The Rainbow After the Storm

Despite living in lockdown, and with cancellations of large-scale events, both indoor and outdoor still occurring late into 2020, Boston Pride continued working towards transforming the organization and planning for an in-person return in June 2021 — in what would be a belated culmination of the 50th commemoration of the Stonewall Rebellion and the 50th anniversary of the birth of Pride celebrations, with the 50th annual Boston Pride event. 

In the winter of 2021, with the COVID-19 coronavirus still raging, pandemic lockdown remained in place. The promise of new vaccines hinted at a gradual reopening of the City of Boston and the return of large-scale events over time, but it meant the planned June celebration would need to be postponed again, this time to the fall  — if conditions permitted. Boston Pride announced the postponement and shared a statement affirming they had been working on “transforming the organization to ensure its vision, mission, and values are in alignment and in the best interest of the LGBTQ+ community. Boston Pride undertook the transformation process as a result of the Board’s response to concerns raised by Black, Brown, transgender people, and other members of the community which compelled us to examine our Board and our entire organizational structure including  programming of events for Pride 2021.”

On April 16, Boston Pride introduced the members of the new Transformation Advisory Committee; then on May 11 they announced a livestreamed webinar event to educate, communicate, and engage the community in a discussion on dismantling systemic racism. This would include discussions on working towards liberating BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people, with a panel of speakers from the QTBIPOC community. The theme for the year, ‘the rainbow after the storm,” and a schedule of virtual events was posted on May 25. A Mayoral Candidates Forum set for June 7 had to be rescheduled when a competing forum was intentionally arranged for the same day. 

With harassment and threats still coming in, plus active calls to boycott Boston Pride events, Board President Linda J. DeMarco announced late in June her intent to resign her role later in the coming year. Due to continuous social media attacks and phone calls, seeing no safe path forward for the continuation of Boston Pride, on July 9, the Board announced that it would be dissolving. “Over the past year, we have invested time and energy to address the concerns of the community,” Boston Pride’s Board of Directors wrote in a statement on their website. “It is clear to us that our community needs and wants change without the involvement of Boston Pride.” There would be no further events or programming planned. In the end, their concern for the safety of those planning to attend any in-person events, and the risk of harm coming to innocent bystanders was a primary tipping point. 

Boston Pride distributed what assets remained after termination and severance of staff, paying off debts, fulfilling grant commitments, and closing down the office. The Board ultimately determined that rather than closing down the organization, they would change the mission and continue as a Pride history organization.  

The organization’s assets were given to several community groups, including Boston Pride 4 the People, to aid them in moving forward with their parade in 2022. More Prides throughout Towns and cities in Massachusetts formed, opening safe spaces for many.  The balance of The Community Fund was given out to these organizations to help with their success.