Mitchell out as Stonewall Dems chief?

Michael Mitchell, executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats could be out as head of the organization, according to informed sources.

Michael Mitchell, Stonewall’s executive director, confirmed for the Washington Blade on Thursday evening that there’s a possiblity he will soon depart the LGBT Democratic group.

“I’m officially still with Stonewall, and we’re still trying to work some stuff out, so there’s a possibility I will still be with Stonewall,” he said. “But I don’t know. But I will let you know.”

Two informed sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mitchell’s departure is imminent and that an announcement would be made as soon as Monday. It’s not immediately clear whether he would be fired from the organization or whether he would resign.

Another source said Mitchell had overspent the budget for last year, a claim that Mitchell denied.

“That is not correct,” Mitchell said. “Our budget is really, really small, considering the work that we do. And the budget that we approved last year is much larger than what we actually brought in this year, so I did not overspend the budget.”

Asked whether the Stonewall board is unhappy with his performance as executive director, Mitchell replied, “I’m not going to comment on that. … Like in any job situation, there’s — you know, folks say good things, they say bad things, and that’s part of being in the job.”