CIVICUS discusses Pride 2025 in Washington DC with Ryan Bos, the Executive Director of the Capital Pride Alliance, a civil society organisation dedicated to serving LGBTQI+ people’s needs.

From 17 May to 8 June, Washington DC hosted WorldPride, a global LGBTQI+ celebration held every few years in different cities around the world. Over three weeks, hundreds of events unfolded across the US capital, culminating in a two-day festival and the city’s largest-ever Pride parade. WorldPride came at a tense moment: the Trump administration’s rollback of LGBTQI+ protections and a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion policies have created a climate of fear and uncertainty. Many wondered whether WorldPride would be cancelled or people would be too scared to participate. But the event became an opportunity for defiance and solidarity, making clear that Pride means both celebration and protest.

What’s WorldPride and what defined this year’s edition?

WorldPride is a global festival organised by InterPride, the international association of Pride organisers. Much like the Olympics, member organisations bid to host it, and Washington DC secured the 2025 edition in late 2022.

Each host city bears a responsibility to spotlight its local LGBTQI+ community. While DC is often associated with its monuments – the White House, the Capitol and the National Mall – it’s also home to a vibrant and diverse community. Under the theme ‘Fabric of Freedom’, we sought to honour that local culture and the city’s long history of grassroots activism.

In today’s political climate, hosting WorldPride in DC felt particularly meaningful. Anti-LGBTQI+ executive orders in the USA and a rising global backlash have stoked fear and uncertainty in the community. Yet cancelling was never an option for us. Even as we prepared our bid in 2022, we knew the election could be a risk. We questioned what it would mean to host such a high-profile event if public opinion shifted against LGBTQI+ rights. But we also knew that whoever ended up in office, we had to use Washington’s platform to amplify our community’s voices.

Pride has always been a protest rooted in resilience, defiance and celebration. It’s important to note that celebration and protest are not separate: the act of celebrating our pride is itself a protest. From the earliest days, even before Stonewall, our community has shown up in its darkest moments, particularly for those unable to speak for themselves. We embraced that legacy and committed to creating a space where everyone could come together, no matter what.

How did people respond and what was the atmosphere like?

At first, we feared people would not show up out of fear. But we were wrong. People understood the importance of this WorldPride event and turned out in large numbers. Although we are still calculating the exact attendance and economic impact, we already know this edition set new records: the metro system saw a spike in use, and we organised one of the largest – perhaps the largest – event to date, taking place over three weeks.

WorldPride launched on 17 May with Trans Pride. Despite our fears, it ended up being a peaceful and joyful display of togetherness. After months of feeling beaten down, people were clearly craving a sense of community and an opportunity to express their pride in who they are. Over the course of three weeks, there were more than 300 events, from large-scale festivals to smaller, more intimate community gatherings, all of which were created to bring together people from around the world.

People marched to demand their rights and to celebrate. When we are told not to exist, simply coming together in joy becomes an act of defiance. You could feel that energy at the parade: joy, solidarity and a sense of relief. People just wanted to have fun, and that’s what they did. Despite all the security measures and fear in the run-up, an overwhelming feeling of freedom prevailed.

What lessons does this WorldPride offer?

In times of rising hate and shrinking freedoms, Pride celebrations are more important than ever. Cancelling Pride sends the wrong message. If we had done that, we could have caused a ripple effect. However, by hosting a successful WorldPride, we proved that visibility can triumph even under hostile conditions. If we can do it, so can you.

Solidarity must cross borders. We all need to stand together in this fight, regardless of how we identify. Through networks such as InterPride, human rights organisations or simple gestures of support, we can make a difference. WorldPride served as a reminder of our struggle for dignity, as well as a call for global support to prevent any government silencing LGBTQI+ voices.

The USA is currently on the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist, which tracks countries experiencing a serious decline in respect for civic freedoms.