Ed Mullen, the executive director of
Equality Ohio, has stepped down after being arrested in Columbus last
weekend as the city held its annual Gay Pride festival.
According to the Columbus
Dispatch, Mullen faces misdemeanor charges of menacing and
disorderly conduct.
Mullen declined to comment on the
charges, but a complaint filed in Franklin County Municipal Court
states that Mullen went onto the property of an unidentified resident
and threatened him last Saturday. He took pictures of the man's
house, saying, “Smile now, we'll be back for you.”
Paul Feeney, a board chairman of
Equality Ohio, told the paper that Mullen made the decision to
resign.
“Ed's leaving for personal reasons,
and we regretfully accepted his resignation. We didn't ask for his
resignation. We wish him all the best,” he said.
The 44-year-old Mullen, a civil-rights
lawyer, joined the organization last year.
In an e-mail to supporters, Feeney said
Mullen's resignation takes effect on June 29.
“Ed brought tremendous vitality and
keen legal insights to our organization, stabilized our operations
and financial support, and led the development of a nationally
recognized strategic plan,” he said.