Our thoughts and hearts are with the family and friends of George Floyd, who would be alive today but for the murderous actions of Officer Derek Chauvin. We acknowledge and understand that his actions are a manifestation of a deeper problem rooted in over 400 years of systemic racism, white supremacy and social justice inequity. The guilty verdict in the murder trial of Chauvin provides some measure of accountability, however, it is not an indication that justice has been served or is being served for all people, including George Floyd. One single conviction for police murder is not enough. Although we have a glimmer of hope that progress will continue, we know there are still past and current injustices that have not yet been addressed. Police violence and murder disproportionately targets Black, Brown, Indigenous and other people of color, especially Black Transgender Women. The stigmatization of people living with disabilities as well as mental health and substance use challenges, also results in targeting by police violence. Our hope is that police accountability rooted in systemic racism will become the norm rather than the exception.

We stand in solidarity with others in  the struggle to extend police accountability to include QTBIPOC.

We appreciate the activists who worked tirelessly to ensure that Chauvin would be held accountable for his actions. We will continue our commitment to hold ourselves accountable, and be held accountable, as we work in partnership with QTBIPOC communities to displace white supremacy and dismantle systemic racism. We will be active participants in creating and maintaining a just and equitable world for everyone in which #BlackLivesMatter and #BlackTransLivesMatter.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”  – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

*This statement was a collaboration of the Boston Pride Board and Staff, Boston Pride’s Communication Team, the new Transformation Advisory Committee (TAC), and DAIE consultants Dorrington & Saunders LLC. These groups are working together in the organization during its ongoing transformation process, to ensure that Boston Pride’s intentions and rationale are in alignment and in the best interests of the QTBIPOC/LGBTQ+ community.