Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                            A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

                                           25-223

                IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                        May 7, 2024

To recognize the history and the importance of DC Black Pride, to celebrate the efforts of

       the Center for Black Equity, and to welcome visitors from the greater Washington

       region, across the country, and around the world to the festivities.

        WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is an annual event to increase awareness of and

showcase pride in the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ populations in the African American

community, and to support organizations that focus on health disparities, education,

youth, and families;

        WHEREAS, the mission of DC Black Pride is to increase awareness of and pride in

the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the African diaspora as

well as support organizations that focus on health disparities, education, youth and families;

       WHEREAS, from 1975 until 1990, the Club House was a premiere community

gathering space for the African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender

community of Washington, DC and was notable for its annual Memorial Day weekend

celebration, called the Children’s Hour;

        WHEREAS, Wilmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland, and Ernest Hopkins envisioned

creating an event that would continue the tradition of the Children’s Hour as well as raise

much-needed funds for the HIV/AIDS organizations that served the African American

community after the Club House closed its doors in 1990;

       WHEREAS, with the Children’s Hour as inspiration, the inaugural DC Black

Pride was held on May 25, 1991 in cooperation with the DC Coalition of Black Lesbians

and Gay Men and the Inner-City AIDS Network on the grounds of Banneker Field;

        WHEREA, as the very first Black Pride festival in the world, DC Black Pride

fostered the beginning of the Center for Black Equity (formerly known as the

International Federal of Black Prides, Inc. (IFBP)) and the “Black Pride Movement”;

        WHEREAS, as DC Black Pride grew in popularity and in programmatic

offerings, organizers created a board of directors, created a 501(c)3 nonprofit

organization, and officially established the Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc.;

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       WHEREAS, since the birth of DC Black Pride, more than 50 other Black Pride

celebrations now take place throughout the world and on 4 continents, with many using

DC Black Pride as a model;

       WHEREAS, during the 1998 festival, Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc., and

organizers of Black Prides from New York City, Detroit, Atlanta and several other cities

formed the International Federation of Black Prides;

        WHEREAS, the International Federation of Black Prides later became the Center

for Black Equity, and today the organization has more that 50 members and serves as the

principal body through which organizers find support, raise funds, and share best

practices;

       WHEREAS, May 20, 2024 through May 27, 2024, marks the 33rd annual DC

Black Pride celebration;

     WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “BLACK PRIDE

FOREVER”;

        WHEREAS, DC Black Pride 2024 will feature our Opening Reception, two dozen

educational workshops, Health & Wellness Pavilion, Rainbow Row, Mary Bowman Poetry

Slam, Writer’s Forum, Mini Ball, Faith Service, cultural and social offerings; Transgender,

Elders and Youth focused discussions and women’s programming;

       WHEREAS, for more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been an opportunity for

the Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate being both African American

and members of LGBTQIA+ communities;

        WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is the oldest and one of the largest Black Pride

events in the world, drawing thousands of residents and visitors from around the globe;

and

        WHEREAS, DC Black Pride brings more than 500,000 people to the nation's

capital from across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, Great Britain,

France, Germany, and the Netherlands and will carry that tradition this year and into the

future to celebrate their shared community, raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS

prevention, and stand against homophobia inspired by violence and bigotry.

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That

this resolution be cited as the “DC Black Pride Recognition Resolution of 2024”.

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       Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the hard

work of everyone involved in organizing the 33rd annual DC Black Pride and the

opportunity to celebrate the Black LGBTQIA+ community.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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