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Bill Berggren resigns from Pride Committee
Issue Date: 5/24/2007, Posted On: 5/23/2007 Bay Windows

Boston, Ethan Jacobs

In response to an article published May 23 in The Weekly Dig highlighting his past criminal record, Boston Pride Committee fundraising chair Bill Berggren resigned from the committee that same day. His resignation came in the midst of an effort by Pride board president Linda DeMarco to convene an emergency board meeting to plan a response to the article.

The Dig, quoting a 1998 report published in The Wakefield Daily Item, highlighted Berggren's past run-ins with the law, including a 1998 conviction for possession of child pornography, a 1991 guilty plea to indecent assault on a 19-year-old and a 1985 conviction for possession of pornographic material with the intent to distribute it to minors. Berggren met with DeMarco and board member Kevin Keyser May 23 at the Hyatt Regency Boston, where the committee was holding a Pride marshal training, and resigned voluntarily. DeMarco said two of the three remaining members of the board, vice-president Keri Aulita and clerk Pierce Durkin, joined the meeting by conference call. Board member Wilfred Labiosa was out of the country, and DeMarco said the board was unable to reach him.

DeMarco said Berggren resigned before the board could decide on a response to the Dig article, and the board did not ask for his resignation.

"Bill came forward and resigned on his own," she said.

Berggren told Bay Windows that he was "disappointed" by the fallout from the Dig article, but he chose to resign for the good of Boston Pride. He said the Pride Committee knew about his offenses, and he never made any effort to hide them.
"I'm a little disappointed. I've never hidden anything about my life. I have a lot of support in the community. My phone has been ringing all day long with people telling me not to resign. But I feel at this time it's the best thing for the community," said Berggren, who in addition to his fundraising work also served as coordinator for the Boston Pride Idol competition. Berggren is associate publisher of In Newsweekly.
In his resignation letter, Berggren said that he did not want opponents of Boston Pride to seize on his personal life to attack the event.

"My resignation comes in the wake of a malicious attempt to bring my personal life into the public sphere," wrote Berggren. "This has precipitated a hasty judgment from some members of the community, and I anticipate the enemies of Pride will seize this opportunity to attack the organization. In order to protect Boston Pride from unnecessary attacks two weeks before Pride Week, I am quickly stepping aside."

DeMarco penned a response letter accepting the resignation and thanking Berggren for his work.

"We are very thankful for Bill's work in this regard," wrote DeMarco.
"Bill's work with Boston Pride and In Newsweekly is testament to his commitment to the GLBT community."

Laura Kiritsy contributed to this report.
Full text of Bill Berggren's letter of resignation

To: The Board of Directors, Boston Pride Committee May 23, 2007 Dear Members of the Board: It is with a heavy heart that I am submitting my resignation as fundraising chair of Boston Pride. The resignation is effective immediately.

My resignation comes in the wake of a malicious attempt to bring my personal life into the public sphere. This has precipitated a hasty judgment from some members of the community, and I anticipate the enemies of Pride will seize this opportunity to attack the organization. In order to protect Boston Pride from unnecessary attacks two weeks before Pride Week, I am quickly stepping aside.

This is not an easy decision, but I feel that the message and spirit of Pride is more important than any one individual. I hope members of the community and the media will accept this matter as closed and continue to enjoy Pride as we all intended it. I also hope and ask for my privacy to be respected during this time.

Sincerely, Bill Berggren

Full text of Pride Committee Board President Linda DeMarco's Letter
May 23, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:
The Board of Directors, meeting in extraordinary session, has accepted the resignation of Bill Berggren as fundraising chair of Boston Pride.

Bill was a dedicated member of the Pride Committee who has worked hard to make Pride Idol a success. We are very thankful for Bill's work in this regard. Bill's work with Boston Pride and In Newsweekly is testament to his commitment to the GLBT community.

Sincerely,
Linda DeMarco
President, Boston Pride Committee


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