The current violations of trust committed by San Diego LGBT Pride, Inc.’s board and administration could not come at a more inopportune time.

In just one week our city is set to host the Consolidated Association of Pride Inc

Annual Conference with this year’s theme “Proven practices, Present challenges, Promising futures.” San Diego LGBT Pride is the hosting organization for the annual conference, which aims to inspire and educate.

It is a great honor to be the host city to all the Western Region of Pride organizations, but with great honor comes great responsibility.

San Diego Pride’s Web site describes the annual conference as “a time to recommit to our purpose, function and role in the [GLBT] civil rights movement.”

We couldn’t agree more.

With constitutionality of same-sex marriage currently being debated in court, it is clear that we are fighting the Civil Rights movement of the 21st Century. And our community should be keenly aware that all eyes are on us.

That is why it is with a heavy heart we’ve had to report on what is widely considered one of the most effective Pride organizations in the nation. Sadly, under the direction of the current board and administration, it has clearly lost its way.

San Diego’s Pride Board has proven its practices warrant a present challenge, indeed.

We share in the regret and embarrassment expressed by some members of the community at the Pride community Town Hall Meeting on Sunday. Indeed, the recent missteps, financial transactions and dismissing of its executive director are only the results of some of the larger issues faced by the organization.

We share in the regret and embarrassment expressed by some members of the community that we did not show concern earlier when Pride expanded its definition to focus on services far exceeding the founders’ original vision and mission of the events to instill Pride in the community. In recent years, the organization stretched beyond its reach of promoting GLBT pride, and, in essence became a competing organization to The Center, while at the same time cutting funding to such agencies.

We share in the regret and embarrassment expressed by some members of the community that it has become abundantly clear the current San Diego Pride board acted outside of its bylaws, which they have waived making several missteps – having fewer than the required five members to be a voting body, overlooking gender parity, ethnic diversity and ultimately voting to gift community donated monies totaling $5,000 to its volunteer board chair.

While the current board has acted out of line, and has likely lost the respect and faith of the community, they cannot abandon the ship. We must remember that there are still duties to perform and tasks to accomplish. That being said, to keep a steady movement forward, it is important that new energy and new board members be brought onto the San Diego Pride board effective immediately and the current board be phased out.

As Pride, the Board, and our community move forward, we feel it is important to not look back to former board members to steer the ship, bur rather rely on them as a beacon which gives it guidance. To that end, we would encourage past Board members to establish an advisory Board which gives advice but does not govern. It is time for a new generation to take the helm.

The walls of The Center overflowed Sunday at the Town Hall Meeting, as the rich history that helped to build Pride in the San Diego GLBT community through the years came together to ensure the organization has a vibrant future. And while at present the vision may seem murky, it is up to the community to keep Pride accountable.

We must, and we can.

And we hope that those same members of the community with whom we share regret and disappointment, will stand with us as we turn this troubling time into an opportunity.

If we have learned nothing else during these troubling times, we have learned that Pride is about community. And communities demand – and deserve – trust and transparency, focus and fidelity, accountability and ethics, help and hope.

It is times like this that our community must show its true colors. Let us be the wind of change that pushes the rain and clouds away, leaving a bright and shining rainbow of pride in its place.