DC marks Pride Weekend with parades, events

The nation’s capital is kicking off LGBT Pride Month with a slew of Pride Weekend events and decorations throughout Washington D.C., however the president has not yet officially recognized June as Pride Month.

Despite his predecessor former President Obama’s designation of the month, Trump has yet to name June as LGBT Pride Month.

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Former President Clinton was the first president to issue a Pride Month proclamation, however this did not carry into the George W. Bush administration.

While the White House has not formally recognized Pride Month, two prominent members have.

“In recognition of LGBTI Month, the Department of State affirms its solidarity with the human rights defenders and civil society organizations working around the world to uphold the fundamental freedoms of LGBTI persons to live with dignity and freedom,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.

The ‘I’ in Tillerson’s statement references a longer version of LGBT which includes other gender and sexual identities. LGBTQQIA stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and allies — other gender and sexual identities.

READ Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson’s statement on 2017 LGBTI #PrideMonth: https://t.co/ajavlf6nxl #LoveWithPride @StateDept pic.twitter.com/Q9MbhWPrWo

— U.S. Embassy Manila (@usembassymanila) June 9, 2017

First daughter Ivanka Trump tweeted her support on June 1, saying she is “proud to support the LGBTQ community.

Logging back on after Shavuot, wishing everyone a joyful #Pride2017. This month we celebrate and honor the #LGBTQ community.

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) June 2, 2017 

I am proud to support my LGBTQ friends and the LGBTQ Americans who have made immense contributions to our society and economy.

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) June 2, 2017

The Pride Parade, which starts Saturday afternoon, will weave throughout the Dupont Circle neighborhood on painted rainbow crosswalks, approved by the District Department of Transportation.

Washington DC is decked with rainbow flags in honor of Gay Pride parade today – and skies are a beautiful blue! pic.twitter.com/OeRrAwQwsD

— Laura Kennedy (@AmbKennedy_ret) June 10, 2017

DC metro, all dressed up for pride pic.twitter.com/GK1SpCUtGU

— Sarah Mimms (@SarahMMimms) June 9, 2017

Pride Month will fall on the one-year anniversary of the Pulse Night Club shooting in Orlando. Roughly fifty-people died and almost sixty-people were wounded at the gay nightclub, marking the deadliest terror attack in the U.S. since the September 11 attacks.