I've spoken to a number of other funders, and we all remain committed to their mission. 'No other organization can speak credibly for Latino queers.

'My heart is broken because we were utterly committed to the work of LLEGÃ',' McFarlane said. Rodger McFarlane, the executive director of the Gill Foundation, which gave LLEGÃ' $90,000 this year and a total of $400,000 over the past 10 years, said that 'sheer financial desperation' and a over-reliance on government contracts instead of a 'serious and sustained' donor base was the death knell for the 'the only national nonprofit organization devoted to representing' the needs of gay and lesbian Latinos. Officials with the National Latino Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization abruptly shut down the organization last week laying off all 14 of its employees in the face of a $700,000 deficit, sources familiar with the group said.

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