The Association of Writers and Writing Programs has fired its executive director less than six months after she took the position on a full-time basis, and she is claiming her firing was partially motivated by the fact she is a transgender woman, the industry news site Publishers Weekly reported.

Chloe Schwenke was terminated from the top job at the Maryland-based AWP on Sept. 7. She joined the group in April 2018 as interim director following the firing of longtime executive director David Fenza. She was named executive director in April of this year.

In an open letter published on a Facebook group for LGBTQ writers, Schwenke alleges she was fired primarily because she is transgender, according to PW. However, she added that financial issues plaguing the group following termination of its official relationship with the University of Maryland also contributed to the decision. https://bit.ly/2miDJ5p

AWP's board of trustees denied Schwenke's allegations in a statement on its website, saying it decided to act quickly after learning "of multiple financial and workplace issues and specifically decisions Dr. Schwenke made." The board also said an auditing firm is reviewing the group's finances and will publish those findings as soon as the report is complete.

"We are disappointed that Dr. Schwenke has decided to use her own place in our community to wage a campaign to defame others, including members of the board, whose volunteer service is essential to maintaining a healthy governance framework for the organization," the board said. https://bit.ly/2kjONyu

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