D.C. Black Pride facts for kids

D.C. (District of Columbia) Black Pride is the first official black gay pride event in the United States and one of two officially recognized festivals for the African-American LGBT community. Since 1991, tens of thousands from the D.C. metro area and beyond gather for special celebrations and events to acknowledge the progression of the black LGBT community every Memorial Day weekend. The success of D.C. Black Pride inspired the creation of elaborate annual official black pride events in other major cities across the country. Annually, over 40,000 is expected which establishes it as the second largest black pride festival in the world.

D.C. has long been a popular destination for black LGBT people as a result of its large black LGBT community and progressive reputation. D.C. was among the first in the nation to allow same-sex marriage and establish LGBT protections laws. Since 1978, D.C. has been home to the nation's first black LGBT political advocacy group called the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals.

D.C. Black Pride is a program of the Center for Black Equity (CBE). The CBE is a coalition of Black Pride organizers formed to promote a multinational network of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Prides and community-based organizations.