Blue and yellow confetti filled the air as the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRC) raised its flag for the first time over its new headquarters building in Washington, DC, on Coming Out Day, Oct. 11. The celebration drew local dignitaries and more than a thousand supporters.

The ceremony began at midday with former pro football player Esera Tuaolo standing atop the first floor roof of a portion of the building, singing “America the Beautiful” while the American flag was raised from the ninth floor roof.

Rep Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) praised HRC for nationalizing the gay rights movement, saying, “You belong here because so much that must be done on behalf of this community, in this country and around the world, starts in this city.… Make sure that you raise the American flag and the HRC flag real high, so that Congress can see both flags flying above this building. So that Congress will understand that you belong here, that you belong anywhere in this country, every bit as much as the Congress of the United States.”

Mayor Anthony Williams noted the building’s prominent location just a handful of blocks from the White House, a half block from the National Geographic Society and the Catholic Cathedral of St. Matthew. “What makes us proud as Americans is that we recognize explicitly, day by day, hour by hour, we have made a debate in our country about the unfinished ambitions and aspiration of this country to be a country of equality for all people,” he said, presenting a proclamation declaring it to be Human Rights Campaign Day.

Tipper Gore explained that she and her family support HRC and the gay community because they believe that “we are all created equal and in the image of god....We want to be on the right side of history, and we want to be on your side.”

“Today is not just a celebration for a single organization but for our whole community,” began HRC’s executive director Elizabeth Birch. “This building will forever send a clear message to the world: We are strong, we are worthy, we are passionate, and we will not rest until we have achieved perfect equality — nothing more and nothing less,”