After the raucous rainbow-hued festivities of Saturday’s parade, the ultimate day of World Pleasure 2025 in Washington kicked off on a extra downbeat word.
1000’s gathered beneath gray skies Sunday morning on the Lincoln Memorial for a rally and protest march, because the neighborhood gathers its power for a looming battle beneath U.S. President Donald Trump’s second administration.
“This isn’t only a get together,” Ashley Smith, board president of Capital Pleasure Alliance.
“It is a rally for our lives.”
Smith acknowledged that worldwide attendance numbers for the bi-annual World Pleasure have been measurably down, with many potential attendees avoiding journey to the U.S. as a consequence of both worry of harassment or in protest of Trump’s insurance policies.
“That ought to disturb us and mobilize us,” Smith mentioned.
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Protesters cheered on LGBTQ2 activists taking the stage whereas waving each conventional Pleasure flags and flags representing transgender, bisexual, intersex and different communities.
Many had rainbow glitter and rhinestones adorning their faces. They held indicators declaring “Battle again,” “Homosexual is sweet,” “Ban bombs not loos” and “We is not going to be erased.”
Trump’s marketing campaign in opposition to transgender protections and oft-stated antipathy for drag reveals have set the neighborhood on edge, with some hoping to see a renewed wave of road politics in response.
“Trans folks simply wish to be beloved. Everyone needs to reside their very own lives and I don’t perceive the issue with all of it,” mentioned Tyler Cargill, who got here sporting an elaborate costume with a hat topped by a duplicate of the U.S. Capitol constructing.
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Wes Kincaid drove roughly six hours from Charlotte, N.C., to attend this yr. Sitting on a park bench close to the reflecting pond, Kincaid mentioned he made a degree of attending this yr, “as a result of it’s extra necessary than ever to point out up for our neighborhood.”
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Reminders of the cuts to federal authorities applications have been on full show, Sunday. One attendee waved a pole bearing a large rainbow flag together with a big USAID flag; one other held a “Proud homosexual federal employee” signal; and a 3rd held an umbrella with the logos of assorted federal program dealing with cuts — together with the PBS brand.
Trump’s anti-trans rhetoric had fuelled fears of violence or protests concentrating on World Pleasure individuals; at one level earlier this spring, rumors circulated that the Proud Boys have been planning to disrupt this weekend’s celebrations. These issues prompted organizers to put in safety fencing across the complete two-day road get together on a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue.
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However to this point, the one clear act of aggression has been the vandalizing of a queer bar final week. Late Saturday night time, there was a pair of violent incidents close to Dupont Circle — one of many epicentres of the World Pleasure celebrations. Two juveniles have been stabbed and a person was shot within the foot in separate incidents. The Metropolitan Police Division says it isn’t clear if both incident was instantly associated to World Pleasure.
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A chilly rain started falling round midday Sunday because the rally audio system lower brief their feedback and ready to march. Some attendees filtered away whereas others huddled beneath umbrellas and ponchos.
“Rain is not going to cease us, and after rain comes rainbows,” mentioned one speaker from the stage.
The speeches didn’t simply goal the Trump administration or the Republican get together. Some turned their ire on Democratic politicians, who they are saying have wilted beneath the strain of Republican management of the White Home and each homes of Congress.
“Now we have to name out individuals who have deserted our motion,” mentioned Tyler Hack of the Christopher Road Venture.
“Being a Democrat is greater than carrying the get together affiliation,” Hack added.
“It’s about unapologetic assist for the trans neighborhood.”
Whereas the primary march headed towards the U.S. Capitol, a separate group splintered off and headed towards the White Home, unfurling a big “TRUMP MUST GO NOW” banner.
Those that stayed to courageous the climate mentioned their presence amid less-than-ideal circumstances was very important.
“Individuals are nonetheless out right here, regardless of the rain, regardless of their exhaustion,” mentioned Gillian Brewer, a college pupil finding out physics from Silver Spring, Maryland. “We’re not going wherever.”
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Brewer expressed some frustration that the turnout for Sunday’s protest march was decrease than for the World Pleasure parade the day earlier than, which she determined to skip.
“That is extra necessary,” Brewer added. “You possibly can get together all you need however on the finish of the day, the protest is why we are able to get together.”
Natalie Farmer, who traveled from San Diego together with her spouse, attributed the distinction in numbers between the march and Saturday’s parade to folks being drained from celebrating the earlier night time.
“A few of us must do the rallying to maintain the get together going,” Farmer mentioned. “All of us battle in several methods.”
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