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(Blade file photo by Henry Linser)
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: AMY CAVANAUGH and KATHERINE VOLIN COMMENTS
 
To commemorate D.C. Black Pride weekend, the Blade asked several local leaders for their thoughts on the importance of the celebration.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
By getting them more involved in the political process. I hate to say this, black gays and lesbians ...
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What is your fondest memory of a Black Pride event?
