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Boston Pride Green Initiative 2010

Interested in helping out with the Green Initiative? Email green@bostonpride.org for more info!

In 2008, Boston Pride was the first Pride to initiate a transversal effort to reduce its carbon footprint and become a greener event. The results were outstanding, with Parade and Festival trash volume cut in half, and Block Parties trash cut by two thirds! Boston Pride also invested in equipment to be reused year after year, and best practices were applied to the Pride Committee’s day to day activities.

In 2009, Boston Pride strengthened its Green Initiative by launching four specific efforts aimed at systematizing Boston Pride’s approach at being greener. In 2010, Boston Pride aims at developing these four efforts to their full potential, and make the 40th Celebration the greenest Pride ever!

Effort #1 – Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

Our “Recycle, Reduce, Reuse” effort will be implemented again at all events and in our business practices: recycling at the Festival, the Parade, the Stuart Street Block Party and the JP Block Party; reduce the use of paper and discardable / one-use items; reduce use of vehicles by promotion of public transportation, car-sharing, bike use; maximization of year-to-year reuse of resources like decorations, banners, signs, etc…

Effort #2 – Invest

Boston Pride’s fundraising efforts will specifically offer the opportunity for donors to give to the Green Fund, a pool of resources aimed at supporting the Green Initiative. The money raised through the Green Fund will allow for additional investments in environmentally-friendly resources and operations material.

Effort #3 – Offset

A series of “green metrics” was developed in 2009, and will be put to use in 2010, in order to quantify how much Boston Pride needs to offset. Stay tuned for more information.

Effort #4 – Promote

In 2010, Boston Pride will recognize its partners, vendors, sponsors and participants who are environmentally friendly. In addition, Boston Pride will put together a resource document (a “Green Guide to Pride”) for Pride participants and other Pride organizers around the world.

Interested in helping out with the Green Initiative? Email green@bostonpride.org for more info!

Take a look at the 2009 Green Initiative and at the 2008 Green Initiative!

Boston Pride Green Initiative 2009

Interested in helping out with the Green Initiative? Email green@bostonpride.org for more info!


After meeting an overly positive response from the public and being successful at significantly reducing our waste and carbon footprint in 2008, the Green Initiative is back in 2009!

In 2008, Boston Pride was the first Pride in the world to make a global and transversal effort to become greener. From our theme to events and initiatives during Pride Week 2008, Boston Pride made a conscientious effort to understand and reduce the impact of our activities on the environment. And we achieved tremendous goals. Trash was reduced by about 50% at the Parade and Festival, and up to 66% at the Block Parties; equipment investments were made; and the “recycle, reduce, re-use” triptych was adopted as an everyday practice by our Committee and Board of Directors.

2009 will be the year for Boston Pride to initiate four efforts aimed at systematizing our Green Initiative.

Effort #1 – Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

Our “Recycle, Reduce, Reuse” effort will be implemented again at all events and in our business practices: recycling at the Festival, the Parade, the Stuart Street Block Party and the JP Block Party; reduce the use of paper and discardable / one-use items; reduce use of vehicles by promotion of public transportation, car-sharing, bike use; maximization of year-to-year reuse of resources like decorations, banners, signs, etc…

Effort #2 – Invest

Our investment effort will be increased with the development of the Green Fund (a pool of financial resources aimed at supporting making Pride greener from year to year), the purchase of event production and management items, and the investment in environmentally-friendly resources for everyday business activities.

Effort #3 – Offset

In 2009, we are creating the “Offset” effort to quantify and compensate Boston Pride’s carbon footprint, and to define a process for its year-to-year offset.

Effort #4 – Promote

In 2009, we are creating the “Promote” effort by which Boston Pride will actively communicate and outreach around the Green Initiative, as well as recognize our partners, vendors, sponsors and participants who are environmentally friendly. Ideally, this effort will lead to the creation of a “Green Guide to Pride” for the public (for Pride 2010) and for other Prides in the region who are looking to be greener.

Interested in helping out with the Green Initiative? Email green@bostonpride.org for more info!

Take a look at the 2008 Green Initiative!

Boston Pride Green Initiative 2008

Earlier this year, our community voted and selected this year’s theme for Boston Pride: “Sustaining our community, Conserving our World”. In order to honor this theme, the Boston Pride Committee, is launching its first ever Green Initiative. This Green Initiative, a series of programs, events and practices, will start during this Pride Week, will continue over 2008 and will be expandedr in 2009 if successful.

Three major goals have been identified for this Green Initiative in 2008: The first goal is to make Boston Pride the first greener Pride in the nation by significantly Reducing our Carbon Footprint and Overall Impact on the Environment. The second goal of our Green Initiative is to Raise Awareness about Community Health Issues. Finally, the third goal of our Green Initiative is to Promote Community Unity.

If you would like to join us in this endeavour, please email us at green@bostonpride.org. Support us by making a donation to the Green Fund!

You will find below a listing of all events, programs and practices included in this year’s Green Initiative.

Goal 1 – Reducing our Carbon Footprint and Overall Impact on the Environment

• Recycling at Boston-Pride-produced events: Festival, Parade, Stuart Street Block Party and JP Block Party
• Reduction in trash and maximization re-use of supplies like decorations, banners, signs at various events
• Investment in durable equipment like mobile bars for our Block Parties
• Reduction of the use of paper through online applications, virtual documentation, awareness message in emails
• Promotion of the use of recycled paper for our various administrative and meeting needs
• Quantify of Boston Pride’s carbon footprint at the Festival, Parade, Stuart Street Block Party and JP Block Party
• Concrete plan to offset our 2008 Carbon Footprint in 2009
• Promotion of the use of public transportation, biking, car-sharing or use of hybrid/fuel-efficient cars to attend our events and meetings
• Creation of a “Green Fund” to encourage financial contributions to Pride’s Green Initiative and support and sustain this endeavor for the years to come
• Promoting of our various vendors, sponsors and partners who have been recognized for their efforts in sustainability
• Institutional sponsors: the City of Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
• Green Initiative corporate sponsors: Zipcar, the Hyatt Regency Boston, Poland Spring, and Save that Stuff

Goal 2 – Raise Awareness about Community Health Issues

• Partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and its Massachusetts Affiliate to raise awareness about breast cancer in the LGBT community in general and the lesbian community in particular
• Partnership with AIDS Actions’ Male Center and outreach to the gay male population on safer sex practices
• Creation of smoke- and alcohol-free zones at the Stuart Street Block Party and the JP Block Party
• Promotion of community events dedicated to health awareness through the year

Goal 3 – Promote Community Unity

• Logistical, administrative and financial support for Youth Pride, Trans Pride, Latino Pride, Black Pride and this year, the newly-formed Senior Pride
• Outreach to our sister Pride organizations with Festival, Parade placement
• Creation of a “Pride Scholarship Fund” to collect donations in order to fund scholarships donated by Boston Pride to these pride organizations in Massachusetts and New-England
• Reinforcement of cross-promotion and logistics between community organizations, specifically during Pride Week