Text of DC CER 260175 (2026)

1 1 2 _______________________________ 3 Councilmember Zachary Parker 4 5 6 7 A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 8 9 _________________________ 10 11 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 12 13 _________________________ 14 15 16 To recognize honoree Justin Stewart during the 2026 celebration of DC Black Pride. 17 18 WHEREAS, Justin Stewart is a multimedia journalist, producer, and social media 19 influencer recognized for his vibrant storytelling, commanding media presence, and commitment 20 to amplifying diverse voices in journalism; 21 22 WHEREAS, a Washington, DC, native, Justin Stewart launched his media career after 23 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2010; 24 25 WHEREAS, Justin Stewart has built an impressive career across broadcast, digital, and 26 entertainment media, contributing to respected outlets including NBC4 Washington, NBC 27 Network, WJLA-ABC 7, WTTG-FOX 5, and Metro Weekly; 28 29 WHEREAS, Justin Stewart currently produces and edits engaging content for NBC 30 Washington’s morning show, “News4 Today,” which includes coordination of high-profile 31 interviews and development of compelling news coverage; 32 33 WHEREAS, Justin Stewart’s work and commentary have been featured by national 34 media outlets including USA Today, The Associated Press, LGBTQ Nation, Rolling Out, and 35 The Wendy Williams Show; 36 37 WHEREAS, beyond the newsroom, Justin Stewart is widely recognized for using his 38 platform to bridge the gap between traditional journalism and LGBTQIA+ advocacy, with a 39 strong focus on visibility for the Black queer community throughout the DMV region; 40 41 WHEREAS, openly embracing his identity as a “Black queer fem man,” Justin Stewart is 42 passionate about creating space for underserved communities and ensuring authentic 43 representation across media platforms; 44 2 45 WHEREAS, through his digital presence and behind-the-scenes storytelling, Justin 46 Stewart works to make the media industry feel more accessible and inclusive for aspiring 47 journalists and creatives of color; 48 49 WHEREAS, in addition to journalism, Justin Stewart is an experienced live host and 50 moderator who has led numerous high-profile events celebrating the arts, culture, nonprofits, and 51 community organizations; 52 53 WHEREAS, Justin Stewart’s hosting credits include the DC Mayor’s Arts Awards, Miss 54 Earth USA, and the Literary Arts Awards; 55 56 WHEREAS, recognized for both his professionalism and cultural impact, Justin Stewart 57 was nominated for Truth Prism Journalist of the Year at the 2026 Prism3D Awards; 58 59 WHEREAS, whether behind the scenes producing news or center stage hosting major 60 events, Justin Stewart continues to bring energy, authenticity, and purpose-driven storytelling to 61 every platform he touches; 62 63 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is an annual event to increase awareness of and showcase 64 pride in the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ populations in the African American community, and to 65 support organizations that focus on health disparities, education, youth, and families; 66 67 WHEREAS, as the very first Black Pride festival in the world, DC Black Pride fostered 68 the beginning of the Center for Black Equity and the “Black Pride Movement”; 69 70 WHEREAS, since the birth of DC Black Pride, more than 50 other Black Pride 71 celebrations now take place throughout the world and on 4 continents, with many using DC 72 Black Pride as a model; 73 74 WHEREAS, May 22, 2026, through May 25, 2026, marks the 35th annual DC Black 75 Pride celebration; 76 77 WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s celebration is “New Black Renaissance,” which 78 centers Black LGBTQIA+ “artists, leaders, healers, and organizers while confronting what still 79 makes Black Pride necessary, including HIV, inequity, homophobia, and transphobia;” 80 81 WHEREAS, for more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been an opportunity for the 82 Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate being both African American and 83 members of LGBTQIA+ communities; 84 85 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride is the oldest and one of the largest Black Pride events in the 86 world, drawing thousands of residents and visitors from around the globe; and 87 88 3 WHEREAS, DC Black Pride brings more than 500,000 people to the nation’s capital 89 from across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, Great Britain, France, 90 Germany, and the Netherlands and will carry that tradition this year and into the future to 91 celebrate their shared community, raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, and 92 stand against homophobia inspired by violence and bigotry. 93 94 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That 95 this resolution be cited as the “Justin Stewart Recognition Resolution of 2026”. 96 97 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates Justin Stewart 98 during the 2026 celebration of DC Black Pride. 99 100 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 101