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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 44TH CAPITAL PRIDE CELEBRATION
______
HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of
Representatives to join me in recognizing the 44th Capital Pride
Celebration, which will take place on the 50th anniversary of the
Stonewall Riots. From May 31 to June 9, 2019, the Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and others (LGBTQ+) communities and
their allies in the National Capital Region will ``shhhOUT, Past,
Present & Proud.''
On Father's Day of June 15, 1975, Deacon MacCubbin, owner of the
Lambda Rising Bookstore in Dupont Circle began Gay Pride Day as a block
party on 20th Street, between R and S Streets NW. Pride Day outgrew the
curbs and sidewalks of 20th Street and moved to Francis Junior High
School in 1980. The next year, a Pride Parade from Meridian Hill Park
to Dupont Circle joined the renamed Gay and Lesbian Pride Day.
Over the years, the Pride festival has changed both in location and
participation. In 1995, Pride Day moved to Freedom Plaza and on Sunday,
June 8, 1997, a retitled Capitol Pride Festival opened on Pennsylvania
Avenue. In 1991, D.C. Black Pride joined the Pride Celebration followed
by Youth Pride in 1997. As momentum grew, D.C. Leather Pride began in
2006, while Transgender and Latinx Pride began in 2007. This year,
Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) inaugurate API Pride, and seniors
over 60 years of age observe Silver Pride.
Each June, Capital Pride recognizes individuals and organizations
that have advanced causes important to the LGBTQ+ community in the
National Capital Region. The Paving The Way Award acknowledges an
individual or organization that has provided exemplary contributions,
support or advocacy that impacts the larger LGBTQ+ community. The
Alliance proudly awards the 2019 Paving The Way Award to The Washington
Blade, America's LGBTQA Newspaper of Record.
The 2019 Hero Award recipients are Kimberley Bush, Director of Arts
and Cultural Programs at the DC Center for the LGBT Community; Rea
Carey, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force; Martin
Espinoza, co-founder and President of Stonewall Sports; Ben de Guzman,
Acting Director of the D.C. Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific
Islander Affairs; Amanda J. Hackett, Esq., an attorney in private
practice who specializes in immigration matters for LGBTQ+ communities;
and Tony ``And I Thank You'' Nelson, one of D.C.'s leading and most
respected emcees and comedians.
Capital Pride gives the Engendered Spirit Award to outstanding
advocates, activists and supporters of the transgender community. This
year's recipients are: Xemiyulu Mariibusan Tapepechul, a Nawat Trans
Femme from Kuskatan (El Salvador) and Larry Villegas-Perez, a Native
American-Hispanic born in Venezuela. Donald Burch, III and Alan
Thompson receive the Bill Miles Awards for Outstanding Volunteer
Service. The Larry Stansbury Award for Exemplary Contributions to Pride
goes to Team DC, the association of LGBTQ+ sports clubs in the DMV
region. Capital Pride also awarded the National Center for Transgender
Equality the Breaking Barriers: Community Impact Award.
I have marched in the Pride Parade since my election to Congress. I
look forward to marching this year. I ask my colleagues to join me in
recognizing the 44th Capital Pride Celebration.
____________________