[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12716]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 28TH ANNUAL CAPITAL PRIDE FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2003

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 28th Annual 
Capital Pride Festival, a celebration of and for the National Capital 
Area's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered communities, their 
families, and their friends.
  Since its beginning in 1975, the Capital Pride Festival has grown 
from a small block party to a seven-day series of events. This year, 
the Pride Parade will be held June 7-8, 2003 and will culminate into a 
street fair on Pennsylvania Avenue, attended by people of all 
backgrounds from the District and the region. I have marched in the 
Pride parades since coming to Congress, and I have seen the parade grow 
bigger and better. In 2002, I marched with over 120 contingents in the 
parade. More than 200,000 people attended the street fair in the shadow 
of the Capitol; and hundreds of vendors and organizers had stalls, 
booths, and pavilions. The street fair featured over five hours of 
local entertainers and national headline performers.
  The citizens of the District of Columbia and I feel a special 
affinity to any American who does not share all the rights and 
privileges enjoyed by most citizens of the United States. I note that 
it has been eight years since the Majority changed a historic rule and 
the District of Columbia lost the first vote we ever won on the floor 
of the House of Representatives, in the Committee of the Whole, the 
least we were entitled to. I remind this body that our city of 600,000 
residents is the only jurisdiction in the United States subject to 
``Taxation Without Representation.''
  My Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered constituents feel this 
denial more acutely than most. Every April 15th they bear all the 
responsibilities of our democracy yet are denied complete access to its 
power to redress the injustices that befall Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and 
Transgendered Americans. Today many are serving their country in Iraq 
and in the military throughout the world, as District residents have in 
every United States' war without a vote on war and peace, or any other 
issue.
  Similarly, Congress has not yet protected sexual orientation from 
discrimination in our country. Despite increasing reports of violence 
and physical abuse against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered 
Americans, Congress has not enacted protections against hate crimes. 
Congress must pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). 
Congress must pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Congress must pass 
the Permanent Partners Immigration Act. Congress must pass the No 
Taxation Without Representation Act.
  In June, we will rejoice in the accomplishments of the Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgendered community. We also will remember those who 
live on only in our hearts and prayers. As we ``Celebrate Pride'' and 
reflect, we must continue the fight for full democracy for the District 
of Columbia and full civil rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and 
Transgendered people in the United States of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in saluting the 28th Annual 
Capital Pride Festival; its organizer: Whitman-Walker Clinic, and the 
sponsors and volunteers whose dedicated and creative energy make the 
Capital Pride Festival possible.

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