2015 DC Black Pride Guide

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

May, 2015

Greetings DC Black Pride Attendees: The Center For Black Equity and DC Black Pride would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2015 DC Black Pride 25! Inspiring A Movement, The Mission Continues”. This year marks the 25th anniversary of DC Black Pride – the first Black Pride themed event in the United States. In 1991 Welmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland and Ernest Hopkins along with scores of volunteers, founded Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc. (DC Black Pride) with 800 hundred people attending the first Black Pride. Since that time, tens of thousands of people have flocked to Washington DC over the Memorial Day weekend to enjoy both social and cultural events. Who knew that twenty-five years later there would be dozens of Black Pride events around the world with nearly 250,000 attendees annually!

DC Black Pride is the end result of dozens of volunteers working and planning events to make the weekend memorable! The Awards Reception will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the offices of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP located at the Columbia Center, 1152 15 St NW, Washington, DC . This year’s Welmore Cook Award for community service will go to community activists Ebone Bell and Steven Walker. Genise Chamber-Woods will receive the Charlotte Smallwood Award presented to the DC Black Pride volunteer of the year. Jessica Pierce and Keith Jones, Jr. will receive the DC Black Pride Leadership Award presented to Black LGBT community leaders who are thirty years old or under.

We want you to enjoy the Opening Reception, Speed Dating; the Film Festival featuring the much acclaimed Through A Lens Darkly; workshops; Writers’ Forum; entertainment; Poetry Slam; the Interfaith Service and our Cultural Arts/Health & Wellness Festival all which are free.

There will be an array of social (parties) outlets for every taste! Please support those promoters who support us. Finally, we want you to create wonderful memories at DC Black Pride and as always, play safe so we can see you again and again.

Happy Pride,

Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr. Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr. President/CEO

1806 Vernon St., N.W., Suite 200 Washington, DC 20009 Office: (202) 347-0555 Fax: (202) 347-5666 www.CenterForBlackEquity.org INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

1517 CONNECTICUT UT AVENUE A ENUE NW // 202.387.3825 // WWW.KRAMERS.COM

Media Sponsor Washington Blade

Unity ($5,000) AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Awards Reception Host Committee Carlene Cheatham, co-chair Patricia Corbett, co-chair Clarence Fluker, co-chair Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr., co-chair Ernest Hopkins, co-chair Jhahbriel C. Moore-Terrell, co-chair Eric E. Richardson, co-chair Courtney Snowdon, co-chair Otis “Buddy” Sutson, co-chair

Strength ($2,500) Ed Bailey Barefoot Wine & Bubbly Coca-Cola National Minority AIDS Council Testing Makes Us Stronger Whitman-Walker Health

Abdur-Rahim Briggs Rea Carey Malcolm “MJ” Harris C. Hawkins Thomas King Sharon Lettman-Hicks Kenya Hutton Re’ginald Shaw-Richardson Jose M. Roman Richard Rosendall Wesley D. Thomas, DMD Stuart Washington Guy Weston

Community ($1,500) Capital Pride Alliance The DC Center for the LGBT Community Mega Hip Hop Party Office of Human Rights, District of Columbia Us Helping Us Friends & Family ($100) All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church cencational.designs Rector John Beddingfield GLBT Summer Affair Metro DC PFLAG Potomac Association Central Atlantic Conference – United Church of Christ Reginald Shaw-Richardson Shopuntilyoudrop.com The Fireplace

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INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

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INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

Organizers recall 1991 event that sparked an international movement

By LOU CHIBBAR O JR. lc hib bar o@w ashblade.com Or g anizer s of w hat w as billed as the fir st Blac k Gay & Lesbian Pride festi v al on May 25, 1991 wer e uncer tain how many people would tur n out to Banneker Field, a How ar d Uni ver sity athletic field on Geor gia Avenue in Nor thwest Washington.

“When we fir st talked to r espected blac k g ay and lesbian community leader s a bout doing this, especially a bout w her e we had decided to do it, many of them r ejected the idea,” said Er nest Hopkins, one of the thr ee co-founder s and lead or g anizer s of the e vent.

“T hey told us they didn’ t have any inter est in being involved because they didn’ t belie ve the community w as r eady to acce pt a gr oup of openly g ay and lesbian people being public in that w ay.”

But to the amazement of suppor ter s and ske ptics alike, mor e than 800 people showed up at Banneker Field for the fir st Blac k Pride e vent, w hic h inc luded booths fr om local and national LGBT and AIDS or g anizations as well as D.C . gover nment a gencies, inc luding the Health De par tment’s HIV/AIDS of fice.

Hopkins said or g anizer s initially intended the e vent to ser ve as a fundr aiser for some of the city’s longstanding blac k g ay social gr oups that at the time wer e pr oviding emer genc y financial suppor t for blac k g ay men with AIDS. It w as a time w hen the AIDS e pidemic w as de v astating the city’s blac k g ay community.

“And so w hat star ted out for us as an inter est in fundr aising for HIV became for many of the folks an oppor tunity to expr ess a muc h lar ger community imper ati ve, w hic h w as being open a bout their status of li ving with HIV and also being open a bout being LGBT,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins, w ho cur r ently ser ves as dir ector of le gislati ve af f air s for the San Fr ancisco AIDS Foundation, said the D.C . Blac k Pride e vent became a dr aw for blac k LGBT people fr om acr oss the countr y be ginning with the fir st one in 1991.

T his opened the w ay for similar Blac k Pride

e vents to star t up in other U.S. cities and a shor t time later in cities in Eur ope, Africa and the Carib bean, accor ding to Ear l Fowlkes, pr esident and CEO of the Center for Blac k Equity. T he D.C . based inter national or g anization, among other things, helps f acilitate Blac k Pride e vents in the U.S. and a br oad.

Fowlkes said between 40-45 Blac k Pride e vents have been held eac h year over the past 10 year s.

T he Center for Blac k Equity we bsite says mor e than 400,000 people attend Blac k Pride e vents eac h year in the U.S. and other countries.

Hopkins points out that D.C . became the hub of sor ts for w hat e volved into the blac k LGBT Pride movement, in par t, because blac k g ays fr om acr oss the countr y had been coming to D.C . on Memorial Day weekend for a bout 15 year s prior to the fir st D.C . Blac k Pride e vent.

T he focus of the D.C . destination w as a me g a dance par ty known as the Childr en’s Hour Memorial Day Weekend par ty hosted by a Nor thwest D.C . g ay nightc lub catering to blac k g ays called the Club House.

T he Club House, located at 1296 Upshur St., N.W., went out of business in 1991, ending the Childr en’s Hour par ty. Fowlkes and Hopkins said a key f actor in the c lub’s c losing w as the impact the AIDS e pidemic w as having on its staf f.

Hopkins said the decision by him and D.C . Blac k Pride’s two other co-founder s — Welmor e Cook and T heodor e Kir kland — to sc hedule the fir st Blac k Pride festi v al on Memorial Day weekend w as not specifically aimed at r e placing the Childr en’s Hour e vent. Instead, Hopkins said, it w as aimed at dr awing as many of the par ticipants of the Childr en’ Hour par ties as possible to tur n out for the Blac k Pride festi v al, w hic h w as to be used to help bolster local AIDS fundr aising ef for ts.

“People had a histor y of coming to D.C . at that time,” Hopkins said. “So we had a significant number of out-of-towner s w ho came and spr ead the wor d that D.C . had cr eated this Blac k Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. And befor e you kne w it, they went home and be g an to talk up similar acti vities at home.”

Fowlkes, w ho took on a leader ship r ole in D.C .’s Blac k Pride e vents in 1997, founded the

Black Pride thriving at 25 INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

Inter national Feder ation of Blac k Prides in 1999.

T hat or g anization wor ked with Blac k Pride gr oups thr oughout the U.S. a nd in other countries, inc luding in Eur ope, Africa and the Carib bean, to help f acilitate Pride e vents in those countries.

In 2012, the Feder ation’s boar d of dir ector s voted to c hange its name to the Center for Blac k Equity and to expand its mission. T he cur r ent mission calls for “ac hie ving equality and justice for blac k LGBT communities thr ough expansi ve platfor ms focused on health equity, economic equity and social equity,” the or g anization’s we bsite says.

In its inter national wor k, Fowlkes said he is pri vile ged to wor k with Blac k Pride or g anizer s in counties w her e LGBT people’s li ves ar e often in danger due to oppr essi ve anti-LGBT policies by their r especti ve gover nments.

“It’s danger ous and they put their li ves on the line,” he said, in r efer ring to Pride or g anizer s in some countries in Africa and the Carib bean, suc h as Jamaica. “And these people r emind me of how for tunate we ar e her e.”

D.C .’s Blac k Pride has e volved into a full weekend of e vents, inc luding a confer enceoriented series of wo r kshops, a film festi v al and poetr y r eading session as well as two lar ge outdoor e vents.

T he festi v al that be g an in Banneker Field in 1991 is being held this year at the Fr ancisSte vens Educational Campus at 24th and N Str eets, N.W., near Dupont Cir c le on Sunday, May 24. Fowlkes said local and national LGBT and AIDS or g anizations along with vendor s and r e pr esentati ves of D.C . gover nment a gencies ar e expected to set up booths at the festi v al.

Similar to past year s, a Blac k Pride picnic sponsor ed by the local AIDS ser vices gr oup Us helping Us will be held on Monday, May 25, at For t Dupont Par k on Minnesota Ave., S.E. At least nine socia l and enter tainment e vents and par ties or g anized by an e vents company wor king in par tner ship with Blac k Pride will take

place in nightc lubs and bar s thr oughout the city.

Unlike the of ficial Blac k Pride e vents, w hic h have no admission fee, the par ties and other social e vents will have a cover c har ge, Fowlkes said.

In r ecent year s the Blac k Pride boar d has updated its own pr omotional ef for ts to inc lude social media and a special outr eac h to younger LGBT people.

“We r eally have made an endeavor to be mor e sensiti ve to under ser ved communities like the tr ansgender community, women and lesbians,” Fowlkes said. “We tried to be mor e sensiti ve to the population subsets and the populations within the LGBTQ experience, inc luding the millennials in the 18-to-24 year r ange.”

“Obviously we use social media, we use a pps, we use Face book, and we use Insta gr am to get people her e,” Fowlkes said. “But we still do it the old-f ashioned w ay. We set up wor kshops. We still have panel discussions.”

Added Fowlkes, “Younger people come to the wor kshops. It’s not just the older people. We all w ant ans wer s. We all w ant to have a for um to discuss w hat’s going on in the wor ld.”

“Blac k Pride has often been described as the g ate w ay to the gr eater LGBT community experience for many blac k LGBT people,” a statement on Center for Blac k Equity we bsite says.

“R ather than encour a ging se par ation, Blac k Prides encour a ge aw ar eness of self and community, r espect, dignity and many attendees of Blac k Pride e vents have r etur ned to their homes to come out to friends, f amily and their communities,” the statement says. “Attending e vents and seeing people w ho look like oneself with many of the same shar ed experiences, contributes to building str onger, healthier LGBT communities and is an ef fecti ve w ay to combat homophobia and stigma in the blac k community and r acism in the gr eater LGBT community along with over coming the cultur al, communal and institutional bar rier s cr eated by isms and phobias.”

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

Keith D. Jones Jr. says he’s alw ays felt safe being out in his D.C . gover nment job and has been gr ateful to keep doing his wor k over thr ee mayor al administr ations. (Washington Blade photo by Mic hael Key)

This year’s leadership award recipients on the importance of Black Pride

By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO joeyd@w ashblade.com Since he came out in 2004, Keith D. Jones, Jr. has been to many Blac k Pride e vents in cities suc h as Chica go, Atlanta, Ne w Yor k, Philadelphia and, of cour se, Washington. He says the local e vent will alw ays be special.

“It’s the oldest, so the bar is set high her e,” the 29-year-old D.C . nati ve says. “Pride her e feels mor e str uctur ed, mor e or g anized than in some cities. … It’s smaller, so it feels a little mor e local. Atlanta and Ne w Yor k, both, ar e just

massi ve. T his has mor e of a home feel and it’s mor e str uctur ed. Definitely one of my f avorites.”

He says a good Blac k Pride e vent of fer s education, infor mation, a little shopping and enter tainment.

“You get the full scope her e,” he says. “You get the education, the wor kshops but the nightlife is gr eat too. You r eally get the full scope.”

Jones is pr ogr am specialist/deputy dir ector of the Clean City Initiative under the D.C . Depar tment of Community Af fair s. He star ted with the pr ogr am as an inter n in 2009 and came on full time in September 2010. He wor ks on beautification, education and c lean-up ef for ts ar ound the District.

“We’ r e looking at those things many people don’ t nor mally see,” Jones says. “It could be anything fr om a piece of br oken bottle on the

‘A place to love ourselves and ea INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

Jessica P ierce says funneling her advocac y wor k thr ough a queer, feminist political lens ensur es the most disenfr anc hised — g ay or str aight, male or female — get the help they need. (Washington Blade photo by Mic hael Key)

gr ound to c leaning up eyesor es to cr eating af for da ble housing. Planting f lower s, urban f ar ming, getting kids involved and mor e. It’s vital that we kee p our city c lean.”

Jones and Jessica Pier ce, tr easur er of the Ger tr ude Stein Club and boar d c hair for the Blac k Youth Pr oject, ar e this year’s r ecipients of the Blac k Pride Leader ship A w ar ds, gi ven eac h year to LGBT leader s 30 and younger. Ear l Fowlkes, boar d secr etar y and CEO of D.C . Blac k Pride, says they’ r e both extr emely wor thy.

“Both have shown extr aordinar y leader ship in our community and their wor k has impacted hundr eds of lives in a ver y positive manner,” he says.

Pier ce says she feels “gr eat” a bout getting the aw ar d, but says she w ants to tur n any attention she gets fr om it bac k to the wor k she’s so passionate a bout.

“It’s not a bout getting aw ar ds, it’s a bout the wor k,” she says. “We’ r e super gr assr oots and we ar e liter ally building (the Blac k Youth Pr oject) and doing the wor k at the same time. We’ r e ver y lean. We don’ t have a ridiculous amount of money.

Last year, only one foundation g ave us money. I’m humbled to get an aw ar d and honor ed that people thought of me, but I w ant to use it as a w ay to get mor e people involved.”

T he pr oject wor ks with blac k youth 18-35 “specifically thr ough a queer and feminist political

lens,” says the 30-year-old Califor nia nati ve w ho’s been in Washington since 2006. “You have to be intentional a bout w ho you put at the for efr ont of your ef for ts. People hear that and tr anslate that to mean we only wor k with people w ho ar e g ay. No, we’ r e not saying that. Even though we’ r e focused una polo getically on blac k liber ation, our focus is on the most disenfr anc hised people. T hat’s w ho we focus on intentionally.”

T he pr oject w as bor n near ly two year s a go as the Geor ge Zimmer man ver dict w as being r ead for his r ole in the Tr ayvon Mar tin killing. Citing the deaths of Eric Gar ner (in Ne w Yor k), Walter Scott (Char leston, S.C .), Fr eddie Gr ay (Baltimor e) and mor e, she says a “huge system overhaul” is needed and says police killing blac k people is a symptom of “dee p, systemic r acism.”

“We wer e enslaved and consider ed pr oper ty w hen these systems wer e cr eated and so now looking at them thr ough a 2015 headset, we r ealize they’ r e sexist, they’ r e r acist, they’ r e homophobic , they wer e designed ar ound heter osexual w hite men w ho wer e pr oper ty owner s and in positions to har m poor people and wor king c lass people. … Even in looking at the salar y sur vey of LGBT rights leader s the Blade did r ecently, the overw helming majority ar e r un by g ay w hite men. So w hat does that mean w hen we talk a bout the fight for a par ticular community.

It shows we’ r e not focusing on the issue or r e pr esentation for the people w ho ar e being hit by these issues the har dest. Mar ria ge is not the only issue. It is an issue, but if I’m being discriminated a g ainst in the wor kplace, or if I can’ t e ven get a job because I’m homeless or have access to health car e, mar ria ge is a non-issue for me.”

But even with all the problems in the wor ld, Pierce says it’s great to have Black Pride as a salve.

“It’s just a cele br ation of being blac k and queer and LGBT and that’s beautiful,” she says.

“I love coming out and seeing all the dif fer ent types and shades of blac kness and of being LGBT. T hat’s beautiful to me.”

She’s says it’s a place to feel “embraced and loved.”

“Don’t get me wr ong, I love the par ty and the celebr ation and all that, but even beyond the legislative and political wor k we have yet to do, it’s a place to love our selves and love eac h other.”

nd each other’ INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

Thursday, May 21 7 p.m.-midnight DC Black Pride Rooftop Kickoff Party Midtown, 1219 Connecticut Ave NW, WDC 20036 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Genesis VI Stonefish Lounge, 1708 L St NW, WDC 20036 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment & Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

Friday, May 22 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Opening Reception Grand Hyatt Washington

4 – 9 p.m.

The Warm Up Happy Hour The Bachelors Mill, 1104 8th St SE, WDC 20003 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment & Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

Noon – 9 p.m.

Hospitality Suite Open Grand Hyatt Washington

Noon – 1 a.m.

Game Room Open Grand Hyatt Washington

8:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Speed Dating/Networking Grand Hyatt Washington

9 p.m. – 4 a.m.

Annual 5000 Men Pride Mega Party Bliss Washington DC, 2122 24th Pl NE, WDC 20018 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment & Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

Saturday, May 23 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Hospitality Suite Open Grand Hyatt Washington

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Workshop: Can We Do It Standing Up First?

Grand Hyatt Washington Pr esenter : Angie Har vey, Gr owth Advisor T his is GR OWING to be an eng a ging wor ksho p that will empower eac h par ticipant to consider the w ays we can stimulate and make love in our r elationships … standing up or laying down.

We’ ll discuss and de bate the pr os, cons and myths a bout tr anspar enc y, r espect, honest communication, tr ust, honesty, compr omise, under standing and love and discover how making love standing up fir st can enhance, impr ove and delight our sexual love making experience laying down … or howe ver they do w hat they do.

Events INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m Workshop: MANDATE; WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? Grand Hyatt Washington Moder ator : Ken J. Pettigr e w & Ter r ance Payton

The Park at Fourteenth, 920 14th St NW, WDC 20005 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment & Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

It’s seems at times, for most blac k g ay men, the r oad ends at finding a date, a boo or a par tner.

But, w hat if the r eal Mandate’s r oad ended with you? You may know your perfect date but do you know your perfect Mandate? Its time!

11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Workshops Grand Hyatt Washington

7 – 9 p.m.

Poetry Slam hosted by ButtaflySoul Grand Hyatt Washington

Another Closet?: Living Openly with HIV Moder ator : Ar on Cob bs, Community Educator, Lambda Le g al Defense & Education Fund DENIM Presents ILLUMENATIONS A nation of Illuminated men!

Pr esenter s: Tr avis Wise, Maurice Ec kstein and Mar ko Covington MJ Harris Financial Workshop Pr esenter : Malcolm “MJ” Har ris PrEP Pr esenter s: Rober t E Gr aham IV and Jamal Redman, Us Helping Us, People into Li ving Inc. Noon – 1 a.m Game Room Open Grand Hyatt Washington

12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Writer’s Forum Grand Hyatt Washington 3 – 7 p.m.

Film Festival Grand Hyatt Washington Featur ed film: “Bait” 3 – 9 p.m.

The Chill Out Ultimate Day Party

T his year we look forw ar d to br othas and sistahs bringing their best poetr y and spoken wor d to the mic. 15 poets, 2 r ounds, 3 cash prizes. Slam is made for the people: the audience r elates to their stories, r esponds to their experiences, and is moved by the movement of wor ds, voices, and their embodiment on sta ge. Hosted by the Buttaf lySoul, come cele br ate Blac k Pride thr ough the wor ds that become f lesh, that cele br ate our past, pr esent, and futur e, and that highlight the fier ce cr eati vity and talent of the Blac k LGBTQ community wor ld wide.

How it will wor k: Sign-ups for the Slam will be gin pr omptly at 6 p.m. at the Gr and Hyatt. In the inter est of time, ther e will be only 15 spots av aila ble for the 1st r ound of poetr y. After the host opens the mic , a pr ofessional sacrificial poet sets the tone for Slam judging and the Slam will be gin. Perfor mances should be no longer than 4 minutes (a minute longer than the thr ee minutes gi ven as standar d). Going over time will r esult in one point being taken fr om the total. A di ver se set of fi ve audience member s will be c hosen to judge, w hic h will also be guided by audience r eaction.

After the fir st r ound, the fi ve poets with the highest scor es will move on to a second r ound.

T he top thr ee scor es will r ecei ve 1st ($250), 2nd ($100) and 3r d prizes ($50).

9 p.m. – 4 a.m.

The Encore Mega Party Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE, WDC 20018 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment & Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

Events INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

3 – 4 a.m.

Insomniac Mega After-Party 2221 Adams Pl NE, WDC 20018 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment & Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

Sunday, May 24 9 – 11 a.m.

Interfaith Service Grand Hyatt Washington Join local af fir ming c hur c hes as we pr aise, pr ay, sing and gi ve a messa ge of cele br ating our Blac k Pride thr ough our f aiths.

noon – 6 p.m.

Cultural Arts & Wellness Festival Francis-Stevens Educational Campus, 2425 N St NW (near DuPont Circle), WDC 20037 (outside) 3 – 10 p.m.

Mega Day Party featuring K Michelle Washington Convention Center Main Ballroom, 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, WDC 20001 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment and Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

10 p.m. – 5 a.m.

Men N Demand Mega Party The Park at Fourteenth, 920 14th St NW, WDC 20005 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment and Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

Monday, May 25 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Annual Us Helping Us Picnic at the Park (Free and Open to All) Fort Dupont Park, 3600 Minnesota Ave SE, WDC 20019

7 p.m. (door s open at 6 p.m.)

“MIGHTY REAL: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical” Howard Theater, 620 T St, NW, WDC 20001 Tic kets: $69.50 - $89.50.

Limited VIP Tic kets Av aila ble “MIGHTY REAL” tells the life stor y of Sylvester thr ough HIS music HIS w ay. Beyond all the trials, tribulations, glitz and glamor of his lifestyle, he w as a symbol for being FAB ULOUS and una polo getically w ho he w as thr ough any adver sity. T his show takes you on a jour ney fr om his humble be ginnings in L.A., his experienc es with Two Tons ‘o Fun (T he Weather Gir ls) and his love life all using his musical catalo gue.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Last Call, The Grand Finale Stadium Club, 2127 Queens Chapel Rd NE, WDC 20018 Pr esented by Ome g a Enter tainment and Dar yl Wilson Pr omotions

Saturday, May 30 7 p.m. (door s open at 6 p.m.)

“Sensuality II” Howard Theater, 620 T St, NW, WDC 20001 Tic kets $45 - $60. VIP Tic kets Av aila ble Clouds In My Cof fee is bac k for 2015 with SENSUALITY II, the stor y of two women in love tr aveling to Mar y’s House DC*. T he couple have exciting stops along the w ay - Shi-Queeta Lee’s Dr a g Emporium and Chocolate City Bur lesque Palace among other s. T he love stor y continues... *T he show is a fundr aiser for Mar y’s House DC w hic h is a LGBT senior li ving f acility w hic h will open in DC in the near futur e.

Events INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

T he 5000 Men Pride Mega Party is at Bliss (2122 24th Pl., N.E.) fr om 9 p.m.-4 a.m. R&B singer Mila J will perfor m. T her e will be four DJs and dancer s.

Women’s parties

Thursday, May 21 Unleashed D.C. holds a female happy hour at Midtown Par typlex (1219 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) from 7 p.m.midnight. Admission is free before 8 p.m. and $5 after.

Hookah will be available. DJ Mim will play music.

Friday, May 22 Pride Code is at Vita Lounge (1318 9th S t., N.W.) fr om 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Gener al admission tic kets ar e $10 and VIP tic kets ar e $50.

Saturday, May 23 Candyland is at Stadium Nightc lub (2127 Queens Cha pel Rd., N.E .) fr om 3-10 p.m. Tic kets ar e $12 in adv ance and $15 at the door.

“Empire” is at Howard Theatre (620 T St., N.W.) from 11 p.m.-3 a.m. DJ Mim will spin tracks. Advanced general admission tickets are $15 and advanced VIP tickets are $30. General admission tickets at the door are $20 and VIP tickets at the door are $40.

Sunday, May 24 Blac k Pride’s female c losing par ty Finale is at Aver y’s Bar and Lounge (1370 H S t., N.E .) fr om 4-10 p.m. DJ Kidd S w a g will pr ovide the music.

Admission is $10 all day.

VIP weekend passes are $70 for access to all par ties. Platinum VIP weekend passes r ange from $175-200 and include access to all par ties with VIP tables. For more infor mation, visit unleasheddc.com.

Men’s parties

Thursday, May 21 Genesis VI, a biblical-themed par ty, is at Stonefish Lounge (1708 L St., N.W.) from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. with music by DJ Sedrick. T her e will also be dancer s.

Friday, May 22 T he Warm Up Ha ppy Hour is at Bac helor’s Mill (1108 8th S t., S.E.) fr om 4-9 p.m. Pass holder s will r ecei ve two drinks, fr ee food and admission.

Saturday, May 23 T he Par k on Four teenth (920 14th S t., N.W.) hosts the Annual Chill Out, a day par ty, fr om 3-9 p.m.

T her e will be food and drink specials all day. Pass holder s will r ecei ve fr ee food.

T he Encore is at Ec hoSta ge (2 135 Queens Cha pel Rd., N.E .) fr om 9 p.m.- 4 a.m. T her e will be thr ee DJs and dancer s. A n exc lusi ve cele brity perfor mance will also be announced.

T he Insomniac , the E ncor e’s after par ty, is at 2221 A dam’s Pl., N.E . fr om 3 a.m.-8 a.m. T her e will be music , food, r efr eshments and hookah.

Sunday, May 24 Ep ic , Blac k Pride’s main nightlife e vent, is at the Convention Center (301 Mount Ver non Pl., N.W.) is fr om 3-10 p.m. R&B singer K. Mic helle will perfor m at 8 p.m. T her e will be 15 bar s, thr ee DJs and dancer s. Food is inc luded for pass holder s.

T he Men N Demand Me ga Party is at the Par k on Four teenth (920 14th S t., N.W.) fr om 10 p.m.- 5 a.m. A cele brity will host the night. T her e will be four DJs and dancer s.

Monday, May 25 Us Helping Us holds its annual picnic at For t DuPont Par k (3600 Minnesota Ave., S.E.) fr om 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Pass holder s will r eceive fr ee food and r efr eshments under the Omega and Dar yl tent.

T her e will be live enter tainment. Admission is fr ee.

Last Call, the final Black Pride men’s par ty, is at Stadium Club (2127 Queen’s Chapel Rd., N.E.) from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. T he par ty includes nude male dancer s.

Passes are available for access to all par ties and the picnic for $155. They include per ks like free food, refreshments, no cover charge and skipping lines. For more infor mation, visit omegapar tydc.com.

Compiled by MARIAH COOPER

Nightlife & Parties INSPIRIN G A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

May • Houston Splash Houston May 7-10 Contact: Jon Humphries 713-854-7088 john@loudinc.net houstonsplash.com June • Say It Loud! Black and Latino Gay Pride Albany, N.Y. June 4-6 Contact: Gabby Santos 518-432-4188 gsantos@inourownvoices.org blackandlatinogaypride.com • Memphis TN Black Pride Memphis, Tenn.

June 12-14 Contact: Terryl Buckner 901-369-0380 terryltbuck61@aol.com brothersunited.com • Portland Black Pride Portland, Ore. June 17-21

Contact: Khalil Edwards 503-232-7676 portlandblackpride@gmail.com facebook.com/Portland,blackpride • Columbus Urban Pride 2015 Columbus, Ohio June 20-21 Contact: Dwayne Steward 614-377-2330 dwayneasteward@gmail.com facebook.com/columbusurbanpride • South Carolina Black Pride Columbia, S.C. June 24-28 Contact: Anthony Beckett 410-207-3822 aabeckett@gmail.com facebook.com/southcarolina.blackpride • Harlem Pride 2015 New York, N.Y. June 27-29 Contact: Michael Hodge 347-846-0362 mhodge@harlempride.org harlempride.org

July • At the Beach L.A. Los Angeles July 2-5 Contact: Thea Williams atbla@atbla.com myblackpridela.com • United Black Pride Chicago July 4-6 Contact: Jesse Hinton 312-685-7443 jhinton@ubpride.com ubpride.com • Charlotte Black Gay Pride Charlotte, N.C. July 16-19 info@charlotteblackgaypride.com charlotteblackgaypride.com • Indiana Pride of Color Indianapolis, Ind. July 17-19 Contact: Terrell Parker 317-931-0292 tparker@brothersunitedinc.org facebook.com/Indianapoc • Pittsburgh Black Pride Pittsburgh

2015 International Federation o INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

July 20-31 Contact: Flecia Harvey 412-661-1350 pittsburghblackpride.org • Hotter Than July Detroit July 24-28 Contact: Curtis Lipscomb 313-285-9733 Detroit@hotterthanjuly.org Hotterthanjuly.org • Shades of Pride Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, N.C. July 24-26 Contact: Toya Hankins 980-229-9468 toya@shadesofpride.org triangleblackpride.org August • Jacksonville Black Pride Jacksonville, Fla. Aug. 7-9 Contact: Katrina Cook 904-435-4529 jaxbp@aol.com jaxfblackpride.org

• New York City Black Pride New York Aug. 12-16 Contact: Lee Soulja-Simmons 917-667-6448 souljanyc@yahoo.com nycblackpride.com • St. Louis Black Pride St. Louis, Mo. Aug. 12-16 Contact: Randy Rafter 917-667-6448 connect@blackpridestl.org.

Blackpridestl.org September • In the Life Atlanta Sept. 2-7 Atlanta Contact: Rickie Smith 404-964-4852 rsmith@inthelifeatl.org inthelifeatlanta.org October • Dallas Southern Pride Oct. 1-5 Dallas

Contact: Kirk Myers 214-405-4575 derrickdfwpride@gmail.com dallassouthernpride.com • Baltimore Black Pride Oct. 8-11 Baltimore Contact: Carlton Smith 443-218-2478 bmoreblackpride@yahoo.com blackpridebaltimore.org • Nashville Black Pride Oct. 16-18 Nashville Contact: Dwayne Jenkins 615-974-2832 nashblackpride@aol.com nashvilleblackpride.org • Gainesville Black Pride Date TBA Gainesville, Fla. Contact: Shawn Harris 888-574-8840 ext. 1 gainesvilleblackpride@yahoo.com gainesvilleblackpride.com

on of Black Pride events INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

• Addiction Prevention and Recover 64 New York Ave., N.E. 202-727-8857 dbh.dc.gove/page/apra • AIDS Healthcare Foundation Blair Underwood Health Care Center 2141 K St., N.W. 202-293-2680 aidshealth.org • Brother Help Thyself P.O. Box 77841 Washington, D.C. 77841 202-347-2246 info@brotherhlpthyself.com brotherhelpthyself.org • Building Futures Family AIDS Housing 1440 Meridan Pl., N.W. 202-639-0361 cfp-dc.org/npo/building-futures-family-aids-housing • Carl Vogel Center 1012 14th St., N.W. 202-638-0750 carlvogelcenter.org • CASCADE Howard University’s LGBT Student Group 2397 6th St., N.W. 708-764-0128 Cascadehu.tumblr.com • Christ House 1717 Columbia Rd., N.W. 202-328-1100 Washingtonparish.org • Community of Hope

4 Atlantic St., S.W. 202-407-7747 communityofhopedc.org • Damien Ministries 2200 Rhode Island Ave., N.E. 202-526-3020 damienministries.org • D.C. Black Pride 1806 Vernon St., N.W. 202-347-0555 info@dcblackpride.org • D.C. Center 2000 14th St., N.W. 202-682-2245 contact@thedccenter.org thedccenter.org • Different Avenues 1419 V St., N.W. 202-829-2103 thirdwavefound.org/different-avenues • Food and Friends 219 Riggs Rd., N.E. 202-269-2277 foodandfriends.org • HIPS 1309 Rhode Island Ave., N.E. 202-232-8150 Catherine@hips.org Hips.org • Martha’s Table 2114 14th St., N.W. 202-328-6608 ext. 212 volunteer@marthastable.org marthastable.org

Community resource guide INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

• Metropolitan Community Church of Washington D.C. 474 Ridge St., N.W. 202-638-773 mccdc.com • Metro TeenAIDS 651 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. 202-543-8246 metroteenaids.org • Miriam’s Kitchen 2401 Virginia Ave., N.W. 202-452-8926 jdean@miriamskitchen.org miriamskitchen.org • National Black Justice Coalition 202-319-1552 nbj.org • National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) 1931 13th St., N.W. 202-483-6622 nmac.org • National Center for Transgender Equality 1325 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. 202-903-0112 transequality.org • Planned Parenthood 1108 16th St., N.W. 202-347-8500 volunteer@ppmw.org ppmw.org • Sasha Bruce Youthwork 1022 Maryland Ave., N.E.

202-546-4900 sashabruce.org • Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) 410 7th St., S.E. 202-567-3156 sean.link@smyal.org smyal.org • So Other’s Might Eat (SOME) 71 O St., N.W. 202-797-8806 volunteer@some.org some.org • The Center for Black Equity 1806 Vernon St., N.W. 202-347-0555 centerforblackequity.org • The Women’s Collective 1331 Rhode Island Ave., N.E. 202-483-7003 info@womenscollective.org womenscollective.org • Us Helping Us 3636 Georgia Ave., N.W. 202-446-1100 uhupil.org • Whitman-Walker HEALTH 1701 14th St., N.W. 202-745-7000 Whitman-walker.org • Youth AIDS/PSI 1120 19th St., N.W. 202-785-0072 youthaidsinfo@psi.org youthaids.org

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

1 Lesbian acti vist RUTH ELLIS attended Blac k Pride in 1998. (Washington Blade photo by Clint Steib) 2 Wr eath-laying at Fr eedom Plaza for Blac k Pride in 1996. (Washington Blade photo by Clint Steib) 3 RAYCEEN PENDARVIS and B UTTAFLYSOUL emceed the pr o gr am at Blac k Pride Health and Wellness Expo 2010 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. (Washington Blade photo by Mic hael Key) 4 Blac k Pride 2011 featur ed a ‘Retr o Dance Night.’ (Washington Blade photo by Pete Exis) 5 J. HOLIDAY perfor med for the cr ow ds at Blac k Pride 2010. (Washington Blade photo by Mic hael Key)

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

6 Dr a g ar tist SHI-Q UEETA-LEE perfor med at Blac k Pride Health and Wellness Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in 2010. (Washington Blade photo by Mic hael Key) 7 Re veler s danced at Blac k Pride 2011’s ‘Retr o Dance Night.’ (Washington Blade photo by Pete Exis) 8 Dr a g perfor mances wer e featur ed at Blac k Pride Day in 1994. (Washington Blade photo by Kristi Gasaw ay) 9 Perfor mer s enter tained audiences at Blac k Pride Day in 1992. (Washington Blade photo)

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

10 A singer at the Blac k Pride Health and Wellness Expo in 2012. (Washington Blade photo by Blake Ber gen) 11 A dr a g perfor mer enter tained the audience at Blac k Pride Day in 1996. (Washington Blade photo by Clint Steib) 12 Blac k Pride Festi v al in 1994. (Washington Blade photo by Kristi Gasaw ay) 13 REV. DYAN ABENA MCCRAY and BISHOP KWABENA RAINEY CHEEKS lead wor shiper s in a pr ayer ser vice for Blac k Pride 1997. (Washington Blade photo by Clint Steib) 14 DEL. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, center, pr esents a congr essional pr oc lamation for Blac k Pride Day 2012 at the Opening Rece ption. (Washington Blade photo by Blake Ber gen)

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

15 ‘ATLANTIS’ enjoys the food at Blac k Gay and Lesbian Pride Day in 1993. (Washington Blade photo by Lenny Gonzalez) 16 Men embr ace at Blac k Pride 1994. (Washington Blade photo by Kristi Gasaw ay) 17 MONET DUPREE perfor ms at the Blac k Pride Health and Wellness Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in 2010. (Washington Blade photo by Mic hael Key) 18 Blac k Pride Day in 1995. (Washington Blade photo by Clint Steib) 19 A perfor mer dances at the Blac k Pride Festi v al in 1994. (Washington Blade photo by Kristi Gasaw ay)

INSPIRING A MOVEMENT, THE MISSION CONTINUES.

proud winner of a 2013 & 2014 american graphic design award

40 YEARS AGO

THE CLOSET WAS PACKED

DISCRIMINATION WAS EXPECT ED AND GAY MARRIAGE WAS A FANTASY.

BUT LGBT HEALTHCARE

WAS OUR DREAM FROM THE START.

OUR BUILDING IS NEW BUT OUR COMMITMENT IS ENDURING. We may have changed addresses but some things never change. Like our dedication to the LGBT community. We will help you live heathy lives with services that range from primary care to legal help and research. Everyone is welcome at 1525 14th St, NW.

202-745-7000 WWH-007 Black Pride Ad.indd 1

Whitman-Walker.org 4/30/15 3:53 PM