Saturday Fly Your Free Flag Photo: June 13, 2009

Washingtonian participants in today's Capital Pride Parade will be be marching not just to promote gay rights in the District, but in solidarity with the 35 million gay men and women in China who were unable to see their own pride event through this week. Chinese authorities threatened venues and bars that hosted the sorts of readings, film screening, and other events that the District has enjoyed all week. It's no doubt a major step forward for Beijing to contemplate a queer pride festival in the first place; certainly, as slack13 captured, the Chinese LGBT population has plenty of support in D.C.