Howard Brown Health Center issued a terse release Aug. 18 stating that Executive Director Keith Waterbrook has taken a leave of absence. However, very little is being said regarding the circumstances surrounding his departure.
The statement, sent out by senior director of communications and development Suzanne Deveney, simply says: 'Howard Brown Health Center, a leading provider of LGBT health care, [ on Aug. 18 ] announced that Keith Waterbrook, executive director, is on a leave of absence. There will be no interruption in services, programs, or operations at Howard Brown. Senior Director of Finance and Administration and Acting Executive Director, Beth Frantz, will be handling day-to-day operations.'
However, the staff has remained mum regarding just why Waterbrook has left. When contacted by Windy City Times, Deveney only said that he 'had a conversation with the board and that's all we know.' Various board members, including Bill Zanetis, Micheal Machen, Kent Korneisel, Frank Pieri, Martin Yee, Tom Segal and board President Jon Hinard, had not returned calls as this issue of Windy City Times went to press. Even Waterbrook, when contacted at home, would only utter 'No comment.'
Frantz, however, provided slightly more information. She stated that her stint started on Aug. 17 and stressed that, although she could not 'discuss particulars because of confidentiality,' Waterbrook's departure would not change things. ' [ This type of situation ] happens all the time when Keith goes to China,' she said. 'Business goes on as usual.'
In the June 2, 2004 of Windy City Times, the newspaper discussed a program that involves the center and Chinese health department officials. 'In an effort that began in fall 2002, mainly based on personal relationships between the public health department in the region and HBHC Executive Director Keith Waterbrook, HBHC officials were invited to China to begin educating the Chinese about how to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS,' the article stated. The item went on to say that ' [ a ] fter three trips to the country, visits to gay bars and brothels, or 'recreation centers' in China, and countless e-mails about outreach, the first round of anonymous testing has begun in China, part of a five-year plan for increasing testing and awareness.'
However, Waterbrook has come under increasing fire over the past couple of years, some say. Sources report that not only has he been criticized about helping others in distant areas when many need help in the immediate region but that other developments—such as the arrest of HBHC employee Michael Anderson—did not help Waterbrook's case. Anderson was arrested Feb. 16 at his place of employment on a charge of crystal meth possession with intent to distribute.
The agency has also weathered charges of racism under Waterbrook's tenure, including the handling of volunteers at an annual benefit for the agency's women's program.
But recently, Waterbrook oversaw the move of Lesbian Community Cancer Project's headquarters under the same roof as HBHC, with a working arrangement between the agencies.
Few in the community would openly discuss Waterbrook's departure, but many tried to categorize it as a 'firing,' noting that it is rare that an executive director would go on an indefinite 'leave.'
