On July 9, 2021, the New Boston Pride Committee, Inc. announced they would shut down. For twenty of the last fifty years, this committee ran Boston Pride, a celebration and protest to commemorate the Stonewall uprising in 1969. It is held alongside many other cities throughout the United States in June of each year since the riots. This shutdown surprised many, as the organization was suddenly shutting down. To insiders, though, this was a long time coming. While it was not expected that the organization would shut down, advocates had been pushing for years to have substantive change occur, including having the President of Boston Pride and the non-profit board resign.

 

The Rise and Fall of Boston Pride tracks the history of Boston Pride, from its first march in 1971 through 2024. The book examines the rise of the pride movement in Boston, the ups and downs of putting on events in June for 50+ years, the events leading to the shutdown in 2021, and the rise of Boston Pride for the People. Meticulously researched over two years, The Rise and Fall of Boston Pride is the only book that tracks the entire history of Boston Pride. Data includes material from The History Project, Yale University's Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, and Northeastern University's Snell Library.