Democrat lesbian charged with embezzling $6 million

Phyllis Stevens (photo: eQualityGiving)

A lesbian political activist who donated thousands to Democrats and homosexual causes is suspected of embezzling nearly $6 million from one of the world's largest insurance firms.

Despite her $40,000 a year salary as an insurance compensation specialist, Phyllis Stevens purchased two homes valued at more than $550,000 and gave thousands of dollars in donations to Democratic Party political candidates and homosexual groups.

The 58-year-old chairs the Midwest Chapter of Marriage Equality USA, a homosexual "marriage" advocacy group. She is accused of embezzling the money from health insurer Aviva over a period of five years. A civil complaint filed in federal court accuses Stevens of manipulating a computer system intended to give commission to insurance agents. She allegedly made payments to non-existent agents and deposited the commission into a bank account she shared with her lesbian partner, Marla, policy director for LGBT Fairness PAC.

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According to the Seattle Times, Phyllis and Marla exchanged wedding vows in Canada in 2003.

Stevens was arrested on fraud charges Friday, and a hearing has been set for Oct. 16.

Stevens and her lesbian partner donated at least $82,000 to Democratic congressional candidates from Iowa; Democratic presidential candidates such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson; and groups such as ActBlue, MoveOn.org and the homosexual "marriage" advocacy group One Iowa.

On the website eQualityGiving, Stevens wrote, "Marla and I are very careful about whom we give money to (especially when we decide to max out on a candidate.) As a couple, we refuse to max out on a candidate who doesn't support marriage equality."