The board of directors behind the Boston Pride organization announced late Friday that it would dissolve, taking steps to close down the organization amid recent calls for change.
“It is clear to us that our community needs and wants change without the involvement of Boston Pride,” a statement from the organization’s board of directors said. “We have heard the concerns of the QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous People of Color) community and others. We care too much to stand in the way.”
“Therefore, Boston Pride is dissolving,” the board of directors statement continued. “There will be no further events or programming planned, and the board is taking steps to close down the organization.”
The abrupt decision announced late on a Friday afternoon in July left many questions about the future of the pride movement in Boston and Massachusetts.
“We know many people care about Pride in Boston, and we encourage them to continue the work,” the statement said. “By making the decision to close down, we hope new leaders will emerge from the community to lead the Pride movement in Boston.”
The future of the Boston pride parade, which was canceled in 2020 and rescheduled from June to October 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, was not immediately clear.
The Boston Pride board of directors had previously faced calls for its resignation, announcing last year a transformation advisory committee that it claimed would advise the organization to ensure that its vision, mission and values were in alignment and in the best interest of the LGBTQ+ community.
A statement released in April said a committee of seven members of the greater Boston LGBTQ+ community would oversee the recruitment of new Boston Pride board members to ensure that the board is reflective of the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Less than three months later, the board of directors announced the organization would be dissolved.
“Boston Pride undertook the transformation process as a result of the Boston Pride board’s response to concerns raised by Black, Brown, transgender people and other members of our community,” the board’s statement released Friday said. “It is clear to us that our community needs and wants change without the involvement of Boston Pride.”
“This decision was made with a heavy heart, out of love and hope for a better future,” the statement said.
Full statement from Boston Pride Board of Directors
For years, we have volunteered our time with Boston Pride because we care about and are passionate about the LGBTQIA+ community. We strived to foster an environment of diversity and unity within our organization and the community. Over the past 50 years, Boston Pride has facilitated programs and events that have changed our society and promoted equality, but we know there is still work to be done.
Over the past year, we have invested time and energy to address the concerns of the community, both with our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access work with Dorrington & Saunders and by forming the Transformation Advisory Committee comprised of members of the LGBTQIA+ community to help bring change to our organization. We are grateful for all who have been involved in this process.
It is clear to us that our community needs and wants change without the involvement of Boston Pride. We have heard the concerns of the QTBIPOC community and others. We care too much to stand in the way. Therefore, Boston Pride is dissolving. There will be no further events or programming planned, and the board is taking steps to close down the organization.
We know many people care about Pride in Boston, and we encourage them to continue the work. By making the decision to close down, we hope new leaders will emerge from the community to lead the Pride movement in Boston.
This decision was made with a heavy heart, out of love and hope for a better future.
– Boston Pride Board of Directors
*story by WCVB – Boston, MA
