How Washington, DC Became a Main Attraction for LGBTQ+ BIPOC Visitors

Washington, DC steals the hearts of an estimated 24.6 million visitors per year as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in America. With waterfront views, countless outdoor parks, dining districts, and colorful cultural experiences, there is no shortage of places for queer travelers to eat, play, and love. But to capture the magic of DC's LGBTQ+ pride is to tell the stories of the District's diverse communities.

Whether traveling alone, on business, or planning a group getaway, visitors to DC will quickly find that the District is "available" to everyone, says Michael Parra, a longtime resident. As a Latino cisgender male and young professional, Parra says he found comfort in DC being a "very diverse place."

"Available because you can find a sense of community in DC. The fun is in finding clubs and events that cater to your specific tastes," says Parra, who was born and raised in northern Virginia. "DC was always in my backyard as a child until adulthood. My first thought that comes to mind about DC is how career-driven people are there. A lot of conversations with people have weight and are of substance compared to other areas in the U.S."

When it comes to things to do, there are tastes for every tribe, and the District's offerings can fill a multi-day itinerary from dawn 'til dusk. By day, DC's numerous monuments and memorials offer insights into our country's complex legacy, with nearby restaurants adding a taste of local culture. By night, the District's most notable sights, like the Lincoln Memorial, offer powerful moments to connect with travel companions and locals alike.

"We now have a visual that allows people to see all of us in the community are valuable and capable in business," said Morgen Hunt, a transgender woman of color, in a Washington Blade interview about the Chamber's growing network.

Founded initially as the Potomac Executive Network and dubbed "PEN," then the Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the ECCDC stewards a network of "several thousand LGBTQ+ professionals, allies, and business leaders in Washington, DC, and the surrounding region," according to the Chamber's website. In addition, an extensive businesses directory helps centralize DC's LGBTQ+ businesses, resources, and events that promote inclusivity and increased visibility for LGBTQ+ people.

When it comes to events of inclusivity and visibility for LGBTQ+ people of color, queer Washingtonians will tell you that it doesn't get any better than DC Black Pride. A program of the Center for Black Equity (CBE), the annual event celebrated its 31st anniversary this year.

"Our Pride is a little bit different from community Pride," explains Earl Fowlkes, president and CEO of CBE. "It's not separate from community Pride, but it's an additional way for people of color to have access into the queer experience from a more culturally sensitive point of view."

The Center for Black Equity is a network of approximately 45 Black and queer Prides in the U.S. and about 8 international events.

"We supervise the core training, leadership training and help focus on issues in the community," explains Fowlkes. "We do workshops, information dissemination, and community-based activities in addition to celebrating."

Because of DC's abundance of federal employees and national landmarks, federal holidays are extra lively affairs and are promoted at some of DC's most popular LGBTQ+ bars such as Trade, Number Nine, The Green Lantern, Nico, and the Dirty Goose, with local LGBTQ+-friendly hotels offering deals as well.

But with the parties, DC's BIPOC community also provides impactful services, such as housing for at-risk LGBTQ+ youth from the Wanda Alston Foundation. The organization recently announced plans to provide housing specifically for transgender men of color.

This year, the Center replaced its grand Black DC Pride celebration with 12 Months of Black Pride, a hybrid mix of in-person and virtual events. Until events can safely return to full capacity, visitors can experience BIPOC LGBTQ+ DC on a smaller scale by attending local events like drag brunch and drag bingo, hosted by some of the District's legendary drag queens, including Crystal Edge, Birdie LaCage, Brooklyn Heights, Monet Dupree, Shi-Queeta Lee and more.

"Drag queens are really the ones that push the envelope for the rest of the community. They go against the grain of society's expectations," says Kenya Hutton, deputy director at CBE, a community mobilizer with an inside perspective on DC's ballroom and performance culture. At drag brunches and comedy events that attract a diverse mix of people from all over the District and out of town, drag queens help give LGBTQ+ BIPOC more visibility outside of typical queer spaces.

"To dress in drag and come out in public takes a certain strength that, if you are around them, you can feel it. So it's very influential and important to the culture," says Hutton. "I tend to call drag queens superheroes because they put on this outfit, and they control the room. They break down barriers. It is the drag queens that really come out there and make it comfortable for the rest of us to live authentically" – a perk that visitors of any color or creed can look forward to when they travel to DC.

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