LOS ANGELES—Eric Paul Leue plans to leave his position as executive director of the Free Speech Coalition at the end of the month, the FSC board of directors announced Monday.
Leue is leaving his post to return to direct work in the public health sector. His last day will be July 31. Ian O’Brien, senior director of programs and operations, will act as interim head until a replacement has been found. Leue will also help guide the transition.
“We were lucky to have Eric for as long as we did, and we wish him well,” FSC board chair Jeffrey Douglas said. “In just a few years, Eric proved to be one of the most consequential leaders the organization and the adult industry has had. We will miss him immensely.”
Leue began as executive director of the organization in February 2016, just months after Proposition 60, the California condoms in porn initiative, qualified for the ballot. Leue served as campaign manager for the No on Prop 60 campaign, and nine months later, in an historic upset, defeated the proposition with the help of a dedicated team and hundreds of volunteers.
As an HIV activist and educator, Leue was also instrumental in developing an effective relationship with Cal/OSHA and the Department of Public Health. During his tenure, Leue continued to serve on the LA County Commission on HIV as a community stakeholder representative.
Under Leue’s leadership, Free Speech Coalition expanded performers’ access to healthcare, including PrEP, and fought for more advanced testing protocols. The Free Speech Coalition budget grew significantly under Leue’s tenure, placing the organization in a stable financial status and allowing the addition of Ian O’Brien as senior director of programs and operations.
Leue helped build effective coalitions with mainstream political groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the National Coalition Against Censorship, Lambda Legal and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT); legislators on the state and federal level, and state, local and national political parties; public health agencies; and LGBTQ and sex worker rights groups.
“I wanted the adult industry to have a place at the table,” Leue said. “Nothing about us without us. I am proud of the bridges we’ve built, our financial stability and am confident that these past three and a half years have helped lay the foundation to build a stronger, more respected and more inclusive industry.
“I want to thank the continuous commitment of our members, my team, all the volunteers, APAC, and those who came before me in the creation of FSC. Most importantly, I want to thank the board of directors for their extraordinary commitment, their guidance and support. Without the support of the community, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve even half of what we did. I am proud to have been a part of the legacy of this 28 year old organization.”
