May 02, 2008  |  By: ZACK ROSEN  | COMMENTS     

Spring blooms herald the very beginnings of the Pride season, which culminates with Capital Pride in early June. Before that blow-out, though, there are two other celebrations that cater to specific segments of gay life: Youth Pride and Black Pride.

Youth Pride Day, held Saturday, May 3, from noon to 5 p.m., takes place at P Street beach park, a section of Rock Creek Park near Dupont Circle. The highlights of the day include a variety of information booths, musical performances and speakers varying from DJ Brennan Sullivan to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

"I think Youth Pride is so important," says president Tyrone Hanley. "We come in and say, 'Here's a space for you, just a space to have fun and be who you are without people harassing you or being nervous about holding hands with your boyfriend or girlfriend. This is your space to be you.' Many youth feel isolated, so to see that there are people out there that do care for them and their needs and interests is an important part of their needs and developments."

The keynote speaker is Greg Varnum, the 25-year-old acting executive director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition. Following the festival is the "Infatuation Dance" at the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Columbia Heights.

THOUGH STILL A FEW weeks away, Black Pride's extensive schedule of events offers plenty of reasons to plan in advance. Beginning Wednesday, May 21, with an interfaith service at the Unity Fellowship Church led by the Rev. Abena McCray and ending with the D.C. Black Pride Official Family Reunion Party on Monday, May 26, there are a wealth of performances and events planned for Memorial Day Weekend.

Though organizers are excited about the health and wellness expo, the fashion show and the fact that the Liberty Unity Strength festival will be held outside at Francis Field, one of the most anticipated highlights will be a performance by "American Idol" winner Fantasia.

"We turned 18 this year, it's our 18th anniversary, it feels good," says Black Pride vice president Ray Daniels. "Like any teenager entering into the era of young adults, there have been changes but we feel like there will be changes that are productive to the longevity of the organization."

Some of those changes include an increase in cultural offerings (like a slam poetry event and an author's forum) and a "beefed up" health and wellness expo, which now includes spiritual and mental health topics alongside standard health concerns.

It seems like the additions are resonating with attendees — the block of rooms reserved at the event's host hotel, the Renaissance M Street Hotel, located at 1143 New Hampshire Ave., NW, are already 95 percent full. 

The theme of this year's Black Pride is "Official 18: Empowered and Poppin'," which reflects not only the milestone birthday, but the spate of dynamic events that are scheduled. The health expo and an onsite voter registration help with the empowerment, but speed dating, an all-day music festival and, of course, the parties provide the pop.