Dear Editor:

After reading “Closing the Book on Pridegate” (issue 1155), I felt a need to respond with my opinion. I was very disappointed that there wasn’t more self reflection or a sense of accountability to the community in the article. I was further disappointed to read of the former chair’s selective memory regarding the reasons the Board drastically shrank during his tenure.

The last few resignations from the Board were neither “vague” nor “odd.” Our last female co-chair cited conflict with the male co-chair as a reason for her resignation and our last female board member cited poor leadership when I asked her about her resignation. I would like the community to know that resignation letters, including my own, are attached to Pride’s minutes.

There are more similar instances, but I can only expand on what led to my resignation. Although I was the sole “no” vote on the controversial stipend, I did not resign solely over it. I decided to resign after I realized that I was the only board member voicing opposition to modifications to the By Laws, which in my opinion, would have effectively eliminated term limits and also would have made it much easier to vote off members who did not agree with the majority. The organization was being led in a direction I could not and would not follow, and since I believed I could not alter its course, I resigned.

I simply did not have the votes to block the proposed “reforms”, nor did I have any confidence in the leadership. I have listened to the chair’s paranoid conspiracy theories, which I see from the article still have not abated, his arrogant ideas of self-importance, and have experienced and witnessed numerous occasions of cyber bulling by the chair via email. I made sure that my resignation was legal and that it did not place the organization in any jeopardy, as there were duly elected individuals in charge of its affairs and former board members could be quickly appointed to fill my seat.

Furthermore, I would like to make it clear that I was not asked, nor did I request re-instatement onto the Board. I only discovered that my name was on Senator Kehoe’s list of nominees after I read it in the paper.

Although I was not the first to resign citing the poor leadership of the chair, I am proud to be the last. Pride must move forward and focus on giving our community a celebration to be truly proud of.

Sincerely,

Romer A. De Los Santos II