Washington Blade - May 23, 2008
Amy Cavanaugh & Katherine Volin

To commemorate D.C. Black Pride weekend, the Blade asked several local leaders for their thoughts on the importance of the celebration.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

I don't think I have one single moment that stands out. I've had many great times seeing old friends. One of the great things about Black Pride is that people travel from various cities particularly to D.C., so seeing my friends from New York, Philadelphia and Richmond here in D.C. is always an exciting time for me.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

I think Pride serves many purposes. One, of course, is to really affirm black same-gender-loving people. I think that the other, which was a part of the original purpose the original intent of those who worked on the first D.C. Black Pride was to really raise funds for organizations that were assisting the black LGBT community, in the area on some of the challenges that we faced, particularly around HIV/AIDS but I think now it's expanded to other issues like caring for our youth. So really a fundraising and awareness building opportunity about both the challenges and opportunities that exist.

How would Barack Obama's election impact black gays?

Well I think certainly Sen. Obama has expressed a real interest in bringing about a change in the country. His commitment to getting health care for all Americans is critically important to the economics of black GLBT people. His commitment especially on AIDS is important, but I also think of course the historic nature of having the first president of African descent will I think send a real message of encouragement and optimism to young African-American men and women about what's possible.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

When they created an award, the Tina Teasley award, a black transgender woman who went from being a product of the lifestyle of nightlife to a productive, first class businesswoman owning a beauty salon. They gave the award to Dr. Alyce Gullattee, who was the first to sign off on funding for addiction and alcoholism at the Whitman-Walker Clinic. When you see someone of that caliber being honored by the community for what she had done, [it's] a big thing.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

I think Black Pride needs to move in the direction of being inclusive ... and more importantly the gay community, especially the black gay community, needs to be more inclusive of people who are different: the transgender community. They have a tendency to push them to the side or pretend something is wrong with them.

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

He's very careful. I think he would have somebody to teach him about black gays and bring them on board, as many state leaders, city leaders have done. We all think Obama's going to be different in black gay pride, but in the gay community I don't care if you're black, gray or green, we're all looked upon as different. Hopefully Barack Obama's candidacy will be more inclusive of more people.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

The very first one in 1991. I had just come back in town from an HIV/AIDS conference in San Diego. That was my first trip to California and I came straight from the airport and I went to Banneker Field. I was sitting in the bleachers, just talking to folks and drinking beer. And all of a sudden people kept saying, "Phil, Phil you need to go up onstage." And I said "For what?" I was given the first award for man of the year. I was given the award by one of the founders, Welmore Cook. I believe Carlene [Cheatham] got the award for woman of the year.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

It should be an event of edutainment. That's a combination of education and entertainment ... where people are informed of matters that are substantive to our community and also enjoy one another's company and to send the message throughout the community as well as throughout the country that we are as proud of our gayness as we are of our blackness.

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

By getting them more involved in the political process. I hate to say this, black gays and lesbians are not tremendously involved in electoral politics for various reasons, but I'm seeing more involvement because of Obama's candidacy. More people are actually coming out and volunteering to do things, phone banking, canvassing.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

I actually have two. My first was the last D.C. Black Pride event held on Banneker Field in 1999. It was a beautiful and hot day. I was there with two of my closet friends, Steve and Jeff, who are no longer with us. We had a ball watching Cece Peniston and Crystal Waters perform. The day was perfect. My second was last year's event. I was president and the volunteer board and I worked hard to put together a great event to represent the African-American LBGTQ community. Also [I] know that my mother was smiling down from heaven on the accomplishment of her son.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

Well, there are three small words that offer the foundation for the event: liberty, unity and strength. It's strength to continue to do the work that our forefathers did making it possible for us as African Americans to live an openly gay lifestyle. Unity brings everyone together to realize we are one family - that we want the same basic rights that any heterosexual individual would have. Liberty ties back into the ability to live your life in an open and positive way.''

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

Well personally, I am still holding out hope for President Hillary Clinton.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

I have so many fond memories of D.C. Black Pride, but my fondest would have to be from my very first. I remember walking into the host hotel and seeing all of these beautiful, confident and out black LGBT people, and thinking to myself, "I am not alone." It really was quite the revelation. Although a native Washingtonian, I came out in when I was a student a Beloit College in Beloit, Wisc., and was the only out black lesbian on campus. For a long time, I wasn't sure if others like me existed and seeing them at DCBP made me feel more secure in my decision to live out and proud.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

Our name really says it all: D.C. Black Pride: Liberty, Unity, Strength. The purpose of D.C. Black Pride is to instill pride in our community while creating an empowering, educational and fun environment for black LGBT people and their allies to come together. Additionally, the organization was founded to raise money for local HIV/AIDS organizations, and with each year, DCBP is able to provide increased support to local organizations working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and treat those living with the disease. This year, Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care, Inc. is the beneficiary. Our goal is to create a welcoming and affirming environment for everyone in the black LGBT community and give something back to the organizations that work hard to support and take care of us.

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

The American people are in need of great change, and the upcoming election provides us the opportunity to elect a president that is ready and able to move past the divisive politics we've seen over the last seven-and-a-half years. The LGBT community has witnessed Sen. Obama's commitment to our issues in some of the most hostile environments. I am confident that his commitment, similar to Sen. Clinton's, will not waiver if he is selected to be our next president. What can I say about Sen. McCain, who regrettably is wedded to a political party that has historically been hostile to our issues and community? We can only be hopeful that he will break that trend.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

My fondest memories of Pride are those of an organizer. Invariably, one person will touch me on the arm and say, "I had a really great time. Thank you." The feeling of providing a place for people to relax and for a brief moment, enjoy the spirit of unity makes my work worth all the effort.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

The purpose of Black Pride is to celebrate the unique experience of being unapologetically black, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in a society that typically demands an apology.

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

The Obama question is not a fair one. Would you survey white lesbians and ask them the same question about the election of Hillary? Just because Obama is of African descent does not mean that he will be the savior of black Americans or cure all of America's ills. It is unfair to any candidate to try and align or ostracize them with or from one disenfranchised community. I would hope that whoever runs for office makes it their purpose to make life better for all Americans.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

The gathering of beautiful black people on Banneker Field in the second and third year of the experience.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

I always believe that it should be giving the black community the opportunity to raise money for AIDS service organizations.

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

As the only presidential contender who mentions gay and lesbian issues on a regular basis and mentions gays and lesbians on a regular basis, I tend to believe that he will service us as he will attempt to service all of America. I see the black gay and lesbian community as part of the whole. I don't see any special needs. He is one who has spoken to black churches about the issue of homophobia in the churches. That, of course, helps but he speaks to all issues, all discrimination, all separations - that he wants to make us whole. So an Obama administration gives us a healthier America that the black gays and lesbians are in.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

Getting to experience Glynn Jackson's fashion show. I use the word experience because it was just more than watching - it was the crowd participation, the creativity, the talent and the support that made this event the most memorable for me. I can't wait to see what's in store this year.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

One word: unity. I think it's really easy to lose sight of this goal definitely with so many other parties and promoters having competing events. This is the one time we should all work together for the greater good of the community.

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

I'm not so sure that it would have a powerful effect on black gays more than it would blacks in general. Of course I would like to think that his election would have an impact on the homosexual community, but I think it will be a bigger impact for blacks as a whole in regards to education, having positive role models in the government, Social Security, the environment and generally having a president that actually gives a damn.

What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?

My fondest memory would be...1997, because that was the first year that Us Helping Us erected this huge dance party under a tent. One problem that Pride has always had is that it rains so much in May. That was the first time we ever had a big presence at Pride because all the years before that, we only had a 10' by 10' canopy. It'd be rainy and we'd be cold and now we had the biggest tent on the field, 40' by 60'. We had hundreds of people dancing under the tent.

I remember getting under the microphone and telling people, "This is Us Helping Us. We are determined to become the premier agency for black men in D.C. and I promise you you ain't seen nothin' yet."

And to look back, we have the building now and a staff of 14 people. It's like yeah, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

What should be the purpose of Black Pride?

It has two purposes. One is to heighten the awareness of the black GLBT community, dealing with homophobia in our community and basically asserting our right to be ourselves as black people. It's really more about us having pride in our culture and our heritage and seeing ourselves as a black gay community that in and of itself has validity.

The other would be to raise money for HIV. That would be more of a local front.

How would Obama's election impact black gays?

One, of course, it would be very pro-gay in terms of his platform. Even though he's not for marriage, I think that's just because this is not the time to push it, so I'm not going to hold that against him ... America's politics are crazy and the American public are so ignorant, you really can't tell them the truth half the time because they don't know it.

Just in terms of his platforms, it will have a good effect for gay people but also because he is black - just the whole identify thing - that's part of it, too.

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