WorldPride Takes Over Washington, D.C. Amid Celebration and Protest

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WorldPride 2025 Parade In Washington DC, Distict of Columbia, u.s.a - 07 Jun 2025
Photo: Probal Rashid/ Shutterstock

The nation’s capital just wrapped up three weeks of celebration, resilience, and glitter-drenched solidarity as WorldPride 2025 made its long-anticipated debut in Washington, D.C. The international LGBTQ+ festival brought together millions of visitors from around the globe for a citywide extravaganza that was as political as it was joyful.

From parades lined with rainbow flags to emotional calls for unity amid rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, WorldPride D.C. turned out to be a celebration of community, and a wake-up call.

A First for D.C., A Milestone for Pride

This marks the first time D.C. has hosted WorldPride since the global festival launched in Rome in 2000. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of D.C.’s own Pride celebrations, the event drew an estimated 1.5 million people to the city’s streets, according to organizers.

“WorldPride being in D.C. could not have come at a better time,” said parade emcee and drag artist Gottmik during the “Drag Is Not a Crime” rally. “It’s our time to fight back.”

A Festival Born From Volunteers and Local Heroes

The three-week celebration was powered by over 500 volunteers, alongside countless community members and small business owners who transformed the city into a vibrant, inclusive space.

“This year has been amazing,” said Jaime Quintero, owner of the LGBTQ-owned shop Jimmy Trendy. “We feel a responsibility to show up, not just for ourselves, but for the whole community.”

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Ashley Smith, board president of the Capital Pride Alliance, praised the collective effort. “It took every volunteer, every partner, and every ounce of energy to make this happen,” she said.

Parade Highlights: The World’s Longest Pride Flag and More

The parade’s showstopper? A 1,000-foot rainbow flag—believed to be the world’s largest—stitched by none other than Gilbert Baker, creator of the original Pride flag. Hundreds helped carry it along the expanded parade route down 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Local resident Allison Moody, who helped hoist the massive flag, said it was a moment she’ll never forget. “It was powerful. It felt like history.”

A Celebration Colored by Politics

The energy wasn’t all party hats and dance beats. This year’s WorldPride came against the backdrop of renewed political pressure on the LGBTQ+ community, most notably from former President Donald Trump’s administration. Executive orders banning diversity programs and restricting transgender rights have led to a wave of corporate sponsors pulling their support.

Some participants noted the tension. “You can feel it in the air—it’s celebration mixed with defiance,” said Kylen Mahaney from Virginia. “We’re here because we have to be.”

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The decision by the National Park Service to close Dupont Circle Park, a beloved LGBTQ+ landmark, during the final weekend drew intense criticism. After community backlash, a last-minute agreement allowed the park to remain accessible under certain conditions.

Fans React: Pride With Purpose

9:30 Club, a local live music company, proclaimed the joyful and jovial spirit of the celebration. “Saturday was filled with so much JOY! We were so proud to be apart of the WorldPride Parade, @capitalpridedc, with some of our amazing employees. Happy, Happy Pride DC, we hope you had a great weekend too.”

There were plenty of incredible vendors, sponsors, and advocates championing love and camaraderie including Monumental Sports & Entertainment who tweeted, “Love wins in every arena” with pictures of their float during the parade.

A Different Kind of WorldPride

Compared to the last WorldPride in Sydney in 2023, which was marked by government support and investment, D.C.’s edition had a more urgent tone. LGBTQ+ advocates described the festival not just as a celebration, but a call to resist backsliding on human rights.

Sarah Moore from GLAAD said the threat is real. “There’s a heightened sense of fear and concern right now,” she noted, referencing the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ incidents tracked over the past year.

Even hotel bookings, initially expected to surge, fell short of projections. Organizers had anticipated 3 million visitors, but later cut that number in half.

Despite it all, the music played on. Pop stars Jennifer Lopez and Troye Sivan headlined a two-day music festival on the National Mall, closing out WorldPride with both star power and spirit.

@noahhryan

Troye, you did not disappoint🧎🏼‍♂️‍➡️@Troye Sivan #troyesivan #worldpride

♬ original sound – noah

What’s Next for Pride in the U.S.?

As the rainbow banners come down and the glitter washes off D.C.’s streets, one message echoes loudest: Pride isn’t just about partying. It’s about presence, protest, and power.

“This wasn’t just a celebration,” said activist and legal scholar Paula Gerber. “It was a reminder of how fast progress can unravel—and how strong we have to be to hold the line.”

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