Pride weekend has come and gone, but the controversy surrounding San Diego’s largest civic event is far from over. On Monday, Aug. 15, a community town hall meeting is taking place at The Center at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the appropriate action following Pride’s lack of leadership in addressing the three volunteers and one full-time paid staff member who were found to be registered under Megan’s Law, a national registry that lists the names, addresses and criminal acts of convicted sex offenders; in this case, convicted child molesters.

The meeting, called by longtime gay rights activist City Commissioner Nicole M. Ramirez and Ray Drew, former executive director of the Family Pride Coalition, will provide an open forum for concerned members of the community to voice their opinions and determine the fate of a Pride board seemingly disconnected from the community it serves. While we feel the meeting is necessary, we would have preferred Pride itself to have called the meeting to explain its actions to the community, rather than private citizens having to do so.

In the month leading up to Pride weekend, the board knew of at least two volunteers who were convicted on child molestation charges, but did not act. Once made public by ex-gay activist James Hartline and the Traditional Values Coalition, two more child molesters surfaced, including logistics coordinator Jerry Garrett, a full-time paid employee. Community leaders, activists, elected officials, Pride performers, community organizations and bar and club owners threatened to pull their participation unless all known sex offenders were dismissed.

But even when the city’s proclamation in honor of Pride was pulled from the City Council docket, the board would not back down. Only after realizing that the board itself might be the only organization participating in the Pride parade did it concede, issuing a statement announcing the resignation of the two sex offenders, which was later verbally corrected by media coordinator Frank Sabatini, Jr. to a total of three resignations in order to include Garrett (the fourth resigned the week prior).

An amended statement was never redistributed to correct what was implied as an oversight, and we believe this was a deliberate attempt to save face and protect longtime business associate Garrett. Even the board’s statement at the Spirit of Stonewall rally failed to apologize for their series of mistakes, and simply acknowledged its misjudgment of the community.

Tensions came to a head following the discovery that Garrett was still working over Pride weekend, despite Pride’s statement and word that his resignation was effective – before the parade and festival – at 5:00 p.m. Friday evening. By allowing Garret to work at the festival two hours after the parade began, Pride flippantly brushed aside participants’ concerns, further soiling its own reputation.

The sad reality is Pride lied to all of us, and our faith in the organization and the board that governs it is gone. If the board was unaware that Garrett was still under its employ, then the staff member responsible for letting him work needs to go, period.

The board has still not learned from its mistakes. With the same tenacity it held onto Garrett and volunteers Daniel Rieger and Ric Derichsweiler, it is refusing to step down. So far only board member Jeri Dilno has officially resigned, with Larry Baza said to follow. Those that resign should commit to not seeking reappointment.

There is talk that a small contingent is forming a competing organization to run Pride. We believe this is premature and wrong. It’s our suggestion that the board immediately appoint two universally respected members of the community, such as Richard Valdez and Judy Schaim, who’ll then appoint new board members to fill the empty seats once the current board members’ resign. These two individuals should agree not to serve on the board – their only interest should be that of restoring the reputation and integrity of the organization.

Pride does not belong to the current board or to those that run the show; it belongs to the community. That’s you. Here is an opportunity to truly be involved in the shaping of Pride, potentially for the next 30 years.

So often people do not act because they feel their involvement does not have an impact. Here is your chance. Whether you feel that the Pride board acted appropriately and should remain, or that a change in leadership is essential, it’s up to you to contribute to what the ultimate outcome will be.