President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion and transgender people are upending organizing efforts for WorldPride Washington, D.C. 2025, which the capital is set to host in June.
Planning for the weeks-long slate of international events and cultural programming highlighting the LGBTQ+ community has been underway for several years, and more than 3 million people are expected to travel to Washington for the festivities.
LGBTQ+ organizers closely coordinate with federal partners and private sector sponsors to put on the event. But in the final weeks of planning, they’re shuffling locations for some events, worrying about the possibility of the celebration becoming weaponized and navigating hesitation from sponsors who organizers say are concerned about potential backlash from participating.