The following open letter from Boston Spirit Publisher David Zimmerman to the former board of Boston Pride appears in the current May/June 2022 issue of Boston Spirit magazine:
Why? Tell us why.
The community deserves an answer and you should have enough respect for the community to give one. Why did you take a 50-year-old public trust that was an integral and vital part of the community and selfishly shut it down?
For decades, boards that oversaw Boston’s Pride Parade and Festival put in the time and effort to honor the tradition of Boston Pride and then, when their time was over, they peacefully and responsibly transitioned the care-taking role to a new board. You should know, you had been part of this process when you joined the board.
Tell us why? Don’t hide behind lawyers and PR firms. Simply give an honest and forthright answer. Boston Spirit is a privately owned business. If we want to shut down the magazine, we can do it at any time and we do not owe anyone any explanation. Boston Pride is not privately owned. Boston Pride was, in essence, a public trust, a community-based organization. You, the board, were a temporary caretaker of that trust, just like those who came before you. Did you think of them at all? The groups from the ’70s who had to endure physical and psychological abuse but fought through it all on your behalf. To make your lives better.
The selfishness of your act is unfathomable. To think that the city of Boston no longer has a Pride Parade is madness. You should be ashamed of what you’ve done. For nearly a year, you worked with an outside firm on a transition plan to bring in a new, more diverse board. Then, when the time came to finalize that plan you took your books, your records, your financial documents, and you went home. Why?
Is there something in those books that others shouldn’t see? If not, then tell us why you abandoned your plan to bring in a new board. I am pledging right here and now, I will give you free space in Boston Spirit to tell your story … unedited. Your words. Take as much space as you need. If you would like to take me up on this offer, just let me know. In case you need it, I can be reached at publisher@bostonspiritmagazine.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
David Zimmerman
Publisher, Boston Spirit magazine
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