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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 2
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Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Anita Bonds 7
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Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. Councilmember Vincent C. Gray 12
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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Brooke Pinto 17
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Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Matthew Frumin 22
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Councilmember Zachery Parker 26
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 30
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 34
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To recognize the history and the importance of DC Black Pride, to celebrate the efforts of 38
the Center for Black Equity, and to welcome visitors from the greater Washington 39
region, across the country, and around the world to the festivities. 40
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WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is an annual event to increase awareness of and 42
showcase pride in the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ populations in the African American 43
community, and to support organizations that focus on health disparities, education, 44
youth, and families; 45
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WHEREAS, from 1975 until 1990, the Club House was a premiere community 47
gathering space for the African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 48
community of Washington, DC and was notable for its annual Memorial Day weekend 49
celebration, called the Children’s Hour; 50
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WHEREAS, Wilmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland, and Ernest Hopkins envisioned 52
creating an event that would continue the tradition of the Children’s Hour as well as raise 53
much-needed funds for the HIV/AIDS organizations that served the African American 54
community after the Club House closed its doors in 1990; 55
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WHEREAS, with the Children’s Hour as inspiration, the inaugural DC Black 57
Pride was held on May 25, 1991 in cooperation with the DC Coalition of Black Lesbians 58
and Gay Men and the Inner-City AIDS Network on the grounds of Banneker Field; 59
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WHEREAS, as DC Black Pride grew in popularity and in programmatic 61
offerings, organizers created a board of directors, created a 501(c)3 nonprofit 62
organization, and officially established the Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc.; 63
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WHEREAS, since the birth of DC Black Pride, more than 50 other Black Pride 65
celebrations now take place throughout the world and on four continents, with many 66
using DC Black Pride as a model; 67
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WHEREAS, during the 1998 festival, Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc., and 69
organizers of Black Prides from New York City, Detroit, Atlanta and several other cities 70
formed the International Federation of Black Prides; 71
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WHEREAS, the International Federation of Black Prides later became the Center 73
for Black Equity, and today the organization has more that 50 members and serves as the 74
principal body through which organizers find support, raise funds, and share best 75
practices; 76
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WHEREAS, May 26, 2023 through May 29, 2023, marks the 32
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annual DC 78
Black Pride celebration; 79
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WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “Know Your Past, Live Your 81
Present, Fight for Your Future”; 82
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WHEREAS, for more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been an opportunity for 84
the Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate being both African American 85
and members of LGBTQIA+ communities; 86
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WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is the oldest and one of the largest Black Pride 88
events in the world, drawing thousands of residents and visitors from around the globe; 89
and 90
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WHEREAS, DC Black Pride brings more than 500,000 people to the nation's 92
capital from across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, Great Britain, 93
France, Germany, and the Netherlands and will carry that tradition this year and into the 94
future to celebrate their shared community, raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS 95
prevention, and stand against homophobia inspired by violence and bigotry. 96
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that 98
this resolution be cited as the “DC Black Pride Recognition Resolution of 2023”. 99
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the hard 101
work of everyone involved in organizing the 32
nd
annual DC Black Pride and the 102
opportunity to celebrate the Black LGBTQIA+ community. 103
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of 105
publication in the District of Columbia Register. 106