WTOP is marking Pride Month by showcasing the people, places and important issues in the LGBTQ+ communities in the D.C. area. Check back all throughout June as we share these stories, on air and online.
“For World Pride, we are expecting three million people,” said Sahand Miraminy, Capital Pride’s director of operations. “This is sort of our last test run before the big year in 2025.”
With the much wider 14th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, there will be more room for the extra people and bigger floats than if the parade stayed with the traditional route for World Pride.
This year’s Pride celebration received praise from an on-duty officer and 17-year veteran of the D.C. police who said the Capital Pride Parade was the most organized parade of the year.
“We have a very small staff, but it takes a couple hundred volunteers to pull this event the weekend of,” Miraminy said. “It really does take a village.”
Next year’s World Pride will take place as D.C. celebrates the 50th anniversary of when Deacon Maccubbin organized the District’s first Gay Pride Event, which has grown into Capital Pride.
Coming to join in Capital Pride
There are many attendees who have made marching in the parade a yearly tradition.
“I’ve been participating with Capital Pride every year since I was 29,” said Harry Brubaker III. “Now I’m 57.”
The Pennsylvania town Brubaker grew up in had a population of 200 people.
“The first time at Capital Pride was overwhelming because there’s so many people,” Brubaker said. “And realizing you are not alone.”
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Another person making their return to the Capital Pride Parade is Beverly White.
“I’m also known as Miss Chocolate White,” White said. “I have been in the LGBTQ community since there was just one letter, the ‘L,’ and that was for me, a lesbian.”
Out of the 300 organizations that marched in the parade, among the groups were area churches.
“We want everyone to know that God loves you and he made you just the way you are,” said Pastor Emily Skorupinsky from the United Methodist Church. “The Church can love you too.”
At most pride events, there are Moms wearing shirts that say, “Free Mom Hugs.” Miss Gilmore wore one of those shirts while walking the parade route, pushing a cart and selling rainbow fans.
“I give out Mom hugs because I have a gay daughter,” Gilmore said. “I hope that if she was in need of a hug, there would be one for her.”
Lindsay Thomas had her arm around her 11-year-old daughter as they both watched the parade from 14th St. NW.
“We are here to celebrate everybody, not just gay people but all of the LGBTQ community and my family,” Thomas said.
Thomas brought her daughter, Harper, from their home in Baltimore to spend the day together at the parade.
“We are here to celebrate the people that are gay,” Harper said. “At the end of the day, we are still human too.”
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