Documents shared with Fab Las Vegas have included a formal complaint against The Center.

The detailed and over 3000+ word complaint by Toni W., a former Facilities & Security Manager alleges that her termination from The Center was unlawful involving discrimination in regards to her sexual orientation and gender identity. Toni identifies as a transwoman and has made it clear that she prefers genetic females over males.

The complaint against the organization and specifically two staff members at The Center, state Toni was repeatedly ignored when requesting an increase in security measures for a safer environment. She stated, “This inaction has also led to permanent disfigurement of my left arm.” 

Security measures requested by Toni included metal detectors, two-way radios, and safety equipment at The Center. Concerns were validated on Thursday, August 8th when the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested a man named Conor Climo. He was arrested after a four-month-long investigation into domestic terrorism activities he was planning to execute against the Jewish and LGBTQIA+ community.  

The complaint states that a staff member from the organization committed an “act of retaliation” in regards to the termination. Toni has responded by filing a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) alleging a violation of the Federal Whistleblower Protection Act. 

This is not the first time The Center has had issues with transgender employees. In September of 2018, trans community members called for a boycott of The Center, organizing a protest demonstration outside their building with chants of, “Boycott The Center” and “I stand with Blue.” Blue M., The Center’s former Transgender Programs Manager, alleges he and his husband Owen were approached by a staff member from The Center at a 2018 Genderfest event where they were asked to remove their child from the room because a staff member was bothered by them being there. 

According to Blue, Owen filed a grievance with a member of the board of directors with The Center. Only an hour after sending the grievance via email, Blue says he was terminated. 

Allegedly, the termination was claimed to be from comments he made publicly in regard to unacceptable behavior by Las Vegas Pride towards the transgender community. Blue believes the complaint is what brought on his termination. He explained, “The Center has no social media policy, and I was fired for violating a policy that doesn’t exist.” Blue also claims that The Center has been taking donations from transphobic entities, he says it sends a message that money is more important to them than people. He said, “The Center has consistently shown a lack of respect for their trans community, and for their trans employees.”

According to another trans community member Amy W., she was asked to be the new Transgender Program Manager the day after Blue was let go. She says she agreed to take on the new position as long as the title would be interim and with her volunteer status intact. The staff member agreed to those conditions. Amy says a week later an emailed response from that same staff member challenged the new title indicating that they never gave approval for her to use it. She said, “I felt used and lied to. I never returned to The Center as to me they cannot be trusted.”

https://t.co/gCC335G9pl https://t.co/gRIgYj5J5i pic.twitter.com/FBGG93ApKa

— LGBTQ+ Vegas (@GayVegas) November 11, 2019

As for Toni, she continues to refute the claim that she was a “weak leader” as she says was stated to her by a staff member. She says, “I have helped numerous community and non-community members with issues ranging from obtaining employment, escaping sex trafficking, to uncovering and reporting a child pornography ring.” 

According to Toni, her former staff members were constantly told by leadership, “Don’t tell Toni.” Despite that she claims they always approached her with everything. “Why? Because I am a leader who genuinely believes in the words honor, code, and loyalty and those words are reflected in my everyday leadership,” she said.

Some of her accomplishments include being the first transgender woman to serve as an advisor to Sheriff Joseph Lombardo on the Sheriff’s Multicultural Advisory Council.

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The first transgender woman to join LVMPD’s R.E.C.A.P. (Rebuilding Every Community Around Peace), normally a faith-based organization.

The first transgender woman to present on transgender culture in the LVMPD Academy.

Assisting Sgt. Kevin Metcalf (ret.) of the San Jose Police Department to re-write the training guidelines for transgender/gender-nonconforming individuals for the SJPD Academy.

Creating a dialogue and working relationship with the North Las Vegas Police Department.

Assisting the LVMPD Recruiting and Human Resource Department to re-write policies for the hiring and training of transgender individuals.

One of the very few transgender women to attend and graduate the FBI Citizen’s Academy.

She created and utilized a partnership with The Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow to assist people, community or non-community, to gain employment.

Assisting numerous people to obtain employment or vocational training.

Assisting, with police intervention, at least one dozen women and transwomen escape sex trafficking.

Taking 20 people to various drug rehabilitation centers because they trusted her to help them.

Despite her termination, the Undersheriff of Clark County has invited her to stay on the Multicultural Advisory Council.

Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center Certified Fusion Liaison Officer a non-law enforcement representative invited to attend the U.S, Department of Justice-Office of The U.S. Attorney Project Safe Neighborhood Summit.

Toni has also been asked by the head of LVMPD Corrections Bureau Professional Standards to assist in re-writing inmate policies for LGBTQ inmates.

On October 20, Fab Las Vegas requested a response from The Center in regards to the written complaint by Toni.

On October 28, The Center sent the following statement, “For more than 25 years, The Center has remained committed to championing the well-being and positive image of the LGBTQ community and low to moderate income residents. While we cannot address any specific issue involving personnel or an ongoing investigation, we are unequivocally committed to our mission of furthering human rights for all.”