West Hollywood Mayor Leaving LA Gay Men's Chorus After Harassment Allegations

The mayor of West Hollywood, John Duran, is also the board chairman for the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) – but the latter is a post he will be leaving in a few months as allegations swirl about inappropriate comments and unwanted touching, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Duran has been with the chorus for two decades, the Times reported, and his version of the story is that he's departing because of a "toxic" relationship with the organization that he says resulted from what he calls "false allegations."

But at least one current member and two former chorus members say that Duran put his hands inside their clothing or made inappropriate comments to them.

"I flat-out told them that I can't support the organization anymore because there is too much sexual misconduct, particularly from leaders of the organization," former GMCLA member Joey Firoben told the LA Times.

The other former chorus member, Jason Tong, claims that Duran felt underneath his underwear waistband before a chorus performance. Tong alleges that the group's leaders did not address his concerns; he told the LA Times that chorus leadership "supported somebody who wielded power rather than somebody who is vulnerable and needs community."

Chorus member Brian Phillip Nichoalds told a similar story, saying that Duran felt under his waistband. When Nichoalds took on a leadership position within the chorus, he says, he heard other allegations against Duran.

Executive Director Jonathan Weedman told the media that he had heard about one of those allegations and the organization looked into it but found no corroborating evidence, reported LA Magazine. Discussing the subject of harassment training, Weedman said, "This organization is rife with different levels of what people consider acceptable workplace conduct."

But Weedman, too, has been accused of inappropriate conduct, reported local news outlet WEHOville, in an article that said GMCLA had also looked into a claim by one member who said Weedman made him participate in oral sex. Weedman denied that allegation, and an investigation found no evidence to support it, WEHO noted.