BOSTON, MA (JULY 13, 2021) On July 9, 2021, Boston Pride’s Board of Directors released a statement announcing the dissolution of the Boston Pride organization [this is a stable link to the archived front page via the Internet Archives] In that statement, the Board of Directors of the New Boston Pride Committee, Inc., doing business as Boston Pride, wrote: “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.”

The current iteration of Boston Pride was formed in the early 2000s after scandal left the previous Pride organization in shambles. Local business leaders bailed out Boston Pride in 1998, paving the way for the New Boston Pride Committee to incorporate in 2000.

Pride celebrations around the world were sparked by the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City, and Boston’s first Pride organization, the Homophile Coordinating Council, was formed in June 1970. The first Pride celebrations in 1970 in honor of Christopher Street Liberation didn’t include a march or parade, but was instead a week-long series of workshops and forums, culminating in a dance at the Charles Street Meetinghouse.

Nineteen seventy-one saw Boston's first actual Pride March, a distinctly political event organized to highlight four oppressive institutions: the police, the government, hostile bars, and religious institutions. Over time, the community and Pride organizers have debated about who to include, who to highlight, and how to represent the community. 

Debates over the years have included, but are not limited to:

• Whether to allow drag performers to participate (in 1973 and 1974)
• Whether to allow businesses or bars to march (1976)
• Whether to allow politicians and religious leaders to participate in the post-march rally (1978)
• How to address the needs of working-class LGBTQ people and people of color (1979)
• How to support people with HIV/AIDS (1983)
• Whether or not to charge a fee at the festival (1984)
• Whether to include Bisexual in the official name of Pride (1989) 
• How to address calls for “less politics and more entertainment” (1993)

More recently, community members have debated the presence of police and the role of corporations in Pride celebrations, the cost of participating in Pride, and the lack of representation and community support of people of color and trans people in Pride celebrations. 

As for the history of organizers, many different groups and volunteers have organized Boston’s Pride celebrations over time. Some of them include the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations, the Gay Pride Committee (1974-1975), Lavender Rhino, Inc. (1974, 1975, and 1990), the Lesbian & Gay Pride Committee (1980), Pride Celebrations, Inc. (1982, 1988), and Pride, Inc. (1994, 1995).

Pride celebrations have not been organized by one group or organization over time, and celebrations have evolved to meet the needs of the LGBTQ community. The decision of Boston Pride’s Board of Directors to dissolve the organization rather than evolve or support a successor is disappointing and demonstrates that it is, once again, time for new, community-driven leadership and ideas for Greater Boston’s Pride events and celebrations. The History Project, as Boston’s LGBTQ community archives, looks forward to continuing to document the evolving histories of our community, including how our community commemorates the Stonewall Riots and celebrates Pride.

In the cause,

Joan Ilacqua, Executive Director
Andrew Elder, Board Chair

The History Project Board
Libby Bouvier
Jonathan Chu
Tony Grima
Russell Lopez
Marvin Kabakoff
Neal Kane
Mark Krone
Jessica Taylor

Detail of "Love is all..." Flyer Announcing Events in honor of Christopher Street Liberation, Boston, 1970