While there was not a drop of rain on Saturday, D.C. was covered in rainbows thanks to the tens of thousands of people who lined 14th Street to witness the Capital Pride Parade.
The Pride Festival and concert take place Sunday in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The annual celebration started in 1975, when bookstore owner Deacon Maccubbin originated a gay pride block party. Some 2,000 people showed up outside Lambda Rising on 20th Street NW in the Dupont neighborhood, and for 52 consecutive years the party has continued each Pride Month.
A lot has changed over the years, including same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court ruling that dictates a person can鈥檛 be fired for being gay or transgender. Some in the LGBTQ+ community believe Pride events are particularly important in the current political environment.
‘Chance for people to come and see they’re not alone’
Right before Saturday’s parade kicked off at 14th and T Streets NW, political activist and Washington Blade columnist Peter Rosenstein told 海角社区app that the day was important for young people.
鈥淭his is a chance for people to come and see they’re not alone,鈥� Rosenstein said. 鈥淭hey can make it, they can do what they want, they can feel free to come out.鈥�
Along with marching bands, dance troupes and community groups, many churches 鈥斅� including the Washington National Cathedral 鈥� participated in the parade.
The Rev. Spencer Brown, the congregation priest associate at the National Cathedral, said he is at the parade because it鈥檚 what he wanted to see when he was growing up.
鈥淚t’s important for us to be here today because we know that God’s love knows no bounds,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淲hat better way to not only celebrate it, but continue the work of justice that we have in this day and age for all people to save all the lives that we can.鈥�
DC leadership joins festivities
From the first gay pride day in 1975, leaders in the D.C. government have been showing up.
D.C. Councilmember John Wilson joined Maccubbin on stage that day, and long before Marion Barry was known as the mayor for life, he attended pride events.
Continuing the tradition in the parade this year were two people who won local elections on Tuesday: Janeese Lewis George and , the Democratic nominees for D.C. mayor and D.C. delegate, respectively.
Also there in a more spectator role was former D.C. Councilmember Carol Schwartz, whose time in elected office dates back to the 1980s when she served as an at-large councilmember.
Schwartz was decked out in a colorful leaf鈥憄rint dress at the start of the parade. She told 海角社区app that she remembers the first Pride Day and that she’s been to every one since.
鈥淚t was thrilling,鈥� Schwartz said. 鈥淚t’s always thrilling.鈥�
Schwartz believes that with what鈥檚 going on with the national government 鈥� when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights 鈥� it鈥檚 important for allies to 鈥渟how up.鈥�
‘They all deserve better’
One of the groups marching was SPARTA Pride, which represents transgender active鈥慸uty service members, veterans, and their dependents.
Gwen Fite, the board鈥檚 secretary, told 海角社区app that many service members have been 鈥渒icked out of the service over the last year.鈥�
鈥淭hey have lost benefits, and we have so many people that have been on foreign deployments, served their country, and they all deserve better,鈥� Fite said. 鈥淎nd the people of D.C. know that.鈥�
The reason they march, Fite said, was so people could see them 鈥渧isible and proud of their service is going to hopefully swing the needle and get all of us patriots what they deserve.鈥�
For those who have never been to a pride parade event, they may be surprised by how diverse they are.
Jennifer Bendery was marching with D.C. Public Schools along with her elementary鈥憇chool鈥慳ged daughter because she wants her to 鈥済row up just seeing rainbows and support for all people.鈥�
鈥淚 want to raise my daughter in a world where she sees joy and celebration and diversity, and I want her to grow up seeing that everybody is welcome just the way they are,鈥� Bendery said.
鈥淚 want her to learn that again and again and again.鈥�
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