[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     EIGHTH ANNUAL YOUTH PRIDE DAY

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2004

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, April 24th, marks the 
culmination of Youth Pride Week in Washington, DC with our Eighth 
Annual Youth Pride Day.
  Youth Pride Day occurs every April in Washington, DC. It is the 
annual celebration for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) 
young people, which has brought over 13,000 youth together since its 
start in 1997. The celebration has grown from just 900 participants in 
1997 to over 2,500 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 that LGBT youth in our nation's 
Armed Forces, do so under the policy of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'' 
While they have sworn to defend the United States with their lives, 
they must suffer the hate, fear, isolation, and denial this 
demonstrably untenable policy engenders.
  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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