On Sunday, June 8, LGBTQ+ individuals and allies gathered during WorldPride at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, the historic site of Martin Luther King Jr’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, to defend decades of progress and rally against recent setbacks under US President Donald Trump.
Since he took office in January, Donald Trump has launched a series of attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, especially aimed at rolling back the rights of trans and non-binary people. The White House has attempted to justify its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, controversially claiming that DEI constitutes a form of discrimination. It has further argued that its transgender policies aim to protect women by restricting transgender women’s access to shared spaces.
The WorldPride rally opened with a video message from Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, broadcast across large screens at the front of the crowd. “Pride is about honouring the trailblazers who came before us, standing alongside those leading the fight for equality today, and empowering the next generation to live boldly, freely and with joy,” Harris said.
Ashley Smith, board president of the Capital Pride Alliance, emphasised the significance of the gathering. “This is not just a party,” Smith declared. “This is a rally for our lives.”
View this post on Instagram
Smith also highlighted a noticeable drop in international attendance for this year’s World Pride, a bi-annual event, attributing it to fears of harassment and political protest due to the ongoing danger of Trump-era policies. “That should disturb us and mobilise us,” they added.
Security concerns were reportedly raised early in the planning stages of this year’s celebration. In response, fencing was installed around the entire two-day street festival, held over several blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue, to enhance safety measures for all in attendance.
The White House did not issue a proclamation recognising Pride month this year, a tradition first established by former President Bill Clinton in 1999.
Despite the challenges, organisers and participants at the WorldPride rally stressed the importance of visibility, solidarity, and continued resistance in the face of adversity, underscoring Pride as both celebration and protest.
© 2025 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
Support GCN
GCN is a free, vital resource for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.
GCN is a trading name of National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity - Charity Number: 20034580.
GCN relies on the generous support of the community and allies to sustain the crucial work that we do. Producing GCN is costly, and, in an industry which has been hugely impacted by rising costs, we need your support to help sustain and grow this vital resource.
Supporting GCN for as little as €1.99 per month will help us continue our work as Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.
comments. Please sign in to comment.