[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 14, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 13TH ANNUAL DC BLACK PRIDE CELEBRATION AND EARL D. FOWLKES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2003

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, this Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, is the 
13th Annual DC Black Pride Celebration in Washington, DC.
  DC Black Pride is an exciting 4-day event complete with dynamic 
workshops, receptions, cultural arts activities, small and large 
nightclub events culminating with the world's largest Black Pride 
Festival at Washington's new Convention Center. It is considered one of 
the preeminent Black Pride celebrations in the world, consistently 
drawing 30,000 people to the nation's capital. Attendees come from 
every major urban area in the United States as well as from Canada, 
England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and South Africa. The Black 
Pride Festival features activities for the entire family including 
performances from national recording artists, 200 exhibition booths, 
book signings from noted writers, participation from national and local 
health organizations, and arts and crafts.
  The event is coordinated by Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day, Inc. 
(BLGPD), a nonprofit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors: 
Earline Budd, Cheryl Dunn, Clarence J. Fluker, Eric Richardson, 
Members-At-Large; Toni Collins, Secretary; Ronnie Foster, Vice-
President; Robert Jones, Treasurer; and Earl D. Fowlkes, President. 
BLGPD's mission is to build awareness of and pride in the diversity of 
the Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community as well as 
to create a funding source and support for organizations that are 
addressing HIV/AIDS and other health issues adversely affecting our 
community.
  Mr. Fowlkes has been President of Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day, 
Inc. since 1997. In addition to his duties with BLGPD, Mr. Fowlkes is 
the Executive Director of Damien Ministries, Inc., a faith-based HIV/
AIDS service organization in Washington, DC, and he sits on the boards 
of Siloam Ministries, Prevention Works, the DC Black AIDS Network, 
Project Ujima, International Federation of Black Prides and DC HIV 
Prevention Community Planning Committee. Mr. Fowlkes is retiring as 
President of BLGPD to devote more of his energies to the International 
Federation of Black Prides of which he is also President.
  I ask the House to join me in welcoming all attending the 13th Annual 
DC Black Pride celebration in Washington, DC, and I take this 
opportunity to remind the attendees that United States citizens who 
reside in Washington, DC are taxed without full voting representation 
in Congress.

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