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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Zachary Parker 2
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Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Charles Allen 7
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Councilmember Vincent C. Gray Councilmember Brianne Nadeau 12
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Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 17
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Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Matt Frumin 22
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Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 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 th e 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, the mission of DC Black Pride is to increase awareness of and pride in 47
the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the African diaspora as 48
well as support organizations that focus on health disparities, education, youth and families; 49
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WHEREAS, f rom 1975 until 1990, the Club House was a premiere community 51
gathering space for the African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 52
community of Washington, DC and was notable for its annual Memorial Day weekend 53
celebration, called the Children’s Hour; 54
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WHEREAS, Wilmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland, and Ernest Hopkins envisioned 56
creating an event that would continue the tradition of the Children’s Hour as well as raise 57
much-needed funds for the HIV/AIDS organizations that served the African American 58
community after the C lub House closed its doors in 1990; 59
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WHEREAS, with the Children’s Hour as inspiration, the inaugural DC Black 61
Pride was held on May 25, 1991 in cooperation with the DC Coalition of Black Lesbians 62
and Gay Men and the Inner-City AIDS Network on the grounds of Banneker Field; 63
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WHEREA, as the very first Black Pride festival in the world, DC Black Pride 65
fostered the beginning of the Center for Black Equity (formerly known as the 66
International Federal of Black Prides, Inc. (IFBP)) and the “Black Pride Movement”; 67
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WHEREAS, a s DC Black Pride grew in popularity and in programmatic 69
offerings, organizers created a board of directors, created a 501(c)3 nonprofit 70
organization, and officially established the Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc.; 71
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WHEREAS, s ince the birth of DC Black Pride, more than 50 other Black Pride 73
celebrations now take place throughout the world and on four continents, with many 74
using DC Black Pride as a model; 75
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WHEREAS, during the 1998 f estival, Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc., and 77
organizers of Black Prides from New York City, Detroit, Atlanta and several other cities 78
formed the International Federation of Black Prides; 79
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WHEREAS, t he International Federation of Black Prides later became the Center 81
for Black Equity, and today the organization has more that 50 members and serves as the 82
principal body through which organizers find support, raise funds, and share best 83
practices; 84
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WHEREAS, May 20, 20 24 through May 27, 2024, marks the 33
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annual DC 86
Black Pride celebration; 87
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WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “BLACK PRIDE 89
FOREVER”; 90
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WHEREAS,
DC Black Pride 2024 will feature our Opening Reception, two dozen 92
educational workshops, Health & Wellness Pavilion, Rainbow Row, Mary Bowman Poetry 93 3
Slam, Writer’s Forum, Mini Ball, Faith Service, cultural and social offerings; Transgender, 94
Elders and Youth focused discussions and women’s programming; 95
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WHEREAS, f or more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been an opportunity for 97
the Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate being both African American 98
and members of LGBTQIA+ communities; 99
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WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is the oldest and one of the largest Black Pride 101
events in the world, drawing thousands of residents and visitors from around the globe; 102
and 103
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WHEREAS, DC Black Pride brings more than 50 0,000 people to the nation's 105
capital from across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, Great Britain, 106
France, Germany, and the Netherlands and will carry that tradition this year and into the 107
future to celebrate their shared community, raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS 108
prevention, and stand against homophobia inspired by violence and bigotry. 109
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IT IS HEARBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF 111
COLUMBIA, that this resolution be cited as the “DC Black Pride Recognition Resolution 112
of 2024”. 113
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the hard 115
work of everyone involved in organizing the 33
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annual DC Black Pride and the 116
opportunity to celebrate the Black LGBTQIA+ community. 117
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of 119
publication in the District of Columbia Register. 120