To
commemorate
this
year’s
Capital
Pride
celebration,
we
decided
to
look
to
the
future
of
the
gay
scene
in
Washington.
From
activists
to
artists,
we’ve
compiled
a
list
of
30
gay,
lesbian,
bisexual
and
transgender
area
residents
working
to
make
a
difference.
And
there
are
so
many
out
young
people
making
their
mark
that
we’ve
included
a
list
of
honorable
mentions
—
people
sure
to
figure
prominently
in
the
city’s
gay
scene
for
years
to
come.
Washington,
D.C.
Coalition
Coordinator
for
Win
Without
War
I
think
my
identification
with
a
queer
identity
has
definitely
impacted
my
worldview
and
career
choices.
Growing
up
in
Kansas,
it
would
have
been
very
easy
for
me
as
a
middle-class
white
man
to
blindly
accept
privilege
and
develop
a
center-right
perspective.
Luckily,
grappling
with
a
queer
identity
forced
me
to
engage
in
a
debate
with
myself
over
justice
and
social
responsibility
that
formed
the
bedrock
of
my
progressive
values
and
led
to
my
career
choices
today.
In
the
buttoned-up,
type-A
world
of
D.C.
power,
it’s
very
easy
and
even
tempting
to
assimilate
and
“fit
in,”
so
I
hope
I
bring
a
more
queer
sensibility
to
gay
D.C.
I
hope
to
encourage
the
gay
community,
and
really
all
of
D.C.,
to
engage
in
a
more
vigorous
introspection
about
desire,
difference
and
freedom
that
leads
us
toward
a
more
just,
progressive
world.
That,
and
a
better
taste
in
music.
Pride
is
very
important
to
me.
Beyond
the
celebration
of
parades
and
street
fairs,
it
is
also
a
commemoration
of
the
riots
at
the
Stonewall
Inn.
Certainly
I’d
like
to
see
a
little
more
recognition
of
the
Latina
transgender
women
who
kick-started
queer
liberation
at
Stonewall.
But
at
least
for
me,
Pride
will
always
represent
one
of
the
most
daring,
radically
queer
moments
in
our
community’s
history.
The
greatest
issue
I
see
facing
our
community
is
transgender
inclusivity,
where
the
recent
debate
over
ENDA
serves
to
highlight
a
greater
rift
in
our
community.
Whether
our
community
defines
itself
narrowly
or
broadly
—
as
one
that
serves
only
those
who
conform
to
rigid
binaries
or
one
that
protects
the
self-expression
of
all
Americans
—
is
paramount
to
me.
As
much
as
possible,
I
hope
to
facilitate
a
stronger
connection
between
progressive
ideas
and
the
sites
of
power
in
America.
I
want
to
bring
the
greatest
financial
and
organizational
resources
on
the
left
to
pursue
a
truly
progressive
agenda.
Washington,
D.C.
Executive
Chef
at
Vegetate
Restaurant
Struggle
forces
roots
deeper
into
the
soil.
Overcoming
bias
and
embracing
my
sexuality
has
enabled
me
to
concentrate
on
a
broader
scope.
That’s
allowed
my
focus
to
move
from
an
isolated
and
selfish
view,
to
a
more
communal
and
evolutionary
one.
Having
an
understanding
of
isolation
informs
my
work:
regenerating
our
food
systems
from
where
they
have
digressed
and
bringing
people
together
through
the
harvest,
a
universal
tie.
A
sense
of
liberation
—
by
making
out
with
my
girlfriend
in
public
places,
as
often
as
possible.
I
remember
being
much
younger
and
feeling
completely
secluded.
Pride,
as
a
mutual
celebration,
gave
me
the
ability
to
move
beyond
feeling
so
selfish
and
depraved.
Also,
it
opened
my
eyes
to
diversity,
which
allowed
me
to
access
a
deeper
personal
identity.
Finally,
I
bought
pants
that
actually
fit
my
ass
—
amazing
things
happened
afterwards.
What
do
you
think
is
the
most
important
issue
facing
gay
Americans?
I
think
the
most
important
issues
facing
gay
Americans
are
the
same
ones
that
face
all
Americans:
safety,
progress
and
true
awareness
of
community.
I
am
hoping
to
achieve
a
solid
routine
of
sharing
dinner
with
my
lover
each
night
—
as
long
as
she
cooks,
too.
Takoma
Park, Md.
Advertising
Manager
and
Event
Planner/Promoter
for
B.O.I.
Productions
Because
B.O.I.
Productions
serves
the
lesbian
and
gay
community,
I
think
it
gives
me
a
lot
of
credibility
with
our
clients
and
supporters.
As
an
advertising
manager
in
a
predominantly
straight
environment,
I
would
like
to
think
that
I
have
had
a
positive
impact
on
my
employees
and
co-workers.
I
strive
to
abolish
stereotypes
and
negative
attitudes
about
the
gay
community.
I
am
very
open
at
work
and
many
people
know
about
my
continuous
involvement
in
the
gay
community
through
events
and
performances.
Many
of
my
co-workers
come
out
to
support
these
events
and
have
a
genuinely
good
time
in
the
process.
I
hope
to
continue
...
