DC World Pride organizers consider asking some trans members to skip event

Gigi Barnett | gbarnett@wtop.com
April 10, 2025, 4:54 AM

Organizers of D.C.’s World Pride Festival say they’re ready to celebrate but are also concerned about the safety of some transgender participants. ... World Pride runs between May 17 and June 8. Organizers say it’s poised to attract more than two million overnight guests and bring in more than $780 million to the District.

Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance, told members of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on Wednesday that in light of new anti-trans federal policies, it may be dangerous for trans people traveling from abroad to visit the nation’s capital this summer. ... Bos said the group may soon send those participants a clear warning.

“It’s possible that we may actually issue a statement telling trans folks internationally not to come, or if they come, they come at their own risk. So those are the things that we will be discussing with the D.C. government and our partners to determine how best to communicate that to ensure that we’re getting the resources to the folks that need it,” Bos said.

Some members of the MWCOG Board of Directors — which represent counties in Maryland and Virginia and D.C. — said they were disheartened by the potential move. ... “It’s really shameful that you all are having to consider making statements like that,” Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said. “It’s really heartbreaking.”

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