ENROLLED ORIGINAL
1
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-69
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
May 2, 2023
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 th e 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, f rom 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 C lub 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;
WHEREAS, a s 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.;
WHEREAS, s ince 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 f estival, 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; ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, t he 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 26, 20 23 through May 29, 2023, marks the 32
nd
annual DC
Black Pride celebration;
WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “ Know Your Past, Live Your
Present, Fight for Your Future”;
WHEREAS, f or more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been an opportunity for
the Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate being both Afr ican 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 50 0,000 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 2023”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the hard
work of everyone involved in organizing the 32
nd
annual DC Black Pride and the
opportunity to celebrate the Black LGBTQIA+ community.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.