Click above for the pics of the 2012 Capital Pride Parade. Above: 17th Street NW immediately after the parade had passed by. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Check out the photos of the 2012 Capital Pride Parade on Borderstan’s Flickr page.
Did you have a good time at the LGBT Capital Pride Parade on Saturday? We’ve got 263 photos — so maybe you’re in one of them — even though there were tens-of-thousands of spectators lining the streets along the way.
The 2012 Capital Pride Parade on Saturday lasted about two hours, kicking off at 4:30 pm west of Dupont Circle, winding its way through the Dupont and Logan neighborhoods, including Dupont Circle, 17th, P and 14th Streets NW. Monte Durham, from TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta,” was the Grand Marshall of this year’s parade.
But, as tradition demands, Dykes on Bikes kicked off the parade. And there were plenty of elected officials and political candidates in the parade as well, and lots of local businesses (large and small) as well as a plethora of organizations, local and national, not to mention sports teams — and live music to boot. And how could we forget the DC Cowboys? It was their final appearance in the annual parade, as the group officially disbanded after Sunday’s performance at the Pride Festival.
Parade Winners
Parade organizers said 180 different organizations and businesses with almost 4,000 participants were in this year’s Capital Pride Parade. At the reviewing stand in front of Whole Foods on P Street, the judges selected the following 10 winners from among the parade contingents:
- The Lady Gaga Award for Best Incorporation of Theme (Who best incorporates the theme with great emotional content and outstanding presentation): ACLU of the Nation’s Capital
- The Tina Turner Award for Best Decorated Float (Best float or decorated vehicle): Ziegfeld/Secrets
- The Nancy Sinatra Award for Best Marching Contingent (Best walking or marching, no float or vehicles): La Clinica
- The Dame Edna Award for Best Visiting Contingent (Best group from outside the DC Area): Big Apple Corps
- The Liberace Award for the Most Outrageous (The unexpected, over the top, brilliant, unique): Tim Coburn Photography
- The New Kids on the Block Award for the Best New Contingent (The best new contingents to Capital Pride Parade): Thai Tanic restaurant
- The Elizabeth Taylor Award for the Best Non-Profit Contingent (The best non-profit group contingent): SMYAL (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League)
- The Village People Award for the Small Group Contingent (The best small group contingent for those under 15 people): AtlasVet
- The Harvey Milk Award for the Public Sector Contingent (The best public sector group): Peace Corps
- Judges’ Award (Awarded at the Judges’ discretion, for crowd engagement overall excellence): PFLAG (Parents, Friends & Families of Lesbians and Gays)
See you next year at the 2013 Capital Pride Parade!
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"2012 Capital Pride Parade" is by Paco Alacid from the Borderstan flick pool.
Photos of the Day are pulled from the Borderstan Reader Photos pool on Flickr.
Today’s photo, “2012 Capital Pride Parade” was taken by Paco Alacid on June 9 at P Street NW.
If you don’t already have a Flickr account, you will need to sign up for one, and then join the Borderstan Reader Photos group. Already a Flickr member? Join the group! You can submit up to five photos per day in the Borderstan reader pool. We are looking for photos from D.C.’s Dupont, Logan and U Street neighborhoods.
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Click to see the photos on Flickr: Some of the businesses in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area that area are showing the rainbow colors for LGBT Capital Pride Weekend. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Check out the photos of rainbow colors in the neighborhood on Borderstan’s Flickr page.
The Capital Pride Parade makes its way though the neighborhood today, Saturday June 9. Kickoff is at 4:30 pm and contingents of marchers and floats from all around the city will walk, cheer and dance through the streets of Dupont-Logan (see the map).
Lending a helping hand to the festivities are a number of stores, bars and restaurants in the neighborhood, showing the LGBT rainbow pride colors. Pictured are some of the businesses on P, U, 14th and 17th Streets NW.
Tomorrow is the Capital Pride Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets NW, with Deborah Cox as the headliner.
Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012. Find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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Deborah Cox is this year's festival headliner. (Courtesy of 2012 Capital Pride Festival)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
As the 12 days of Capital Pride come to a close, make sure to mark your calendar for its largest event: The Capital Pride Festival.
On Sunday, June 10, join more than 250,000 people for a day-long celebration in front of our nation’s Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 7th Streets.
This year’s Pride Festival includes an inaugural Art Fair, as well as a full day of music, food, entertainment and education. Deborah Cox, a multi-platinum selling R&B singer, will headline the entertainment.
The Festival begins at 11 am and goes until 6 pm. It is open to everyone and is a family friendly event. However, due to DC’s summer heat and hot asphalt, organizers of the festival encourage participants to leave their four-legged family members at home.
New Areas at Festival
- [email protected] features local chef tastings and a Barefoot Wine sangria bar for just $20. Participating restaurants include Boqueria, Dirty Martini, Luke’s Lobster, Georgetown Cupcakes and 360.
- The Demonstration Tent will highlight the talents of our local community in dancesport, roller derby, square dancing, fitness, and line dancing.
- The Family Area will have large inflatables, crafts and games, and resources for LGBT families.
The Capital Pride Festival is on Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Click for a larger map. (Capital Pride 2012)
Attendees are encouraged to take Metro transportation since parking is limited. The closest stops to the Festival entrance are Archives/Navy Memorial (Green and Yellow lines) and Judiciary Square (Red line).
Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012. Find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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Sunday's 2012 Stonewall Drag Kickball at Stead park. Click above to see the photo album. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
View the photo album of Sunday’s Drag Kickball at Stead Park.
With a crowd of 500-plus people cheering the action, Stonewall Kickball held its second annual Drag Kickball festivities on Sunday at Stead Park Field on P Street NW. The winner was the Cobalt Division, beating the division from JR’s Bar & Grill by a score of 4-0. The event benefited The DC Center for the LGBT community and Capital Pride.
Sadly, the tug-of-war between competing teams of Stonewall Kickers was not part of this year’s festivities as it was in 2011.
The event was presented by JR’s and Cobalt. Sponsors of Sunday’s event included Bar Number Nine, Pizza No. 17, Town Dance Boutique, VIDA Fitness, Washington Hilton, Jimmy Kickit, Looks by Dorothy, Bukkicke, 21st Amendments, Sit On My Base, Whornets, Oprah’s Ball Club, Hotmess Kickers, Public Enemy and Harder, Faster.
Learn more about the DC Stonewall Kickball on their Facebook page and website. Their spring season is about to wrap up with the summer season getting underway shortly; Stonewall Kickball also has a fall season. For more information, email info[AT]stonewallkickball.org.
Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012. Find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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Screen on the Green at Stead Park brought local residents out for picnicking and a movie. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Dupont-Logan residents brought picnic baskets and blankets to the field at Stead Park (located on the 1600 block of P Street NW) on Saturday night to watch Ready? OK!, the evening’s featured movie. It was the first year for “Screen on the Green,” which was part of the 2012 Capital Pride events.
Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012. You can find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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A neighborhood event: Get ready for the Capital Pride 2012 Parade. (Luis Gomez Photos, 2011 Parade)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
It’s that time again! The annual Capital Pride Parade is just days away. Are you ready?
On Saturday, June 9, grab your friends, your camera and your beads and meet us in Dupont and Logan Circles to catch a glimpse of the city’s best parade.
Kickoff is at 4:30 pm on 22nd and P Streets; the parade will wind through Dupont Circle and come down 17th and P Streets through Logan Circle, then down 14th Street NW to Thomas Circle. (In case you missed it, see Where is DC’s Gay Neighborhood in 2012? The Winner is…)
Parade participants and supporters will provide plenty of entertainment, but just in case you need more, a stage in front of the P Street Whole Foods will rock with live music and DJs. Additionally, Monte Durham, from TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta,” will lead the parade as Grand Marshal.
Saturday's Capital Pride Parade route: Click for a larger image. (Courtesy Capital Pride 2012)
For more information on the parade and contingent information, visit the Capital Pride Parade website.
Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012. Find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
The 2012 Capital Pride Festival on Sunday, June 10, will feature an Art Fair (Luis Gomez Photos)
DC’s Capital Pride Festival is not a new event on the Pride Week calendar. But after 37 years, Capital Pride is welcoming a new event to its jam-packed calendar: The Festival Art Fair. The Art Fair will feature local and emerging LGBTQ artists and their work under one tent in the Arts Stage Area on Sunday, June 10, from 11 am until 6 pm.
The Festival is currently seeking artists to participate in the inaugural event. Interested artists should email Amanda.Lineweber[AT]gmail.com with the following information: name and address, price range, number of available pieces, samples of work (via JPEG or website link) and contact information.
The fee for commercial artists is $50 for 7′ x 10′ of display space; a limited number of free spaces are available. For more information on the Art Fair and submission guidelines, contact Lineweber.
Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012.
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The 2012 Heroes Gala & Silent Action. Click above for more pictures. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
The 37th Annual Capital Pride Heroes Gala & Silent Auction took place at the Living Social Building in downtown Washington DC. The event, which helps kick-off the yearly Capital Pride Festival, recognizes community-nominated individuals who have helped to further the causes of the LGBT community.
Recipients of this year’s Heroes Award:
- Andrew Barnett, executive director of metro D.C.’s Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL).
- Eboné Bell, whose BOI Marketing & Promotions gives DC an annual Capital Queer Prom.
- Michelle Benecke, cofounder of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
- Kevin Paul Platte, founder of the DC Cowboys.
- Justin B. Terry-Smith, volunteer Maryland Defense Force and HIV activist.
There were also awards given to Mark Meinke and Cyndee Clay for their exceptional work in the community.
Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012. You can find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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Sunday afternoon, June 3: The LGBT Wedding Expo at Palomar Hotel. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com
These days, successfully planning and executing a wedding is a feat comparable to successfully training and hiking Mount Everest. OK… Not exactly like it, but you get the picture. It’s tough! From picking the perfect outfit, to selecting the perfect photographer, the perfect food, the perfect favors and the perfectly unique ambiance (did I forget to mention the perfect partner?), engaged couples are under more pressure than ever imagined.
That is why a little bit of help goes a long way. If you are planning a union or marriage, consider taking advantage of some much-needed help and say “Yes!” to the “Say I Do!” LGBT Wedding Expo at Hotel Palomar on Sunday, June 3 from 1 to 4 pm. The Expo brings together the area’s top LGBT-friendly wedding planners, florists, photographers and caterers – all under one roof!
Registration to the event includes access to over 30 LGBT-friendly wedding vendors; a special swag bag filled with goodies for the first 100 couples; cake and dessert tastings; raffles, prizes and more!
For more information on the Expo and registration for the event, visit the Expo website.
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Second Annual Drag Kickball tournament is at Stead Park on Sunday evening, June 3. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
It’s time to determine who the Queens of the Ball really are…
Will our beautiful kickball players in drag clench the coveted title? Or will the winners-of-wonder be our beloved queens in uniform?
It’s all up-for-grabs at Capital Pride’s Second Annual Drag Kickball Game. Come cheer on the competition and root for your favorite team this Sunday, June 3, from 3 pm until 5 pm at Stead Park, 17th and Church Streets NW. (See pics from last year’s event: Pics! Pride 2011 Drag Kickball at Stead Field.)
Learn more about the DC Stonewall Kickball on their Facebook page.
For more information on this event and others throughout the festival, visit the Capital Pride event calendar. Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012.
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Enjoy "Screen on the Green" at Stead Park this Saturday, June 2. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com
Few things in life are better than heading to a nearby park on a summer evening with a blanket, a wedge of cheese, a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine in-tow.
Now imagine that state of bliss paired with an outdoor screening of an independent film.
Yes, it’s really happening – and it’s all at this year’s “Screen on the Green.” The event, which is part of the annual Capital Pride festival, will take place at Stead Park (17th and Church Streets NW) on Saturday, June 2. The picnic begins at 6 pm, the film (“READY? OK!”) will start at dusk and Team DC will be on-hand to host pre-show antics and games.
For more information on this event and others throughout the festival, visit the Capital Pride event calendar. Borderstan.com is proud to be among the sponsors of Capital Pride 2012. Find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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Plenty of Capital Pride 2012 events coming up. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
The twelve days of Pride are back this year, bringing non-stop action to the District from May 30 through June 10.
And best of all, most of the events will take place in the Borderstan neighborhood – so you can show your pride without so much as a metro ride!
In addition to the Capital Pride Parade (Saturday, June 9) and the Capital Pride Street Festival (Sunday, June 10), other events on this year’s calendar are just as enticing!
- Screen on the Green & Picnic in the Park will take place on June 2 from 6 to 10 pm. Pack your own picnic basket and head over to Stead Park (17th and Church Streets NW) to enjoy the independent feature: READY? OK!
- On June 3, get ready to root-root-root for your favorite team at the 2nd Annual Drag Ball Game. From 3 to 5 pm, cheer on the drag-clad Stonewall Kickball players and DC’s loveliest Queens in kickball uniforms at Stead Park as they compete for the winning title!
- On a more scandalous note, Capital Pride will host an underwear and swim suit fashion show and auction party on June 6 from 10 pm until 1:45 am at Cobalt (1639 R Street NW). And yes, you can buy Universal Gear swimwear and underwear from Andrew Christian right off the models!
- And don’t miss out on your opportunity to speak with Mayor Vincent Gray on LGBTA politics on June 7 at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives. The evening will begin with a light reception, followed by a discussion with the mayor. The second half will include a panel discussion with LGBTA individuals involved in politics.
The Dupont Circle neighborhood has long been considered the center of the gay community in DC, and Borderstan.com is proud to be among this year’s sponsors. We will cover a number of Pride events, including the Parade and Festival, so stay tuned for more information!
In the meantime, you can find an entire list of this year’s events, as well as details on each event, on Capital Pride’s website calendar.
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The Capital Pride Heroes & Silent Action is May 30. (Luis Gomez Photos, 2011 gala)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at [email protected]
The 37th Annual Capital Pride Heroes Gala & Silent Auction will take place Wednesday, May 30, at Living Social’s chic downtown location (918 F Street NW).
The event, which helps kick-off the yearly Capital Pride Festival, recognizes community-nominated individuals who have helped to further the causes of the LGBT community.
A $50 ticket gets you access to an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment throughout the gala and auction, which runs from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Tickets to the event are limited to 200 people and can be purchased online.
2012 Honorees
Recipients of this year’s Heroes Award:
- Andrew Barnett, executive director of metro D.C.’s Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL).
- Eboné Bell, whose BOI Marketing & Promotions gives DC its annual Capital Queer Prom.
- Michelle Benecke, cofounder of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
- Kevin Paul Platte, founder of the DC Cowboys.
- Justin B. Terry-Smith, volunteer Maryland Defense Force and HIV activist.
So come on out in your best cocktail attire and support those who pave the way for pride in our community!
Borderstan.com is proud to be a Bronze sponsor and media partner with Capital Pride 2012.
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From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Featured image: Courtesy of Century 21 Redwood Realty. Left image: Photograph by Dana Rene; image at right portrays a ceramic work by Al Pellenberg.
Support Capital Pride 2012, view (and purchase!) some beautiful pieces of art by local artists and have fun — all at the same time. The event is an exhibition at Century 21’s Redwood office at 17th and Q Streets NW on Friday evening, May 11, from 6 to 9 pm. Join artists Al Pellenberg, Dana Rene and Nataliya Andreyeva. It is opening night for Pellenberg and Rene. All works on exhibit are for sale, and 10% of proceeds go to Capital Pride 2012 and 5% to Easter Seals.
Image courtesy of Century 21 Redwood Realty.
Pellenberg, a volunteer with Capital Pride, is a ceramic artist who hand builds teapots, iced tea pitchers, and treasure boxes from red clay mined in southern Georgia (he also is involved with the 17th Street Festival). Rene, a photographer, “loves to capture a moment in her subject’s life… with an edgy, daredevil quality.” Andreyeva’s works, “The Evolution of the DC Metro,” are original mixed media collages and impressionistic landscapes.
The event and art show, which is free and open to the public, is presented by Wesley Mosser of the neighborhood’s Century 21-Redwood office; he is also co-chair of the Capital Pride Festival Committee (the festival is Sunday, June 9). Century 21-Redwood is an official sponsor of Capital Pride 2012.
About the Artists
Al Pellenberg has been playing in the mud since he was a child, building mud pies and building out of dirt maybe why he became an architect and designer. Over the years Al has been in and out of the clay studio, working on the wheel for many years but spending more time doing hand-building for the last decade. “I find hand-building to be a natural extension of architecture,” he says. My current body of work reflects my love of geometric form and surface texture. Using local flora and handmade stamps for textures in many of my pieces I try to work with simple shapes that are enhanced by surface treatments as well as the firing process it self.” Pellenberg also gives freely of his time and talents and gives back to the community by creating many of the logos and ongoing graphic campaigns for local events including Capital Pride and The 17th Street Festival.
Dana Rene has been a photojournalist, fine art photographer and photo editor for 15 years. Since relocating from Los Angeles to Washington three years ago, she has been working as a freelance news photographer while also pursuing other areas in the field, such as portrait, wedding, landscape and urban photography. In Southern California, Dana was a staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times and Ventura County Star. But her greatest joy comes with special projects and intimate storytelling by focusing on documentary photography. Dana’s two-year photo essay on the trials and tribulations of a transgender male earned her a first place award from the National Press Photographers Association in 2006.
Nataliya Andreyeva, shows her unique series of The Evolution of the DC Metro which are original mixed media collages and impressionistic landscapes. This exhibition features 30 original pieces of artwork, ranging from digital collages displayed on each floor of the gallery. The focal pieces of the DC Metro Series bring together images that define the local, everyday movement of Washingtonians. Also explored are greater concepts of growth, evolution, and change.
Editor’s Note: Borderstan.com is proud to be a Bronze Sponsor of Capital Pride 2012. Look for more stories and news about Pride events here on Borderstan.com in the coming weeks. This year the parade is Saturday, June 8, and the festival on Sunday, June 9. As you Borderstanis know, the Pride Parade route is through the heart of Dupont-Logan. Check out parade photos from last year.
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