Record-setting 8 embassies and Washington Capitals goalie to march in Capital Pride Parade
Caps' goaltender Braden Holtby will also march in annual parade on June 11
Capital Pride will have a robust international contingent at the Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, with representatives from eight different nations, including four ambassadors, marching in the parade.
Pride has broken its own record for number of participating embassies, with Bernie Delia, the president of the Capital Pride Alliance Board, saying it may also be a record for any Pride celebration in the world. [Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this story, that claim has been changed to state that the figure of 8 embassies is a record for any Pride celebration in the United States.] The embassies include the British Embassy, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the Embassies of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Representing Canada will be Amarjeet Sohi, a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, and his wife, Sarbjeet. The four participating ambassadors are Lars Gert Lose, of Denmark, Kirsti Kauppi, of Finland, Kim Darroch, of the United Kingdom, and Björn Lyrvall, of Sweden.
“We are excited that so many embassies are participating in this year’s Capital Pride Parade,” Delia said in a statement. “Both here and around the globe, LGBTA communities come together at Pride events to celebrate advances in equality. The participation by these officials demonstrates the strength of the international community on questions regarding basic human rights for LGBT citizens.”
Darroch, the U.K. ambassador, noted that this year’s parade will mark the fourth year that the British Embassy has participated in the Capital Pride Parade, after being the first such embassy to march in such an event. He also noted that the Embassy and each of the eight British consulates will take part in other Pride celebrations in Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Miami, and Salt Lake City this year.
“Walking with others from the community in Capital Pride is just one of the many ways the UK supports LGBT rights at home and around the world,” Darroch said in a statement. “We’ve had civil partnerships for over a decade. We have the highest number of LGB parliamentarians in the world. And last year, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association gave the UK the highest score in Europe for LGBTI rights. There’s still more to be done — but we’re proud to be leading the world in the fight for equality.”
In addition to embassy participation, the Washington Capitals, D.C.’s professional hockey team, will be marching in the Pride Parade. The Capitals will be represented by goaltender Braden Holtby, who will march with Capitals mascot Slapshot, Red Rockers, the Washington Wizards’ Wizard Girls, the Washington Mystics Energy Squad, and staffers for Monumental Sports and Entertainment, in conjunction with the You Can Play Project, which encourages LGBT inclusion in sports.
“I am honored to represent the Capitals and participate in this important event that shines light on the contributions the LGBT community makes every day,” Holtby said in a statement. “I believe in equality for all people and I look forward to showing my support along with our organization and fans.”
The Capital Pride Parade will kick off at 4:30 p.m., beginning near the intersection of P and 22nd Streets NW, and traveling through the Dupont Circle and Logan Circle neighborhoods. For more information and a schedule of events, visit capitalpride.org.
Editor’s Note: This post was updated to include additional information from the British ambassador, Kim Darroch.
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