LGBT+ in Washington DC: Why the capital hosting World Pride is so important

The progress flags billow in the wind as thousands of people gather at the front of the US Capitol to celebrate this year’s pride. Washington DC has just been announced as the host of the next World Pride in 2025, and although the feeling in the air is that of festivity, there’s also the feeling that this moment could be used to help spark some much-needed change.

A record-breaking amount of anti-LGBT+ legislation is being introduced in the US, with over 500 such bills in 2023 alone. This new legislation overwhelmingly targets trans and gender non-conforming people, but everything – from drag performers to queer literature – has been targeted in these legislative attacks. It’s for this reason the display of rainbows and protest signs feels more necessary than ever this year.

This sentiment is very much echoed by the many queer performers who take to the festival stage, each of them calling out the injustices they’ve witnessed both in the US and overseas.

In a moment of candour, singer, actress and model Rina Sawayama directs her fury at the Capitol Building, declaring that she’s “tired of men making decisions for us” and reminding the crowd that although pride may be a celebration, she believes it to be “first and foremost a protest”.

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For me, that’s why it’s especially important for the next World Pride to be happening in Washington DC. By taking place in the US capital, it becomes inherently political. Whether you’re joining the pride march, waving a trans pride flag, or simply cheering on your favourite drag performer – just by being there, and being visible, you’re taking a stand against the oppressive culture that seeks to silence us. You can always find hope in community, and the hundreds of thousands of people that show up to the pride march are testament to that.

DC is often referred to as the “gayest city in the USA” – and yes, it does indeed have a higher LGBT+ population percentage than anywhere else in the country, but that’s not the only reason it’s deserving of this title. DC is loud and proud in its acceptance of queer people – of all ­queer people – and wherever you are in the city, the sense of community can be noticeably felt.