Post-Pride 2019 Statement and Commitment to Community Support
June 12, 2019, Washington, DC……..The Capital Pride Alliance wants to thank the entire community for the tremendous show of support over the last several weeks of the 2019 Celebration of Pride in the Nation’s Capital. In a year that we commemorate 50 years since the Stonewall Riots, it has been heartening to see so many determined to continue the fight for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
There was a sense during the Parade that the crowds were bigger than usual—we think they were—and an extremely large number of people showed up to and stayed for the Festival and Concert. It is evident there is a desire within the community to continue to join together as we stand up and fight for everyone’s basic human rights.
The Capital Pride Alliance Board, staff, and volunteers are extremely grateful that no major injuries occurred during the incident at Saturday’s Pride Parade involving the person who displayed a BB gun and caused a panic as a result. We know that the situation provoked very legitimate fear and apprehension to those in the vicinity immediately afterward, along the parade route, and in the staging area. For that reason, we will be working with our partners in the community to provide support to those impacted by this event. We appreciate all those who assisted as the police were completing their investigation and thank the MPD for their quick action, as well as those in our community who helped and supported one another as this event unfolded. While we are, of course, disappointed that circumstances caused the cancellation of the remainder of the Parade, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety and security of all participants and attendees.
We hope you will work with us as we learn from this experience and begin to put things in place to celebrate the 45th Annual Pride Celebration in the Nation’s Capital in 2020.
Resources:
- Queer API Pride Parade Discussion & Support Group: Thursday, June 13 from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM at The DC Center, 2000 14th ST NW.
- Reflecting on Pride Support Meeting: Friday, June 14 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at The DC Center, 2000 14th ST NW.
- Women in their Twenties and Thirties Pride Support Meeting: Friday, June 14 from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM at The DC Center, 2000 14th ST NW
- Whitman-Walker Health offers a number of free Peer Support groups, most of which are currently open for new folks to join. They currently do not have any which are specifically focused on responding to mass trauma events. Additionally, they offer ten sessions of individual peer support if a more personal approach is needed. Whitman-Walker’s peer programs are free of charge and participants don’t need to be a current Whitman-Walker patient. People should reach out to Michael Mitchell at [email protected] or 202-939-7646, for more information. Whitman-Walker plans for new programming and groups based on community need, so do reach out.
We also pause to remember the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub. Three years ago today, on June 12, 2016, we lost 49 lives while 53 others were injured from hate and violence directed at our community. We will remain strong in the face of any threats that arise against any part of the LGBTQ+ community. Please join our community tonight for a Pulse Remembrance Vigil from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM at the Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 16th St NW.
For more information go to capitalpride.org
The Capital Pride Alliance, located in Washington, DC, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the LGBTQ+ community and its partners through educational events, entertainment, community outreach, and celebrations of diversity throughout the year. Capital Pride produces each year Trans Pride and the Pride Celebration in the nation’s capital, one of the largest Pride events in the country, which includes the Pride Parade, Festival, and Concert, plus a variety of educational and community events throughout the year. Facebook (CapitalPrideDC), Twitter (CapitalPrideDC), YouTube, Instagram (@CapitalPrideDC).
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