Happy Pride Month! As you already know, NATCA and ONEU are participating with a float and marching in the Capital Pride Parade this year. We invite you and your friends and family to join us. This is one of the largest parades every year in the DMV, usually including hundreds of participating organizations and hundreds of thousands of spectators. Here is what you need to know to join us: |
| Meet-up times & locations We will meet at the NATCA National Office at 2 p.m. EDT, on Saturday, June 11, where we will distribute NATCA Pride shirts for those who previously requested them. We will begin walking to the NATCA’s float line-up location at the start of the parade at 2:30 p.m. EDT.If you are unable to meet at the NATCA National Office before 2:30, meet us at the parade start line-up location by 3 p.m. EDT (the scheduled parade start time). We will bring any shirts that were ordered but not picked up at our National Office to the parade start line-up location. |
| Parade start line-up location & route NATCA’s float will line-up for the start of the parade on 15th Street, NW, between P and O Streets (not far from NATCA’s National Office). A map of the line-up area is attached to this message. NATCA is in the blue section.The parade is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. A map of the parade route is attached. The route is 1.8 miles (not including walks to and from NATCA’s building). Parade organizers aren’t certain when groups in the blue section will begin walking, but they estimate it will take about 35-45 minutes from the time we begin the official parade route at 14th and T streets NW until we reach the end of the route.The parade concludes at P and 21 Streets NW. Marchers will be asked to turn left/south to leave the parade route. |
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| Other things to keep in mind You may be standing or walking for around 4 hours. Wear comfortable shoes. The weather outlook includes a chance of rain. You might want to bring an umbrella or poncho (as well as sunscreen in case the sun also makes an appearance). NATCA’s float trailer is small, so there will be a limited amount of room to store personal belongings on the float trailer or vehicle. Please be prepared during the parade to carry what you bring with you. You may also leave items at the NATCA National Office during the parade. We have some pride flags that staff and members can wave while marching. Leave your home with a fully charged phone, so you can navigate and reach out in an emergency. |
| Refreshments (before, during, and after the parade) Starting at noon on Saturday, June 11, on 17th Street between P and Church Streets, the Capital Pride organizers are hosting a block party with DJs, beverages, and food trucks. There also will be porta-johns and emergency medical personnel on site at the block party. On the parade route, NATCA will have water and soft drinks and some light snacks in the vehicle pulling our float. For awareness, D.C. open container laws don’t allow alcohol on the parade route. Violations of this rule could result in NATCA being banned from participating next year. After the parade, you are invited to come back to NATCA’s National Office for food and solidarity in the McNally conference room on the first floor. We plan to have sandwiches, chips, cookies, and water and soft drinks. |
| If you will be joining us on Saturday, we look forward to standing in solidarity with you. If you have any questions about the parade, please call or text: Thom Metzger: (202) 355-8530 Meagan Roper: (202) 445-1775 |