Our Mission
“The Boston Pride Committee, serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied community, works to enhance the visibility of Boston's LGBT community through a week of events each June, in conjunction with year-round activities, to promote LGBT awareness, dignity, and understanding.”
Our Meetings
The Boston Pride Committee meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm in the Wainwright Bank Community Room in the Back Bay. All are welcome! Learn more about the format of our meetings here.
Our Board of Directors
Linda DeMarco – President, Board of Directors
Linda DeMarco started volunteering in 1998. Currently she is President of the Board of Directors of the Boston Pride Committee, and on the Board of Directors of the Merchant Association of
Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Her expertise is in business and finance, and owns one of Boston's best pretzel baking companies. Her favorite thing about Pride are the smiles people have on their faces all day!!! And her favorite thing about Boston is that it is a small city, yet strong and proud. Linda loves her family, cats, flying, the Red Sox, and the Patriots.
Email Linda: president@bostonpride.org
Keri Aulita – Vice President, Board of Directors
Keri is a professional event planner whose day job is fundraising for elderly housing programs. On the side, she plans parties, weddings, auctions, and just about any gig she can get her hands on. She's a motivated girl with a never-ending "to do" list and an affinity for glitter.
Keri is a die hard New Yorker (Go Yankees!) of Italian descent who charms and compels with her smart mouth, sharp insights, and contagious laugh. This old-school femme spends her free time caring for her two rescued greyhounds, Sundae & Malibu, frolicking on the beach, writing, and working on various home renovation projects!
Email Keri: vp@bostonpride.org
Pierce Durkin – Clerk, Board of Directors
Pierce Durkin has been involved with the Boston Pride Committee since 2003. He began his volunteer work by planning the Stuart Street Block Party, and coordinating the general logistics of Pride. Pierce increased his involvement in 2004 by co-chairing the festival. Pierce is currently on the Board of Directors, and completing his undergraduate degree at Harvard Extension School in Cambridge. Pierce's favorite thing about Pride is the experience of realizing that you are not alone. "One summer I walked home from Pride Day, no longer afraid about what people thought about me being gay" he says to friends. His favorite thing about Boston is its roots in democracy, and the three time Super Bowl champions the Patriots. Pierce comes from a large Irish family, and loves good conversation with interesting people.
Email Pierce: clerk@bostonpride.org
Kristie Helms – Member, Board of Directors
Kristie Helms is a southerner who keeps moving further north. A communications professional, her writing has appeared in "Utne," "The New York Press," "Genre" and in a string of un-bylined corporate brochures and newsletters that stretch from Nashville to New York City. Her first novel, "Dish It Up Baby" was a 2004 Lambda Literary Award finalist. She holds a B.S. in journalism from Murray State University in Kentucky and is currently a student in Simmons College's Masters in Communication Management program. After a brief, misguided stint as a crime reporter, she now edits internal publications for a Fortune 500. Kristie launched herself into community building after volunteering for the Democratic National Convention and overhearing a young gay man from Appalachian Kentucky whisper, "Are they allowed to be out in the open like that?"
after seeing a group of people wearing rainbow ribbons. Yes. Yes, they are. Kristie also volunteers with Roslindale Village Main Streets, Egleston Square Main Streets and is an associate member of the Ward 19 Democratic Committee.
Email Kristie: khelms@bostonpride.org
Wilfred Labiosa – Member, Board of Directors
Wilfred Labiosa, born and raised in Puerto Rico arrived to Boston in 1989 to study at Boston University and then at Northeastern University. Since then he has been involved in community organizing and advocacy for Latinos GLBT and Immigrant rights. He is co-founder of Somos Latin@s LGBT Coalition of Mass, the only organization for and by the Latino GLBT Community and of Latino Pride of New England, currently in its 4th year. He is a mental health care provider and public health researcher, working in the field for over 10 years. He is the regional representative and member of the Board of Directors to Unid@s: the National Organization for Latino/as GLBT Human Rights. He lives in Medford with his spouse of eight years. He loves to travel, enjoy the cuisine of Latin America, reading, music, walking, and entertaining friends and family in his home.
Email Wilfred: wlabiosa@bostonpride.org
Sylvain Bruni – Member, Board of Directors
Sylvain has been involved with Boston Pride since 2003. First a volunteer for several events (Parade, Festival, Block Party, Idol etc…), Sylvain chaired the Parade in 2005 and 2006, and the Stuart Street Block Party in 2007. That year, he also joined the Board of Directors of Boston Pride. In 2008, in addition to his Board duties, Sylvain is the chair of the Stuart Street Block Party and the Boston Pride webmaster. Sylvain is currently a PhD student at MIT, in Aeronautics and Astronautics. His research focuses on human-machine interaction and collaborative human-computer decision making in aerospace and defense environments. He holds a Master's Degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, and a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Supélec (France). At MIT, Sylvain has been strongly involved with student government and advocacy, campus life and large event planning, as a former Graduate Student Council President and Vice-President, Director and Treasurer of the MIT Career Fair, and officer for the Rainbow Coffeehouse, the graduate LGBT student group.
Email Sylvain: sbruni@bostonpride.org
Our Committee Chairs
David O. Avruch – Community Outreach Chair
Dave is from Brookline and lives in JP. He has been with Pride since 2006, which was the year he graduated college. His interests include writing, art, his siblings, other people and himself. He cannot cook but enjoys talking and the occasional Lolcat. Though he claims his goals include personal fulfillment, world peace and getting enough sleep, he probably would settle for a few games of Boggle and a dance party. As Community Outreach Chair, Dave ventures out into the community to meet people and groups who have a stake in Pride. You definitely should consider inviting him to your next meeting because sometimes he has candy.
Email David: outreach@bostonpride.org
Cookie Belcamino – Jamaica Plain Block Party Chair
Cookie grew up in Reading, MA. and continues to make this area her home.
Pride is a passion of hers, whether it's in her community, her family, friends or her charitable work. She has participated in Boston Pride for the past 9 years, for the last four with her motorcycle club the "East Coast Biker Chicks." In 2006, the club raffled off a ride in the Pride Parade and the money raised was donated to Boston Pride and the MA Breast Cancer Coalition. Cookie has a culinary degree and owns her own catering business, Cooks' Cookin' Caterin'. She also has a background in Finance and is a licensed Real Estate Agent. She's an avid fan of the Red Sox, the Patriots, Motorcycles and Poker.
Email Cookie: jp-blockparty@bostonpride.org
Sarah DeChick – Volunteer Chair
Sarah grew up in coastal Georgia and moved to the Boston area with her fiancée in 2007. She loves the freedom and excitement that Boston has brought to her life. A love affair with the Red Sox and Jacoby Ellsberry sprang up pretty soon after she arrived. She spends her days working for a small but busy publishing company full of colorful and interesting people. In her free time, Sarah likes cooking, blogging, rummaging through book stores and getting dolled up for fun out on the town. The Boston Pride Committee has provided Sarah with amazing friends, eye opening experiences, and a feeling of achievement. Sarah believes the committee provides a service for Boston and the LGBT community as well as its own members. In truth, Sarah is a funny down home girl who loves to wear pink, sings random song snippets, and adores her life.
Email Sarah: volunteer@bostonpride.org
Kirk Dobson – Fundraising Chair
Kirk currently lives in the South End of Boston, and enjoys every minute of it. This is his first year of many with Boston Pride, and he is looking forward to fundraising for the committee. A native New Yorker, Kirk enjoys riding horses, going to the museum anytime he can, and travelling. He is also a big baseball and football fan, and spends his winters at Patriot games, and summers at Fenway and Yankee stadiums.
Email Kirk: fundraising@bostonpride.org
Michael Anthony Fowler – Logistics Chair
Michael Anthony first began working with the Boston Pride Committee in 2007 as a Parade and Stuart Street Block Party volunteer. As a Gill Foundation Scholar and an Alexander Foundation Scholar he attended The Colorado College where he received a B.A. cum laude. As an undergrad, he served as Co-Chair for EQUAL, the campus queer social/support group. Michael is currently completing graduate studies at Harvard University in fulfillment of a M.T.S. in Religions of the World. Next year, he will focus his research on ancient Greek religion, gender, and culture at Tufts University in pursuit of a M.A. in Classical Archaeology. In his free time, Michael Anthony enjoys playing volleyball, reading, visiting the museum, cooking, nonprofit volunteerism, and wine tasting. New to the post of Logistics Chair, Michael Anthony wants to collaborate to plan yet another successful Pride Week!
Email Michael Anthony: logistics@bostonpride.org
Shannon Lank – Entertainment Chair
Shannon lives just over the bridge in Somerville. She works full time and is a full time student at U. Mass Boston. Shannon joined the Boston Pride Committee shortly after moving to Boston. She started by organizing a women's dance at Faneuil Hall and has continued to work with the Committee in various roles. This year she is the Entertainment Chair. One thing she loves about Pride is the number of people that she gets to meet each year. In her spare time she likes to vacation in Vermont and try the many wonderful restaurants in and around Boston with her fiancée.
Email Shannon: entertainment@bostonpride.org
Jayme Martin – Festival Chair
This is Jayme’s third year volunteering with the Boston Pride Committee. Jayme started in 2005 as a volunteer working back stage security at the Festival and again in 2006. At the end of the 2006 Pride celebrations Jayme decide to take on more with the Boston Pride Committee. So in October 2006 Jayme volunteered to take on the Festival as the Festival Chair. Jayme admits being nervous and scared about taking on such a task for such a large festival, but with the help of the committee and the board, Jayme found the help needed to make his transition from volunteering at the festival to actually planning it. Planning the festival has been a challenge, but Jayme is certain that it will be a fun and exciting time for all those who attend. Jayme is proud to be a member of the Boston Pride Committee and looks forward to being part of the committee for years to come.
Email Jayme: festival@bostonpride.org
Cale Moore – Merchandise Chair
This is Cale’s second year working with the Boston Pride Committee. He started attending Boston Pride meetings as a way to become active in the community. Later in the year he became more involved when he was asked to help co-chair Merchandising. Cale’s favorite thing about Pride is the getting to meet all the different people that make our community so diverse and interesting. As a new committee member he hopes to bring a fresh and exciting perspective to the group. Cale lives in Dorchester, teaches mathematics, and coaches swimming. He enjoys cooking, biking and swimming when he can get the chance.
Email Cale: merchandise@bostonpride.org
Michael Young – Pride Day at Faneuil Hall / Flag Raising Chair
Michael Young is a native of Washington State, for whom Boston was originally just a stop in a long itinerary. After arriving in Boston, Michael stayed longer than expected and eventually made Boston his new home. The city has grown on him, and he has developed a love for its people, its history, and the Red Sox. He likes to compare travel stories and discuss spirituality and mysticism with anybody, as long as there’s coffee or chocolate involved. In his spare time, he likes to read books, spend time with his friends, and occasionally brush up on his Karate skills. He recently began his work with Boston Pride this spring. He loves working with Pride, as it gives him a chance to become better acquainted with Boston and more involved with the LGBT community. He hopes that his efforts will make for a fun, safe, successful Pride Week.
Email Mike: faneuilhall@bostonpride.org