In May and June, Washington, D.C., will host several LGBTQ+ pride events as part of World Pride celebrations, but many have been relocated from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Key events include an International Pride Orchestra concert, a drag story hour, and art exhibits, including one featuring panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Associated Press reported that these changes stemmed from the Kennedy Center’s decision to withdraw from hosting contracts and uncertainties following President Donald Trump’s abrupt firing of several board members in February.
Trump’s post on Truth Social criticized past Kennedy Center events featuring drag shows aimed at youth, prompting fears within the LGBTQ+ community. Ryan Bos, executive director of Capital Pride Alliance, emphasized the significance of moving events to ensure safety and uphold the essence of pride. He criticized Trump’s actions and messaging as contrary to the values of the celebration, dubbing it the “writing on the wall.”
The group’s programming will now occur at a World Pride Welcome Center in downtown D.C., while the International Pride Orchestra’s concert will take place at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland. The orchestra’s leadership expressed heartbreak over the loss of the Kennedy Center venue but appreciated Strathmore’s support in ensuring their message of love and resilience reaches the capital.
Other organizations, including the Gay Men’s Chorus and the National Symphony Orchestra, faced similar cancellations. However, Bos affirmed that World Pride will proceed, marking 50 years of annual celebrations in the nation’s capital. He stressed the importance of resilience and visibility, declaring that the community will not be pushed back into silence.
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