Muriel Elizabeth Bowser (born August 2, 1972) is an American politician serving as the eighth Mayor of the District of Columbia since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented Ward 4 as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 2007 to 2015. She is the second female Mayor of the District of Columbia after Sharon Pratt, and the first woman to be reelected to that position.
D.C. to celebrate LGBTQ History Month
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a statement on Tuesday, Oct. 8, announcing she and her administration would be celebrating LGBTQ History Month 2024, which takes place each year in October, among other things, by hosting at least three LGBTQ events. “Washington, D.C.
is proud to be in the forefront of LGBTQIA progress,” the mayor said in a press release announcing the city’s support for LGBTQ History Month. “As we celebrate the history of the LGBTQIA+ community and prepare for World Pride 2025, we stand united in our D.C.
values and our dedication to creating a city where everyone can thrive,” she said. The mayor was referring to D.C. being selected as the host for the LGBTQ World Pride celebration in June 2025, which came about after her administration worked closely with the Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes most of D.C.’s LGBTQ Pride events, in submitting a bid to the international LGBTQ group that selects the host city for World Pride. “This event will coincide with 50 years of Pride celebrations in D.C., reinforcing the city’s commitment to visibility and economic development for all,” the mayor’s press release says.
It says under Bowser’s leadership, the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs “has become one of the nation’s most well-resourced offices dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.” It points out that the office “has awarded over $1.3 million in community grants, provided housing choice vouchers to LGBTQIA+ residents, and hosted a range of impactful events and programs.” Japer Bowles, the LGBTQ Affairs Office director, says in the mayor’s press release that he is “proud to serve with leadership that empowers our LGBTQIA+ community and acknowledges our contributions to the District and our national movement for human rights.” Bowles adds in his statement, “This month, we are reflecting on our progress while also shaping our present and building our future.
