YOU KNOW YOU’VE MADE IT WHEN…
We’re sharing evidence of what RANDY FRANK has done first, followed by responses to his specific accusations.
And to contrast this one miserable person’s hate, we’ve also included several photos from D&I CON along w/ 70 incredible, loving, & inspiring quotes from our attendees at the bottom of the page.
You will also find even more highly detailed responses to these allegations below the photos & quotes section.
Hate is Loud, Fast & Easy. But it Can’t Last Forever. Love Can!!!
ALL photos property of GIS copyright 2024
We here at Gaaays In Spaaace (GIS) have endured a relentless barrage of vicious attacks by RANDY FRANK and members of his group ‘Lambda Quadrant’ for the past 6 years.
Their publicly stated goal is to discredit our founder, Dan Deevy, and force the organization to shut down.
RANDY FRANK and his people are desperate to make you to believe that in spite of all the positive, uplifting personal experiences you’ve had with us over the years, that it’s all been an elaborate, self-serving fraud.
And why should you believe them over what you’ve experienced & seen with your own eyes? Because they’re TELLING you to.
They have never offered a single piece of actual evidence to support their ridiculous claims.
We’ve avoided going negative with our response for 6 years. Unfortunately, too many people have been duped by the lies they’re being fed by RANDY FRANK and others like him.
So, we have no choice but to set the record straight with uncensored answers to their charges, and bluntly showing you the character of the person that sadly many have been taken in by.
RANDY FRANK is a Thief, a Hypocrite, a Liar, & is Destroying the LGBTQ+ Fandom Community.
We do not make these statements cavalierly, or without providing factual documentation confirming the accuracy of the information we are sharing. In other words, actual PROOF.
THIEF: RANDY FRANK was ARRESTED on 2 counts of THEFT in 1998. FACT.
HYPOCRITE: He resigned from GIS because Dan Refused to Exclude Sex Workers from GIS events and Is Now Himself, a Sex Worker. FACT.
LIAR: He has told countless, publicly documented lies over the past 6 years which have been factually disproven. FACT.
DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITY: For 167 days, over 67% of what he shared on social media was hateful, divisive and designed to hurt everyone, including any STAR TREK ACTORS who refused to join him in his vindictive crusade to ruin Dan Deevy’s life and destroy GIS. FACT.
HE LIES ABOUT ALLEGED ‘ABUSE.’ SHAMEFULLY DISRESPECTING SURVIVORS OF ACTUAL ABUSE.
Does it LOOK like he’s Suffering???
RANDY FRANK: ARREST RECORD
DEMAND TO EXCLUDE SEX WORKERS FROM GIS
SENT LIES TO CELEBS TO GET THEM TO CANCEL D&ICON APPEARANCE
GIS SOCIAL MEDIA HACK
Furthermore, after RANDY FRANK left GIS and formed Lambda Quadrant, our website was hacked, and our email list was illegally downloaded.
Just days after that, a group of our followers reported that they began receiving unsolicited emails from Lambda Quadrant.
Then on March 18, 2024, our social media accounts were hacked to display the EXACT SAME libelous graphics they’d posted on their own social media accounts a day earlier.
RANDY FRANK’s actual job is as a Cybersecurity Specialist for a major firm called Varonis; Where he is currently under investigation for these incidents.
But you can draw your own conclusions as to who had the know-how, access to the equipment & programs necessary for the task, and years of factually documented proof of an unrelenting intent to harm us.
ADMITS TO SPREADING VICIOUS LIES TO DISRUPT TICKET SALES
DISPROVEN PUBLIC ACCUSATIONS & THREATS OF VIOLENCE
CALLS CELEB GUESTS “HOSTAGES” & FALSELY CLAIMS “LOOMING THREAT OF LITIGATION”
CLAIMS GIS IS “STEALING FROM POOR KIDS” & SABOTAGING THEIR GROUP
I cannot stress this point enough; we couldn’t possibly care less about anything they do.
When RANDY FRANK left GIS, I wished him well and said, “I’m sorry to see you go, but there are no hard feelings. Good luck.” As far as we were concerned, that was it. We had no desire or need to be involved or informed about anything he did from that point on.
They ONLY time we have ever paid any attention to them is when they are attacking, defaming and trying to ruin everything that I’ve spent 8 YEARS of my life sacrificing for and busting my ass to create.
In all that time, by the way, I have NEVER BEEN PAID. Not a dime.
(info on ISA Scholarship is below)
CLAIMS GIS STOLE MONEY TO PAY 1 ACTOR $30K TO APPEAR AT D&ICON
TELLS PEOPLE IT IS “NOT SAFE” TO WORK W/ GIS
CLAIMS GIS ILLEGALLY SOLD ALCOHOL & WAS KICKED OUT OF A HOTEL
LOVES THE PLAN TO BREAK DAN DEEVY’S KNEES W/ BASEBALL BAT
CLAIMS GIS BEHAVED BADLY ON CRUISE; LEADING TO BAN ON OTHER GROUPS HOSTING EVENTS
STAR TREK: THE CRUISE did NOT change their policy about other groups hosting events on board because of anything that GIS did. In fact, our events became more and more successful and well attended each year. Everyone, including the company that runs the cruises, loved what we were doing and wanted more.
The Cruise made that change because RANDY FRANK and his followers bombarded them with an unending number of hateful emails filled with their lies about us. THAT’S why they changed their policy.
They simply did not want to be a part of the drama that those emails and social media attacks created. We NEVER responded to any of those messages or emails. We ignored them and refused to engage.
They have kept this thing going all on their own. And they obviously have never cared about the members of our community they were hurting in the process.
THIS WAS THE CROWD AT OUR LAST TREKKIE FEUD ON STAR TREK: THE CRUISE V
IT’S CLEAR THAT WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL & PEOPLE LOVED WHAT WE WERE DOING
RANDY FRANK & his Lambda Quadrant cronies used this exact same tactic with Creation Entertainment as well.
I’m attaching copies of an email chain between myself and GARY BERMAN of Creation.
In it, Gary explains that after announcing that I was going to be a special guest that year, a slew of negative emails, packed with misinformation were repeatedly sent to everyone who worked at Creation. This email harassment is what caused the rift between us.
GIS had NEVER done anything improper, or disruptive at any of their shows. EVER. They certainly would not have chosen to include me as a special guest if they weren’t happy with the contributions we’d made to the convention.
Since then, without fail, every time we announce an event or a new D&I Con guest, they pounce! They immediately email every person they can find a contact for in that company and bury them in the same desperate messages of misinformation.
They even contacted the new ticketing company that we’re working with for next year’s D&I Con! I mean, seriously? The ticketing company??? Please see the emails below.
RANDY FRANK’s Specific Allegations:
RANDY FRANK claims that I (Dan) steal money from children, I illegally uses that money to pay my rent, I exploit and extort money from our followers, I chose Philadelphia as the location for our ANNUAL D&I Con to save family members money on traveling to my wedding, RANDY FRANK also claims that D&I Con attendees paid for that wedding, and he’s also very upset that we use the money that GIS generates to fund our own operations, rather than giving it to OTHER nonprofits for their events, and the list just goes on and on, and on, and on. So let’s address each of these individually…
Claims that I Steal Money from GIS to Fund My Life
I have NEVER stolen money from GIS or the ISA Scholarship.
The simple fact is there is NO REASON for me to do that.
I am legally entitled to be paid a salary for my full-time work. Salaries for similar positions in NYC range from $150K - $190K. So, if I wanted money, I would get it by taking a salary.
The accusation that I crafted some illegal, nefarious scheme instead, makes absolutely NO SENSE.
Claims that I Illegally use GIS Funds to Pay My Rent
The portion of my rent that was paid with funds from GIS was done in accordance with nonprofit law, which allows an organization to pay monthly rent for an office space.
If that office is a home office, then a percentage of that rent, which is determined by the amount of square footage being used in the home for the company’s operations, can be included in the organization’s operating budget. Floorplan & Square Footage below.
Claims that I Exploit & Extort Money from our Followers
All money spent by our followers is always in exchange for something. Ticketed events, merchandise, or is a legal donation for which they receive a tax deduction, etc. NO ONE is being exploited, conned, or scammed into just giving us their money.
Claims that I Chose Philadelphia as the location for D&I CON to Save Family Members Money on Travel
Philadelphia was chosen as the ANNUAL location for D&I Con for the following reasons:
We wanted it to be in a major city in the northeast.
Of the potential cities, Philadelphia was the most affordable.
Philadelphia was the most convenient for folks to travel to; by train, bus & plane.
Philadelphia showed the most interest in hosting a convention of our type.
Philadelphia was also willing to give us discounts on costs wherever possible.
And again, the choice of city was made not just for the first year, it was made for ALL Subsequent Years. To suggest that it was chosen to accommodate a handful of relatives for just ONE of those years, I’m sorry, is just stupid.
Claims D&I CON Attendees Paid for My Wedding
My wedding was held during the convention in a space that was ALREADY PAID FOR and BEING USED FOR OTHER EVENTS & PROGRAMMING.
Having the wedding there did NOT Add ANY Additional Costs to the convention.
Furthermore, the wedding was a part of the conventions programming. It was an on-stage event like any other. Like Trekkie Feud for example.
The reception that followed was our Saturday Night Gala. EVERYTHING that was promised in exchange for the price of the ticket to the Gala was delivered in spades!
We promised live music, food, drinks, and mix and mingle with celebrity guests. ALL of that happened.
Other than adding yet another unique element to our programming, the fact that it doubled as a reception changed nothing.
The BIGGEST, Most Offensive, & Damaging LIE of all.
RANDY FRANK Claims that we have
“STOLEN MONEY FROM CHILDREN.”
GIS made ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY from the ISA Scholarship.
ZERO DOLLARS.
Here is EXACTLY what happened with the scholarship. The ISA scholarship was a program that never successfully came together.
It was created by our scholarship director, JANE JORGENSEN, and it was her responsibility to both build and run it. She failed to do so.
Jane pledged (BUT NEVER ACTUALLY GAVE) GIS $20K to make it happen. At NO point did I, or GIS, have access to that money.
NO Additional Funds were raised for the scholarship.
GIS was awarded a $25K grant from the NSS which was NOT Given to us to Pay for Any Kids to go to Space Camp.
I’ve repeatedly shared the grant application which clearly shows the breakdown of the budget which was APPROVED by the NSS. The budget shows that the NSS gave us those funds to cover some of the costs of the first D&I Con.
The NSS has repeatedly confirmed that they were Happy with how the Funds were Spent and have NEVER had any issues or concerns with that, GIS, or me personally.
The ONLY people who took issue with it, had NOTHING to do with it.
As always, RANDY FRANK and his cohorts manufactured phony concerns to create the appearance of improper behavior to further malign and discredit us.
Now, when it became clear that we had bitten off more than we could chew with the scholarship program, we shut it down. BUT…
Absolutely NO MONEY was gained or lost by ANYONE when that happened.
JANE JORGENSEN kept the $20K she had pledged, and NO additional funds were raised for it.
I’m going to reiterate this for a THIRD time, so there is NO CONFUSION on this point...
GIS made ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY from the Scholarship.
ZERO DOLLARS.
NO MONEY was Stolen from CHILDREN!!!
The truth is, we tried to do a good thing by trying to create this scholarship and we FAILED at making it a success.
I am far, FAR from perfect. So sometimes I try things that end up not working out.
There is NOTHING Unethical or Illegal about that.
Another of their favorite things to tell anyone willing to listen, is that GIS is a “SCAM” or a “GRIFT”
GIS is NOT a SCAM!!!
A scam is a fraudulent or deceptive act where someone tries to get you to part with your money. GIS operates transparently and only generates revenue in the following ways:
1. **Ticket Sales**: Our events are held as scheduled, with attendees consistently reporting satisfaction and value.
2. **Merchandise Sales**: Purchasers receive their products either at events or through mail for online orders.
3. **Donations**: All donations, unless specifically designated otherwise by the donor, are used exclusively to fund GIS events.
4. **Grants/Sponsorships**: The entirety of these funds are also used solely in support of our events.
Look, for the past 8 years I’ve done my best to create things that bring joy into people’s lives. I don’t always succeed. But given the sheer volume of the things I’ve done for the community, some were bound to not be homeruns.
It’s very easy for someone like RANDY FRANK & Lambda Quadrant, (who have done very little for the community) to sit back and comb through every detail of all the work we’ve done to try to find any small discrepancy or misstep that we made to use to attack us.
For example, when they paint us as “putting one over on the government and the world” because of filing errors or delays. They have NO understanding of the complexities of nonprofit rules and regulations.
So, when they scoured the internet and saw that we did have filing errors and delays, they used that once again, to invent more alleged improprieties to panic and upset everyone who knows us.
They didn’t understand (or even try to understand), that by operating via a passthrough in the time it took to clear up the filing errors, we were still legally allowed to operate as a nonprofit as we always have.
Despite what they keep claiming, GIS did NOT operate for a single day without the permission and approval of the government.
Anyone who does understand the red tape and challenges of the paperwork for a nonprofit will tell you the same thing, it’s A LOT. And it’s hard to keep up with.
Organizations that have the money will hire someone to do it for them. We have never had that option. I had to learn how to do it myself as we went along.
So, between all the events and things we were creating to fulfill our mission, AND the time spent dealing with all their nonsense, and me being the ONLY person working full time, he fell behind on some of the filings. And honestly, I just wasn’t very good at it.
I’s weren’t dotted and T’s weren’t crossed. That does NOT equal Malfeasance, Illegal, or Unethical Behavior.
No other fledgling nonprofit would be judged as harshly as we have because of these types of errors.
The only reason we’ve been attacked again and again over it, is because people like RANDY FRANK & Lambda Quadrant will pervert any piece of information to trick people into thinking we’re bad people, doing bad things.
Since our founding in 2016, GIS has produced 200+ Events across the country, we’ve also been welcomed by other events including, SAN DIEGO COMIC CON, NEW YORK COMIC CON, WONDERCON, STLV, STAR TREK: THE CRUISE, NEW WORLD’S SPACE CONFERENCE, THE NATIONAL SPACE CONFERENCE, just to name a few.
Dan Deevy was also given the honor of addressing the UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY on the need for universal equality as humankind takes its first steps toward becoming an interplanetary civilization.
RANDY FRANK & Lambda Quadrant haven’t even attempted a fraction of what we have successfully produced for the community.
More importantly, Dan has always tried to learn from his mistakes so we can improve and accomplish even more with our future events.
RANDY FRANK and his group spend their time and energy investigating us and spreading their vicious lies to create division and poison the entire community for their own petty, vengeful reasons.
Countless people have lost, or been convinced to abandon, things that they not only loved but had relied on for years.
IN REFERENCE TO HIS LIES ABOUT ALLEGED ‘ABUSE.’
(Please see the video at the top of the page.)
When describing their time at GIS, he and his group are painting a very dark picture of an environment of harassment, abuse and fear. This could NOT be further from the truth.
Every one of them benefited in countless ways. Their lives were literally changed for the better thanks to their time at GIS.
This is why we showed you what their actual experience was by sharing actual photos from RANDY FRANK’s time with us.
It’s important to note that 3 of these photos of RANDY FRANK were taken at the GIS: Wrath of Vegas party in August of 2019; 6 Months AFTER he so angrily resigned, protesting Dan’s refusal to exclude sex workers from our events.
He doesn’t appear to be quite as outraged by the decision as he claimed just 6 months earlier. Or every single day since.
I also want to point out that even after his unpleasant exit, he was STILL welcome at our events. We even comped his admission. So, he got in for FREE.
I already know they’re going to try to ‘Martha Stewart’ me and argue that this was what the public saw and the behind the scenes was different. But the truth is, it was EXACTLY the same behind the scenes.
RANDY FRANK and the other soon-to-be members of Lambda Quadrant only worked on things they wanted to. They were always happy to help with the ‘Fun’ things, but that was it.
All the grunt work fell to me & the other volunteers who were there for the right reasons! Those folks worked incredibly hard to make GIS successful. We never could have done it without them.
The ONLY time things were unpleasant with RANDY and his crew, were the times I told them that they HAD to help with the ‘UN-fun’ work to be able to then have the fun. Things would also get prickly when they wanted to do something, that I had to say “no” to.
For example, RANDY FRANK hated the fact that I was the host of our events because there were only two reasons he was there. He wanted to be on stage with a microphone in his hand and he wanted to befriend and hang out with the celebrities. That’s it.
And he DID get to do those things. In fact, he spent more time just hanging out with the talent than anyone else ever did. And I DID put him on stage, just not as often as he wanted. Which he would later come to call, “abuse.”
501(c)(3) NONPROFIT STATUS
Finally, (and hopefully for the very last time), GAAAYS IN SPAAACE IS a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Confirmation documentation below. ALL funds that are raised by the organization go to fund the operational costs of OUR organization.
We do NOT use the funds we raise to fund other nonprofits, charities or programs. WE are the nonprofit that those funds benefit. It’s how we continue to operate. That’s how nonprofits run.
RANDY FRANK and some others, however, believe this is somehow improper.
IRS Determination Letter for our Federal filings, the California Secretary of State & the California Attorney General, New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau (registered out-of-state charity) Pennsylvania Secretary of State (registered out-of-state nonprofit) NSS Grant Application w/ APPROVED Budgetary Breakdown.
Believe it or not, this isn’t even the end of it. I chose to stop here because all the time I’ve spent pulling all of this together, (and it was A LOT), it not only makes me sick to my stomach, but it’s exactly what they want. They are desperate for my attention to be on them so that it isn’t on planning D&I Con and all the things GIS is here to do. You know, the things that are actually important!
I sincerely hope that all of this information has helped to alleviate any fears or concerns that some of you may have had. If, however, you still have any doubts or questions about any of this, please just ASK ME. The same goes for any other allegation they’ve made that concerns you.
On a personal note, I’m honestly quite sick of being unfairly judged and believed to be the exact opposite of who I actually am.
I AM NOT MY MIRROR UNIVERSE COUNTERPART!!!
And so, after all of this, I have two things to ask of you to help repair the damage that they have done, so we can bring the community back together in the spirit of Roddenberry’s philosophy.
First, if you had a negative opinion of me going into this, I ask that you please reexamine the reasons behind it. And second, please tell
RANDY FRANK & Lambda Quadrant to JUST. STOP.
That’s all.
JUST. STOP.
Just move on and do their own thing. We have never engaged and have never wanted to.
So if they JUST. STOP. the Divisive Drama will End.
For everyone’s sake, we NEED to put an END to all this HATE.
70 QUOTES FROM D&I CON ATTENDEES
“Seriously the best con I’ve been a part of in years.”
“The BEST Weekend!!!”
“Epic does not even begin to describe this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“I feel inspired, rejuvenated, and ready to spread diversity and love… TO THE JOURNEY!!”
“BRAVO!!!”
“Shoutout to a wonderful person who cares about making a difference in the world. Dan Deevy!!!!”
“Beyond my Wildest Expectations!”
“Dan Deevy runs a heck of a show.”
“This is turning out to be a powerhouse event.”
“Easily the most relaxed and welcoming convention I have ever been to.”
“Such a dream come true!”
“Dan Deevy’s convention is something special. We had such a wonderful time, made great friends. I have not been to one quite like it and can’t wait to attend this year!”
“D&I Con was the BEST Trek Con I’ve ever been to! It fulfilled IDIC in every way possible.”
“It was an amazing experience!”
“The memories and connections made at this con are truly unforgettable.”
“Gaaaysinspaaace such a positive experience. Thank you! keep growing, we expect great things.”
“This was FABULOUS! I will be talking about this show for a long time.”
“I had a blast! It is such a safe space. I am honored to have volunteered this year and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
“We are already planning for next year!”
“I felt like we were friends with everyone by the end of Saturday. Love you all so much!!!”
“This weekend was just perfect. It was good for my soul.”
“Thank you SO MUCH for such an amazing experience!!!”
“This was a great convention! I can’t wait til next year, sign me up!”
“This was our first time but definitely not our last. Such a great time.”
“This was an all-encompassing celebration of inclusion!”
“Thanks for the great job. I love the way you did this. See you next year.”
“Thank you all so much for making such amazing events! We will see you again next year for sure!”
“It was another fantastic weekend. I look forward to seeing you next year!”
“A weekend of love, understanding and acceptance. I cannot wait until next year’s convention.”
“Forever grateful for the friends made and the opportunities given.”
“You guys always do so much. Thank you!”
“Your event was awesome, and you were so incredibly kind! Will definitely be back next year! My husband and I had a blast. It was great meeting you friend!”
“Already planning for next year!”
“It was such an incredible weekend. Thank you to everyone involved!”
“The whole event was great!”
“Thank you for all your hard work.”
“This convention was even better than I expected. Not only did it include actors from our favorite sci-fi shows who spoke about their experiences on their shows, but they delved even deeper into discussions about mental health, diversity, bullying and so many other important topics. It was a wonderful weekend of fun, entertainment and discussion. Thank you Dan Deevy and everyone in Gaaaysinspaaace!”
“Had such an amazing time at DNICON.”
“See you all again next year!”
“Certainly appreciate how much time you put into these events”
“This year was so wonderful, and after last year, that’s saying something. I can’t wait until NEXT year!”
“Congrats on an amazing weekend!”
“I’m so glad we got to spend the day with Admiral Janeway!”
“I had a fantastic time! Thank you!”
“Flying a drone against Robbie was SO COOL!!”
“The lineup is always amazing!”
“The memories and connections made at this con are truly unforgettable.”
“Thank you GIS for the wonderful camaraderie and warm atmosphere at Galactic D&I Con.”
“We barely have time to be sad that the Galactic Diversity and Inclusion Con ended because we’re already planning for the next one!”
“We had the BEST WEEKEND EVER at the Gaaaysinspaaace D&I Con 2024!!!”
“Was at Galactic D&I Con today and picked up a ton of new autographs for the Trek poster. This was a great show - @gaaaysinspaaace did a fantastic job and put together a really well-organized convention with a killer guest list.”
“Penny Johnson Jerald was the first to ever sign this (a Star Trek print) for me last year. I was a little overwhelmed and Star struck. She saw this (she saw me), got up from her table and gave me a hug which helped me collect myself. I retell this story so much because no one talks about that side of conventions much.”
“My husband was on a mobility scooter, and people couldn't have been more accommodating or helpful!”
“It was loads of fun, educational, supportive, and safe. I wasn't scared to be myself there. I could be my lgbtqia+ self.”
“Dining and partying with the honorable Lady Sirella of the House of Martok was definitely a dream come true that I didn’t even know I had?!”
“You've put on, once again another AMAZING, A+ convention that I can not stop talking about. You've made so many peoples weekend, and maybe year. I honestly can say I've never had more fun. I will savor the moment and excitedly wait for next (hopfully!) Years! Thanks again for making this weird little Trekkies dreams come true.”
“There definitely is no party like a Gays in Space KLINGON PARTY!!
Completely unreal to debut my first Klingon cosplay, have dinner WITH Gowron and Lady Sirella, and celebrating the weekend with blood wine!!”
” Such an incredible first day and there’s still the rest of the weekend!!! QAPLA!!!”
“Amazing experience! It was truly a safe space for everyone and we loved being able to interact with the guests in such a relaxed and friendly environment. Looking forward to next year!”
“My daughter is a teenager and nonbinary. Coming here made me appreciate and understand her a whole lot more. My eyes were opened!”
“Coming back here fills me with so much excitement and joy, making new friends, reconnecting with old. Meeting idols. It’s like coming home! 🥰❤ can't wait the rest of the weekend!”
“I can't even begin to explain how exciting it was. Thanks gaaaysinspaaace for making yet ANOTHER dream come true!”
“A big thank-you to Gaaaysinspaaace for organizing a second Galactic Diversity & Inclusion Convention ( Dnicon ) in Philadelphia. It was great to see all kinds of fans assembled, LGBTQ+, straight, in wheelchairs, with sight challenges, with hearing challenges, tall, short, thin, wide, and of many ethnic backgrounds. All just humans getting together based on a love of Star Trek and other science fiction. I appreciate the time and effort that it takes to organize something like this, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“Thanks for the great job. Being able to get “up close and personal” with all the stars and chat with them at their tables was really great and wonderful. I’ve been to Trek conventions since the early nineties, including security at a time when the local clubs WERE the security, and I love the way you did this. See you next year. Keep the Sheraton as the “base camp”.”
“I soooo wanted to make it there this year! Next year for sure!”
“Can't wait for next year 🖖🏻💜”
“So sad we missed D&I con this year”
“I’ve been to both years, and meeting the actors has been very pleasant, quiet, and not rushed.“
“I just learned about this a few months ago! I wasn't able to attend this year 😭 but I'm making it a priority to plan for next year 🤗🖖🏽”
“Honestly aside from the great fun, my favorite part of DNI is how relaxed and happy the guests seem to be there. Not "con" happy, but genuinely like they're having fun too.”
FURTHER DETAILS IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS
*Allegation: Dan Deevy steals money from the organization to fund his life.
Dan Deevy has NEVER stolen money from GIS or from any of its programs or events.
The simple fact is there is NO REASON for him to do that.
Dan is legally entitled to be paid a salary for his full-time work. Salaries for similar positions in NYC range from $150K - $190K. So, if he wanted money, he would get it by taking a salary.
The accusation that he crafted some illegal, nefarious scheme instead, makes absolutely NO SENSE. (side note: in 8 years, Dan has NEVER BEEN PAID. Not a dime.)
*Allegation: GIS has “STOLEN MONEY FROM CHILDREN.”
This is the most offensive and damaging lie they’ve told. This ludicrous allegation insists that GIS stole money that was intended to pay for kids to go to space camp from the ‘Inclusive Space Academy Scholarship’ program that we’ve been working to create.
We need to be 100% Clear on this point.
GIS made ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY from the ISA Scholarship.
ZERO DOLLARS.
Here’s what happened with the scholarship.
The ISA scholarship was a program that never successfully came together. It was created by our scholarship director, JANE JORGENSEN, and it was her responsibility to both build and run it. She failed to do so.
Jane pledged (BUT NEVER ACTUALLY GAVE) GIS $20K to make it happen. At NO point did Dan Deevy, or GIS, have access to that money.
And NO Additional Funds were raised for the scholarship.
GIS was awarded a $25K grant from the NSS which was NOT Given to us to Pay for Any Kids to go to Space Camp.
We are once again sharing the grant application below, which clearly shows the breakdown of the budget which was APPROVED by the NSS. The budget shows that the NSS gave us those funds to cover some of the costs of the first D&I Con.
The NSS has repeatedly confirmed that they were Happy with how the Funds were Spent and have NEVER had any issues or concerns with that, GIS, or Dan Deevy personally.
The ONLY people who took issue with it, were those looking for another way to damage our reputation. Those people manufactured phony concerns to create the appearance of improper behavior to further malign and discredit us.
Now, when it became clear that we had bitten off more than we could chew with the scholarship program, we shut it down. BUT…
Absolutely NO MONEY was gained or lost by ANYONE when that happened.
JANE JORGENSEN kept the $20K she had pledged, and NO additional funds were raised for it.
This is extremely important so we’re going to reiterate it for a third time, so there is NO CONFUSION on this point:
GIS made ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY from the Scholarship.
ZERO DOLLARS.
NO MONEY was Stolen from CHILDREN!!!
The truth is, we tried to do a good thing by trying to create this scholarship and we FAILED at making it a success. We are far, FAR from perfect. So sometimes we try things that end up not working out. There is NOTHING Unethical or Illegal about that.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy & GIS “Need Money” is proof of malfeasance.
The assertion that ANY nonprofit organization is NOT in need of “more money,” is preposterous. The primary sources of funding for nonprofits are private grants and donations. Year-round fundraising is critical to EVERY nonprofit’s survival.
To claim our ongoing efforts to raise money is a sign of poor leadership and indicative of underlying illegal behavior is absurd.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy & GIS exploit & extort money from their followers.
All money spent by our followers is always in exchange for something. Ticketed events, merchandise, or is a legal donation for which they receive a tax deduction, etc. NO ONE is being exploited, conned, or scammed into just giving us their money.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy illegally used GIS funds to pay his rent.
The portion of Dan’s rent that was paid with funds from GIS was done in accordance with nonprofit law, which allows an organization to pay monthly rent for an office space.
If that office is a home office, then a percentage of that rent, which is determined by the amount of square footage being used in the home for the company’s operations, can be included in the organization’s operating budget. Floorplan & Square Footage below.
*Allegation: D&I CON Attendees Paid for Dan Deevy’s Wedding.
D&I Con was the first major sci-fi convention to host a gay wedding. It was officiated by a beloved sci-fi celebrity, attended by the majority of the weekend’s special guests, and was part of the conventions programming, at NO ADDITIONAL COST. It was an on-stage event like any other.
It was held in a space that was ALREADY PAID FOR and BEING USED FOR OTHER EVENTS & PROGRAMMING. Trekkie Feud, for example, was also hosted on that same stage.
Having the wedding there did NOT Add ANY Additional Costs to the convention.
Further, the reception that followed was our separately ticketed, Saturday Night Gala. EVERYTHING that was promised in exchange for the price of the ticket to the Gala was delivered in spades!
We promised live music, food, drinks, and mix and mingle with celebrity guests. ALL of that happened.
The fact that it also doubled as a Gay Wedding Reception changed nothing. Other than adding yet another, groundbreaking unique element to our programming.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy chose Philadelphia as the location for D&I CON to Save his Family Members Money on Travel
Philadelphia was chosen as the ANNUAL location for D&I Con for the following reasons:
We wanted it to be in a major city in the northeast.
Of the potential cities, Philadelphia was the most affordable.
Philadelphia was the most convenient for folks to travel to; by train, bus & plane.
Philadelphia showed the most interest in hosting a convention of our type.
Philadelphia was also willing to give us discounts on costs wherever possible.
And again, the choice of city was made not just for the first year, it was made for ALL Subsequent Years. To suggest that it was chosen to accommodate a handful of relatives for just ONE of those years is absurd.
*Allegation: GIS behaved improperly on STAR TREK: THE CRUISE leading to a ban on other groups hosting events.
STAR TREK: THE CRUISE did NOT change their policy about groups hosting events on board because of anything that GIS did. In fact, our events became more and more successful and well attended each year. Everyone, including the company that runs the cruises, loved what we were doing and wanted more.
The Cruise made that change because the malcontents were so desperate to convince the world that we were evil, they bombarded them with an unending number of hateful emails filled with their lies about us. THAT’S why they changed their policy.
Understandably so, they didn’t want to be a part of the drama that those emails and social media attacks created. And although we NEVER responded to any of those messages or emails, or engaged with them in any way, they managed to continue their one-sided feud, all on their own. They obviously have never cared about the members of our community they’ve been hurting in the process.
THIS WAS THE CROWD AT OUR LAST TREKKIE FEUD ON STAR TREK: THE CRUISE V - PEOPLE LOVED WHAT WE WERE DOING
*Allegation: GIS is a “SCAM” or a “GRIFT”
GIS is NOT a SCAM!!!
A scam is a fraudulent or deceptive act where someone tries to get you to part with your money. GIS operates transparently and only generates revenue in the following ways:
1. **Ticket Sales**: Our events are held as scheduled, with attendees consistently reporting satisfaction and value.
2. **Merchandise Sales**: Purchasers receive their products either at events or through mail for online orders.
3. **Donations**: All donations, unless specifically designated otherwise by the donor, are used exclusively to fund GIS events.
4. **Grants/Sponsorships**: The entirety of these funds are also used solely in support of our events.
For the past 8 years, we’ve done our best to create things that bring joy into people’s lives. We don’t always succeed. But given the sheer volume of the things we’ve done for the community, some were bound to not be homeruns.
Since our founding in 2016, GIS has produced 200+ Events across the country, we’ve launched our own annual weekend long convention, the ‘GALACTIC DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CON,’ we’ve also been welcomed by other events including, SAN DIEGO COMIC CON, NEW YORK COMIC CON, WONDERCON, STLV, STAR TREK: THE CRUISE, NEW WORLD’S SPACE CONFERENCE, THE NATIONAL SPACE CONFERENCE, just to name a few.
Dan Deevy was also given the honor of addressing the UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY on the need for universal equality as humankind takes its first steps toward becoming an interplanetary civilization.
GIS accomplished all of the above (and so much more), despite having only a single person working full time, not having any outside financial backing, and all the while having to divert time and resources to fight off these relentless attacks and attempts to ruin everything.
As we said earlier, we are FAR from perfect. But we’re doing our best to fulfill our mission and to learn from our mistakes so we can improve and accomplish even more with our future events.
*Allegation: GIS is not an actual 501(c)(3) nonprofit
GIS 501(c)(3) NONPROFIT STATUS
Finally, (and hopefully for the very last time), GAAAYS IN SPAAACE IS a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Confirmation documentation below. ALL funds that are raised by the organization go to fund the operational costs of OUR organization.
We do NOT use the funds we raise to fund other nonprofits, charities or programs. WE are the nonprofit that those funds benefit. It’s how we continue to operate. That’s how nonprofits run.
Our accusers, however, believe this is somehow improper.
IRS Determination Letter for our Federal filings, the California Secretary of State & the California Attorney General, New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau (registered out-of-state charity) Pennsylvania Secretary of State (registered out-of-state nonprofit) NSS Grant Application w/ APPROVED Budgetary Breakdown.
