Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Washington Blade - May 18, 2006
Katherine Volin
This year's D.C. Black Pride is titled, "Fire 2006" - an effort to maintain the original essence of the 16-year-old event, Fluker says.
As it does every year, D.C. Black Pride falls on Memorial Day weekend, starting with an interfaith service on Wed., May 24 and concluding with a family picnic in Fort Dupont Park on Mon., May 29.
"The event itself and the spirit in which it started is of utmost importance - to keep that fire burning," Fluker says.
D.C. Black Pride, which draws crowds between 25,000 and 30,000, has been held at the D.C. Convention Center in recent years. It will return outdoors at the former Washington Convention Center site at 9th and H streets, NW, for its Pride Festival on Sunday. The festival was moved inside in 2001 because rain had plagued outdoor events for many years.
New events for Fire 2006 include a film festival featuring four black gay movies with a question-and-answer session from director Maurice Jamal and special appearances by cast members from Logo's show "Noah's Arc."
OTHER EVENTS INCLUDE workshops, a poetry slam and health expo. This year's lineup has some activists concerned that D.C. Black Pride has strayed too far from its original focus on helping local black HIV/AIDS service organizations.
"There is no place in that scenario where they are asking for money to be raised for AIDS organizations supporting the black community and I think that's a horrible mistake," says Carlene Cheatam, a local lesbian activist and one of the original organizers of D.C. Black Pride.
Although she lauds the opportunity for community building, Cheatam says the planned activities are insufficient.
"D.C. Black Pride has gotten away from the main reason that it came into being, which was to raise money for AIDS service organizations and it has become a much more social experience without making it a party with a purpose," says Cheatam.
James Hawkins, vice president of the board of directors and a participant in D.C. Black Pride for the past six years, says that the event maintains a purpose beyond socializing.
"It's more than just people coming to town to attend parties and nightlife," Hawkins says. "We tried to educate people that it includes substantive cultural events for people to attend when they come to D.C., as well."
Ron Simmons, executive director of Us Helping Us, a black gay AIDS service organization, says D.C. Black Pride's sense of community is essential.
"It's not about raising money for AIDS organizations anymore and I'm not saying that's good or bad because despite HIV, it serves an important role for the community," Simmons says. "There's nothing more empowering than coming to a public event and seeing your community there, proud of who they are, out in the sunshine having fun."
Us Helping Us is hosting a tented cookout at its parking lot on Sat., May 27. The cookout, with a suggested donation of $15, is a fundraiser for Us Helping Us.
"We'll be trying to get back to the old days," Simmons says.
HAWKINGS AND FLUKER both say that they are particularly excited about a new event this year, a Health and Wellness Expo, which includes information on HIV/AIDS as well as other diseases including diabetes, breast cancer and hypertension.
"I think African Americans in general are beginning to realize that they need to pay attention to their overall health and their overall well-being," Hawkins says.
Fluker says that AIDS remains a concern for D.C. Black Pride organizers.
"It's still very important to us," Fluker says.
Lesbian pastor Rev. Abena McCray initiated an interfaith service to kick off Pride events, which will be held on Wed., May 24.
The service will include Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Buddhists and will focus on "inclusivity and the current things that we're going through with pastors cutting the GLBT community down from the pulpit on Sundays," McCray says.
As always, parties abound for Pride participants. Celebrations will be held at clubs and bars along U Street, NW; O Street, SE; downtown and in Northeast.
Soft N Wet Afternoons, the longest-running African-American lesbian party in the country, will hold its final event on Saturday at its longtime location, Wet. A full list of parties can be found at dcblackpride.org.
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