Boston Pride released a statement late on Friday, July 9, 2021, announcing that effective immediately that Boston Pride is dissolving.
Like other PRIDE celebrations across the country the group grappled for months with complaints of structural racism, and transphobia so much so it had hired consultants and formed an advisory committee to help facilitate that process.
The full statement from the 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.”
Recent changes to other June celebrated PRIDES across the country due to a small percentage of the communities loud complaints have further split and created a pushback especially between older lesbian and gay activists.
PRIDE is dead. LONG LIVE October Gay History month!
I was very disappointed to hear the news broadcast today that an LGBT institution, Gay Pride, was closing its doers and disbanding. Many years ago I did not know what to do or to whom to turn but I did know I was decidedly gay. I went to my first LGBT Pride around 35 years ago. I did so because I had felt singularly alone. I felt alone until I went to my first Gay Pride. Not only was I not alone but hundreds of thousands were there just like I was. If that were not enough we went to San Francisco Pride as well. Clearly that feeling of self hatred and loneliness melted away as I knew so many were there to help me adjust. Moreover, I found a partner with whom I have spent 35 wonderful years. It saddens me, of course, to see the very organization that, perhaps, saved my life is disbanding. I can only hope those young people who discover that they are gay find another organization like Pride to cushion their ride. I venture to say Pride has throughout the years saved lives as I know it in pertinent part, saved mine!
Pardon the typo. I DO know how to spell. Make that closing its doors!! 🙁
Hi Will. Do you have any information on just what the heck happened? I’ve been in orgs where the “T” issue has ripped everything apart and tanked the whole thing but as an outsider it’s impossible to tell whose demands correspond with reality.
The trans genders will never be anything but angry. Now they’ve killed Pride. Oh well. It’s ironic that it happened this way, given that trans people aren’t even gay.