Gender/Sexuality/Identity

DC transgender Police Sgt. Jessica Hawkins confirmed to have marched solo in Pride parade

It has been confirmed that in addition to the MPD officers spotted marching ahead of the Pride parade by David Thursten, transgender MPD officer Jessica Hawkins marched in uniform, solo, with the transgender flag. At one point, MPD retweeted a video showing her, then realized people in the background were chanting "fuck the police" and pulled down their retweet.

Did MPD march unofficially in 2018 Capitol Pride parade?

The official list of contingents in the 2018 Capitol Pride parade did not include MPD, and there was a long time with nothing on the route before another, different contingent appeared to step off the parade. None the less, David Thurston got a photo of MPD officers escorted by two Pride staffers marching the route, possibly well ahead of the rest of the parade

Related video: NJNP "Cops off K" march 11PM June 9

David Thurston's photo of armed MPD officers marching on the parade route

Pride festival a mixed bag of corporate and tradtional themes

The June 10, 2018 Capital Pride festival offered a mixed bag of traditional GLBTQ themes and corporate booths. Here more than at the parade the Capital Pride board's refusal to meet demands of No Justice No Pride was on display. An MPD contingent was at the very periphery but present, and recruiters for the CIA and similar agencies were present. Especially disappointing in a world of price-gouging on HIV and similar drugs was the presence of a Gilead Sciences booth: this is the company charging $1,000 a pill for a Hepatitis C drug.

Wells Fargo contingents not seen in DC's least corporate Pride in years

On the 9th of June,Wells Fargo apparently did not march in the Capitol Pride parade. They were not seen from a vantage point near Dupont Circle where every contingent could be seen, and neither they nor MPD appeared on the Pride Guide's list of parade participants. David Thurston reports MPD's "LGBT Liason unit" led the parade, but they were far out front, unknown if they were an official contingent.

Video highlights of the most traditional, least corporate Pride parade in years in DC

Sex workers, allies rally for decrim bill and against SESTA/FOSTA

On the 2nd of June, sex workers and their allies rallied in Ward 6, home of DC Councilmember Charles Allen. Allen will decide the fate of a bill introduced by Councilmember David Grosso to decriminalize sex work in DC. The closure of sites like Backpage.com in the wake of the SESTA/FOSTA bills has created a crisis, with many sex workers becoming homeless as there is less money to be made working the streets as well as much greater risk.

Video-speaker rip the Backpage shutdown, David Grosso offers his support, and why this was in Ward 6

No Justice No Pride rallies in solidarity with Black Pride 4

On the 12th of March, No Justice No Pride activists held a solidarity protest at the Dept of "Just-Us" for Ohio's Black Pride 4, the first of whom was scheduled to be sentenced the following day.

Video featuring a speaker giving information about the case

Fists Up for the Black Pride 4

Anti-Fascist protesters confront Cernovich's event at City Club of Washington

On Feb 24th, Mike Cernovich and others associated with the Deploraball were back in DC. They held "A Night for Freedom DC" at The City Club of Washington just a block from the Deploraball site, running the gauntlet of loud anti-fascist protesters to get in and often being photographed. Attempts by the fascists to conceal their venue location ended in failure, with protesters descending on their party.

Video:Scenes from the Anti-Fascist protest (1 min 18 sec)

Alex Rubenstein Video: antifascists take a knee NFL style as fascists sing "star spangled banner"

Marching on The City Club of Washington's front doors

Metro gets an earful on bad service, high fares, and revenue-based policing at board meeting

On Jan 31, Save Our System, No Justice No Pride, Black Youth Project 100, and others packed Metro's board meeting. Speakers charge Metro is trying to "solve their problems on the backs of the riding public, and trying to fund themselves by soaking poor residents while developers ride for free with huge projects made possible by Metro.

NJNP Steering committee member Latinxrex speaks on limited Metro service forcing some to trade sex for housing close to jobs

Photo by Save Our System

Capitol Pride agrees to restructure, boots board member who called NJNP "terrorists"

Protest WORKS: on Jan 24, under pressure from No Justice No Pride, the Capitol Pride board announced "substantial changes" in its leadership, including the removal of a board member who slandered No Justice No Pride as "terrorists." In addition, Capitol Pride has agreed to impose "sponsorship guidelines" that hopefully will mean the end of such sponsors as Wells Fargo.

No Justice No Pride blocks Wells Fargo in 2017 Pride Parade (photo by Dylan Comstock)

Women's March 2018 Video

Video from the 2nd Women's March, on the first anniversary of the inauguration of Donald Trump, January 20, 2018.

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