[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 60 (Saturday, April 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            YOUTH PRIDE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, April 12 marks the 
culmination of Youth Pride Week in Washington, DC with our Seventh 
Annual Youth Pride Day.
  Youth Pride Day occurs every April in Washington, DC. It is the 
annual celebration for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender young 
people, which has brought over 10,000 youth together since its start in 
1997. The celebration has grown from just 900 participants in 1997 to 
over 2,800 young people last year. Youth Pride Day has evolved into 
Youth Pride Week, which comprises over a dozen events ranging from a 
conference, dances, and poetry readings, to Youth Pride Day on 
Saturday.
  The Youth Pride Alliance sponsors Youth Pride Day. The Alliance was 
founded in 1996, and its mission is to celebrate the dignity and 
courage of all young people as they discover their identities as gay, 
lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or straight. The Alliance challenges 
society to stop hate, violence, fear, isolation, and denial as it 
reminds us every young person deserves to live, to love, and to be 
loved.
  We, who live in our Nation's Capital and are taxed without 
representation, feel a special affinity to any other group that has 
been denied the full rights and privileges, which most United States 
citizens enjoy. I remind the House that Washingtonians are taxed 
without representation.
  I ask this House to join with me in welcoming all those attending 
Youth Pride Day.

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