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1 2 _______________________________ 3 Councilmember Zachary Parker 4 5 6 7 A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 8 9 _________________________ 10 11 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 12 13 _________________________ 14 15 16 To recognize honoree Grimaldi-Francesca Sanchez during the 2026 celebration of DC Black 17 Pride. 18 19 WHEREAS, Grimaldi-Francesca Sanchez is a community health professional, prevention 20 advocate, and entrepreneur with a strong focus on HIV prevention, health equity, and community 21 empowerment; 22 23 WHEREAS, with extensive experience supporting HIV testing, PrEP navigation, and 24 community-based outreach, Grimaldi-Francesca Sanchez has played a key role in developing and 25 implementing prevention programming that centers dignity, access, and culturally responsive 26 care; 27 28 WHEREAS, Grimaldi-Francesca Sanchez’s work is grounded in a commitment to 29 uplifting marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQIA+ and TGNC populations, through 30 education, representation, and intentional community building; 31 32 WHEREAS, Grimaldi-Francesca Sanchez continues to lead with integrity, compassion, 33 and a belief that access to information and services saves lives; 34 35 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is an annual event to increase awareness of and showcase 36 pride in the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ populations in the African American community, and to 37 support organizations that focus on health disparities, education, youth, and families; 38 39 WHEREAS, as the very first Black Pride festival in the world, DC Black Pride fostered 40 the beginning of the Center for Black Equity and the “Black Pride Movement”; 41 42
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WHEREAS, since the birth of DC Black Pride, more than 50 other Black Pride 43 celebrations now take place throughout the world and on 4 continents, with many using DC 44 Black Pride as a model; 45 46 WHEREAS, May 22, 2026, through May 25, 2026, marks the 35th annual DC Black 47 Pride celebration; 48 49 WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “New Black Renaissance,” which 50 centers Black LGBTQIA+ “artists, leaders, healers, and organizers while confronting what still 51 makes Black Pride necessary, including HIV, inequity, homophobia, and transphobia;” 52 53 WHEREAS, for more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been an opportunity for the 54 Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate being both African American and 55 members of LGBTQIA+ communities; 56 57 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is the oldest and one of the largest Black Pride events in the 58 world, drawing thousands of residents and visitors from around the globe; and 59 60 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride brings more than 500,000 people to the nation’s capital 61 from across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, Great Britain, France, 62 Germany, and the Netherlands and will carry that tradition this year and into the future to 63 celebrate their shared community, raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, and 64 stand against homophobia inspired by violence and bigotry. 65 66 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That 67 this resolution be cited as the “Grimaldi-Francesca Sanchez Recognition Resolution of 2026”. 68 69 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates Grimaldi-70 Francesca Sanchez during the 2026 celebration of DC Black Pride. 71 72 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 73