[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 16TH ANNUAL DC BLACK PRIDE CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2006

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-29, is the 16th 
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 that culminates in the world's largest Black Pride 
Festival at Metro Center, on the site of Washington, DC's former 
Convention Center. Many consider DC's Festival one of the world's 
preeminent Black Pride celebrations. The Festival consistently draws 
more than 30,000 people to the Nation's Capital. Attendees come from 
every major urban area in the United States as well as from Canada, 
Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Caribbean and 
South Africa. The Black Pride Festival features activities for the 
entire family including performances by national recording artists, 200 
exhibition booths, book signings from noted writers, participation from 
national and local health organizations, and arts and crafts.
  Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day, Inc (BLGPD), the celebration's 
organizing body, chose the theme ``Fire 2006'' to encourage the Black 
Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) people to ``get fired 
up'' about their health and wellness, to strengthen the Black LGBT 
Community, and to encourage Black LGBT people to live their lives with 
pride.
  Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day, Inc, a nonprofit organization with a 
volunteer Board of Directors coordinates this annual event. BLGPD's 
2006 Board consists of Clarence J. Fluker, President; James Hawkins, 
Vice President; Janisha Gabriel, Secretary; Lisa Washington, Treasurer; 
the following Members at Large: Ramon Gardenhire, Shanika Whitehurst, 
Sterling Washington, Ray Daniels, Donovan Anderson, Courtney Snowden; 
and these Members Emeritus: Earl Fowlkes, Eric E. Richardson, and 
Cheryl Dunn who lead BLGPD in its mission to build knowledge of and to 
create greater pride in the Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and 
Transgendered community's diversity while raising funds to ameliorate 
and prevent health problems, especially HIV/AIDS, in this community.
  I ask the House to join me in welcoming all attending the 16th Annual 
DC Black Pride celebration in Washington, DC, and I take this 
opportunity to remind the celebrants that United States Citizens who 
reside in Washington, DC are taxed without full voting representation 
in Congress.

                          ____________________