Rumors flew last weekend about the possible forced resignation of OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Allyson Robinson. Robinson, a Scranton native, took the reigns of the organization, which advocates for the full inclusion of LGBT people in the military, in October and is the first transgender individual to lead a national LGBT organization with no specific transgender focus. According to a number of leaked emails, the agency’s board voted Saturday night in an emergency meeting to ask Robinson to resign. The action resulted in the resignation of at least three senior staff members, one board member and a board member of OutServe Magazine. However, in a statement published on the magazine’s website June 24, Robinson said she was stepping down voluntarily and would continue to lead the organization through the leadership change. “To honor those who’ve shared those values with me, it is my intent to continue to lead OutServe-SLDN in the near term as we approach an historic moment for our community and our country,” she said. “After that, at a date to be determined, I have decided of my own accord to step down, and will work with our members to ensure an orderly transition to the next phase of this organization’s life.” In its own statement Monday, the board said the leadership change was precipitated by the organization’s pending transition “from primarily a legal-services organization into a membership-services and advocacy organization,” which includes “revising our business model to operate effectively under new political and financial realities.” The board said the leaked emails were confidential and “erroneously distributed” to an email list outside the agency. “There is no excuse for the series of events that transpired this past weekend,” said board co-chair Josh Seefried. “On behalf of the board of directors, I sincerely apologize for this, as well as the impact it’s had on our staff’s and members’ trust and confidence in the organization. Allyson Robinson has led OutServe-SLDN as one of the most transformational leaders of this movement, and there is not a member serving on this board who does not respect and admire her work for this organization and the LGBT movement.” Despite praising Robinson, the statement went on to confirm that the board and Robinson will “be working together toward a successful transition of the organization.” Robinson said in her statement that she appreciated the wealth of support she saw since Saturday’s news. “I have no words to express my gratitude for the hundreds who have reached out to me privately or stood up for me publicly over these last 24 hours to show their support: from the military community, the LGBT community and most especially, most dear to me, the troops of OutServe-SLDN and their families,” she said. “For that, I am blessed beyond measure.” A timeline for Robinson’s departure from the organization has not been set.