Kimberley Bush Recognition Resolution of 2026

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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 Kimberley Bush during the 2026 celebration of DC Black Pride. 17 18 WHEREAS, Kimberley Bush is the Executive Director of The DC LGBTQ+ Community 19 Center, where she leads strategic initiatives that advance the health, wellness, creativity, and 20 empowerment of LGBTQIA+ siblings and communities across Washington, DC; 21 22 WHEREAS, with more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Kimberley 23 Bush has built sustainable programs, cultivated meaningful partnerships, and championed work 24 rooted in advocacy, service, creativity, and community care; 25 26 WHEREAS, since 2014, Kimberley Bush has led the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s 27 arts and cultural programming, creating platforms that amplify LGBTQIA2S+ voices through 28 film, literature, theater, visual art, and community-centered cultural experiences; 29 30 WHEREAS, in 2017, Kimberley Bush founded the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s 31 CenterArts Gallery and has curated award-winning festivals, exhibitions, and programs that 32 create space for storytelling, healing, joy, and belonging; 33 34 WHEREAS, during her tenure as Interim Executive Director from 2019 to 2022, while 35 also leading arts and cultural programming, Kimberley Bush helped guide the organization 36 through the COVID-19 crisis by moving vital supportive services online and deepening 37 community outreach; 38 39 WHEREAS, Kimberley Bush was appointed Executive Director in February 2022 and 40 has since led a tiny-yet-mighty team, in partnership with the community, in the advocacy, 41 fundraising, and visioning that helped bring the new DC LGBTQ+ Community Center to life; 42 43

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WHEREAS, the new DC LGBTQ+ Community Center opened in April 2025, a 7,000-44 square-foot home that has allowed the DC Center to meaningfully expand its supportive life and 45 human services while creating shared space for LGBTQIA+ sibling organizations under one 46 vibrant roof; 47 48 WHEREAS, Kimberley Bush leads with light, love, service, empathy, gratitude, joy, and 49 intention, and remains deeply committed to building affirming, community-rooted, and resilient 50 systems of support for our LGBTQIA+ siblings and communities; 51 52 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is an annual event to increase awareness of and showcase 53 pride in the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ populations in the African American community, and to 54 support organizations that focus on health disparities, education, youth, and families; 55 56 WHEREAS, as the very first Black Pride festival in the world, DC Black Pride fostered 57 the beginning of the Center for Black Equity and the “Black Pride Movement”; 58 59 WHEREAS, since the birth of DC Black Pride, more than 50 other Black Pride 60 celebrations now take place throughout the world and on 4 continents, with many using DC 61 Black Pride as a model; 62 63 WHEREAS, May 22, 2026, through May 25, 2026, marks the 35th annual DC Black 64 Pride celebration; 65 66 WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “New Black Renaissance,” which 67 centers Black LGBTQIA+ “artists, leaders, healers, and organizers while confronting what still 68 makes Black Pride necessary, including HIV, inequity, homophobia, and transphobia;” 69 70 WHEREAS, for more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been an opportunity for the 71 Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate being both African American and 72 members of LGBTQIA+ communities; 73 74 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is the oldest and one of the largest Black Pride events in the 75 world, drawing thousands of residents and visitors from around the globe; and 76 77 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride brings more than 500,000 people to the nation’s capital 78 from across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, Great Britain, France, 79 Germany, and the Netherlands and will carry that tradition this year and into the future to 80 celebrate their shared community, raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, and 81 stand against homophobia inspired by violence and bigotry. 82 83 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That 84 this resolution be cited as the “Kimberley Bush Recognition Resolution of 2026”. 85 86 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates Kimberley 87 Bush during the 2026 celebration of DC Black Pride. 88

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89 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 90