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Washington, June 9: Under a blanket of grey clouds and light rain, the final day of World Pride 2025 in Washington, D.C., unfolded not with glitter and dancing, but with signs raised and voices steady. The shift in tone was unmistakable. What began as a global LGBTQ+ celebration ended as a political rally — a defiant response to an administration many in the crowd believe has sidelined, if not outright attacked, their rights.
“This is not just a party,” said Ashley Smith, standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, her voice measured, resolute. “This is a rally for our lives.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. From the steps of one of America’s most iconic symbols of freedom, activists, students, federal workers, and international allies took turns speaking out. Their messages were layered: anger at lost protections, concern over growing hostility, exhaustion from years of political volatility — but also determination, a kind that storms don’t scare off.
Political Tensions Underscore Pride March
Saturday was joy in motion — a sprawling, colorful parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, drawing crowds in the hundreds of thousands. There were floats, dance troupes, and celebrities. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington sang. Laverne Cox rode as a grand marshal. Families cheered from balconies. Tourists snapped photos. There was relief in the air, however brief.
But by Sunday, celebration gave way to confrontation. Overnight, two separate violent incidents had occurred near Dupont Circle, a central Pride location. A man had been shot in the foot; two juveniles stabbed. Police say it’s unclear if either was connected to Pride, but the tension was already high.
Then came the rain. It didn’t scatter the crowd, but it quieted it. Umbrellas came up. People huddled closer. And from the stage, one speaker looked out and said what many were likely thinking: “Rain will not stop us. And after rain comes rainbows.”
Lower International Turnout, Higher Stakes
This year’s World Pride, held in the U.S. for the first time since Trump’s return to office, drew far fewer international visitors than past editions. Pride organizers confirmed that attendance from countries like Germany, Canada, and Brazil had dropped. Some stayed away due to travel advisories. Others made a political statement by not coming at all.
“That should disturb us,” Smith told the crowd. “And more importantly, it should mobilize us.”
The crowd responded with applause — not the wild kind, but the kind that lingers.
Among those who did show up was Wes Kincaid, who drove from Charlotte, North Carolina in a car covered in rainbow decals. “I wasn’t planning on coming,” he admitted, “but then I saw what was happening this year, and I thought — if I don’t go, who will?”
Nearby, Natalie Farmer, who flew in from San Diego with her wife, said it plainly: “Some of us dance. Some of us march. Today, we march.”
Protest Signs, Federal Logos, and Raw Messages
The signs were sharp, sometimes funny, often sobering. “Proud gay federal worker,” read one, next to another that showed the logos of PBS, USAID, and EPA, all agencies facing funding cuts. “Ban bombs not bathrooms,” said one cardboard poster soaked in the rain. “We will not be erased,” said dozens of others.
One man stood quietly with both a trans pride flag and a U.S. Army veteran cap, holding a photo of his late partner beneath them. No words on his sign. Just the picture.
The political messaging went beyond Trump. Tyler Hack, of the Christopher Street Project, used his time on stage to criticize Democrats, too. “It’s not enough to call yourself an ally,” he said. “You either show up, or you don’t. This isn’t performative. This is survival.”
Security Was Tight. So Was The Unity.
Rumors that extremist groups would attempt to disrupt Pride events had circulated for weeks. No major incidents materialized, but fencing was installed around the Saturday festival zone, and police maintained a visible presence. Some protestors chanted near checkpoints, but most remained focused on the larger message.
The crowd split in two after the main rally. One group marched toward Capitol Hill. Another headed to the White House, carrying a banner that stretched across the width of the avenue: “TRUMP MUST GO NOW.”
Those who remained braving the cold rain didn’t seem daunted. Gillian Brewer, a college student from Silver Spring, wrapped in a pride cape, smiled when asked why she came. “Yesterday, we celebrated,” she said. “Today, we fight. And tomorrow? We vote.”
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