2012 will be a busy year for the DC Center and for the LGBT Community in the District. Here is a guide to some of the major events to look forward to:
J A N U A R Y
Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) Weekend 2012: Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend takes place January 13th to 16th, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade: The DC Center and the DC Coalition are proud to co-host a contingent to walk in the 2012 MLK Jr. Holiday Parade on Monday January 16th.
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National Gay-Straight Alliance Day: Gay-Straight Alliances have been forming in schools and colleges across America, bringing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight allied people together to stop bullying, homophobia, transphobia and hate. Now, its time to celebrate their work on January 25th. Find out more at: www.gsaday.org<.
F E B R U A R Y
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: An annual observance day created to raise awareness among African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on African American communities. February 7th, 2012.
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Glamour, Glitter, & Gold: The DC Center Annual Oscar Gala takes place Sunday February 26th at Town Dance Boutique.
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M A R C H
National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS: The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is the coming together of all people of faith to unite with purpose, compassion and hope. March 4th - 12th, 2012.
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Capturing Fire LGBT Poetry and Spoken Word Festival. The DC Center is proud to support Capturing Fire a Queer Spoken Word Summit and Poetry Slam. This event is traditionally held during the Split this Rock Poetry Festival. Dates TBA.
A P R I L
Rainbow Families DC Family Conference:
The Rainbow Families DC Annual Family Conference will take place on Saturday April 28th. A wide range of workshops and discussion forums will be offered throughout the day.
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National Day of Silence On the National Day of Silence hundreds of thousands of students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools. This year National Day of Silence is on Friday April 20th, 2012.
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Youth Pride Day An annual celebration by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. The date has not yet been set but this event normally takes place the last Saturday in April.
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M A Y
Pride and Heritage: An annual celebration of the Asian Pacific American LGBT Community in honor of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. Date TBA
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HIV Vaccine Awareness Day: HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is an annual observance day to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine. May 18th.
DC Black Pride: DC Black Pride will be celebrating 21 years of building a stronger Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Washington, DC. DC Black Pride traditionally takes place Memorial Day Weekend, May 24th-May 27th, 2012.
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National Foster Care Month: November is National Foster Care Month, and the DC Center will plan an event to encourage LGBT community members to consider becoming foster parents. Details TBA. To be a part of this event visit Center Families on facebook at: Center Families or on twitter at twitter.com/centerfamilies.
J U N E
Capital Pride: The 37th Anniversary of Capital Pride takes place from May 30 - June 10, 2012 - May 30, 2012.
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Latino Pride: An annual celebration of the Latino/a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community hosted by the Latino GLBT History Project. Latino Pride is traditionally held during Capital Pride. (Date TBA)
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Leather Pride: DC Leather Pride's mission is to celebrate the rich leather history of the Metro DC region, to provide education of the leather lifestyle in a safe and healthy setting, and to create a welcoming environment into the leather community and leather clubs for those interested or new to leather and the leather lifestyle. Leather Pride is traditionally held during Capital Pride. (Date TBA)
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Trans Pride
Capital Trans Pride is an official full-day Capital Pride event, celebrating the Washington DC metro area Transgender community. Trans Pride is traditionally held during Capital Pride. (Date TBA)
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National HIV Testing Day: National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign coordinated by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage people of all ages to know their HIV status. June 27th, 2012.
J U L Y
National Gay Men's Health Summit The 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit will take place July 20th-21st, 2012, at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. The Summit will immediately precede the XIX International AIDS Conference. The DC Center is proud to serve as the host organization for this gathering. Our community partners include Whitman-Walker Health and Us Helping Us. More information about this conference is available at: www.gmhs2012.org.
A U G U S T
OutWrite LGBT Book Fair
The second annual OutWrite Book Fair will be two days chock-full of book readings, book vendors, book discussions, poetry readings and more. We will have both new and used LGBT themed books and magazines for sale all day long. In addition to several independent book vendors, the DC Center will have a large number of donated LGBT books for sale. This event is tentatively scheduled for August 3-4th, 2012. More information about this event will be available at: www.outwritedc.org.
S E P T E M B E R
International Bisexuality Day: Celebrate Bisexuality Day is observed on September 23 by members of the bisexual community and their supporters. This day is a call for bisexual and pansexual people, their friends and supporters to recognize and celebrate bisexuality, bisexual history, bisexual community and culture, and the bi- and pansexual people in their lives.
find out more about the bisexual community in DC
The DC Center Fall Reception / 10th Anniversary Celebration. Date TBA.
O C T O B E R
National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: The National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Campaign works year round to promote HIV testing, provide HIV prevention information, and provide access to care to Hispanic/Latino communities. National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day takes place on October 15th.
N O V E M B E R
National Adoption Month: November is National Adoption Month, and the DC Center will plan an event to encourage LGBT community members to consider adoption. Details TBA. To be a part of this event visit Center Families on facebook at: Center Families or on twitter at twitter.com/centerfamilies.
Transgender Day of Remembrance: The Transgender Day of Remembrance is held on November 20th and was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
find out more about the transgender community in DC
D E C E M B E R
World AIDS Day World AIDS Day takes place December 30th. The DC Center traditionally plans an event on November 30th and Whitman-Walker Health traditionally holds a candlelight vigil at Dupont Circle on December 1st. Details TBA.