From 1975 until 1990, the Memorial Day weekend for DC's African American LGBT community was distinguished by the annual Children's Hour party at the Clubhouse (1296 Upshur St. NW). The Children's Hour was an all night celebratory bash for which the community dressed up, partied hard, and truly celebrated. The success of the annual Children's Hour celebrations extended nationwide: African American Lesbians and Gay men made Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC a rite of passage into summer during the Eighties. When the Clubhouse closed in 1990, it seemed the Memorial Day weekend would be empty for the community.
Welmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland and Ernest Hopkins were concerned with supporting the city's growing number of HIV positive African Americans and sought an opportunity to raise funds for HIV/AIDS organizations. They floated the idea of holding a Pride event for the city's African American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered and using it also to help raise funds for community organizations. Cook remarked in 1991, that "the planned celebration represents an attempt on the part of black Gays to help themselves and not ask anyone for a handout." Loss of the Memorial Day weekend Children's Hour was about to be compensated with creation of the nation's first black gay Pride celebration.
Creating
a New Tradition of DC Black Pride
Cook,
Hopkins, and Kirkland, with significant support from the DC Coalition of
Black Lesbians and Gay Men and from the Inner City AIDS Network (ICAN),
organized the first DC Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day for Memorial Day
weekend 1991. They also found support from local social clubs, the
Encore Social Cclub, Best Friends, Hung Jury, Ziegfeld's, the Black Lesbian
Support Group, and Faith Temple. The first event was an unqualified
success, raising nearly $3000 for AIDS organizations and drawing a crowd
of 750 to 800 people.
This first event featured only the Sunday festival at Banneker Field, on Georgia Avenue NW. The 1991 event was held on an unusually hot sunny day. The organizers had hoped for 500 visitors but drew 50% more than they anticipated.
More often, though, the Pride event has been held in the rain. The first 'rainy' DC Black Pride was in 1992. In 1995, a dreary rainy day cut attendance by more than half from the previous year's level. For several years, the DC Black Pride event was preceded by the DC Coalition's New Renaissance cultural and artistic event. Because late May often brings rainy weather to Washington DC, the festival moved indoors to the Washington Convention Center in 1999.
Growing,
Changing, Black Pride
Over
the years, DC's annual Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day has grown and grown,
in attendance, the number of people it draws, and in income. DC Black
Pride events now begin on the Thursday or Wednesday before Memorial Day
and fill the agenda through the weekend. The Sunday festival is flanked
by dances, artistic and cultural events, cruises on the Potomac, prayer
breakfasts, and After Pride parties. DC's event has inspired similar
African American Pride events around the nation and DC Black Lesbian and
Gay Pride Day, Inc. has advised many regional and city groups on how to
set up local celebrations.
By 1999, DC's annual Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Day had inspired the creation of sixteen Black Gay Pride days around the nation. At the 1999 celebration in Washington, DC, a national federation of black Prides formed.
"LET'S ALL COME TOGETHER": The program guide for the first DC Black Pride, May 25. 1991
May 25, 1991--- a bright hot sunny afternoon
Organizers: Welmore Cook, Ernest Hopkins, Theodore Kirkland
Coordinators: Welmore Cook, Ernest Hopkins, Theodore Kirkland
Location: Banneker Field, Georgia Avenue NW
Awards:
The Community Service Award to Adrienne Blackwell. Ted Kirkland remarked, "He's been at the forefront in our community to raise money for AIDS. Whenever anyone's called on him, he's more than willing to give his time." Man of the Year to Phil Pannell. Woman of the Year to Carlene Cheatam.Entertainment: Steve Langley, Melvin Parks, Halima Williams, Sondra Allen, Sam Jennings, Ray Gonsalves
Best Male Entertainer: Melvin Parks. Best Female Entertainer: Halima Williams. Best Drag Entertainer: Sparkle Maharris
Estimated participants: 800 visitors (Washington Blade)
Funds raised: $3,000 for AIDS organizations
May 24, 1992--started sunny, but rain began about 3 pm
Organizers: DC Black Gay Pride Day, Inc.
Coordinator: Carlene Cheatam, Chauncey Lyles
Location: Banneker Field, Georgia Avenue NW
Awards:
Entertainment: The second year offered a midnight cruise on the Potomac as a first event (sold out the week before Memorial Day), the first local screening of Marlon Riggs' Tongues Untied, a prayer breakfast on Sunday morning, and Renaissance III the night before the festival. Queen Patti, Demetrius, Insatiable.
Estimated participants:
Funds raised: $10,000
May ?, 1993
Organizers: DC Black Gay Pride Day, Inc.
Coordinator: Jaqui'O
Location: Banneker Field, Georgia Avenue NW
Awards:
Entertainment:
Estimated participants:
Funds raised: $17,000
May 29, 1994 Keep in Stride with Black Pride
Organizers: DC Black Gay Pride Day, Inc.
Coordinator: Riley Campbell
Location: Banneker Field, Georgia Avenue NW
Awards:
Entertainment: Friday: Unity Ball at WUST; Saturday: Art-Film-Health Festival; African Rain Forest fashion show at Tracks; Black Pride Warehouse Party at WUST featuring Me'Shell NdegeOcell (who didn't show up); Sunday: Interfaith prayer breakfast; the Festival at Banneker Field; and the After Black Pride Day Party at WUST. UltraNate
Estimated participants: 7,300 (Washington Blade)
Funds raised: $2,125 (after $51,194 in expenses)
May 28, 1995--began with cloudy skies and then day long rain
Organizers: DC Black Gay Pride Day, Inc.
Coordinator: Berrita 'Renee' Parker, Carlene Cheatam, Ray Carter
Location: Banneker Field, Georgia Avenue NW
Awards: Welmore Cook Award for Community Service to Wanda Alston and Thomas Gleaton
Entertainment: Thursday: Pre-Pride Party at Trumpets; Friday: Anniversary Ball at Tracks, Kickoff Party at The Edge; Saturday: Art-Film-Health Fair at the Embassy Row Hotel; Sunday: prayer breakfast, the Festival at Banneker Field (Alyson Williams didn't show up).
Estimated participants: 2,200 (Washington Blade)
Neither Marion Barry nor Eleanor Holmes Norton participated. Women in the Life had parties at the Circle. Tracks had an opening night event (that drew few people).