DC Outreach Team Attends 2023 DC Black Pride Event
As Pride Month takes center stage in June, celebrations and events are honoring and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community nationwide. In the District of Columbia, our Outreach team had the honor of attending 2023 DC Black Pride, an annual event that celebrates the Black LGBTQIA+ community, for the second year in a row. Every year, the event provides vital resources and support to residents from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
The History of DC Black Pride
DC Black Pride originated in 1991 when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was at its peak, highlighting the urgent need for love, awareness, and resources for the LGBTQIA+ community. Welmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland, and Ernest Hopkins, three Black pioneers, took up the cause and organized the first DC Black Pride event, drawing approximately 800 participants. Fast forward to 2023, and DC Black Pride has evolved into a massive gathering of more than 500,000 BIPOC individuals and allies, coming together in unity, love, and support.
2023 DC Black Pride
DC Black Pride not only serves as a platform for education and resources, but also as a celebration of the rich diversity within the Black LGBTQIA+ community. The event featured remarkable performances by local Black LGBTQ+ comedians, singers, poets, and artists. These performances uplifted the spirit of the attendees, fostering a sense of joy and community.
Participants and volunteers alike were deeply touched by the significance and impact of the event. Here’s what MTM’s team had to say about 2023 DC Black Pride:
“DC Pride has once again gone above the bar,” said MTM Community Outreach Trainer Danielle Dorsey. “MTM was able to reach populations in the District that are in need of access to healthcare. This was such a refreshing experience…times two!”
“DC Black Pride always feels like a safe home for myself, friends, and family who have had to hide themselves or their needs due to fear of persecution or judgment,” added MTM Ombuds Porscha Thomas. “This event allows BIPOC LGBTQIA+ people to feel heard and have the resources to not only be their most authentic selves, but also to ensure they receive the care we all deserve as a human right.”
Thank you to the organizers of DC Black Pride for allow us to be a part of this rich and vibrant celebration that offers a safe and inclusive space for individuals to embrace their authentic selves, find support, and access crucial services. As Pride Month continues, MTM encourages all to remember the importance of such events and strive to create an inclusive world where every person can live with dignity, love, and acceptance.
