe this is a way for us to kind of be able to help them out," said Pat Caweizelle of Magic City Books.

The folks at the Equality Center kept their eyes on the donations and were thankful for the community support. "Donations are trickling in this morning, I've been looking at the website and it just is so overwhelming in how much outpouring of support we've gotten from the community," said Carreno.

Donations can be made to the Oklahomans for Equality Center on their website.