DC Black Pride Recognition Resolution of 2025

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

June 3, 2025

To recognize the history and the importance of DC Black Pride, and to celebrate the
contributions of the first Black Pride celebration in the District of Columbia to the
national and international recognition of the Black LGBTQIA+ community, including the
establishment of the Center for Black Equity.

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, 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;

WHEREAS, 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 Federation 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, 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, Inc.;

WHEREAS, the International Federation of Black Prides later became the Center for
Black Equity, and today the organization has more than 50 members and serves as the principal
body through which organizers find support, raise funds, and share best practices;

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, May 23, 2025, through May 26, 2025, marks the 34th annual DC Black
Pride celebration;

WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “BLACK PRIDE IS FREEDOM”;

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 2025”.

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the hard work of
everyone involved in organizing the 34th annual DC Black Pride and the opportunity to celebrate
the Black LGBTQIA+ community.

Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.