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Blossom my friends…

It’s Cherry Blossom season. That time of year again when everyone gets excited about the blossoms. You can now find all your assorted pink assorted beverages and cherry themed everything. There is something Blossom festival themed something nearly every weekend from now until April 12th. Check out the all the events here. The majestic beauty of the trees has been an enduring legacy since 1912. The Blossoming of the Trees welcomes spring and been a lasting symbol of friendship and allyship since they were gifted by Japan all those years ago.

Team DC’s greatest gifts come from our supporters and allies. Allyship: a lifelong process of supporting and advocating for marginalized groups, using one's privilege and power to create a more inclusive and equitable environment. With so many organizations and businesses severing their ties to the LGBTQ+ community and moving away for Diversity Equity and Inclusion it is more important that we uplift those that uplift our community. This week want to tell you about our final 3 champions being honored at our Night of Champions Gala April 5th. 

Bernard “Bernie” Jude Delia was a friend and advocate for the LGBTQ+ Community. In the midst of the 2024 Pride celebrations, the LGBTQ+ community lost a true champion—an activist, mentor, and leader whose dedication to equality left an indelible mark on Washington, DC. Delia played a pivotal role in the Capital Pride Alliance and was instrumental in bringing WorldPride to the city. He also helped lead efforts to host the Gay Games in DC and was a passionate advocate within Team DC, coordinating with DC Front Runners and Stonewall Kickball to create inclusive spaces where the queer community could thrive.

As we march towards and pride and remember all those that came before that make it possible we acknowledge Bernie and all that he did for our community. Team DC DC’s board unanimously agreed to change the name of our Community Support Award to the Bernie Delia Community Leadership Award. We will recognize business and leaders within the community that support our mission and advance the causes of LGBTQ+ people.

The 2025 Bernie Delia Community Leadership Award will be awarded to Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home. Joseph Gawler started as a cabinet maker in 1860, and after learning cabinet makers were often asked to make coffins he added “undertaker” to his sign and thus his legacy was born. Joseph Gawler’s Sons remained at its Pennsylvania Ave address for more than 100 years before moving to its current location in Friendship Heights.

Gawler’s has had a lasting legacy being apart of the community. Joseph Gawler’s Sons has been a steadfast ally of the LGBTQ+ community since the 1950s, offering support during pivotal moments such as the Lavender Scare and the AIDS epidemic. When other funeral homes turned away AIDS victims, Gawler’s proudly served the queer community, actively reaching out to LGBTQ+ leaders and advertising with the Washington Blade, a commitment that continues today. As part of Dignity Memorial, they were early adopters of workplace equality, offering benefits to same-sex couples. Gawler’s was also the first funeral home in a major U.S. city to participate in Pride events with their rainbow hearse, setting a precedent nationwide. Their ongoing support extends to organizations like Team DC, the Wanda Alston Foundation, and Whitman-Walker Health. Through decades of advocacy, inclusion, and generosity, Joseph Gawler’s remains a pillar of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Team DC Honors the Washington Nationals as our Platinum All Star Champions. In 2005 Baseball came back to our Nations Capital after being absent for over 30 years. It was at that moment the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals and a lasting partnership with Team DC was born. Although there had been Gay and Lesbian Nights at Major League Baseball Games prior, (just two other cities) Pride Night OUT at the Nationals is one of the longest consistently running LGBTQ nights in Major League Baseball.

Team DC’s partnership with the Nationals has lead to the biggest pride nights in the league. Last year we were one of the highest selling tickets sales for a theme night. Team DC sold over 7000 tickets alone. With a donation from each ticket sold the Nationals have also become the single greatest funder for our anti-discrimination and outreach work. It is the true meaning of allyship. As we celebrate the the Nationals twentieth year in Washington DC we will also celebrate 20 years of Pride Night OUT at the Nationals. Over the Last 20 years our relationship with the Nationals has helped every other major league sport in the district see that inclusion matters. Today thanks to leaders like the Nationals we are still the only city in the country that has a Pride Night at every major league sport.

Please Join us April 5th at the Hilton National Mall Wharf as we honor all our champions and award 9 college scholarship to LGBTQ+ Athletes.

Night of Champions Gala 
Saturday, April 5

Team DC’s annual event to honor local LGBTQ+ sports leaders as well as the recipients of the 2025 College Scholarships. 

Join our 45+ member organizations and Team DC as we celebrate a Night of Champions. Team DC will honor a new class of college bound LGBTQ+ athletes. We will also celebrate local LGBTQ+ leaders and educators making a difference in our community.

Clark Ray Horizon Award - Dr Demarco Brookes

MVP Award - Esteban Dilloway

Bernie Delia Community Leadership Award - Joseph Gawler’s Sons

Platinum All Star Award - Washington Nationals Base ball Team

Trailblazer Award - D Fox

Cocktail and silent auction reception 6:00PM, dinner and awards 7:30.
Hilton National Mall/Wharf,  480 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024

Do you own a business or know someone who does? Donate to our Silent Auction at Night of Champions Gala to support our scholarship program.

20th Anniversary Night out at NATS June 5th

20 Years in 2025. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of our Pride Night OUT at the Nationals. It’s also the 20th anniversary of Major League Baseball coming back to Washington DC. We are so excited because this is going to be our biggest year yet. This year the Nats are going all out for us and have designed a vintage style Jersey in Rainbow exclusively for people who purchase tickets through Team DC or Pride Night OUT Fevo. Sit with us in the Team DC section.

TEAM DC is proud to partner with Capital Pride Alliance and Interpride to bring one of the pillars of World Pride to DC. Team DC along with our members will host the World Pride Capital Cup on May 26th through June 4th 2025. Registration is now live at the link below, and you can check teamdc.org for more info coming soon

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FROM OUR MEMBERS:

We get it. Wrestling is a tough sport to get into, especially as an adult. But that's why we started District Wrestling — to give adults with little to no experience a chance to learn, practice, improve and compete. Our weekly practices are perfect for new wrestlers, and we make sure to provide a balanced workout to all who show up. Our next season starts on Monday April 21st, but drop-ins are welcome every week! Visit districtwrestling.com/join to get started.

Hey Darters! Get ready, registration for Tuesday Night Flights at Nellie's opened Monday, March 3rd. https://rlsports.org/darts/

The Chesapeake & Potomac Softball (CAPS) league is having its first social event of the season. Please join us to find out more about our amazing league. The Spring season kicks off Sunday, April 6th. Registration is open. Both Open & Women’s+ Divisions. All skill levels are welcome. https://capssoftball.org

This weekend, the DCDD Symphonic Band will be presenting our spring concert, "The Joy of Pride!" The concert will be held on Saturday, March 29 at 7pm at Church of the Epiphany (1317 G Street NW). At this concert, we will be premiering "Gravity" and "Taps", by acclaimed composer Julie Giroux, commissioned by DCDD in honor of our former assistant director, Beth Smith. Tickets are $25 for adults, and may be purchased at www.dcdd.org/events

Play Ball! The Eastern Women's Baseball Conference is looking for interested players. Join one of our four teams in the DMV. Register at easternwomensbaseball.org or contact us at [email protected]./

We are pleased to announce that the 13th annual DCFR Pride Run 5k will take place on June 1, 2025 starting at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and running along the iconic Pennsylvania Avenue 5k route. This year we are partnering with Capital Pride and Team DC as part of the Capital Cup Sports Festival and increasing our registration cap to 5,000 runners. We need your help to get there!

Registration opened on 1/20/2025. https://dcpriderun.com/

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