The Humane Society of the United States, “one of the largest animal rights groups in the country, finds itself ensnared in a widening controversy over sexual harassment in the upper levels of the nonprofit’s management,” said Politico Magazine. The publication describes complaints by six women of improper behavior by Paul Shapiro, an HSUS vice president and “one of the nation’s most consequential animal rights advocates over the past decade.” Shapiro left HSUS in January.
The HSUS has won a series of state-level campaigns against the close confinement of poultry and livestock, most recently a statewide referendum in Massachusetts.
“Shapiro suggested a female employee should ‘take one for the team’ by having sex with a donor, sent pornography and lewd emails to male employees, and discussed with colleagues his sexual philosophies, such as having as many sexual partners as possible,” reported Politico, citing interviews, emails, and an internal HSUS document. “His alleged behavior, staffers say, led to the resignations of no fewer than five employees from 2015 to late 2017.” Shapiro “allegedly contributed to a pervasive climate of sexual innuendo in the office that contrasted jarringly with the ethical behavior toward animals that was the organization’s mission.”
Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that HSUS chief executive Wayne Pacelle was the subject of three complaints of sexual harassment in an investigation commissioned by the HSUS board. The Post said the investigation by a law firm “found that senior female leaders said their warnings about [Pacelle’s] behavior went unheeded.” An HSUS memo said the group “had offered settlements to three other workers who said they were demoted or dismissed after reporting Pacelle’s alleged behavior,” said the Post. Pacelle has denied any improper behavior.
Shapiro said in a written statement, “I’ve taken responsibility for inappropriate behavior years earlier in my career, and apologized to those who may have been offended. I cannot, however, respond to allegations that I’m unaware of, were never presented to my former employer or me during the inquiry 16 months ago, are alleged to have occurred many years ago, and, frankly, just never happened,” reported Politico.