Boston Pride hires deputy director

Boston Pride announced the hiring of Keri Aulita as the organization's deputy director Dec. 23 -- Pride's first employee in its forty-year history.

"Now that our extensive search is over, we're all revved up to move into this new phase and begin planning our upcoming fortieth anniversary Pride celebration," Linda DeMarco, Boston Pride president, said. "Keri has been a tireless leader in our ranks and her fundraising and management skills will continue to serve us well and help us grow."

Over a period of four months, the Board of Directors considered "well over twenty-five" applicants, DeMarco said. "We're happy that [Aulita] elected to apply for the position."

Aulita is a ten-year veteran of the Pride committee and most recently served as vice president of the organization's Board of Directors. Her extensive experience includes valuable work at local non-profits, including the AIDS Action Committee; RI Health; Rogerson Communities; the Boston Living Center; Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); Youth Pride; and Fenway Health.

"I am honored and thrilled to be able to transition into this new role with an organization that I have cared so deeply about for so many years," Aulita said.

In the newly created deputy director position, Aulita will oversee the organization's overall functioning, including coordinating Pride Week activities. The theme of this year's Pride celebration is "Riots to Rights: Celebrating 40 Years of Progress." The theme will honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the impetus for the modern LGBT rights movement.

"Especially in Massachusetts, where things seem so easy, our responsibility as Pride is to remind the youth of where we come from," Aulita said. "It's a retrospective on why we still do this."

The 2010 celebration -- which also marks Boston Pride's fortieth anniversary -- will include "new stuff which we can't unveil yet," Aulita said.

"Very exciting things," DeMarco added.

"Our coming-out party," Aulita joked.