Robert Burden, 22, has lived in Washington, D.C. just shy of a year. But like an ambitious politician in the nation’s capital, youth and inexperience hasn’t stopped him from grabbing a key post, in this case as chairman of volunteers and member recruitment for Capital Pride, held June 5-14, 2009–with the Pride Parade June 13. Robert graduated in May 2008 from James Madison University; he works as a research microbiology lab technician. Oh, and he’s single.
Robert took time out to give GayCities the inside scoop of D.C. pride.
What was your first Pride like?
Last year was actually my first Pride. I had just moved into the city that week, and the first event I went to was the parade, with some friends from college. It was pouring rain, but I still had one of the most fun times I have ever had! It was great to see all the people coming together and celebrating being who they are–as loud and as over-the-top as possible. In the middle of the parade is when I knew I had to become part of it.
What is special about D.C. Pride?
Where else can you stand, surrounded by thousands of other people, watching a drag queen perform on a stage with the Capitol Building as the backdrop? D.C. is such a great city. It’s also where most of the change for the LGBT community needs to start. By celebrating Pride here, we are showing every lawmaker, lobbyist, consultant and intern that the LGBT community is here, loud and serious about demanding fair and equal treatment.
What’s the sexiest Pride float?
I didn’t even have to think about this one! Hands-down winner is the Results Gym float. It got me to sign up for a membership. Those boys are gorgeous!
How do you celebrate?
I personally get really, really drunk, dance on top of bars and throw glitter at everyone who walks past me — nothing too crazy. Obviously, I’m kidding. Really, I just like to spend Pride with my friends. We go to all the events and squeeze in some really fun brunches throughout the week.
List 4-5 bars, restaurants, or nightspots that appeal to you.
One of my favorite bars is Nellie’s. It just has a great laid-back and relaxed feel to it. They also have an amazing rooftop bar, which is great in the summer. Town and Cobalt are both fun places to go if you want to dance and be crazy. If you want to eat and drink, you can’t go wrong with Duplex Diner. They have a great menu and a really fun regular crowd. Larry’s Lounge is a bar with an awesome staff and relaxing neighborhood feel. Recently, I have become a really big fan of the Commissary. Their sangria is incredible! The Commissary is right next-door to Halo, somewhere that’s great to go for more legit drinks and 2-for-1 happy hours.
What about D.C. don’t out-of-towners know that they should?
To start, District people don’t really talk about politics all the time. Given, everyone here has an opinion about every issue, and if you bring it up we will defend our beliefs, but we can make it through a night without talking about the Republican Party. It’s also good to know that the Metro is not open 24 hours; Chinatown is a misnomer — it’s more like Chinastreet; there is no J Street, and Crew Club is not a gym.
Some people your age have said that Pride is really for an older generation. Obviously, you don’t feel that way.
Pride is for everyone. It’s meant to be a celebration of where the community has been, where it is and where it is going. Everyone is part of that. There is so much happening in the world right now regarding the LGBT community, and Pride is a way to get people bonded together and ready to face the obstacles ahead, while celebrating the victories and achievements we have had! Still, I can understand why people associate an older generation with Pride; usually the younger generation doesn’t take part in the planning and execution of Pride celebrations. At Capital Pride, we’re always reaching out to the younger generation and seeing what they want for Pride.
Check out our Capital Pride Guide and Washington, D.C., on GayCities
