We Have Work to Do
My speech at Capital Pride on June 21, 2026
Hello, family. I am Rayceen Pendarvis.
I am called the Empress of Pride because not only have I hosted many pride events, I have been at some since the beginning, and I’ve seen others come and go.
Last year, I was honored to speak here for WorldPride and the 50th anniversary of the first Pride in Washington, DC.
I also spoke at DC Latinx Pride, API Pride, and more.
Last year and this year, I had the honor of hosting Silver Pride and District of Pride.
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Today, I’m pleased to be here for Capital Pride, for which Capital Pride Alliance has organized an annual parade and festival for LGBTQ people and allies for over 15 years.
This is DC’s pride, where we welcome people from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, and beyond.
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This is Capital Pride. Not lowercase pride.
Not capitalism pride. Not corporate pride.
And not what some people call it: white pride.
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Everyone should feel welcomed here.
Everyone should feel included.
Everyone should feel represented.
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People of all colors. And immigrants.
And trans people. And non-binary people.
And deaf people. And people of all abilities.
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Young people should be included, and older people should not be an afterthought.
We should acknowledge our history.
We should celebrate our accomplishments.
We should honor the elders.
And remember our ancestors.
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Pride should not just be a party.
Remember: the first Pride was a riot!
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Queer people took to the streets to protest against discrimination and police brutality.
We demanded that transgender people receive fair treatment.
We demanded research for HIV, and for the people living with HIV to receive medical care.
We were fighting for visibility, in a time when we were degraded, dismissed, and ignored.
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Years later, national marriage equality was achieved, and while DC residents now have many legal protections,
LGBTQ people in other parts of this country, and across the world, are not so lucky.
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We have work to do.
We need to vote. We need to VOTE. WE NEED TO VOTE!
We need to support candidates.
We need to run for office.
We need to organize.
We need to boycott.
We need to protest.
We need to work for a better future.
I want you to celebrate today; but find out what you can do for your community and do it tomorrow.
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Pride should not just be a party.
It is not just an opportunity to take photos for social media.
It should not only be a way to gain followers or make money.
It should not be about entitlement, exclusion, click-ish behavior, people hogging the spotlight, groups hoarding resources, leadership clinging to power and control, powerful organizations silencing their critics, childish grudges, and petty disputes.
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Pride should be about unity.
It is an opportunity for us to meet people, amplify queer talent, promote LGBTQ-owned businesses, support community advocates, learn about local organizations, and decide how you want to make your community better.
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We do deserve better.
We deserve equity and equality.
We deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated.
We deserve to be liberated. We deserve freedom.
But we have to demand it.
Please remember the words of Frederick Douglass:
“Power concedes nothing without a demand.”
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Once again, I am Rayceen Pendarvis.
I am a lifelong Washingtonian.
I was born at Freedmen’s Hospital.
I lived in DC when it was commonly known as Chocolate City.
I’ve watched many things change, for better and for worse.
I want more things to change for the better.
And I will leave you with the words of Angela Davis:
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.
I am changing the things I cannot accept.”