THUNDER BAY - After serving as the chair of Thunder Pride for two years, Jason Veltri is stepping down from the role, citing fundamental differences between himself and the board on the direction of the organization and much needed restructuring.
“I feel that my time has come to an end,” Veltri said. “I feel that the board is moving in a different direction than I see myself moving with it. I support them every step of the way, but I know the disagreements we’ve had around the table are at a fundamental level and the organization needs to find the time to really solve the structural issues.”
Veltri announced his resignation on Monday in a letter and it will take effect on Aug. 25. In the letter he detailed the many accomplishments of the organization in his time as chair, including continued advocacy for the 2SLGBTIQ+ communities, pride flags now flying at schools, and the rainbow crosswalk project.
But the letter goes on to say there have been conflicts regarding the governance model and organizational direction of Thunder Pride.
According to Veltri, there has been a lot of change in short period of time at Thunder Pride, and there are specific policies and bylaws that are needed in order to reflect those changes.
“There’s an understanding that we are all volunteers,” he said. “Coming in to $123,000 in funding from FedNor and a staffing model, the bylaws weren’t prepared for staff. It was a working board and transferring to a governance board has been a bit difficult and trying to get everyone on the same page.”
Veltri also cited earlier challenges facing the board as reasons for his departure, notably the push by some board members to reinstate members who have been suspended following allegations of racism.
Last month, Thunder Pride announced a member had been suspended indefinitely and two board members were also suspended following an alleged incident involving the local drag house, Fantasy Haus.
Over the last several months, a drag performer is said to have referred to another individual with racial slurs, including the N-word at a gathering with other members of Fantasy Haus present.
According to Veltri, there has been a push by some members of the Thunder Pride board to reinstate the suspended members and a motion will be presented at the next board meeting to allow them to return.
“Some of the conflicts we’ve been having in those healthy debates, we must standup for what we say. I whole heartily cannot agree with reinstating the board members until those community conversations were happening, and they just weren’t,” he said.
“Some members, not all of them, determined that it may be important to reinstate them, but to me, no concrete action has been taken to show that our community has been listened to and had conversations with to ensure we are ridding racism out of the community and out of Thunder Bay as a whole.”
Veltri said he does not feel as though he is being pushed out of the role as chair, but rather it’s just his time to step aside, and he will continue to support the organization in the future.
“I see them getting stronger and taking the lessons we have learned from our conflicts, from our difficulties, and from our successes and building on that,” he said.
“Taking the time to build good bylaws, a good foundation for the future, continuing to look at advocacy for our community, building on the crosswalk project, not just where we are today, but seeing more installed throughout the city.”
Thunder Pride will be holding its AGM this fall. Veltri also sits as the chair of the Anti-Racism and Respect Committee and he said he will continue to advocate for equality throughout the city, but he just feels his time has come to step back from Thunder Pride as chair.
“It’s my hope that by removing myself from those discussions, it will help the organization move forward,” he said. “We have all along done everything in the best interest of our community. I have no doubt that this board and the board that is elected in the fall will continue the hard work of restructuring the organization for the future.”
