May 26, 2023
Nyasha Smith, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Smith,
Today, I am introducing the Black Queer History Commission Establishment Act of 2023.
Please find enclosed a signed copy of the legislation, which is co-introduced by Councilmembers
Charles Allen, Brianne K. Nadeau, Robert C. White, Jr, Kenyan R. McDuffie, Brooke Pinto,
Matt Frumin, Janeese Lewis George, Christina Henderson, Trayon White, Sr., Vincent C. Gray,
and Anita Bonds.
This legislation seeks to establish a Black Queer History Commission to research and publish a
report documenting the Black LGBTQIA+ history of the District of Columbia. This report would
be housed in the DC Archives, and serve as a resource on the rich history of Black Queer
contributions in the District. As the birthplace of Black Pride, the earliest and second largest
Black LGBTQIA+ event in the world, DC is well-positioned to lead the way in collecting and
preserving this important history. In doing so, our communities will also lead the way in building
the future we want to see. As James Baldwin famously wrote, “History is not the past. It is the
present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.”
Please contact my Legislative Director, Kendra Wiley, at kwiley@dccouncil.gov if you have
any questions about this legislation.
Sincerely,
Zachary Parker
Ward 5 Councilmember
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Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Zachary Parker 2
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 6
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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Brooke Pinto 10
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Councilmember Matt Frumin Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 14
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Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. 18
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Councilmember Vincent C. Gray Councilmember Anita Bonds 23
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A BILL 29
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 32
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To establish the Black Queer History Commission to research and publish a report documenting 37
the Black LGBTQIA+ history of the District. 38
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 40
act may be cited as the “Black Queer History Commission Establishment Act of 2023”. 41
Sec. 2. Establishment and purpose. 42
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(a) There is established the Black Queer History Commission (“Commission”) to serve as 43
a collaborative body to research, collect, develop, and archive Black LGBTQIA+ history, and to 44
educate and promote knowledge of the history of the Black Pride Movement and the notable 45
people, places, and events that contribute to the rich history of the national and global queer 46
culture. 47
(b) The purpose of the Commission will be to research, document, and archive Black 48
LGBTQIA+ history in the District and produce a report to be housed in the District of Columbia 49
Archives. The report shall include recommendations on how to educate the public on the 50
contents in the report. 51
(c)(1) The Commission shall be comprised of six voting members to be appointed as 52
follows: 53
(A) One member from Howard University with expertise in Black 54
LGBTQIA+ history; 55
(B) Two members appointed by Council; 56
(C) Two members appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of 57
the Council, pursuant to section 2(e) of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 58
(D.C. Law 2-141; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01(3); and 59
(D) One member from the Commission on Arts; 60
(2) A majority of the sitting voting members shall constitute a quorum. 61
(3) All voting members shall have equal power to vote. 62
(4) The first meeting of the Commission shall occur no later than May 1, 2024. 63
(5) The Commission shall convene at least 12 times and meet at least once a 64
month. 65
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(6) Subject to an appropriation for the purpose, members of the Commission shall 66
be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses for up to 12 meetings. 67
(7) The Commission shall sunset on November 1, 2025, or after the report 68
required by subsection (d) of this section has been published. 69
(d)(1) No later than 18 months after the effective date of this act the Commission shall 70
publish and transmit to the Mayor and Council a report. 71
(2) The Commission shall gather input for the report as follows: 72
(A) Hold a minimum of 5 public meetings; and 73
(B) At least 90 days prior to completing the Report, the Commission shall 74
publish a draft report and provide a 30-day public comment period. 75
Sec. 3. Applicability. 76
(a) Section 2(c)(6) shall apply upon the date of inclusion of its fiscal effect in an 77
approved budget and financial plan. 78
(b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of the inclusion of the fiscal effect in 79
an approved budget and financial plan, and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council 80
of the certification. 81
(c)(1) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in 82
the District of Columbia Register. 83
(2) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the 84
applicability of this act. 85
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 86
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 87
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 88
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approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 89
Sec. 5. Effective date. 90
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 91
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 92
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 93
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 94
Columbia Register. 95