PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
More than 30 years ago, Welmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland, Ernest Hopkins and other community activists saw a need to address the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Black community in Washington, DC —
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From 1975 until 1990, the ClubHouse in Washington DC, was a remarkable nightclub founded by Black members of DC’s LGBTQ community, widely for its signature event – the Children’s Hour. This event was a true celebration and took place annually during Memorial Day weekend. As word spread throughout the country, the Children’s Hour quickly became an institution drawing celebrants from near and far.
DC BLACK PRIDE
When the ClubHouse closed in 1990, many feared the Memorial Day tradition would also be lost. However, three men—Welmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland and Ernest Hopkins— envisioned creating an event that would continue the tradition of the Children’s Hour while also bringing awareness to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in their community. Their vision and hard work gave life to the first Black Gay and Lesbian Pride event on May 25, 1991 on the grounds of Banneker Field.
Little did they know their mission to combat to combat and education the Black LGBTQ+ community on the spread of HIV/ AIDS and promote better care and treatment options for those living with HIV/AIDS, would ignite a movement that would impact millions of Black LGBTQ+ women and men around the world. There has been incredible advances in LGBTQ+ rights in the United States and the world since the first Black Pride held in Washington, DC over the Memorial Day weekend in 1991. Despite these human rights advances the need for DC Black Pride – and all Black Prides still exist. Unfortunately, far too many LGBTQ+ people of African descent still feel the pangs of homophobia and transphobia in their daily lives.
This historic event was a collaboration among many organizers and organizations including the DC Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gay Men and the Inner City AIDS Network, and it continued the tradition of the Children’s Hour, while also raising funds for the HIV/AIDS organizations that served the African- American community in Washington and the surrounding area. This first event drew 800 people, who were centered around the theme of “Let’s All Come Together”.
DC Black Pride™ which was the catalyst for the Black Pride movement, has provided a welcoming and safe space to tens of thousands since 1991. Millions more have attended the fifty plus Black Prides around the world.
When Welmore Cook, Theodore Kirkland and Ernest Hopkins saw a need to continue an important tradition and rally the community around the HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC, they started a movement that has impacted the lives of millions of Black LGBT men and women around the world.
To this day DC Black Pride™ continues to inspire a movement and to be a beacon of hope for millions of Black LGBTQ+ person who are face with homophobia and transphobia in their daily lives.
While much progress has been made across the globe since 1991, there remains a need to educate the community about HIV/AIDS and stand against homophobia inspired violence and bigotry that remains prevalent throughout society.
The following year, DC Black Pride increased its offerings and became a weekend-long festival, which included an event line-up, a midnight cruise on the Potomac River, a Sunday prayer breakfast and the first Washington film screening of Marlon Riggs’ groundbreaking film “Tongues Untied.” As DC Black Pride continued to grow during the mid-nineties, organizers focused on developing long-range plans to sustain the event by creating a board of directors, filing for incorporation, and becoming a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Black Lesbian & Gay Pride Day, Inc. (BLGPD) was born, and the all-volunteer governing body of BLDPD would now oversee the planning and execution of DC Black Pride. DC Black Pride was the catalyst for what is now regarded as the Black Pride Movement. Since its birth, more than 50 other Black Pride celebrations now take place throughout the world, many using DC Black Pride as its model. During the 1998 DC Black Pride Festival, the then President of BLGPD, Earl Fowlkes, met with the organizers of Black Prides from New York City, Detroit, Atlanta, as well as other cities to form the International Federation of Black Prides (IFBP), which later became the Center for Black Equity (CBE). Today, the CBE has more than 50 members and serves as the principal body through which organizers find support, raise funds and share best practices.
Today, more than 500,000 members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of African descent and their allies come to Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the beauty of a shared community and raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS in the name and spirit of Black Pride.
DC Black Pride continues to inspire a movement…
*Demographic data as self disclosed by attendees.
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Year after year, DC Black has been made possible by the support of our generous sponsors. Show your commitment to the Black LGBTQ+ community by becoming an a today! Take advantage of the opportunity to showcase your brand and support a great cause and community. Businesses of all sizes, community organizations, interested community members and friends are invited to become sponsors of DC Black Pride. Why does this matter? Beyond impacting your current employees, corporate accountability demonstrates to the thousands of attendees at DC Black Pride events that you are committed to the Black LGBTQ+ community’s wellbeing. Support DC Black Pride, keep the movement alive!
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LEVELS
CUSTOMIZED PACKAGES AVAILABLE
Through our unique support opportunities, you can select a level of involvement that will meet your needs and budget considerations.
We are glad to customize level amenities to meet your needs.
Submit your partnership at dcblackpride.org/partners
DELUXE $250,000 • •
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Exclusive title sponsorship with personalized amenities to meet your organization’s needs Exclusive DC Black Pride theme and organization logo integration prominently featured in all DC Black Pride materials, print and electronic Exclusive speaking opportunities during DC Black Pride Press release announcing sponsorship level Brand activation space to suit your needs at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo Branding opportunities in Pride Hospitality Area Five (5) customized promotional email messages to DC Black Pride mailing list Product/promotional items included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag Two page spread color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at Organization + Vendor Expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
GRAND $200,000 • • • • • •
Exclusive title sponsorship with personalized amenities to meet your organization’s needs Name/logo prominently featured as grand sponsor of DC Black Pride in materials, print and electronic Exclusive speaking opportunities during DC Black Pride Banner in Pride Hospitality Area Three (3) customized promotional email messages to DC Black Pride mailing list Product/promotional items included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag
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Full page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
PREMIER $150,000 • • • • • • • • •
Name/logo featured as grand sponsor of DC Black Pride in materials, print and electronic Exclusive speaking opportunities during DC Black Pride Two (2) customized promotional email messages to DC Black Pride mailing list Product/promotional items included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag Full page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide Logo featured on DC Black Pride attendee bag
EQUITY $100,000 • • • •
One (1) customized promotional email messages to DC Black Pride mailing list Product/promotional items included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag Full page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo
Contact us at dcbp@centerforblackequity.org or 202.641.8527
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Logo with link on DC Black Pride website
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Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
SOLIDARITY $50,000 • • • • •
Product/promotional items included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag Full page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
EQUALITY $25,000 • • • • •
Product/promotional item included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag Full page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at organization + vendor expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
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UNITY $10,000 • • • • •
One (1) product/promotional item included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at organization + vendor expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
STRENGTH $5,000 • • • •
Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at organization + vendor expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
COMMUNITY $2,500 • • •
Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
FAMILY $1,500 • •
Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
ACTIVITY SPONSORSHIPS Intergenerational Event $50,000 • Name/logo prominently featured as exclusive sponsor of intergenerational event in all intergenerational event materials, print and electronic • Speaking opportunity during opening reception • Product/promotional item included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag
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Full page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
Mini Ball $15,000 • Name/logo prominently featured as exclusive sponsor of mini ball in all mini ball materials, print and electronic • Speaking opportunity during mini ball • Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide • Display table/booth at mini ball • Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo • Logo with link on DC Black Pride website • Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide Black Pride Pageant $10,000 • Name/logo prominently featured as exclusive sponsor of pageant in all pageant materials, print and electronic • Speaking opportunity during pageant • Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide • Display table/booth at pageant Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo • Logo with link on DC Black Pride website • Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide Organization +Vendor Expo $5,000 • Name/logo prominently featured as exclusive sponsor of organization + vendor expo in all organization + vendor expo materials, print and electronic • Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide
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Display table/booth at organization + vendor expo Logo with link on DC Black Pride website Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide
Enrichment Workshops Series $5,000 • Name/logo prominently featured as exclusive sponsor of enrichment workshops series in all enrichment workshops series materials, print and electronic • Opportunity to host workshop during enrichment workshops series • Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide • Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo • Logo with link on DC Black Pride website • Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide Hospitality Area $3,000 • Banner in pride hospitality area • Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide • Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo • Logo with link on DC Black Pride website • Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide Attendee Bag $2,500 • Product/promotional item included in the DC Black Pride attendee bag • Half page color advertisement in the DC Black Pride Guide • Display table/booth at DC Black Pride Organization + Vendor Expo • Logo with link on DC Black Pride website • Logo in the DC Black Pride Guide • Logo featured on DC Black Pride attendee bag
PAST SPONSORS
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CAPITALPRIDE A L L I A N C E
*2015-2025 sponsors
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dcblkpride dcblackpride
DC Black Pride™ is a program of the Center for Black Equity (CBE). The CBE is a coalition of Black Pride organizers formed to promote a multinational network of LGBTQ+ Prides and community-based organizations dedicated to improving health and wellness opportunities, economic empowerment, and equal rights while promoting individual and collective work, responsibility and selfdetermination. «
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1200 G Street NW, Suite 810 Washington, DC 20005 202.641.8527 centerforblackequity.org dcblackpride.org