[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 77 (Thursday, May 9, 2019)]
[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.

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